en.Wedoany.com Reported - Bradken, a wear solutions provider with over a century of experience in the mining and resources industry, has recently completed a multi-million dollar expansion and comprehensive renovation of its Bassendean fabrication facility in Western Australia, introducing advanced equipment and significantly boosting production capacity. This upgrade aims to address the mining industry's most complex asset challenges through technology-driven, high-quality operations.
The company focuses on providing high-quality wear parts and integrated solutions. Its foundry in Wundowie, together with the Bassendean facility, forms a fully integrated end-to-end capability to customize wear parts according to customer operational requirements, quality standards, and budgets. To strengthen delivery, Bradken has completely redesigned its operational processes, introducing intelligent data systems, lean manufacturing principles, and optimized delivery workflows aimed at improving efficiency and responsiveness.
The expanded Bassendean facility has enhanced capabilities for refurbishing fixed plant and mobile plant components, enabling rapid part replacement to minimize downtime. A key case involved addressing performance limitations of train loading (TLO) systems, for which Bradken developed a customized solution. This "plug-and-play" TLO approach was fully tested at the Bassendean facility and installed during planned downtime. Steve Mackay, Bradken's Sales Manager for Fixed Plant Products, stated that the solution reduced downtime, improved reliability, and achieved measurable total cost of ownership reductions.
In addition to TLO rotable capabilities, the facility continues to play a central role in supplying wear solutions for fixed plants in the Australasia region. A rotable is a high-value spare part that can be repeatedly repaired and overhauled. This expansion has significantly increased production capacity for key product lines, including Duablock wear blocks and ceramic wear systems, thereby enhancing responsiveness and scheduling flexibility.
Infrastructure upgrades include: upgrading on-site electrical facilities, expanding waterjet cutting capabilities, increasing vacuum brazing furnace capacity, and improving lifting and material handling systems. New dedicated TLO chute refurbishment and testing units for guillotine gates and loading chutes allow complete assembly, testing, and validation of refurbished assets before shipment to reduce commissioning risks. Additionally, the workshop layout has been redesigned to optimize the rotable refurbishment process, and a plant-wide operational process review has been conducted.
Emma Murray, Bradken's Site Manager for Western Australia Operations, expressed anticipation for continued innovation and unlocking the full potential of the Western Australia operations. The Bassendean facility has increased production capacity and reduced lead times for fixed plant and rotable products. Delivery performance exceeds 90% on-time in-full delivery (DIFOT). As rotable strategies gain accelerated adoption in the mining industry, these capabilities are critical for maintaining production efficiency and reducing lifecycle maintenance costs.
In terms of technological innovation, Bradken is collaborating with leading universities in Australia and internationally to advance research into new materials technologies, focusing on improving wear resistance and extending the lifespan of fixed plant assets. Cathy Hewett, Bradken's Product Manager for Fixed Plant, stated that by combining advanced materials science with practical operational insights, solutions are being developed to extend asset life and improve performance, safety, and total cost of ownership. New wear innovation outcomes are expected to enter the market within the next 12 months.
