The formalising of a tripartite alliance between Australian electrical engineering company The Rutherford Group and UK-based Baldwin & Francis (B&F) and Brush Transformers could form a platform for growth into south-east Asia, South Africa and the United States.
According to Rutherford general manager Greg Griffiths, the synergies between the three companies will provide the final piece of the jigsaw for a full range of electrical product offerings to underground and open-cut coal and metalliferous mines.
B&F is a global supplier of high-voltage flameproof starters, called the compact high power loadcentres (CHP) series, used in the control of longwall faces, continuous miners, conveyors and pump stations.
Brush Transformers is a subsidiary of the major UK engineering group FKI Plc, which covers the manufacture of transformers from 16kVA pole mounted units right up to 1000MVA grid type power transformers. The Brush alliance grew out of the fact that Brush has had successful ventures worldwide, especially in the likes of China, where Brush supplied the first 3.3kV coal face.
On a recent visit to Australia, B&F marketing manager Dave Dowell said the venture with Rutherfords had been three years in the making.
"We were looking for a partner who could represent B&F in the Australian longwall market and, more importantly, someone we could share technology with and someone who could bring our total solutions to the market."
There were instances of similar products being offered by both companies but these have been rationalised and streamlined. Each company has been able to extend its own product range with the components, systems and technologies of the other, Dowell said.
David Moore, Brush sales manager mining, said the company had been looking for a partner to further develop its interests in the Australian market.
"We are hoping for an exchange of ideas and technologies and an involvement in new mining methods as well as offering the industry more options when it comes to the power supply for their mines. Our experience in this field is second to none and we feel that our inclusion into this venture with The Rutherford Group and Baldwin & Francis has all the makings of success."
The signing of a formal agreement last year between Rutherfords and B&F was followed by Brush agreeing to come on board in July this year.
The companies' first order for a 1MVA sub-station was placed by BHP's Elouera colliery in New South Wales. Initial teething problems with the sub-station appear to have been overcome. A NSW electrical engineer familiar with the Elouera sub-station said the modular elements of the transformer provided an easy upgrade path and the flexibility to select gear to suit requirements at any given time.
One of the biggest challenges with supplying overseas manufactured equipment into a foreign market is after-sales support, partly why B&F decided to enter the Australian market with a partner rather than an agent.
"This market cannot be supported from outside Australia," Dowell said.
B&F personnel have been providing training for several months to Rutherfords staff in the manufacture and support of the B&F products.
According to Dowell, the B&F CHP series is one of the most flexible systems in the world. "It's modular, easily applied to different applications and ratings, and it's an internationally certified solution."
B&F hopes that one of the spin-offs of the sharing of engineering expertise will be the eventual ability to offer products internationally from Australia, particularly into the United States, which Dowell said was more aligned with Australian engineered solutions.
Similarly, Rutherfords hopes to be able to offer its flameproof coupler range and enclosures into markets where B&F already has a presence. Electrical products made locally will contain roughly 80% Australian content and will incorporate B&F and Brush technology and design.
