The Australian mining industry is a strong contributor to the country’s economy, with many mining companies also equipped to process raw materials.

Australia has, in fact, one of the most dynamic and innovative aluminium and steel sectors in the world, with some 2 million tonnes of aluminium and 5.3 million tonnes of steel produced every year.

With increasing competition from abroad and safety regulations pressuring the metal processing sector more than ever, companies face the challenge of improving productivity, guaranteeing worker safety and keeping costs at bay.

Metal processing companies require specialised, durable and reliable technologies that can stand the high operating temperatures and corrosive chemicals characteristic of their production environment.

At the same time, WHS and Australian Standards lay out rigorous inspection, testing and certification standards for metalworking equipment, which get assessed by regular audits.

Reliance Hexham is an experienced mining and metal processing equipment supplier specialised in custom solutions that may require specific design, manufacture or refurbishment processes.

Our team has the qualifications, experience, knowledge and ability to get jobs done that others can’t.

All work is done in our workshop, or by an approved local subcontractor, from design to manufacture, testing and certification, although we can also carry out testing directly on your premises if required.

We are equipped to supply and service the following types of applications, built following our design or that of a third party:

Hooks

Hooks are part of the core business at Reliance Hexham. We have extensive experience in designing and producing hooks of any shape and capacity, ranging from just a few tonnes for niche applications to heavy-duty, 110-tonne applications. We come in where the products available on the mainstream market cannot.

Lifting Beams

Lifting beams are instrumental in providing sufficient load control and increase the speed of rigging operations. Reliance Hexham can create tailored solutions specific to your needs. One of our customers was looking for a solution allowing him to quickly and securely lift 14-tonne diesel engines. Our team developed and produced a specially designed lifting beam that would connect to the existing crane and bolt onto the engine, skipping otherwise lengthy rigging operations.

Smelter Lifting Equipment

The smelting process is at the very core of every metal producer’s operation. Machinery employed to this end must meet significantly higher standards concerning resistance to temperatures and chemicals to perform well. We can deliver new and replacement smelter lifting equipment, including heat treatment and coating services ensuring a longer service life of your machinery. We have supplied high grade, heat treated hooks explicitly made for lifting pots of molten metal to our customers engaged in the production of steel and copper.

Forged Products

Our team of qualified and highly specialised blacksmiths can count on over 100 years of collective experience. This enables us to reliably fulfil your requirements and deliver the highest quality forged products, including specialised lifting equipment, such as hooks, rope attachments, chains, beams and other specialised lifting equipment.

We have extensive testing capabilities and are accredited by NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) to perform a range of Destructive Testing and Non-Destructive Testing procedures and issue the relevant certification to ensure your equipment is compliant with standards. Testing can take place on our premises, on-site or at another location convenient for the customer.

Non Destructive Testing

Proof Load Testing

Reliance Hexham offers NATA accredited proof load testing services to assess load handling, rigging and tensioning systems ranging from 0.4T to 195 tonnes, and issue the relevant working load endorsement. During our long history, we have tested an extensive array of applications, from heavy-duty cranes and hooks to extremely specialised equipment such as trapeze artist gear. Reliance Hexham is NATA accredited to perform Proof Load testing in accordance with our scope of accreditation.

Magnetic Particle Testing

After a proof load test or following an overload situation, lifting equipment can form fatigue cracks that may render it unsuitable for further use. To this end, Magnetic Particle Testing can indicate the presence of discontinuities within the object. This is possible thanks to the magnetic properties of certain ferromagnetic materials such as iron or steel. Reliance Hexham has had the opportunity to test a multiplicity of machinery, from hooks to specialised cranes and EWPs during our operation, and our technicians are highly experienced in this regard. Reliance Hexham is NATA accredited to perform Magnetic Particle testing in accordance with our scope of accreditation.

Function Testing

Function testing, is essential for high-risk machinery employed within the mining and metal processing sectors. Examples include lifts and cranes, as well as critical components such as detaching hooks and safety mechanisms. Function testing simulates a range of real-world working conditions in order to verify that the equipment reacts correctly to emergencies and that every circumstance is accounted for. The test is particularly useful for new devices, although, in our experience, we have encountered machinery that failed the test despite being in service, typically due to improper maintenance or safety mechanisms being out of order. This type of testing is not covered by Reliance Hexham’s NATA accreditation but is completed by qualified tradespeople and/or Mechanical Engineers and is supported by our certified quality management system.

Destructive Testing

Destructive testing measures resistance to impact, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength of material and parts. It can be used to establish the safety factor of equipment as per Australian Standards requirements. This type of testing can also be used for design validation. Reliance Hexham is NATA accredited to perform Break Load testing in accordance with our scope of accreditation.

 Liquid Dye Penetrant Testing

Liquid Dye Penetrant testing is a cost-effective method to find surface cracks on most kinds of machinery. This test involves using a coloured dye that, once applied, finds its way into fissures, revealing them to the naked eye. This type of testing is not currently covered by Reliance Hexham’s NATA accreditation but is completed by an AINDT Level 2 qualified Technician, a Test Report is issued and is supported by our certified quality management system.