Tough Stuff #28
New MIMICO building will benefit staff and clients
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| The new Kardex Shuttle contains thousands of parts that can be accessed instantly by computer. |
Team MIMICO is now happily settled in the company’s new 2240m2 building at 17 Waihou St, Matamata, and Managing Director Rex Davies says staff and clients are starting to reap the benefits.
“The company has grown in all areas of business – sales, service and parts supply - since we moved into our previous address in November 1999. Servicing of heavy machinery, ZF transmission in particular, also grew rapidly the past few years, so we no longer had the workshop space we needed.
“Then there’s the agreement signed with Metso in August 2007, in terms of which we’re now the official distributor for the Metso Minerals range of products. This move, eight years later almost to the day, was just in time...it’s positively impacting our business, the flow of work, putting customer service first,” he says.
The heavy machinery workshop has almost tripled in size from 400m2 to 1100m2. This houses a four-bay workshop, a transmission and engine rebuilding room with a new Atlas Copco air system, and a dedicated tool room and storage area for used parts.
A 10-tonne gantry crane services the workshop and a 2-tonne job crane services the high transmission room, which also houses the first ZF transmission test bench in the country. The workshop has a 9m stud, so it can handle the biggest jobs.
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| The MIMICO workshop has the most advanced ZF testing equipment in New Zealand. |
Comments Rex: “The new workshop space allows continuity of work. When an urgent job comes in, we don’t have to move a current job to make space for it. Dismantling and setting up takes time, so it’s improved our work flows and productivity.”
The building has a dedicated parts supply office and a second purpose built vertical parts storage machine: “With $6 million worth of inventory, this simplifies our parts supply. All the business is now centralised, which improves service and turnaround time on parts,” Rex says.
The new building improves customer experience and staff satisfaction in several other respects. The machinery display area in the entrance looks crisp and professional. A large seminar, conference, and training area is located upstairs.
The bigger office is now home to established staff and new staff who came across from Metso Minerals following MIMICO’s appointment to sell and service the full Metso Minerals product range.
Last year, Mimico upgraded its computer system, and with everything now under one roof, Rex says the company is now “as future-proofed as can be for the time being”.
ST348 screening plants deliver the goods
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| A second ST348 screens aggregate at Atom Hire’s Kiwi Point Quarry in Wellington. |
Atom Hire and Waikato Concrete Crushers each bought Metso Lokotrack ST348 mobile screening plants recently and the company owners are very happy with their new machines’ performance.
The track-mounted, automated mobile screening unit incorporates Metso Minerals’ SmartScreen and Intelligent Controller (IC300) technology.
Atom Hire owner Alex Mathieson, a MIMICO customer for the past 12 years, says he is familiar with Metso and knows all about the reliability of its products.
“It does the job, I like its features, and we know it fits in and is compatible with our other equipment. The service and after-sales backup are good, so we saw no reason to change.”
Atom Hire operates the Kiwi Point Quarry in Wellington’s Ngauranga Gorge, and also does contract screening and crushing. Alex bought the ST348 to replace an older model Metso screening plant and is pleased with the good trade-in deal MIMICO gave him. His fleet also includes an LT1110S mobile crushing plant and a Moxy dump truck:
“I stick to what I know...it makes life easier,” he says.
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| The Lokotrack ST348 hard at work screening recycled concrete for Waikato Concrete Crushers in Hamilton. |
Waikato Concrete Crushers owner Andrew Proudlock says his new Lokotrack’s performance “just blew away our expectations”.
Waikato Concrete Crushers is a Hamilton-based general recycling concrete and demolition business. It also owns a 2006 model Metso LT95 crusher bought six months ago: “We got such good service and after sales support from Mimico that we decided to go with them again, plus they gave us a good trade-in deal on two of our older plant items,” Andrew says.
With the two Metso stablemates in the yard, Waikato Concrete Crushers has the ability to crush and screen up to 300m3 daily of raw product coming in from a number of local contractors. The product is then re-used in multiple projects. The company also recently hired its ST348 screen system to Central Quarries in Waingaro, where it achieved 500 tonnes of screened product per day over a period of three weeks.
Other features that impress Andrew are the IC300 control’s automatic start up and shut down process and ability to supervise and adjust the unit’s feed rate and screen performance automatically for optimum screening results of multiple products.
In addition, the unique end-to-end crowning of the ST348 screen box and adjustable screen angle allows for higher production and more efficient separation than similar 2.4 m x 1.2 m two-bearing flat screens. The on-board stockpiling conveyors allow for fast set-up times by eliminating the need for off plant stacking conveyors. The side conveyors have a patented folding mechanism that provides a compact profile for transport.
Says Andrew: “I really like that my two machines are compatible, and work with remotes. I can use two people only to run both and do the loading and unloading. This is the Rolls Royce of screening machines...I was willing to pay a premium because I knew I’d be getting Rolls Royce results and back-up service.”
Matching Moxys for Johnston team
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| One of the new Johnston MT31s at work in a coal pit near Huntly. |
When Ross Johnston decided to buy two new articulated dump trucks, the choice was easy. He purchased two Moxy MT31’s to work with the Moxy HA270.
Ross, co-owner of earthmoving contractor RA & LJ Johnston Ltd from Ngaruawahia, is using his expanded Moxy fleet on a number of contracts, including building a coal stockpile pad for Genesis Energy in Huntly.
Ross says he got a good deal on the late-model low-hour MT31’s.
“I saved money and got a machine that hasn’t done a lot of hours and is in good condition.”
Ross says he tried Moxy because it has been around for so long and has a good reputation.
“We looked around a bit and came to the conclusion they’re pretty good machines. But I must say the first Moxy I bought really impressed me. It did what I wanted it to do, so I decided to go with Moxy again. These three so far have given me excellent service. They’re also fuel efficient and pretty comfortable to ride in.”
MIMICO Managing Director Rex Davies: “The MT31 is a robust machine with hard- working motors and transmissions that handle steep grades and heavy loads, and they offer excellent value for money. Often it’s the improved cab layout and ride comfort that seals the deal - once we get the operators in the driver’s seat, it’s hard to get them out again!”
Breaker eliminates crusher jams
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| The breaker is mounted on a tall yellow steel support structure. |
Stevenson Resources’ Huntly Quarry has found a smart and effective way of dealing with big rocks that occasionally jam crushers.
The company recently bought an Atlas Copco SB300 hydraulic breaker. MIMICO then designed and mounted it on a boom and tower of its own design, fixed to Stevenson’s trusty 50-year-old Universal crusher unit.
The SB300’s solid, one-piece cast body houses all integral parts and gives the hammers a high power-to-weight ratio and easy manoeuvrability. With an operating weight of 311kg and accepting a hydraulic flow of 80 litres per minute at 150 bar, the SB300 delivers up to 960 blows per minute.
The design means the body does not require side bolts, making these breakers durable and dependable. The solid casting also makes SB300 units stronger and lighter than conventional units and ideal for use with mini excavators, skid steers and backhoes.
Quarry Maintenance Manager Colin Stretch says oversize rocks don’t come through often. But when they do, it is difficult to get rid of them. The crusher unit operator previouwly used a 3-tonne crane to lift rocks out so that they could be broken into more manageable fragments on the ground, then lift the fragments back into the crusher again.
“We were worried this could become a safety issue, and it was also a very time- consuming business. Now we just position the breaker over the outsized rock, give the rock a good hammering, and tuck the breaker out of the way again.
“Some days we don’t need it all. But when we need it, it does the job fast and effectively. MIMICO’s product was a definite fit for this application,” he says.
Matching the best products with the best process
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| David McCaffrey – provides a wealth of technical knowledge and experience. |
David McCaffrey, Process Equipment Engineer, joined the MIMICO team in October last year and brings with him a wealth of technical knowledge and experience.
David joined Svedala New Zealand shortly after it was established in 1995. In 2001, Metso Minerals New Zealand Ltd merged with Svedala. In August last year, Mimico became the official New Zealand distributor of the Metso Minerals range of products.
To ensure a smooth transition, several members of the Metso team, including David, moved into full-time employment with MIMICO. He says the past 13 years have exposed him to many unique learning opportunities.
“I have built up a solid hands-on knowledge of water treatment. In particular Lamella water treatment plants, as well as mining and quarrying process and the product requirements for grinding, milling, crushing, screening and separating.”
David now focuses on product applications and matching customer requirements for water treatment and mining with the best products and process performances. To do this, he liaises closely with MIMICO’s New Zealand sales engineers and the Metso technical support network worldwide.
Born in Ireland, David is a qualified fitter and spent the first 10 years of his career in an alumina plant. He came to New Zealand in 1993 and two years ago he completed a Diploma in Business Studies through the Waikato Institute of Technology.
His greatest pleasure in the job is the sense of accomplishment he gets from resolving a tough challenge: “I get a real buzz when I know I’ve helped the customer achieve their objectives.”
Outside of work, David is a boatie who enjoys both freshwater and saltwater fishing with his young family.
Spotlight falls on best practice
The ‘mining’ tag attached to quarrying provides the industry with a challenge in presenting a positive environmental image.
But the annual Mimico Environmental Excellence Award has become a showcase for outstanding environmental projects, both within the industry and to the general public.
The Aggregate and Quarrying Association (AQA) is preparing to judge entries in the eighth Mimico Environmental Excellence Award for 2008, with the winner due to be announced at the AQA/IOC conference in July.
The AQA award recognises best practice in environmental management of quarrying sites, including beautification, pollution management, and rehabilitation.
The winner receives a $5000 education grant to help the recipient further their knowledge of the quarry industry. This year the AQA will offer two more awards to recognise energy efficiency and community relations.
Mimico Managing Director Rex Davies: “The industry has come a long way from its old image of a dirty, careless business. Today sustainability, including good environmental management, is the norm.
“The purpose of this award is to recognise excellence and encourage companies to keep up the good work.”
Previous Mimico Environmental Excellence Award winners include Holcim (New Zealand) Ltd in 2007, for the rehabilitation of the quarry at Cape Foulwind, Westport,
and Fulton Hogan in 2006, for the successful operation and rehabilitation of Reliable Way Quarry in Mt Wellington.
AQA Executive Director Roger Parton says the AQA takes its responsibilities regarding the environment very seriously: “The nature of quarrying is such that the public often have misconceptions about its long term effects...it’s important that Association members ensure minimum impact on the environment as far as humanly possible.
“This award shows what we’ve got. The quality of entries is world class and judging is not easy.”
This is the 15th year the award will be on offer. In 2000 Mimico took it over from a sponsor in the heavy transport industry. This year’s judges are Morgan Williams, former Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, and Jeff Jones, president of the Institute of Professional Engineers.
Variety is the spice of Rob’s life
Service Engineer Rob Hale moved to MIMICO with the Metso Minerals team three months ago and is helping to ensure a smooth transition of business in the workshop.
After almost a decade with Metso, he knows the products and customer base well. “The Metso product line is big in New Zealand,” he says. “And we’ve got lots of clients to look after – I believe I’m well placed to help do that.”
A qualified fitter welder, Rob did his apprenticeship with Culham Engineering Ltd in Whangarei. He worked in the air conditioning, pulp and paper, hydro-electrical and dairy
industries. He says his experience in diverse industries gave him a good grounding in general engineering.
“You use the same basic skills, and this taught me to do just about everything – I’m on call for breakdowns and repair work, I do audits...in fact, that’s what I like most about my job. There’s variety. It keeps my mind active. I’m not doing the same thing day in and day out.
“I work on different types of equipment, from Barmacs to Lokotracks. I think my particular strength is the ability to work in any situation, I’m a flexible thinker and a good problem solver,” he says.
Rob is a family man who likes to do renovations around the house and take his family fishing. The Hale youngsters are active in sport, and Rob says he and his partner take great joy in focusing on “helping them excel in what they do well”. His daughter Tracey is New Zealand’s top under-19 women’s 100m hurdler.
