WITH the ever increasing mechanisation of bulk handling, large-scale manufacturers, processors and logistics providers can have their feet so hard on the pedal they fail to step back and take some important operations points into consideration.
Large-scale materials handling is increasingly becoming a 24/7 requirement. This means it can also be a costly minute by minute disaster when parts wear out.
Operators often have to rely on imported parts and intellectual property supply lines, which can mean extended downtime.
Large-scale manufacturers, processors and handlers never really want to stop production, but that becomes the case if one can’t access a replacement part immediately.
A general shift is beginning to emerge, one that has evolved from necessity. Industrial Conveying Australia is one organisation that has developed to the point where it now manufactures products and systems to facilitate a fast supply line.
Industrial Conveying Australia’s managing director Don Erskine said the call for guaranteed, ongoing, technology supply has grown into an expectation of complete turnkey solutions right across the bulk handling market.
“Turnkey expectation is a direct result of the migration of Australian companies into a global business as well as faster time-to-market expectations right across the fields of industry,” Erskine said.
“The heavy industry bulk handling, which uses immense conveying systems, gains a huge advantage from domestic based supply lines and integrated technologies that are on hand when required.
“More often than not, delivery times of locally sourced handling technologies are far better than imported options and quality in this part of the world ensures it is to appropriate ISO standards.”
Products include mining conveyors, bulk hoppers, crusher plants, roller conveyors, heavy support steelwork platforms, stacker-retrieval systems, heavy duty incline belts, radial stackers, feeder conveyors and overland bulk conveyors.
“Nowadays, items such as these are classed as standard products, so in effect we have developed our national manufacturing plant in Bendigo dedicated to these demands as the supply platform,” Erskine said.
“How we have had to mature with the market is in the development of IT and PLC integration into new, challenging projects because it is clear overseas technical support and supply lines may not properly meet the evolving challenges here.
“In situations when clients need to expand their materials handling needs on an ongoing basis, the integration of standard products should be seamless with little or no inconvenience.
“Local involvement is now crucial so that engineers can configure any materials handling system to work efficiently and in synchronicity with transport vehicles or other extraneous materials handling components.”
This article was prepared by Val Pavlovic from Omentum Media Australia
Don Erskine
Industrial Conveying Australia
icaust@icaust.com.au
www.icaust.com.au
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