Komatsu’s rollout of new low-emission, more fuel-efficient engines that comply with US Tier 4 Final emissions regulations has seen it launch an unprecedented 25 new machines across excavators, loaders, trucks and graders – the largest in its history.

All feature Komatsu’s new generation Tier 4 Final-compliant engines, which incorporate unique Komatsu technology to reduce emissions levels by 90% compared with their previous-generation Tier 3 equivalent machines, according to Dean Gaedtke, Komatsu’s Executive General Manager, Construction.

“At the same time, Komatsu has introduced new electronic control systems throughout the new machines that ensure engine power, hydraulic requirements and transmission output is optimised – resulting in fuel consumption savings of between 5% and 15% – depending on models and applications,” said Gaedtke.

“In addition, all Komatsu’s new Tier 4 machines take advantage of the company’s latest developments in its KOMTRAX Step 5 telematics-based remote monitoring system to deliver owners and fleet managers even more data about key operating criteria.”

New Komatsu Tier 4 Final-compliant machines being launched include the following:

• PC30MR-5, PC35MR-5, PC45MR-5 and PC55MR-5 short-tail mini excavators
• PC78UU-10 and PC88MR-10 short-tail midi excavators
• PC138-11 and PC228-11 short-tail construction excavators
• PC240LC-11, PC290LC-11, PC360LC-11, construction excavators
• PC490LC-11 heavy construction/quarrying excavator
• HB215LC-3 and HB335LC-3 fourth-generation Hybrid excavators
• A PC360LCi-11 featuring Komatsu’s unique intelligent Machine Control system – and the largest excavator with this system
• WA270-8 and WA320-8 hydrostatic drive toolcarrier loaders
• WA380-8 and WA470-8 general purpose loaders
• WA500-8 and WA600-8 production loaders
• GD655-6 grader
• HM300-5 and HM400-5 articulated dump trucks
• HD405-8 and HD605-8 rigid frame dump trucks.

New engine technologies

According to , Komatsu’s General Manager Construction & Utility, its new Tier 4 Final engines include a number of technology innovations that help achieve the stringent requirements of this standard, as well as contributing to lower fuel consumption.

“They incorporate Komatsu proprietary technologies developed over many years to reduce emissions levels,” he said.

Technologies introduced in these new engines include:

• A heavy-duty after-treatment system
• An advanced Electronic Control System
• A heavy-duty cooled Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system
• A Komatsu Variable Geometry Turbocharger (KVGT) system
• Heavy-duty High-Pressure Common Rail (HPCR) fuel injection system

Heavy-duty after-treatment system: This new system combines a Komatsu Diesel Particulate Filter (KDPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), which injects the correct amount of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) at the required rate, thereby decomposing NOx into non-toxic water vapour (H2O) and nitrogen gas (N2).

Heavy-duty cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system: The EGR system in Komatsu’s Tier 4 Final engines recirculates a portion of exhaust gas into the air intake and lowers combustion temperatures, thereby reducing NOx emissions.

EGR gas flow has also been decreased on Tier 4 Final engines through the addition of SCR technology, dramatically reducing NOx, while helping cut fuel consumption below levels on previous-generation machines.

Advanced electronic control system: The electronic control system on Komatsu’s Tier 4 Final engines performs high-speed processing of all signals from sensors installed in the machine, providing total control of all components. 

Engine condition information is displayed on the monitor inside the cab, providing all necessary information to the operator, as well as being uploaded to KOMTRAX for ongoing monitoring by machine owners and fleet managers.

Komatsu variable geometry turbocharger (KVGT) system: The KVGT system incorporates proven Komatsu design hydraulic technology for variable control of air-flow, supplying the optimum amount of air according to load conditions. This upgraded version also provides better exhaust temperature management.

Heavy-duty high-pressure common rail (HPCR) fuel injection system: Designed to achieve an optimal injection of high-pressure fuel digitally, this system ensures near complete combustion, significantly reducing PM emissions.

“In addition to these technologies, all our new Tier 4 Final engines incorporate mode selection systems that help best match engine, hydraulics and/or transmission output to different applications – further contributing to lower fuel consumption,” Wheeldon said.

KOMTRAX Step 5 technology

“The latest KOMTRAX Step 5 telematics-based remote monitoring system on our new Tier 4 Final machines gives owners and fleet managers unprecedented visibility and up-to-date operating data on their equipment,” he said.

“It’s the most sophisticated version of KOMTRAX to date, designed to provide equipment managers with data that increases their peace of mind, knowing that the advanced technologies incorporated in today’s equipment are working reliably to deliver operational efficiencies.”

KOMTRAX Step 5 technology has been developed to ensure that key operational criteria of Tier 4 Final engines are all working correctly, delivering data reporting on:

• Komatsu Diesel Particulates Filter (KDPF) soot count
• Active KDPF soot removal regeneration time and fuel used
• Any KDPF cautions
• Diesel Exhaust Fluid (AdBlue) levels.

It also includes enhanced reporting abilities on:

• Machine travel hours and distances
• Working modes
• Cycle times
• Maximum speeds

“Another new feature of KOMTRAX Step 5 is our operator ID system, which can be set for each operator,” said Wheeldon.

“This allows data sent from KOMTRAX to be used to analyse operating status by operator as well as by machine.

“We know many of our customers are using KOMTRAX data to work with their operators to optimise site productivity and machine performance.

“It’s now common for KOMTRAX reports to be discussed and analysed by operators, fleet planners and site or project managers working together to get the very best from their equipment,” he said.

“And because KOMTRAX – which is provided free of charge on all Komatsu utility and construction machines sold in Australia and New Zealand – continuously monitors and records machine health and operational data, it provides exceptionally detailed machine operating history– significantly lowering owning and operating costs.

“For machine managers, knowing important operational details such as idle time and fuel consumption helps maximise machine efficiency, and make decisions that can improve fleet utilisation,” said Wheeldon.

The curved corners on their B Series Skid Steers provide a wider, less obstructed view of the worksite and a solid “corner to corner” view of the bucket, blade, fork or other attachment being used. Intelligent use of complex shapes adds another important benefit – reduced noise levels inside the cab. By using curves to increase the stiffness of the cab, surface transmission of sound energy is significantly reduced. This is another way LiuGong is engineering customer value into every machine they build from the very start of the design process.

Better manoeuverability and performance.

Precision operation of a skid steer starts with better weight distribution. The new B Series Skid Steers gets it right with better balance, stability and lift control. The narrow stance and panoramic view combine for superior handling and control in tight quarters between buildings, walls and inside trailers. The machines lift to a dump clearance height of up to 2425mm and with a lift speed of 4.1 seconds, dump at 2.4 seconds and float down of 2.2 seconds, they are quick all around.

Tougher structural components.

All LiuGong machines are designed, built and tested for extreme-duty applications. The B Series Skid Steers are no exception. The new integrated frame provides a solid, rigid foundation for long, hard and productive days. The beefy, box section loader arms match the strength and durability of the frame, make the B Series Skid Steers long lasting and reliable machines for all applications – from high-cycle construction and mining applications to farms, nurseries and ports. The B Series Skid Steers don’t just look better – they last longer. Many thousands of hours of real-world testing were spent on the development of the new skid-steer, and the result is machines that not only please our customers, but machines that also live up to the strict quality standards that LiuGong mandates.

It’s all under control.

The machines features double-lever pilot control for sure, simple, effortless operation. The hydrostatic transmission system provides infinite speed control so operators can inch through critical areas with no extra space, but still travel quickly over large areas. Spring applied, hydraulic release brakes allow the operator to position the machine exactly where needed, and hold it there for pin point accuracy on precision jobs. They also have hydraulic self-levelling, especially useful for pallet fork applications. The universal LiuGong quick-coupling system makes for fast, easy changes with the complete line of LiuGong attachments, plus the B Series can pick up existing industry standard attachments, from any suppliers that the customer may already own.

Spacious, productive operator station.

These machines start with the operator – and stay there. The cabins are extra-large and uncluttered – with plenty of leg, elbow and headroom. Controls are intuitive and ergonomically placed for simple, effortless, fingertip control. The large, curved windows and well-placed mirrors eliminate much of the operator twisting and turning you find with other machines. The B Series Skid Steers features a full suspension seat that is fully adjustable. The ROPS & FOPS certified structural cabin design greatly reduces both vibration and sound levels – for better operator comfort and superior communication between operator and other personnel around the worksite.

Easy Access for Efficient Maintenance

The large, swing-open tailgate provides exceptional access for routine maintenance points in all B Series Skid Steers. There are no radiators to move, lift arms to raise or lift-arm support devices to install.

Plenty of options.

The B Series Skid Steers comes standard with a range of options to help customers meet their job requirements and performance needs. The list includes high-flow hydraulics, heater and air conditioning, enclosed ROPS/FOPS Cab, solid tires and tire chains, plus many more.

385B Skid Steer_Deep Etched

At LiuGong, it isn’t about just developing the latest technologies. It’s about developing the latest technologies that work – consistently, reliably, day in and day out, at the toughest, most extreme jobsites in from Agriculture to construction and mining. LiuGong is totally dedicated to reliability – from engineering to testing to manufacturing. The ultimate test is always the real world where real jobs have to get done. LiuGong. Tough World. Tough Equipment. For more information or too book in a demo, call AWD Group on 1300 888 479.

Komatsu Australia has released two new WA270-8– the WA270-8 and WA320-8 – both powered with Tier 4-compliant low emission engine technology, and delivering improved fuel efficiency, higher productivity, and reduced owning and operating costs.

The WA270-8 – replacing the WA250PZ-6 – is powered by a Komatsu SAA6D107E-3 engine rated at 111 kW and offers bucket sizes from 1.9-2.7 cu m, while the WA320-8 – replacing the WA320PZ-6 – is powered by a Komatsu SAA6D107E-3 rated at 123 kW and has bucket capacities ranging from 2.3-3.2 cu m.

Both loaders feature Komatsu’s fourth generation hydrostatic drive transmission system, as well as its versatile parallel Z-bar (PZ) linkage system which combines high breakout forces with parallel lift throughout the lifting cycle.

In releasing the Dash 8 versions of these two loaders, Komatsu Australia has gone straight from their Dash 6 variants, skipping the Dash 7 upgrades which included interim Tier 4-compliant engines, said Richard Feehely, Komatsu Australia’s National Business Manager – Quarries.

“These latest wheel loaders incorporate all the new technology developments introduced in both the Dash 7 and Dash 8 upgrades, including improved performance and safety, reduced fuel consumption, superior operator ergonomics and significantly enhanced maintainability,” he said.

Both loaders have increased straight and full-turn static tipping loads for improved productivity and safety; the WA270-8 has a full turn static tipping load of 8930 kg (2.3 cu m capacity GP pin-on bucket) and the WA320-8 has a full turn STL of 9780 kg (2.8 cu m capacity GP pin-on bucket).

“These higher performance capabilities, combined with fuel efficiency improvements of up to 13% from our Tier 4 final engine technology, mean these new loaders deliver significantly lower costs per metre of material moved than their predecessors,” said Feehely.

Both are powered by Komatsu’s EPA Tier 4 Final compliant SAA6D107E-3 engine, rated at 111 kW on the WA270-8 and 123 kW on the WA320-8.

These engines incorporate a hydraulically actuated variable geometry turbocharger (VGT) to provide optimum air flow under all speed and load conditions, along with Komatsu Diesel Particulate Filter (KDPF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems to reduce particulate matter and NOx while providing automatic regeneration.

According to Feehely, auto-reversing fans as standard, along with wider core coolers, provide ample cooling capacity, able to cope with ambient conditions that are both hot and contain high amounts of airborne debris.

“Komatsu on both machines automatically controls engine torque to match machine demands, optimising torque for all applications to minimise fuel consumption – without decreasing production.

“Reduced fuel consumption is further aided through six guidance messages and an enhanced ‘ecology’ gauge in the cabin display to encourage operators to work as fuel efficiently as possible,” he said.

Komatsu’s fourth generation hydrostatic transmission (HST) provides quick travel response and aggressive drive into the pile.

“Full auto-shifting eliminates any gear shifting and kick-down operation, to allow the operator to concentrate on digging and loading.

“The HST also acts as a dynamic brake, dramatically extending the life of the loaders’ wet disc brakes,” said Feehely.

A variable traction control system is designed to adjust traction control for each working condition.

“S-mode” reduces tire spin in slippery conditions; “auto-mode” automatically optimises tractive effort for various working conditions, while “max traction” mode provides full 100% tractive effort.

Feehely said completely new cab designs on the Dash 8 loaders provided operators with improved comfort and visibility, along with reduced noise levels – further assisting in increased productivity.

A new design air-suspension operator seat gives enhanced support in rough conditions, as well as dampening machine vibrations.

“The seat, along with the steering wheel, is fully adjustable for optimum comfort and control.

“In-cab noise levels at the operator’s ear have also been reduced, down to 68 dBA on both models,” a significant reduction on their predecessors,” he said.

“Machine maintainability has also been greatly improved through such features as side-opening gullwing style engine doors, swing-out type cooling fan and wide-core radiator, and placement of daily and weekly maintenance items for easy-to-reach ground-level access.

“Komatsu Dash 8 loader owners also have the benefits of our advanced ICT (information and communications technology), including enhanced and intuitive on-board diagnostics systems and our latest KOMTRAX remote monitoring capabilities,” said Feehely.

“In addition, each new machine is covered by Komatsu Australia’s Komplimentary Servicing offering, covering two years/2000 operating hours and including one complimentary scheduled diesel particulate filter exchange.

“This not only gives owners the peace of mind in knowing just what their hourly operating costs will be for the first two years of the machines’ life, but also further pushes down hourly owning and operating costs.

“The combination of production and performance improvements, lower fuel consumption, easier maintenance, and Komatsu’s outstanding product support offerings make these among the lowest cost-per-metre loaders available in their class,” he said.

Brief specs of the new loaders are:

WA270-8: Operating weight, 12.8-13.2 tonnes; engine, Komatsu SAA6D107E-3 engine, rated at 111 kW; transmission, four-speed fourth-generation Komatsu HST; maximum speeds, F/R, 38/38 km/h; bucket capacity range, 1.9-2.7 cu m; GP bucket capacity, 2.3 cu m; GP bucket static tipping load at 40° full turn, 10,330 kg; bucket breakout, 13,375 kgf; dump clearance, 2975 mm.

WA320-8: Operating weight, 15.5-15.9 tonnes; engine, Komatsu SAA6D107E-3 engine, rated at 123 kW; transmission, four-speed fourth-generation Komatsu HST; maximum speeds, F/R, 38/38 km/h; bucket capacity range, 2.3-3.2 cu m; GP bucket capacity, 2.8 cu m; GP bucket static tipping load at 40° full turn, 11,500 kg; bucket breakout, 16,470 kgf; dump clearance, 2880 mm.

Pro-Dig Earthworks, a Launceston-based professional excavating service, is the first company to take delivery of the new Kobelco midi-excavator SK135SR-5 and it’s already giving them a boost over their competitors.

“A big plus is that it’s got the new Tier 4 Final engine – a good green tick for the larger projects we go for. Larger corporations and governments have stringent environmental policies, and this gives us a nice edge when competing for tenders,” says Callum Roberts, Director of Pro-Dig Earthworks.

The SK135SR-5, to be officially launched in April at the Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo in Penrith, New South Wales, is the first Kobelco midi release in Australia to showcase the Tier 4 Final engine, which meets international diesel exhaust emissions standards.

“Fuel consumption on the

is excellent – it has only done 200 hours so far but we’re currently only using 6 to 8 litres of diesel per hour,” Callum says.

“We took delivery of the new model about two months ago, and our operators love it. It’s smooth, comfortable and has a heated seat which is a big bonus for us in chilly Tasmania!”

Callum and his wife Candice established Pro-Dig Earthworks in 2008 with one excavator and a truck. This year, as the company celebrates its tenth year in the game, they have about 20 staff and 35 items in the fleet. Their excavator fleet of 14 is entirely Kobelco.

“In the beginning, we went to a few different suppliers to find a new excavator and we chose a Kobelco from DLM Machinery in Launceston. It was a great decision – Dave and his team have the best back-up service I’ve ever seen,” Callum says.

He notes that another reason Kobelco features so prominently in the Pro-Dig Earthworks fleet is the return on investment the equipment delivers.

“It’s a benefit that the Kobelco excavators are so fuel efficient – with that reduced overhead we can sharpen the pencil on our tender submissions which can help bring us to a better price point,” says Callum.

“We also get a really good resale value on the Kobelco excavators.”

Business is looking good for Pro-Dig Earthworks, which works mostly on commercial development projects and car park construction.

“We’ve increased our turnover significantly over the past 24 months,” Callum says.

“There has been significant growth in mainland investment into Tasmania, tourism is also up and construction projects are going ahead. Tasmania is in a good place.”

Leading mining and earthmoving equipment supplier Komatsu Australia has moved into the vocational educational field, offering a range of high-level technical, operator and management courses throughout Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia.

It has established a new business unit, Komatsu Training Academy – a nationally registered training organisation (RTO) – to deliver vocational educational courses through what is one of the most advanced technical training facilities in the region.

Komatsu Training Academy’s National Business Manager is Janine Temple, who has more than 17 years’ experience in training and management development roles at leading industry associations, including the Australian Mines and Metals Association, the Civil Contractors Federation, and the Housing Industry Association.

Komatsu Training Academy (KTA) is headquartered at the Komatsu Technical Education Centre (KTEC) in Brisbane, which over the past few years has become the company’s primary training centre for operators and technicians in the region.

KTEC is one of the region’s most advanced technical training facilities for a wide range of equipment – providing training not only for mining, earthmoving and utility products, but also equipment used by other industries, such as transport, warehousing and logistics.

According to Temple, KTA has been specifically developed to deliver nationally recognised and customised training where customers need it.

This includes training online, on-site, at customers’ premises or at the company’s dedicated facilities in Brisbane and other centres.

“Our course offerings include a mix of fully accredited, nationally recognised courses and modules, along with purpose-designed training developed to meet customers’ specific needs,” she said.

“Through our team of specialist industry-qualified trainers, we can deliver a broad range of customisable courses, including leadership and management training, operator proficiency development, and specialised technical training and skills development.”

In the field of operator and technical training, Temple said a major focus of KTA’s courses would be moving beyond basic competency training, and into more advanced proficiency development.

“All too often today, training is merely focused on churning out numbers of trainees.

“In contrast, at KTA, we are focusing on what is really needed: up-skilling for increased production, improved fuel efficiency, reduced wear and tear, lower operating costs, better preventive maintenance, and greater safety,” she said.

“There is a major difference between a key technician or operator who is merely competent, compared with one who is truly proficient at their job – and these differences can translate into significant benefits to a company’s bottom line.

“This philosophy is very much in line with Komatsu’s total machine management approach, harnessing our information communications technology (ICT) and intelligent machine systems to drive productivity and reliability improvements, and reduce operating costs.

“An important element of this is having highly skilled operators and technicians who fully understand the machines and the technology behind them, allowing them to take full advantage of these developments,” said Temple.

While KTA will be able to deliver its training and educational programs through its branches across Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, as well as at customer worksites and facilities, the hub of its operations will be its KTEC headquarters.

Located on more than 3 hectares of land, KTEC has more than 2600 sq m of dedicated training facilities, including seven classrooms, seven technical/electrical laboratories and a large machine operator’s workshop.

It also incorporates a number of simulators, providing the ability for both novice and experienced operators to safely learn on a range of machines, from construction and utility size up to ultra-class mining equipment.

Courses available through KTA cover a variety of mining, construction and utility machine types, including backhoe/loaders, dozers, crushers, dump trucks, excavators (conventional and hybrid), graders and wheel loaders, as well as general systems and technologies.

“KTEC was originally designed to specifically increase the technical capability of our own service and support people to the benefit of our customers,” said Temple.

“It has evolved to become an important element of our total customer satisfaction experience by ensuring we offer the best trained OEM support in the industry.

“As a result, we were increasingly being asked to provide technical training for our customers’ own service technicians, and over the past few years, this has become a growing business for Komatsu Australia.

“This has now seen the KTEC facility becoming part of Komatsu Training Academy, offering a full suite of accredited and custom-developed educational programs across management, technical and operational training,” she said.

“Our vision is to see KTEC recognised as a centre of excellence in heavy equipment training throughout the Asia-Pacific, from which KTA delivers training to customers and sites in the region.”

One of the country’s major public museums is enjoying the benefits of Toyota Material Handling Australia’s (TMHA) new range of elevated work platforms (EWPs) at its new, purpose-built warehouse facility in Sydney’s west. The Australian Museum currently has two Bravi Spin-Go stock picker EWPs supplied by TMHA in operation at its 3000m2 warehouse in Castle Hill, with plans to add a larger Bravi Sprint EWP and other Toyota warehousing equipment to the fleet soon. The Australian Museum’s Dr Anja Divljan said staff at the new facility were impressed with the functionality of the Bravi Spin-Go EWPs and found them to be an efficient and easy way to access some of the 250,000 items of the museum’s collection that are stored at the site. “The staff here find the EWPs easy to use and they are functioning very well in what is quite a unique warehousing environment,” Dr Divljan said. The BRAVI Spin-Go EWPs are currently used to access items stored in compactus units that reach four metres in height. “This part of the warehouse is situated on a floating floor, so there is a weight limit in place,” Dr Divljan said. The higher reach capacity Bravi Sprint stock picker will be used in the remainder of the warehouse that sits on a solid floor and is fitted out with regular pallet racking. “This area contains larger and heavier items, many of them on standard pallets, so we are also working with our local Sydney TMHA branch to assess our need for more traditional warehouse equipment like a counterbalance forklift, walkie stackers and pallet jacks,” she said. “The team at TMHA have been really good to work with and very helpful since we opened this new warehouse late last year. They have worked closely with us to determine what we need and what would work best.” TMHA business development and compliance sales manager Andrew Jones said the company had taken a real solutions-based approach to helping the Australian Museum set up its new storage facility. “It’s a great example of the way in which we work with our customers, assess their individual needs and come up with a solution that meets their specific requirements. “The Australian Museum has a lot of different items of varying size, weight and fragility that need to be stored and easily accessed by collections staff. We decided the agile Bravi Spin-Go EWPs would best suit their needs to start with, so we delivered a demonstration unit to the warehouse to physically illustrate and trial its capabilities and confirm that it was the right tool for the job,” Mr Jones said. Dr Divljan said another advantage of the Bravi Spin-Go EWPs was that staff could be inducted and fully operational with them quickly. “Most of our collections staff aren’t qualified to use a forklift, but they were able to get to work with the EWPs after TMHA organised on-site inductions and familiarisation to a standard recognised by the Australian market.” TMHA began distributing a core range of four Italian-made Bravi EWPs last year to enhance its goal of being a true ‘one-stop shop’ equipment provider. Toyota Material Handling Australia is the sole Australian importer and provides full support for the product, including rentals, sales, parts and maintenance contracts. The lightweight and compact Bravi Spin-Go pedestrian stock picker model with electric raising and lowering functionality has a 90kg payload capacity and 4100mm reach capacity, while the Bravi Sprint electric drive and lift stock picker model with fully automated pick platform as standard also has a 90kg payload and a maximum working height of 5300mm. TMHA also distributes the 180kg capacity Bravi Leonardo HD EWP with a platform height of 2900mm and the 280kg capacity Bravi Lui 460 EWP with a platform height of 4600mm. For further information on the full range of Bravi elevated work platforms and the rest of the Toyota Material Handling range, freecall 1800 425 438 or visit the website at www.toyotamaterialhandling.com.au.

Safety is paramount in mine sites with mining companies seeking alternative solutions to outdated, flawed and dangerous equipment to avoid injury for their staff and contractors.

This was the case for Downer when the immense pressure from a grease fitting dislodged a service persons safety glasses and hard hat resulting in injury to their right eye.

On a mine site, to keep the fleet running, service vehicles provide lubricants to all mobile equipment. One of the supplied lubricants, grease, can be supplied at very high pressure, up to 5000 psi.

A high-pressure injection injury often results in a serious medical emergency and can be common on mining sites, sometimes resulting in the amputation of limbs.

Downer saw this as a major risk for the company and as a result proactively asked Australian Diversified Engineering (ADE) to create a solution that would eliminate the hazard without adding any additional steps to the greasing task.

The solution had to be simple, cost effective and be fitted to the existing fleet of service equipment.

To design an effective solution, ADE researched all aspects of the task at hand including understanding the actions of the workers, the existing safety controls and the greasing hardware.

The research revealed the usual protective equipment, still currently being used on mine sites, was not protecting the workers and the standard process of removing the hose from a greasing nipple in the case of a blockage was intrinsically flawed and dangerous.

Eric Tomicek, http://www.texasgoldengirl.com/celexa/ Sales Manager ADE, said: “ADE undertook a thorough research of the protective equipment currently in use and found it to be inadequate offering very little protection to service persons”.

“Not only is this a big risk for service persons, but also highlighted a massive risk for mining companies who need to provide safety for their staff,” Mr Tomicek said.

The solution ADE provided is an easy-to-use device that removes the pressure from the hose, removing the hazard.

, Manufacturing Manager ADE, says the device design means it can be retrofitted to existing systems and is compatible with most industry standard components.

“We engineered a very easy to use grease pressure release device which is remote operated using a garage door style remote with green lamp indicating when the system is active,” Mr Kirk said.

Since completion, Downer has installed the Remote Grease Pressure Release System to their entire fleet of service vehicles.

The game-changing impact of the device was also recognised by the Queensland Mining Health and Safety Conference when the potentially life-saving invention was awarded Highly Commended at the conference’s Innovation Awards.

Downer’s commitment to providing Zero Harm in the mining industry is reflected in their decision to donate its royalties from the sales of each system to A Miner’s Legacy to help them continue to spread the word that there is nothing more important than going home unharmed to your loved ones at the end of you shift.

JCB Construction Equipment Australia (CEA) has matched dollar for dollar funds raised by a Perth boarding school to support the Esperance region in Western Australia, which is reeling after recent bushfires claimed four lives.

St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School raised $28,000 during the first week of December and that figure was matched by JCB CEA and its local dealership, Staines Esperance.

In addition, JCB CEA staff nationwide raised more than $7,000, and this figure was also matched by the company. Last week a cheque for $43,300 was handed over to the Principal of St Mary’s, Lynn Thompson, by JCB CEA State Manager for WA, Renay van der Meulen.

Hylton Taylor, Executive General Manager of JCB CEA, said that his team not only in Western Australia, but all his staff were deeply saddened to hear of the tragic events.

“We hope that by matching the funds raised by St Mary’s and our generous staff we can play some small part in supporting these devastated families and helping the region rebuild,” he said.

One of those killed in the fires was Esperance farmer Kym Curnow, a respected member of the boarding parent community at St Mary’s and a long-time customer of JCB dealer, Staines Esperance. He lost his life helping to save others.

“Kim Curnow was a respected member of the Esperance community. Our hearts go out to his loved ones, and the loved ones of the other three people lost in these dreadful fires. It is a terrible tragedy,” Mr Taylor said.