PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY
other new and emerging technologies and services not readily available in the region. For example, replacing or re-engineering parts for older gearboxes will be made easier by engaging the new facility, Dallari explained. “When looking at the mining operations in the area, there is probably one common denominator for most of them. That is the use of old series gearboxes for which replacement or even parts may be difficult, if not impossible, to obtain,” Dallari said. “Some gearboxes had gears replaced with locally cut gears that could not capture microgeometry and gear tooth correction factors. This results in a reduction of the torque rating of the unit.” SEW-EURODRIVE will offer mining companies and service providers with solutions to replace gears in matched pairs with the company’s technology. “SEW-EURODRIVE will measure the gear pair macrogreometry and engineer a new gear pair with equal or higher torque rating that will fit in lieu of the old gears with
no other modification required,” Dallari explained. The facility will also deliver the potential to engineer and supply identical drop-in replacements, he added. “Identical drop-in replacements will require no modifications on site as they will fit in the same footprint and envelope of the old gearbox,
AUSTRALIANMINING
including same shaft dimensions,” Dallari said. “This solution is extremely beneficial when the existing gearbox can’t be procured anywhere, but also when operations requirements can’t be met by existing brands. “Just as an example, we are currently designing a drop-in gearbox that will fit in lieu of two different
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gearboxes allowing the site to reduce the number of spares.”
Regional promise
Despite the mining downturn and economic concerns throughout Queensland and Australia in recent years, SEW-EURODRIVE will open the service centre optimistic about the future prosperity of the industry and the region. While still relatively new in Mackay, Dallari believes the mining industry is gaining momentum again and there is renewed confidence in the area. “The downturn showed everybody that long-term business comes from sensible planning, sustainable growth and efficient use of resources,” Dallari said. “The mining industry, together with the sugar industry, represents remarkable potential for this service centre. This year SEWEURODRIVE celebrates 35 years in Australia and we can display a proven track record of wise investments under the guidance of our farsighted shareholders, this service centre being the most recent.” Even with its newest service centre only on the verge of opening, Dallari said SEW-EURODRIVE was already contemplating expansion plans in Mackay to capitalise on the large facility it had developed. He said the 2000-square-metre premises allowed for future growth and would allow the team to expand in the future. “The service centre is already equipped with the state-of-theart equipment, including load testing, gearbox rotating machines, automated test panel, threelevel filtration unit and much more, but rest assured that SEWEURODRIVE will further invest if new technologies become available,” Dallari concluded. AM