Mines and Quarries

Aluminium metal is prized for its strong yet lightweight properties, as well as its resistance to rusting.
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Downtime foiled by exceptional bearing solution

The extraction and processing of aluminium metal can be broken down into three key stages: the mining of bauxite ore, refining that ore to recover alumina, and then the smelting of alumina to produce aluminium sheets or ingots. This type of metal is prized for its strong yet lightweight properties, as well as its resistance to rusting. Read More
A good approach to industrial maintenance has led many industry players to factor in issues before they arise, reducing equipment failure.
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Dry or wet, LOCTITE has you set

Benjamin Franklin famously once said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This approach to industrial maintenance has led many industry players to factor in issues before they arise, ultimately reducing equipment failure and subsequent losses. Read More
fluid transfer
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Motion Australia ushers in the future of fluid transfer technology

Whether it’s a scraper, a loader, a bulldozer, or a drill rig—most mining equipment requires a hydraulic hose to operate the machinery correctly, according to Motion Australia’s Aaron Bryer.  “Hydraulic hose fittings, adaptors and accessories are really important for mining equipment,” he explains. “The hose is the critical transfer item on pumps to extract a particular fluid or medium from a charged area. Hydraulic hose and pumps are the key components in any mining extraction method essentially.” “If you look at a loader or a digger which articulates up and down, there will be a pump that is forcing the liquid or medium, which will later discharge through a hose,” he continues.  “To put things in perspective, the pressure rate in one of these hoses is going to be up to 6000 psi going through a half inch hose. So, the quality of the hose is imperative for the functionality of the equipment, but also the safety of the setup, because obviously that level of pressure needs to be handled with care.” “In particular jumbo drill rigs in underground mining have strands of hose that twist around a rail pulsating backwards and forwards and can subject to failure that will happen very quickly,” he adds.  As the Hydraulic Hose and Fittings Category Manager, Aaron looks after Motion Australia’s business side strategies and market channels within their hydraulic hose portfolio, under the business group department of Flow Technologies. He has been the industry for 15 years and knows his way around fluid transfers and connection products for the heavy industrial sector.  Over the past 12 months, Motion Australia in partnership with Gates®— a notable Strategic OEM Supplier to the market—has introduced new hydraulic hose capabilities and fluid transfer services to Motion customers within the mining and quarrying segments. At the same time, Gates® has introduced an entirely new standard range of hydraulic hose products into the market: The Gates® MegaSys™ MXT™ and MegaSys™ MXG™ 4K and 5K Hydraulic Hose range styles—”a feat of engineering that achieves a lightweight and flexible new hose construction technology and a giant leap forward for materials science and process innovation,” according to Gates® engineers.  A significant benefit of the new hose design, according to Aaron, is that it is formulated around Gates’ invention: an outer cover compound that enhances abrasion and ozone resistance.  “Combine this with the new Gates® XtraTuff™ Plus wire braid reinforcement technology and the construction offers more wire than a conventional two-wire hose,” says Aaron.  “This new range of hydraulic hose products are really challenging the traditional style of hydraulic hose by offering more freedom around the flexibility with about 40% more flexible force event ratio,” he explains. 
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Kalgoorlie-Boulder
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Hardy Spicer Kalgoorlie-Boulder drives mining solutions

In the outback West Australian winter of 1893, prospectors Paddy Hannan and Tom Flanagan were travelling near the base of Mount Charlotte and stopped to recover a horseshoe kicked off by one of their steeds.  Upon closer inspection of the ground, they noticed traces of gold at the foot of the hill. Not long after, Paddy filed a Reward Claim for the area and hundreds of rogue diggers and fortune seekers flocked to the region in search of gold. The area is known today as the Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Goldfields in Western Australia.  It is here that one of Motion Australia’s flagship businesses, Hardy Spicer Kalgoorlie found their niche, supplying driveshafts, hydraulic hose & fittings components and services to the mining and road haulage industries throughout the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Goldfields Region.  “We specialise in driveshaft design, manufacture, repair and balancing for the mining industry, heavy haulage, industrial and light vehicle applications,” says Billy Cumming, Goldfields Manager at Hardy Spicer.  “We offer a complete range of driveline parts ranging from universal joints, cv joints, centre bearings, flanges, weld yokes, slip assemblies, and new and exchange driveshaft assemblies through our Australia-wide network. We distribute the Gates® Connected range of integrated hydraulic hose and fitting products, a range of adaptors and accessories applicable to the mining sector—with safety being a primary focus for our business.”   To compliment these products, Hardy Spicer offers a selection of speciality hose assemblies, both Standard and API certified to suit mining applications. “Important to note that we have the ability to manufacture hose assemblies and driveshafts in accordance with OEM part numbers,” says Billy.  While the early days of the Goldfields were hard on gold diggers in the lawless land of the Australian Wild West, the area has since been reinvented as an urban central mining capital of Australia. At their Kalgoorlie-Boulder branch location, Hardy Spicer serves the local community and industrial and mining corporations who have established large-scale operations that rival others around the world.  “Our range of products and services have been tailored to stand up to the rigors of Australia’s mining operations,” says Billy. “Service is a key focus for us in ensuring return business. We want our customers to be able to rely on Hardy Spicer as a reputable source of products, services and repairs, and hold the quality of our offerings in high regard.”  To that end, Hardy Spicer, understands the urgency on equipment repairs for their customers.  “Here at our branch in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, our staff and mobile van operators are on call 24/7,” he says, concluding, “We understand that customers require urgent repairs be carried out efficiently, cost effectively and to a high standard. As a premium supplier and service provider, our team is dedicated to meeting and exceeding our customer’s expectations.”
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bearings
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X-Life quality sealed bearings ward off dust, dirt, and downtime

Bearings on mining equipment rely on three barriers of protection against the ingress of contaminants that are present on mine sites: the housing, the housing seal, and the grease, according to Motion Australia’s in-house bearings expert, Tony Tormey.  In his role as Category Manager for Industrial Bearings, Tony has developed a kind of sixth sense for the subtle differences in bearing performance when they need to contend with dusty and dirty applications such as coal and ore mining operations, aggregate quarries, or mills where raw materials run on conveyors around the clock.  “On heavy industrial applications such as mining and quarrying conveyors, it’s very easy for dust and dirt to penetrate a bearing housing,” explains Tony. “Sometimes when the bearing is being installed, dust in the surrounding air may make contact with the parts as the bearing is being driven up the shaft. Over time, if contaminants continue to build up, the bearing life will start to run down.” “In this instance, any presence of moisture from washdowns or damp environmental conditions will quickly transform dust into sludge further hindering the performance of the bearing,” he continues. “Eventually the bearing will require replacement. And in the worse-case, halt production altogether.” “For this reason, it is extremely important to use advancements in bearings technology to the advantage of our customers that are working with harsh mining equipment,” Tony adds.  On that note, Schaeffler has been on the leading edge of bearings technology since their inception more than 120 years ago. During this time, Motion Australia and Schaeffler have enjoyed a distribution partnership since 1983—when Motion first began stocking Schaeffler bearings products and supplying them to Australian customers.  Tony has been working with Schaeffler’s bearings experts for so long that their team feels like close colleagues, he says. One of Tony’s liaisons, John Tawadros, Head of Distribution Sales at Schaeffler, concurs with this sentiment, explaining how the companies have found the partnership to be mutually beneficial over the years.  “When we find a good joint solutions-based partnership as we have with Motion Australia, it’s all about our combined capabilities,” says John. “As a bearing manufacturer and technology company, Schaeffler’s product expertise and engineering know-how supports Motion, our distribution partner, to develop joint strategies for presenting these solutions to customers.” 
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SmartWasher
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CRC SmartWasher technology: Tips and training from industry experts

The CRC SmartWasher® Bio-remediating part washer system has been making waves in the Australian mining industry in recent years with its environmentally friendly approach to breaking down oil, grease and contaminants on heavy machine components using an organic degreasing solution called OzzyJuice.  CRC Industries Technical Sales Executive, Ian Maguire, works on the front lines of the mining industry in Western Australia, specialising in Maintenance, Repairs and Operations (MRO) products and working out on mine site to train staff on the SmartWasher technology.  “My main goal is to get in front of the end users of our SmartWasher system to facilitate optimisation and the correct use in application of the products,” says Ian. “This is best achieved by doing onsite training, surveying, and evaluating the specific requirements of applications on site, alongside their MRO team.”  Ian notes that the CRC SmartWasher technology has been particularly successful on West Australian mine sites due to its ability to clean the region’s native red dirt from equipment.  “The red dirt in this part of the country is notoriously difficult to clean off of parts,” says Ian. “It cakes and clings onto surfaces stubbornly, often proving to be a challenge for MRO staff. However, the CRC SmartWasher Bio-remediating part washer has demonstrated excellent cleaning power in even the toughest of cleaning applications with its unique, high-performing OzzyJuice degreasers.  As part and parcel of the effectiveness of the system, SmartWasher accessories— the CRC OzzyJuice and the OzzyMat Filter— combine to create a premium cleaning solution that is completely safe for worker health and the environment, while eliminating concerns about hazardous waste disposal, according to Ian. “Our team of material scientists use their extensive knowledge of surface technology to develop the OzzyJuice SW-X1 formula specifically for the mining industry to remove soot, grime, diesel fluid, tacky grease on gears and drive shafts and burnt on carbon,” he explains.  “The CRC SmartWasher® system uses bio-mediation technology to essentially eat through oil, grease, and carbon-based contaminants,” he furthers. “The OzzyJuice formula is water-based, pH neutral, GHS non-hazardous, and meets the NSF A1 standard for health and safety. Additionally, the formula leaves behind no streaks or residue, is non-flammable and non-toxic. Motion Australia is an exclusive distributor of the CRC SmartWasher® Bio-remediating part washer system in Australia and working together the two companies have cemented their relationship through a common goal of providing excellent MRO products, services, and training to customers.  “Motion Australia Account Managers have great relationships with their customers which makes it easier for me to get onto these sites and present the SmartWasher products and applications,” says Ian. “Whenever possible, I try to get out to sites to provide Smartwasher demonstrations and work hands on with MRO teams to familiarise them with the system. These demonstrations speak a thousand words on the features and benefits of the SmartWasher products, which are easily realised by doing these on-site demonstrations,” he concludes. How to use your CRC SmartWasher • After removing the SmartWasher from its packaging, check over pins and hoses to ensure they are in place • Remove the false bottom of the sink and place an OzzyMat blue side (filter) down on the sink screen  • Add required OzzyJuice fluid • Plug the machine in to an outlet that is designated for the SmartWasher and switch on to heat it up • Turn on the Power Switch and adjust the pressure of the juice and the nozzle • Begin cleaning parts!  • Using the brush clean down components which includes a button to run OzzyJuice through the brush • Contaminants will be caught in the OzzyMat filter • The OzzyJuice never needs to be changed, it just needs to be topped up intermittently, usage dependant. • For maintaining the machine, once a month replace the OzzyMat, introducing a fresh dose of microbes, to ensure your cleaning efficacy remains constant day after day. Read More
Products, Resources

Adhering to the LOCTITE liquid threadlocker legacy

Did you know? On a conventional bolted assembly, there is only 15 per cent metal-to-metal contact and the remaining 85 per cent is simply open air? Conventional mechanical fasteners such as double nuts, spring washers, nylon insert nuts and toothed flange bolts often fail to provide security when up against vibration, thermal expansion, corrosion, bending and torque. A threadlocker on the other hand, is an adhesive solution that effectively “locks” your assembly securely in place, forming a strong bond that ensures load bearing capabilities and seals all gaps.  Liquid threadlocker was invented in 1953 by a chemistry professor named Vernon K. Krieble who saw a need for a practical adhesive solution that would secure nuts, bolts, and threaded fasteners in place with a bond that was airtight, strong, and flexible. And so, using a complex mix of chemistry and engineering, the LOCTITE® liquid threadlocker was first born. From there, Krieble became the founder of the LOCTITE brand which today is the longest standing manufacturer of threadlocker products in the world. 
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