ACIRL’s seven-person mining group as a whole will continue the existing business under the name SkillPro with principal consultants Terry O’Beirne and Dave Humphris.

Included in the deal is ACIRL’s interest in A-Bye Mining Vehicles, a joint venture business with Inbye Mining Vehicles to develop the non-flameproof Toyotas and similar machines.

SkillPro has also taken over the licence from CSIR in South Africa to distribute the bag barrier product (see related story). All the mine risk business and risk management products, as well as the calibration and electronics repair centre in Emerald goes with SkillPro.

“In the longer-term we want to expand our products business, particularly those products that have a niche safety-engineering/major hazard engineering image. To that end we’re working with a South African company on some very innovative fire protection systems which will be applicable to vehicles and machinery, both surface and underground,” O’Beirne said.

All of ACIRL’s current projects will be completed under the ACIRL banner, to minimise customer disruption. ACARP research projects being conducted by ACIRL likewise continue. Projected turnover in the first year already stands in excess of $1 million.