An interview with Managing Director, David Blake for the Australian Mining Review.
The saying “Time is Money'' has never been truer when it comes to preventing seal failure. According to Hydraulic Seals Australia director David Blake, repair costs from machinery downtime, where operators are standing around without equipment, is just unacceptable in the current market.
“That’s why it’s critical to supply the best possible sealing system you can provide your customers with at all times,” he said. “When seals are such an inexpensive item compared to the machinery they work in, it just doesn’t make sense to skimp on quality.
“Cylinders performing 8000 hours as opposed to 15,000 hours almost doubles your repair costs. With additional down time, it becomes a very expensive shortcut. “When you also consider that some rebuild costs could exceed $30,000, seal performance is key to reducing costs.”
Speaking to Australian Mining Review, David said incorrect housings were without doubt the cause of 90% of seal failures HSA sees. He said having the correct housing tolerances and surface finish is key to achieving optimal seal life in hydraulic cylinders.
“Once these issues are addressed, we can then make the correct seal choices, providing the client with the most appropriate elastomer and seal design for their application,” he said.
Other issues that HSA commonly sees in large mining equipment are related to pressure spikes, extrusion, friction and the resulting heat. David said keeping a close eye on hydraulic seals is of particular importance in Australia’s often remote and harsh conditions. “The issues we see here in Australia are generally a result of extreme conditions with heat and friction due to the ground our customers have to move,” he said. “They are some of the harshest conditions in the world for seals to have to endure. “The most advanced, modern materials will always outperform elastomers designed in the 80’s and 90’s. “We have seen the introduction of incredible polyurethanes that can work at elevated temperatures (135°C) and Self-Lubricated Extra Hard Polyurethanes that significantly outperform PTFE (Teflon).”
HSA provides its specialist service to mining and machinery clients across Australia and the company has a well-earned reputation for its innovative methods and ongoing determination to improve and grow its business. R&D is a particularly important part of the HSA business and David says that is something the company has focused on since its formation. “Continual improvement in all facets of the business has been our ongoing aim,” he said. “Whether that is products, processes or with customer service through our ever-growing branch network.
“A point in case is product. We are not beholden to any one supplier, even for one full seal kit. “If the best rod seal is made in the USA and the best piston seal comes from Europe, that is exactly where we will source them from. “Many of our large well branded competitors have moved their manufacturing into low-cost countries. We have seen many opportunities arise as a result of such moves.” That determination to keep on providing a premium service to its clients includes the recent opening of a dedicated Rotary Seals Division (RSA). “We believe the main two benefits RSA can offer to clients are the stock we hold in Australia and the range of applications we cater to,” David said. “We have identified the key products we need to support our customers and have invested heavily in the appropriate stock.
“We cover an enormous range of applications that can cater for clients outside the mining realm with our rotary division, including Wind Power and Hydro, steel manufacturing and processing plants.” David said the new RSA division is an added bonus for clients, with HSA’s national support offering a focus on the highest standards of service and support and staff training. “We have spent the last 20 years recruiting and training who we believe to be the most knowledgeable and experienced seal team in Australia,” he said. “With such a specialist niche in the market it is important for us to invest in our people so that it enables HSA to make informed and beneficial decisions for our clients at all times. “There are very few seal applications we have not been involved with over the years. We know what works. “And our clients know this when designing new applications or when they are repairing equipment.”
That kind of diligence has seen the company work with some of the biggest mining and machinery operators in the country and led to a number of recent wins. “We have recently supplied hundreds of large kits to a longwall roof support manufacturer,” David said. “The kits were designed and manufactured by our main supplier in the USA. They were tested under extreme conditions for in excess of 90,000 cycles. “The parts performed exceptionally well and will now be used in all future design of these cylinders.”
David said HSA has maintained a safe and successful business despite the constraints of the COVID pandemic. A lot of this comes down to a tried-and-true formula. “We are always looking for the best ways to support our clients and ensure we are quick to respond to their issues,” he said. “We have increased our stock holding in all our branches throughout Australia. “Our website provides the most user friendly, easy to search parts in the market. Clients can find a part, the price and order online within minutes of getting a login. “Our custom manufacturing of nonstandard seals is generally manufactured and shipped within 24 hours of the order being received.”
HSA has been providing custom-engineered and OEM hydraulic seal components since 1999. By executing strategies consistent with lean enterprise, technical leadership and having the support of premium suppliers, HSA continues to expand its leading position in the custom hydraulic seal market.
