Heat Treatment
LIKE a phoenix rising from the ashes, Castings Tasmania (CT) has gone from strength to strength since the purchase of the almost 200-year old foundry in Launceston, in 2016.
CT general manager Chris Smart said that while the company purchased land, buildings, plant equipment from Bradken, it started from scratch when building a reputation.
“We have the right combination of expertise and customer service to offer technical solutions specific to each customer,” he said.
“We’re known as a foundry who can make things others can’t.”
CT’s goals are to expand on that record to provide customers with exemplary service in terms of quality and reliability, deliver on time, and maintain compliance to specification.
“We went from a loss in our first year to almost $6m in our third,” Mr Smart said.
“But now, customers are recognising our expertise and we’re starting to break into new markets.”
Modern equipment
The Castings plant is modern, having benefited from an extensive capital expenditure program over the past 15-years in the areas of melting, moulding and heat treatment.
CT has an automated fast loop system in place, allowing for large orders using sand moulds (that can also incorporate multiple patterns and even different casting metals) and the ability to pour up to 5t at a time using a large induction furnace.
The company also has two 3-tonne furnaces with a total annual capacity of 3500t.
Over the past three years of operation, CT’s work has consisted of Caterpillar parts for underground trucks including axle housings, cross beams and tilt levers, as well as mining drag and hoist chain and rigging gear.
Drag chains of up to 5-inch link diameter and 21-links in length have been cast on site for customers around the world.
“Our capabilities include crusher liners, mill liners, apron feeder pans, rotary breaker liners, scrap shredder hammers and liners, rail and truck components – to name but a few,” Mr Smart said.
“Metals include carbon, low-quench and tempered steels, manganese steel, stainless and heat resisting steels, alloy white irons, and grey and SG iron.”
Technical expertise
Though many companies in the mining industry have turned to China for steel and iron castings, Mr Smart says CT stands apart by offering technical expertise and a heritage of the Bradken plant’s history of quality and service.
“The business employs previous experienced ex-Bradken staff, many of whom have worked at this facility for many years,” he said.
“Our many years of industry experience allows us to advise our customers on ways to improve efficiency and save money on most jobs, whether it is by reducing the number of patterns required through clever design or using specific techniques and metals.
“It is this experience that leads to a better quality product, with a longer service life that directly translates to lower operating costs over life of mine.
“Added to our capabilities, is our cost structure, which ensures that we remain competitive, especially for steel castings in the weight range of 50kg to 3t.
“Our prices are a viable alternative to importing and we are an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer - so our customers can be assured of exemplary service in terms of quality, reliability and on-time service delivery.”
CT also offers nightly shipping to Melbourne for trans-shipment by road or rail to all Australian destinations.