The Mackay-based company has been on a steady growth curve over recent years with a growing number of roadway development contracts. When it recently sought to expand its existing fleet with continuous miners nothing much was available. Waiting periods on new gear were prohibitive and the company began looking around for second-hand equipment. Mastermyne found the two ABM20 continuous miners on an internet search at a shut down Canadian mine in Nova Scotia.

The Canadian operation bought the two machines in 1999, one of which cut 3000m of coal while the other remained in the surface workshop. But a Canadian government decree froze all mining operations when the coal price dipped in favour of cheaper imported coal.

Last year Mastermyne business manager Tony Caruso and managing director Darren Hamblin inspected the machines in Canada and decided to bring them into Australia.

The machines were stripped down in Canada and at time of writing were being shipped to Australia where they will be rebuilt and upgraded to Australian standards. Caruso said mechanically it was planned the machines would be upgraded from Mark I to Mark III specification with heightened safety features and more operator friendly modifications.

The company hopes to have the machines up and running by May-June with one earmarked for Queensland and the other for the company’s expansion into New South Wales.

“Our operators like the ABM20s and we currently have three operating development units utilising them,” Caruso said.

The company’s plan is to build up mining kits and have available production units readymade with a suite of mining equipment including continuous miner, coal haulage, ventilation and rubber tired vehicle capabilities.

Mastermyne’s underground equipment fleet consists of a range of gear including a shuttle car, 13 thirteen underground loaders (including seven Juggernaut loaders), five man transporters, six purpose-built secondary support rigs, an underground grader and three complete mobile conveyor systems, capable of servicing full mains development. Additional man transporters are currently on order.

The company is also looking into buying a roadheader to complement the ABMs, which it plans to use for highwall entry and stone drivage work.

“Mines are getting more complex in the way they’re driving inseam drifts into other areas and big overpasses over belts for ventilation. There’s definitely a market for a good roadheader. Our philosophy is to acquire a new roadheader fitted with remote control and onboard bolting rigs. That’s the sort of technology we’d be looking at introducing into the industry,” Caruso said.

Ideally Mastermyne would like to have a roadheader available by the last quarter of 2006.