Shanxi Shenfu is a new customer and will use the chock carriers at its Northern Shanxi Zone coal mines in northwest China.

Industrea chief executive Robin Levison said the order was part of a new trend of electricity producers establishing coal mines based on leading international practices, and with the most advanced mining productivity and safety equipment.

“China’s push to consolidate smaller mines and improve mining productivity and safety has now led to the larger electricity producers establishing their own large coal mines as a source of guaranteed supply,” he said.

“We are expecting a number of similar orders from other electricity producers for our leading equipment, including methane gas drainage, collision avoidance systems and longwall roof support carriers, due to our strong position as a supplier of choice to China’s leading coal producers.”

The company expects to make more sales as China injects $US500 million a year into coal mine safety to help cut the number of deaths in the industry, with state media estimating it has fallen 24% from 2008 to 2009.

Industrea has won $A43 million worth of product contracts to China this financial year.

Shares in Industrea are unchanged at 47.5c.