Australasian Mining Review
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/37922
68 New gladstone premises for Konecranes helps service Queensland mining and building boom Leading crane manufacturer and servicing company Konecranes has opened a new branch in Gladstone, Queensland, servicing Rio Tinto’s joint-venture QAL plant, plus other prominent industrial and mining customers between Brisbane and Mackay. Gladstone,” said Konecranes manager John Bailey. “T Among the business being serviced by the new branch is a contract with the Queensland Alumina Ltd (QAL) refi nery in Gladstone. This is the world’s largest alumina refi nery, employing over 1000 workers with an output of nearly four million tons annually. “We’re proud to be selected to do this job, where Konecranes will be on site over a six month period to replace existing equipment with Konecranes XN electric chain hoists and Konecranes CXT wire rope hoists. We’re also carrying out many ten-year inspections. As well, we’re installing digital displays on the hoists that will show the loads being carried.” QAL is 38.6 per cent owned by Rio Tinto, in a joint venture with Alcan and Rusal. Konecranes has also recently won a major service agreement with Cement Australia Gladstone, which produces over 1.6 million tonnes of cement each year and boasts the largest cement kiln in Australia. “They’re our cranes but were previously serviced by a competitor, so it’s a major recognition of our capabilities for us to gain the service contract as well,” Bailey said. Adding to this achievement, Konecranes has obtained a crane order from Anglo Coal Australia’s open cut mine at Callide, near Biloela, inland from Gladstone. “Our assignment is to take down the old monorails and replace them with new ones, while also fi tting our CXT wire rope hoists. We’re obviously pleased that once again Konecranes has been chosen for such a signifi cant capital investment,” he said. he expansion of both our crane installations and servicing work in this important region of the state made it imperative for us to have a permanent presence in John Bailey is being supported at Konecranes Gladstone by sales manager Tom Kelson, who will work out of both Brisbane and Gladstone offi ces. The new service manager at Gladstone is Joe Whelan, who was previously based at Konecranes Brisbane. Konecranes are seeking to bolster their Gladstone service branch and are currently looking for more people with electrical / mechanical trades to complement the existing team. “In supplying and servicing our central Queensland customers, it’s vital that we at Konecranes have a presence on the ground, helping these customers keep pace with the boom demand conditions currently being experienced,” Bailey said. “We have an advantage over other crane providers and servicers in that we offer a complete solution to our customers. We survey what they require and deliver solutions based on those needs, providing optimum reliability and performance, as well as ensuring that safety standards are complied with. “Konecranes uses the customer knowledge and expertise of its teams throughout Australasia to deliver locally the global resources of the entire Konecranes group,” he said. The Konecranes group employs nearly 10,000 people in 43 countries and has more than 366,000 cranes of all brands under service contracts. Konecranes industrial cranes and hoists are used by many industries including automotive production, energy and resources, manufacturing, metal and mineral processing, primary product and paper processing and ports and infrastructure projects globally. Konecranes South East Asia Pacifi c region clients include Alcoa, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology organisation, ANSTO; Air New Zealand; Australian Cement; BHP Billiton, Cadia mining Australia; Contact Energy NZ; Eagle Services Asia Pte Ltd (ESA), a joint venture between Pratt and Whitney and SIA Engineering Company; Lihir Gold, Papua New Guinea; OneSteel Australia; Viridian Glass; Ratchaburi Power Station in Thailand; paper packaging group Thaikraft; Southern Hydro (Australia), Uncle Tobys and Worsley Aluminium. Sales inquiries 1300 937637 (Australia wide) or visit our website www.konecranes.com [Cranes and Lifting] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _