Uncategorised

Uncategorised

KSM sells first NdPr ingots

Australian Strategic Materials subsidiary, KSM Metals, has signed a binding agreement for the sale of neodymium praseodymium (NdPr) metal produced at its Korean Metals plant with Korean company NS World.
Read More
threadlocker
 Features, Uncategorised

Threadlockers: Securing production in mining

Industry expert Michael Rowe says the unsung hero of mechanical fastening is the liquid threadlocker. The longest standing manufacturer of threadlocker products is LOCTITE®. In fact, threadlocking fluid was invented in 1953 by a chemistry professor named Vernon K. Krieble, founder of the original LOCTITE brand. “Traditional methods of mechanical fastening often include lock washers, locknuts, jam nuts, and safety wire which protect the threads and secure bolts in place, however, they still leave gaps that will be exposed to continuous vibration, tension and torque on an operation,” explains Michael, Product Manager of Adhesive and Sealants for CBC Australia. “Liquid threadlocker holds fasteners tight by curing with viscosity and shear-resistance – effectively acting as a water-resistant sealant and an adhesive,” he adds. CBC Australia and Henkel LOCTITE have been partnered in distribution of adhesive technology for more than 40 years, serving the mining and quarrying segment. The Henkel LOCTITE Threadlocker products are available in a range of adhesive and fastening abilities, from permanent, high-strength compounds, to more time-based, removable, variations. “The right solution will depend on the application,” Michael states. “And we can help advise customers on which product will work best.” Sheree Munnik, CBC Key Account Executive for the Mining Segment in Western Australia, works closely with mining customers to circumvent the effects of continuous vibration and torque on bolted joints, which she says is a common cause of equipment failure at mine sites. “The bottom line is that Threadlocker products enable our customers to get more running hours out of their equipment by holding everything in place,” highlights Sheree. “Bolted and machined joints on mining equipment face heavy vibration and shock loads, running at high speeds under harsh conditions for extended periods of time. Securing fasteners can mean the difference between a productive day on site or a catastrophic failure on mining applications,” says Sheree. CBC recently worked with a heavy mobile equipment company in Western Australia to provide solutions with a range of LOCTITE products. Read More
50 years
 Features, Uncategorised

NTN-CBC: Supporting Australian mining for 50 years

This year marks the 50-year anniversary of the 50/50 joint venture between NTN Corporation and CBC Australia, which began in 1971. According to Fabio Rebecchi, Product Manager for NTN bearings at CBC, as the mining sector has seen increased demand for iron ore and other key minerals over that time, there has been a corresponding need to manufacture larger equipment. “With the tonnages in iron ore, and coal increasing year after year, we have seen an increase in demand for bearings, in particular, large bearings,” says Fabio. “As a result, components and supports have also been made larger for extraction and bulk handling processes, involving heavy mobile equipment, processing plants and conveyor systems.” “Bigger equipment means bigger bearings, and longer lead times on supply,” says Fabio. “That said, there are a lot more bearings operating on sites now than there were15 years ago, but the quality and longevity of the bearings has improved.” Fabio highlights the key areas he has seen improvement in with bearings: longevity, materials, installation processes, and maintenance procedures. “If you look at older catalogues, you can see the evolution of technology across all industries, really.” says Fabio. “Prolonging the life of a bearing has included the incorporation of seals, proper lubrication, and aligning better fits upon installation,” he furthers. “In addition to this, steel technology has become more advanced over the years because of the purity of steel and heat treatment processes applied in the manufacture of bearings. The static and dynamic load capacities have been increasing over time,” adds Fabio. When NTN began expanding their global manufacturing and sales network, CBC became the direct link between the global manufacturing and engineering activities of NTN and the Australian market. At present day, NTN is one of the top five bearing manufacturers in the world, and with backing from CBC, this allows them to deliver a full range of bearings products, technical support, and end-to-end logistics to the Australian market. According to Ross Lee, Technical Manager of Strategic Partnerships – Bearings at CBC, “It’s all about consultation.” “We at CBC are the first point of contact for customers in determining where they have a problem and where NTN can provide a solution. No matter the location in Australia, we have a commercial and technical liaison between the branch, the customer, and directly with the manufacturer,” says Ross. “We have a network of account managers and technical specialists that engage with customers at the regional level, supporting mines and mineral processing plants. From there, we receive application engineering proposals and look at what we can put forward as a solution for a performance or a productivity problem,” he explains. “Australian ingenuity coupled with Japanese product innovation has benefitted mining operations across the nation, through the provision of a wide range of bearing products,” says Ross. “Through NTN, we are always trying to offer an appropriate bearing solution and often we secure agreements based on all of the lines of communication we keep open across our networks,” Ross adds. Within the mining sector, NTN is the direct supplier to major manufacturers of heavy mobile mining equipment. NTN also extensively services the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) segments of these businesses. Read More
greener
 Uncategorised

A greener cleaner for mines

Every major industry shift starts with a small step. The movement to ‘go green’ in the mines and quarries sector is no exception – with the adoption of greener cleaning products being one of the early markers of this shift. “Mining and quarrying managers have been increasingly seeking cleaning solutions for on-site that are comprised of safe and environmentally friendly ingredients,” says Michael Greelish, BSC’s National Product Manager for the Mines, Quarries and Resources market segments. For years, the CRC Brakleen product has been a best seller at BSC, serving as the go-to, premium, cure-all, cleaning solution for mine sites. The standard Brakleen product works by cleaning and degreasing a surface instantly, before evaporating with no residue. “The turnover for Brakleen has been huge over the years. Mine workers love the easy to use, spray can in-hand option,” says Michael. “But there is one drawback– the product emits strong vapours into the air that contain some harsh cleaning solvents.” This is what led CRC to develop the Brakleen Water Based, a completely biodegradable, non-toxic, non-flammable product that can safely be used in confined spaces, like those found on a mine site. According to Michael, this new formula comprises all the ingredients needed in a quality, stand-alone, multi-purpose cleaning agent. “To be a truly ‘cure-all’ solution, health, safety, and the environment need to be at the top of the shopping list,” he states. David Bailey, Business Development Manager for CRC Industries, concurs. “Customers have been asking for more sustainable substitutes to our much-loved staple products like Brakleen,” he says. “By delivering Brakleen Water Based to the market, we are aiming to provide a safer alternative to our end-users and improve the overall safety of our customers.” CRC work closely with Michael Greelish and the BSC team. It’s a true partnership in the very meaning of the word. “Through BSC, we have gained many opportunities to get our products onto mine sites,” says David. “In the last 18 months, the reps at BSC have been doing a lot of the groundwork for us to get the right information to the right sites.” With so many contaminants on a mine site, robust cleaning products such as Brakleen are required around the clock to ensure equipment, cables and bearings are free of dirt and grease and continue to perform well. Michael travels frequently to visit BSC customers across the country, working alongside OEMs and maintenance technicians at mine sites and power stations to oversee the performance of gearboxes, pumps, screens, crushers, conveyors, heavy earth moving and mobile equipment. With a wide range of products available through the BSC stock range, part of Michael’s job is to look for ways to improve systems and processes for customers and the CRC product range is rich with versatile solution offerings to choose from. Read More