Time Critical Repairs

During mining plant and equipment breakdowns, the customer’s focus is on the turnaround time for repairs and quality of service as opposed to cost. Swift has the equipment, technology, software and facilities, capable of producing components faster and of a higher quality than any of its competitors. As a result, Swift has become the supplier of choice for time critical breakdown services and achieves significantly higher margins than that of a “typical” engineering company.

Why ‘Swift’

Swift has: The necessary equipment to profile cut and bend components in

house and does not rely on subcontractors or steel merchants A purpose built facility with 120t lifting capacity, capable of

manufacturing, refurbishing and repairing the largest mining equipment

Custom designed software integrated with leading technology, facilitating a more efficient and higher quality service

Parts library consisting of thousands of customer parts, enabling the customer to have replacement parts cut out within minutes

Why ‘Swift’

Swift has: Stock items register including detailed drawings of equipment

located on Customers’ sites Laser cutting, which eliminates time consuming sub processes, such

as marking out and drilling A stable skilled labour force of 130 employees Substantial steel plate stocks, in excess of 300 tonnes, varying in

grade and thickness Proven ability to consistently deliver in challenging situations

Case Studies

a) Hitachi – Time critical repairs to Excavators

b) BHP Billiton (Port of Haypoint) - Time critical repairs to Telescopic Chute

a) Hitachi – Time critical repairs to Excavators

Swift is an approved and preferred supplier to Hitachi for breakdown maintenance and repairs to their fleet of excavators. Hitachi have sold these excavators to major earthmoving contractors such as Roche Mining, Leighton Contractors and Thiess. Swift secured this work initially after Thiess requested that Swift carry out repairs to the EX 5500 during a breakdown situation. Swift were able to provide a very quick turnaround time on all repairs, which were of an excellent quality. Hitachi now send all repairs to Swift on a cost plus basis knowing they are better positioned to make the highest quality repairs, in the shortest possible time.

Swift received excellent feedback after the repairs to the excavator were completed. Paul Thompson from ETRS carried out Non Destructive Testing for Hitachi on the repairs and communicated that Swift had done an excellent job. The following correspondence was via email:

“All welded repairs were of excellent quality and the assistance from Swift staff was outstanding. Could you please pass on our thanks to Swift management”

Paul ThompsonSenior NDT ConsultantETRS - Mackay

“Again on behalf of HCA and ETRS, thanks to your team for their support and commitment”

Jason CantoniCORPORATE SUPPORT GROUPHITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY AUSTRALIA

Who does Hitachi call for Time Critical repairs?

This Hitachi 5500 excavator was left within the blast zone at Coppabella mine. The cost to Leighton Contractors of having this 9 million dollar machine not operating was substantial. Hitachi immediately gave the time critical job of repairing this machine to Swift.

Swift responded by breaking the components up into suitable jobs which best suited their facilities. A team of people were assigned to major components and worked around the clock until the job was completed.

Key Points

Swift had the man power and systems in place, which allowed them to respond immediately to this time critical job.

A significant amount of working in confined space was required to complete the work. Confined space is a specialized area and Swift had

the necessary skills and procedures in place to safely complete thework.

Swift had the required plate stock to begin cutting and bending thereplacement components without delay.

The large mainframe was able to be lifted into Swift’s purpose built heavy equipment facility, without hiring in mobile cranes Time savings were made on many of the lighter components such as cowlings, by utilizing laser cutting.

Swift have captured this market and are now the preferred supplier to all major players including Hitachi, Liebherr and Terex for time critical repairs. Ongoing repairs of excavators involve repairs of cracking and replacement of highly stressed components on the machine.

b) BHP Billiton (Port of Haypoint) – Time critical repairs to Telescopic Chute

Swift are the preferred supplier at Haypoint for any breakdown maintenance and repairs. Swift have a strong history at the port for on-time and successfully completed projects, during shutdown and breakdown situations.

On the 20th of January 2006 the telescopic chute on ship loader #, collided with a coal ship, snapping it off. The telescopic chute was bent in the process rendering it un-repairable. The port was already suffering from ……

With the port unable to load ships …..With cost to the port mounting at a reported, Swift was given the job of constructing a replacement.

Swift had previously constructed the telescopic chute and therefore was able to quickly retrieve part shapes from their parts database. Parts were then automatically nested into stock plates and cutting commenced with out delay. Parts were rolled into shape and the telescopic chute was constructed in unprecedented time.

Key Points

Swift had the required plate stock to begin cutting and rolling the replacement components without delay. Swift did not need to rely on any steel merchants or subcontractors

to complete the repairs Significant time savings were achieved by laser cutting all flanges

on the telescopic chute No redrafting was required as Swift had the parts preprogrammed

in their database