School’s in session

Lincom Group’s newly opened Technical Institute has made it easier than ever for technicians to get the training they need to succeed.

Mining equipment requires more than just basic knowledge to operate.

These multi-tonne machines need experienced operators behind the controls, ready and able to respond to any challenge that presents itself.

But this ability to operate mining machinery doesn’t come overnight; operators and technicians need years of training to do their jobs safely and efficiently.

That’s where Lincom Group’s new Technical Institute comes in.

Located in Narangba, Queensland, the Technical Institute offers flexible training programs designed to give technicians a complete understanding of their equipment.

“We’ve long had this vision of training customers in their machines, rather than delivering the equipment and expecting them to figure it out as they go along,” Lincom national technical support manager Clyve Evans told PNG Mining.

“Now, we’re inviting people to come to Queensland and learn about the machines they’re buying. We offer two or three day courses so operators can get a better understanding of their equipment.”

Together with Lincom chief executive officer Stephen Watterson, Evans has helped tailor the institute to the needs of their customers.

“I start by learning what experience their technicians have, whether they be apprentices or old hats,” Evans said. “Once I know their experience and what they would like to learn, I can tailor a complete learning package for their needs.”

Each attendee of the centre also goes home with the course on a USB so they can easily refresh their memory and get back to work.

Having worked in the crushing industry for over two decades, Evans is well-placed to provide training to those looking to learn. When he started looking for his next role, he was drawn to Lincom’s ethos on education.

“I started speaking with Stephen about this job and it grabbed me that this was a man who was looking to the future, with a focus on training rather than just selling,” he said.

“The idea of giving people the right tools to do their job stuck with me, and it helps that I really enjoy this role.”

If customer feedback is anything to go off, the Training Institute is already a roaring success.

“When people finish up the course, they always come away knowing something they didn’t know before” Evans said. “I’ve had people with over 10 years’ experience tell me that they’re understanding their machines better than ever.

“The hands-on nature of the course blends in well with the work that these operators will be doing when they get back to site.”

Evans is encouraging anyone who wants to learn more about their machines to come to Queensland and participate in the training.

“I would love to see people from Papua New Guinea (PNG) take advantage of how close the two countries are and come down for a few days,” he said. “In just two days, we can help companies increase their safety, profits and efficiency to new heights.”

Although the Training Institute was only opened in April, the benefits have been far-reaching. Evans credits Lincom’s drive to make training both educational and fun as a key reason for this.

“The operators that are coming in for training genuinely enjoy it,” he said. “They’re getting to learn how to do their jobs safer and more effectively while also getting to meet and spend time with other like-minded people.

“We’ve now got apprentices who are years in front of where their experience should be; they’re almost ready to become fitters in their second and third year and that’s because we spent the time to train them properly.”

With such a strong legacy already behind Lincom’s Training Institute, it can be hard to picture what else the company can do to strengthen its offering.

But Evans has some ideas.

“I would love to see customers come to Queensland before their machine gets delivered to go over the fundamentals of it,” he said. “I don’t want a customer’s first experience with a machine being the day it turns up on site.

“If we prioritise proactive training, we ensure that we keep our customer’s productivity and safety tracking upwards. And at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing.”

This feature appeared in the August–September 2024 issue of PNG Mining.