The collaboration between the Illawarra-based companies led to the development of the safe wheel installation fitting transportation apparatus, built for safer wheel changes for miners interacting with load haul dump vehicles.

Soto Consulting managing director Frank Soto said the SWIFTA minimised operator risk because all manual handling was eliminated and operators would not be exposed to the mass of the wheel, protecting them from wrist, arm, shoulder and back injuries.

“Controlling the operation without any obstruction and removing men from the potential ‘crush zone’ between the LHD and a shuttle car is the main feature of SWIFTA,” he said.

“Having the unique advantage of enabling the driver of the LHD to leave the ‘parked’ vehicle and move to the hydraulic control panel on the SWIFTA, then safely operate its functions to undertake the wheel change is a secondary feature.”

The joint venture also created a mine tow hitch that provides a connection allowing maximum turning, tilt and deviation capabilities, ensuring safer transportation of shuttle cars and other heavy equipment underground.

“By maintaining a rigid connection, it increases control of movements while towing heavy equipment underground, such as shuttle cars and other rubber tyre machinery,” Soto said.

“Mine Tow Hitch eliminates risk of an incident through an uncontrolled movement of the towed vehicle and can reduce damage to machinery and infrastructure along the tow path.

“Fewer people are required for towing operations as an optional hydraulic steering-braking kit can be utilised by the LHD driver to control these functions for a towed shuttle car.”

The company said the hitch was developed in consultation with mine operators at Centennial Coal Myuna to “allow for the controlled and efficient transport of heavy equipment from the surface to within the coal seam of the mine”

Soto said a much higher level of safety resulted from the companies’ close relationship, with Soto Consulting concentrating on the design side while Leussink focused on development and manufacture.

“Engineers-in-charge are becoming aware that anything designed, developed and manufactured by the Soto-Leussink alliance will be made completely to relevant mining design guidelines and Australian Standards,” he said.

“Furthermore, after developing SWIFTA and the mine tow hitch and placing them into the industry, it clearly illustrates to mining companies that any considerations for their own safety improvements can easily lead to an innovative and practical world-first product.

“We actively encourage managers and engineers from the mining sector to approach us with their challenges as it could lead to an innovative development and market-first.”