When mining equipment stops working, it costs money. Every hour that machines aren’t extracting, moving and transporting means no income, while costs keep adding up.
Tidal Fluid Power understands this well.
As Tidal Fluid Power enters the Papua New Guinea (PNG) mining market, the Brisbane-based company is focused on saving time. Its goal is to keep hydraulic machines working longer and to fix any problems faster. From quick quotes to fast repair and part replacements, Tidal Fluid Power is confident in its speed and quality of service, even in a new market.
Repair or replace?
According to Tidal Fluid Power general manager Tania Howard, hydraulic systems generally offer plenty of warning before they break down completely.
“Our customers often notice their machines slowing down, struggling with heavy loads, or that the hydraulic system is overheating,” she told PNG Mining. “That’s when it’s time to bring pumps and motors into our repair centre for assessment.”
Each client has their own rule for deciding to repair or replace. If repair costs are between 55–70 per cent of the price of a new part, the decision is usually clear. But good decisions need good information. Repairs can be more expensive due to the extra labour needed to remove and reinstall old parts.
“While component parts pricing may not be a large percentage of the job, labour costs can be high,” Howard said. “And the reworked parts often have only a low percentage of useable life remaining,”
That’s why Tidal Fluid Power often recommends replacing parts.
“Our competitive part pricing supports this,” Howard said. “The labour time and costs are very much reduced, and the turnaround is faster.”
Parts when they’re needed
For mining operations in remote locations, the availability of parts can make the difference between a brief maintenance window and weeks of costly downtime. Tidal Fluid Power has deliberately invested in what Howard describes as “a high value of stock on hand” at its Brisbane depot to address this critical challenge.
“We have a large stock and spare parts holding.” Howard said. “Our focus is on availability, service, quality and price.”
This strategic stockpiling philosophy translates into competitive advantage for PNG miners. Tidal Fluid Power’s inventory depth means replacement pumps and critical spare parts can be dispatched from Brisbane immediately, rather than ordered from suppliers much further afield with lengthy lead times.
Howard said that replacement pumps or emergency spare parts can often be sent by overnight bag.
“If it’s in stock, it goes today,” she said. “That’s what makes us different.”
Tidal Fluid Power also maintains an extensive inventory in its Perth branch, helping to ensure rapid response times for mining operations throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
Tidal Fluid Power’s Brisbane repair centre gives PNG miners another option – expert repairs that extend equipment life and save money.
The repair centre, which opened in 2010, houses a team with more than 100 years of combined experience in hydraulics.
“Modern mining gear has evolved beyond simple gear pumps,” Howard said.
“Technical knowledge is a must for understanding complex systems and undertaking fault diagnostics.”
A 21st century mine now requires sophisticated pressure-compensated, load-sense piston pumps with electronic controls, among a wider range of high-tech hydraulic solutions.
Tidal Fluid Power recently helped an Australian drilling company by correctly diagnosing the factors behind multiple pump failures.
“We discovered that the pump was not actually over-speeding,” Howard said.
“With our expertise and attention to detail, we accurately diagnosed the problem and solved it quickly by fitting pressurised tank breathers.”
For miners in PNG, this type of diagnostic capability means the ability to avoid costly misdiagnoses and unnecessary equipment replacement.
While there is a cost to taking equipment offshore for the most knowledgeable assessment, that investment can be returned many times through maximising the lifetime of each system.
For PNG’s broader mining sector, where reliable equipment is vital for profitable operation, Tidal Fluid Power offers a smart solution. With extensive repair capabilities, technical knowledge, stock holding and a commitment to fast service at every stage, Tidal Fluid Power helps miners cut downtime and keep working.
“Our mantra of ‘availability, service, quality, price’ isn’t just marketing speak,” Howard said. “It’s how we do business every day.”
