Latest News, Projects and Events

Charity Ride for MS

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:09:00 GMT

MPE and employees are once again proud supporters of the Sydney to Gong bike ride which raises funds for people living with Multiple Sclerosis.

MPE employee Wayne Shoebridge rode with the Soft Cogs team for a fourth time with Alistair Christie and Collin Lunn joining the team on their inaugural ride. This year MPE became silver sponsor and employees in NSW, QLD and WA offices held BBQ lunches which raised a total of $715. The Hunter Valley based team of 132 riders raised a remarkable $149 307 to become the top fundraising team for a second year.

Congratulations to the Soft Cogs team for their generous contribution to such a worthwhile charity that aims to enhance the quality of life for people with Multiple Sclerosis and reduce the impacts on families and carers.

MDG15 Compliance

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 02:28:00 GMT

The New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources guideline MDG15 is becoming an increasingly accepted standard in mine sites across Australia with MPEs New South Wales, Queensland and West Australian operations assisting clients with compliance audits. MGD15 is a guideline that sets out the safety requirements for the design, manufacture and operation of Mobile and Transportable equipment for use in New South Wales mines.

The West Australian team have been engaged in undertaking MDG15 audits on new front end loaders and on a number of drilling rigs.

Our Queensland team have recently completed MDG 15 audits for a Central Queensland mine detailing the compliance status of a Hydraulic All Terrain Pick and Carry Crane and assisted an OEM with MDG 15 compliance on a top hammer drill.

Maintenance Improvement at NSW underground operation

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:54:00 GMT

MPE were asked to audit the maintenance practices of a contractor carrying out development works and the equipment standards at a NSW underground coal operation.

The initial maintenance audit was carried out over two days with follow up audits on a random selection of equipment. A visual inspection was performed followed by the verification of maintenance documents and processes then comparing it to international standard ISO 9004:2000 Quality Management System, Australian standard AS4183:2007 Value Management and MDG15. The outcome of the audit was to ensure the equipment was compliant to the standards and the contractor is adhering to safety requirements and effectively managing their fleet.

Upon completion of the audits, MPE have been asked to assist in rectifying non-compliances. MPE personnel are currently collecting data and graphing failures of the excavators and dump trucks and rewriting service sheets to improve the reliability, planning and scheduling of the workload.

mainstay® software update

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:24:00 GMT

mainstay® is an innovative software package designed to overcome current limitations in the maintenance management process. Providing users with four distinct modules including shift log, warranty tracker, labour manager and resource leveller, mainstay® is designed for the shift supervisor and can complement existing Computerised Maintenance Management Software.

The latest version of mainstay® software is now being rolled out to our current client base. This version improves the labour manager module by allowing supervisors greater control of skills handling with refined tracking, expiry and rebooking functionality, document storage and ‘skill group’ filtering.

Our mainstay® software developers are currently laying the foundations for further innovations to the shift log and resource leveller. mainstay® consultants are currently working with various OEMs and mine sites across NSW and QLD to replace their labour spreadsheets, facilitate resource levelling and improve their maintenance work flow.

For more information on mainstay, please visit

www.mainstaysoftware.com.au

Engine Failure Analysis

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:11:00 GMT

MPEs Central Queensland personnel were requested to carry out an independent assessment in conjunction with the OEM on a client’s engine to assist with determining the cause of the excessive oil consumption at relatively low engine hours.

The assessment involved physical inspection of the engine components during disassembly, measuring and checking parts for wear patterns and causes of wear, checking the engine configuration and reviewing the client’s maintenance practices. Data from the vehicles on board monitoring systems was reviewed along with the results from the client’s oil samples and the Root Cause Analysis process was used to determine the most likely causes of the oil consumption problem.

The report was presented to the client and made recommendations to reduce engine service intervals. MPE continue to liaise with the client and monitor the performance of the fleet.

MPE at AIMEX Exhibition, 6-9 September 2011

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 02:42:00 GMT

Asset Management Specialists Maintenance and Project Engineering (MPE) will be at Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition (AIMEX) at Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park from 6-9 of September in Stand S120.

Held once every four years, AIMEX is the premier event for mining industry personnel throughout the Asia-Pacific region to source new products, technologies and services from Australian and international suppliers. AIMEX also provides trade visitors with a valuable opportunity to obtain vital technical information and network with industry colleagues..

The MPE Team will be on-site to tell you about our wide range of asset management services and our maintenance and project management software solution, Mainstay®.

If you want to find out more information about MPE or Mainstay®, please click here.

11 years in partnership with PT Artumin, Indonesia

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:57:00 GMT

MPE is proud to announce that 2011 sees them celebrate their 11^th year in continuous partnership with overseas coal miner PT Artumin.

NSW Operations Manager Garry McCarthy, along with Project Manager Wayne Shoebridge and Project Engineer Collin Lunn recently travelled to Indonesia to undertake their annual fixed plant condition audit.

MPE perform an audit and provide a comprehensive report on the condition of assets at Artumin’s Satui and Senakin open cut coal mines in South East Kalimantan.

Typical plant items assessed includes material handling systems (conveyors, crushing plants, feeders), coal preparation plants, power generation and water treatment infrastructure.

Garry said he has personally undertaken the audit on a number of occasions over the 11 years and looks forward to passing his knowledge onto Wayne and Collin.

Mentoring program for MPE graduates

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:05:00 GMT

MPE has continued their successful Employee Development Program (EDP) with the commencement of a Mentoring Program for graduates.

The purpose of the Mentoring Program is to ensure that the development and training needs of MPE graduates is achieved. MPE personnel with more advanced experience and knowledge will be matched with a graduate to bridge the gap between their pre-existing theoretical skill-set and the knowledge and behaviours they need to be effective in their new role.

“MPE continues to invest our time in the EDP because we consider it our responsibility to provide guidance, support and structure to graduates” said NSW Operations Manager Garry McCarthy.

Perth office opens for business

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 04:04:00 GMT

MPE are proud to announce the opening of our fourth office nationally in Perth, Western Australia.

Our Western Australian team is led by Operations Manager Ken Clements. Ken’s team of professionals includes long term MPE employee Jarrod Turnbull who will continue to assist our clients with a variety of project and asset management services.

Ken has extensive experience as a project manager with in depth local and international knowledge in various industries, particularly, oil and gas, mining and materials handling. Ken has significant expertise in asset reliability, PAS55, maintenance strategy and process work flow. Jarrod will fill the role of project manager and brings with him considerable experience in maintenance improvement initiatives and the optimisation of CMMS systems.

Ken is the first point of contact for Western Australian clients and can be contacted on (08) 9367 7882.

MPE Manages Commissioning of Load Out System

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:53:00 GMT

Maintenance and Project Engineering (MPE) were called to assist in completing the commissioning on a train load out system at an Upper Hunter Coal Operation.

MPE Maintenance Consultant Roger Davies spent three weeks onsite overseeing the final assembly of a train load out system designed to provide train loading accuracy. Roger’s role as project manager ensured the commissioning was carried out to specification and all involved complied with the site safety and environmental management systems.

The first train was successfully loaded with all 92 wagons filled to the specified 98 tonnes.

MPE assist QLD Disaster Relief Appeal

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 03:36:00 GMT

On behalf of Maintenance and Project Engineering (MPE) and its employees, a $10,000 donation has been made to the Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Appeal to assist those communities affected by the devastation of recent flooding and Tropical Cyclone Yasi.

We are fortunate all MPE employees have come through these events unharmed; however, thousands of people have been affected by the destructive weather conditions in Queensland. MPE General Manager Mick Meissner made the donation in response to the scale and magnitude of the disasters.

“Flood waters and Tropical Cyclone Yasi have devastatingly claimed numerous lives, left many homeless and significantly damaged infrastructure such as bridges, roads and rail lines. Any opportunity for us to assist the clean-up, be it through the provision of our resources or equipment, will be fully supported” he said

Our best wishes to all those involved in the clean-up.

Mt Isa Mining Expo 2011

Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:39:00 GMT

Wanting to find out more about MPE? Come to the 2011 Mount Isa Mining Expo on the 5th, 6th and 7th of April and meet with MPE staff.

You can find Maintenance & Project Engineering (MPE) at booth 5 and we will be able to tell you about our wide range of Asset Management services and our maintenance management software solution MAINSTAY®.

If you can't make it to the Mt Isa Mining Expo and would like further information about MPE or mainstay®, simply click here.

Staff will also be on hand to talk about MPE's services including:

Asset commissioning & testing
Asset design
Asset disposal
Asset management
Asset need identification
Asset purchase
Asset relocation
Asset/Equipment condition audits
CMMS implementation
Computerised Maintenance Management Systems Optimisation
Design & Drafting
Due diligence and feasibility study
Economic evaluation of asset
Equipment assembly facilitation
Life cycle cost modelling
Maintenance audits
Maintenance contracts
Maintenance planning & scheduling
Maintenance strategy development
Maintenance systems development
Performance analysis
Project justification
Project management
Reliability engineering
Risk management
Shutdown planning & management
Technical specification & documentation
Tender specification & documentation
Training & facilitation (maintenance & projects)
Work Management Practices

MPE Central Queensland

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:46:00 GMT

I am proud to announce the opening of our third office nationally in Rockhampton, Central Queensland, late last year. This new location compliments the range of services offered by our teams in South East Queensland and New South Wales.

Our Central Queensland team of four is led by Operations Manager Arthur Saunders. Arthur’s experience includes the mining, construction and power station industries in commercial, consultant and technical roles.

Arthur is the first point of contact for our Central Queensland clients. His comprehensive experience, teamed with his knowledge of the Central Queensland mining region makes him a very important asset in the MPE client base.

New MPE and Mainstay Web Sites

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 01:49:00 GMT

MPE has kicked off 2011 with two new websites. The first is a new look mpe.com.au and also the introduction of a dedicated site for mainstay at www.mainstaysoftware.com.au.

MPE Assist US Drill Manufacturer

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 06:34:00 GMT

MPE Project Manager Wayne Shoebridge has recently returned from Florida following an invitation to assist a Multinational Drill Manufacturing Company developing a new line of mining equipment.

The company is looking to comply with MDG15 and relevant Australian standards from the factory.

Wayne’s role was to educate the organisation about MDG15 and Australian Mine Safety Standards as well as carry out an MDG15 compliance audit on a prototype machine.

Wayne also trained factory personnel in MPE’s method of performing operational and maintenance risk assessments to ensure the factory is aware of the level of safety required by Australian mine sites.

All recommendations suggested by Wayne are to be adopted.