March 21, 2023 - Bend-tech has long been at the forefront of providing specialist parts, repairs and maintenance solutions to miners operating below the surface.

The underground parts team at Bend-tech is made up of equipment experts who remain solely focused on ensuring a site’s machine downtime is kept to an absolute minimum.

It can be argued that underground mine safety does not attract the attention it should, particularly when it comes to maintenance on heavy mobile equipment.

Bend-tech is a leading end-to-end provider when it comes to certified safe solutions for the mining industry.

“We are specialists in designing, engineering and manufacturing access platforms, either made out of steel or aluminium, as well as producing storage benches and containers, trestles, workbenches, work stands, equipment racking and workshop solutions,” Bend-tech marketing manager Rhys Werndly told Safe to Work.

“We also have an extensive range of machine parts, including original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts for both surface and underground mining equipment, along with the capacity to undertake heavy structural engineering projects.”

Many machines operating underground require routine inspection, repair and maintenance at a height of around 3m, significantly lower than surface mining equipment, which can lead to a different tolerance for risk.

For example, the likelihood of catastrophic injury from a 3m fall may be relatively small, but it remains a height that could result in a worker receiving significant injuries and being forced to take time away from work.

It therefore remains critical that underground mobile equipment is fitted with robust and reliable safety handrails.

“We have the capacity to manufacture specialist access platforms and handrail solutions on various types of underground mobile equipment,” Werndly said.

“We are a leading supplier of handrails that suit a wide range of loaders and haul trucks, and they are designed to ensure fall protection as well as enhanced safety for technicians completing routine maintenance or unplanned repairs.

“For instance, we have designed a handrail solution for the Epiroc, Sandvik and Caterpillar mobile equipment range.

“Our handrail solutions are robust and reliable and can withstand the harshest underground mining environments, and the OEM replacement handrails can be folded-up during scheduled downtime, ensuring handrail integrity and avoiding accidental damage and corrosion.”

Other OEM replacement parts include fenders, guards, travel motor covers, and much more.

The rigorous nature of underground mining means machine components are exposed to the risk of extensive damage. And when that occurs, it inevitably leads to costly repairs and maintenance.

There are also the flow-on costs associated with machine downtime and lost production, potentially resulting in significant loss in revenue.

“We are incredibly focused on making repairs and maintenance more efficient,” Werndly said.

“And in order to achieve this outcome for our customers, we strive to eliminate machine downtime.”

All of Bend-tech’s products are fully certified and the Perth-based business prides itself on working closely with its mining customers.

“Often a tailored solution for a customer becomes a standard product,” Werndly said.

“We have a dedicated research and development department with a team of mechanical engineers dedicated to innovation in terms of designing and manufacturing new equipment solutions for our customers and critically thinking about the way we innovate.

“We are always endeavouring to streamline our processes, including our design and manufacturing, so as to drive shorter lead times, lower costs and pass these benefits on to our customers.”

Bend-tech’s approach also accounts for the critical importance of safety.

“If the underground mining workforce feels safe and if, for example, we can where possible eliminate manual handling, then they’re going to be able to operate more efficiently. It’s that simple,” Werndly said.

Bend-tech’s underground parts team is constantly on-site and discussing equipment requirements with customers.

“Everything that we engineer at Bend-tech is fully certified to Australian standards, in some instances exceeding the Australian standard, containing certification plate and certification number,” Werndly said.

In essence, what sets Bend-tech apart within the market is that the company does it all.

“It’s all handled by us, and the customer can say, ‘Here, sort this problem out for us’, which is something we love doing. And that’s the reason we’ve got such loyal customers.

“Importantly, this approach also means we have a range of IP (intellectual property) that we can sell again and again.

“So the thing that sets us apart is that end-to-end solution. That’s the key advantage against our competitors that offer similar solutions.”

Through constant innovation, collaboration and a deep understanding of its customers, Bend-tech can deliver a quality experience.

“We want to make sure our customers and potential customers are using equipment that is going to make sure they get home at the end of the day, especially when you’re talking about lifting and handling large equipment,” Werndly said.

“Inadvertent things can happen to underground mining equipment, but with control measures in place, safety and reduced downtime can be achieved to prevent serious injury and lost time.”