Rockhampton’s SMW Group marks a major milestone this month with their first international sale of the Ultralift, an innovative remotely operated mobile straddle carrier for the mining industry.

The Ultralift was sold to Newcrest’s Lihir gold mine in Papua New Guinea, located 900km from Port Moresby. SMW Group are sending a team to the mine this month to help the on-site staff assemble the machine.

SMW Group CEO Jack Trenaman says it’s exciting for a Rockhampton-engineered product to be shipping internationally.

“SMW Group has pioneered the Ultralift, from when it was just a concept at our Parkhurst facility to manufacturing, prototypes and now an international sale. We knew there was a better way to perform complex lifts around our site, with dump truck trays regularly needing repositioning with two or more cranes.”

“The Ultralift saves tens of thousands of dollars in crane hire costs each time it’s used, and provides a smarter, safer option for complex lifts. It’s a stable four-pillared design, and we’ve worked with the client to make sure the lifting capacity matches the needs of their site, with an 80T crane included.”

Newcrest purchased the Ultralift to assist with moving dump truck trays and relocating heavy equipment around their facilities. The design of the unit provides maintenance and repair crews with easy, safe mobile heavy lifting and moving capabilities for heavy components, while removing the risk of operator injury.

From Parkhurst to Papua New Guinea, Mr Trenaman says an increasing focus on safety and productivity means the market is ripe for additional Ultralift sales anywhere in the mining industry.

“We’re working with customers in the Bowen Basin who are interested in the Ultralift’s safety benefits and ease of operation – the investment certainly pays off!”

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