Combined Resource Engineering Company Profile


CRE was a privately owned company and was founded in 1989. In September 2006 Macmahon Holdings Limited aquired CRE and ARD to form Macmahon Mining Serivces Pty Ltd, a division of the Macmahon Group.
CRE was formed to provide engineering design, manufacturing and maintenance services as well as a project management capability. It now specialises in the design, manufacture and construction of underground mining facilities, including winders, headframes, shaft steelwork, loading stations, conveyances, pump stations and other associated installations.

CRE in conjunction with ARD is able to offer complete shaft solutions using raise drilling, blind sinking and stripping options as well as shaft lining, and other ground support services. These include the fabrication and installation of steel liners, the installation of ground support and other lining, including full concrete lining.

Since its inception in 1989, CRE has grown to become a successful, well recognised and respected supplier of engineering services. It has experienced significant growth and in 2003 was listed in the BRW “Fast 100” being one of the fastest growing companies in Australia.

CRE also designs, manufactures and hires man-riding hoists and winders for use in the mining industry.
 
Our hire fleet includes:
  • Three transportable headframes specifically designed for shaft construction projects involving raise boring, shaft stripping and lining or Horadiam methods. This equipment can work in large shafts at depths of up to 1100m.

  • One transportable headframe specifically designed for shaft sinking and production in a small tonnage/high grade operation.

  • One transportable headframe specifically designed as a second means of egress system.

  • Various manriding stage winders/hoists.

  • Various manriding kibble winders/hoists.

  • Super sucker - twin fan, suitable for shaft sinking.

  • Large 50 tonne, 100 tonne and 240 tonne capacity hoists.

  • Caterpillar IT28F integrated tool carrier.

  • Volvo L120 integrated tool carrier.

  • Caterpillar 950 integrated tool carrier.

  • Schwing concrete pump, large capacity, 150 mm discharge.

  • Cactus grabs, kibbles etc.

  • Various other equipment for shaft development projects.
The personnel employed by the Group have extensive experience at senior levels in the mining industry and are familiar with the demands of contracting.  The combination of skills enables the group to provide a wide range of services from complete "turnkey" packages to specific individual requirements.


The Principals of the Group are:

Mr Russell Wood (National Manager) is a qualified Electrical Engineer and has had in excess of 30 years experience in the areas covering maintenance, design, construction and management within the mining and mineral processing areas of the industry.  As well as his extensive experience in his own discipline, he has held the senior management positions of Chief Engineer of the Kambalda Nickel Operations and Project Manager within the industry.
 
Mr Don Aldridge (National Commercial Manager) is a qualified Economist and was responsible for the preparation of the environmental impact statement for the Olympic Dam Project and was overall project coordinator for that project.  Don is responsible for all administrative contractual and financial matters for the group.
 
Mr Rob West (Operations Manager) is a qualified Mechanical Engineer with in excess of 25 years experience in the industry in both the processing area (including smelting) and the mining area.  He has extensive experience in the areas of materials handling in both surface and underground installations including design and construction of shaft headframes, shaft furniture, loading stations and conveyances.  Rob is also very experienced in shaft sinking and has designed and/or managed several shaft sinking project and hoisting facilities.  Rob is a member of the Australian Standards Committee for the "Safe use of Winders".
 
Mr Brendon Rabie (Operations Manager WA) is a qualified mechanical engineer with over 30 years experience in the heavy industry, both in the mining and mineral processing areas.  He has extensive experience in project management, co-ordination, equipment selection and maintenance (both stationary and mobile plant, surface and underground). 
 
Mr Gordon Morriss (Project Manager) is a qualified Mechanical Engineer with over 25 years professional experience in the materials handling area. Gordon has worked with companies involved with hard rock crushing, screening, conveyor systems, shaft winders and the mining industry in general. Gordon brings to the Organisation specific working knowledge and skills, co-ordinating contracts, design and construction teams to ensure projects are completed on time and under budget.
 
Mr Kim Anderson (Operations Manager - Drilling) has been responsible for the successful operation of ARD’s raise drilling division since 1990.  Prior to that, he has had 20 years of practical experience with Western Mining Corporation as a driller, raise drill foreman and, latterly as ARD’s Drilling Superintendent and now Operations Manager.
 
Mr Nic Breheny (Senior Engineer) has been part of the CRE engineering team for 5 years.  This time has been spent equally as a site engineer for underground construction projects and office based design and project management roles.  His specialties involve man-riding conveyance systems and underground materials handling systems.
 
Mr Antony Osborne (Shaft Development Manager) has over 20 years experience in mining and shaft construction works.  Antony (Ozy) has extensive experience in shaft sinks in both metalliferous and coal mines as well as stripping and lining of raise drilled shafts, pre and post sinking on raise drilled shafts.  
 
Mr Russell Phillips (Construction Manager – Underground) has been involved in many underground construction works including shaft refurbishment, equipping, sinking and stripping
 
Mr Kent Files (Construction Manager – Underground) has been involved in many underground construction works including shaft refurbishment, equipping, sinking and stripping
 
Mr Peter Gilmour (Consulting Process Engineer) is a qualified process engineer with over 25 years experience in the design and operation of various metalliferous process plants including gold, nikel, copper and uranium.  He also specialises in the design of Paste Fill Plants and was responsible for the successful re-design and implementation of the Mount Isa Mines Paste Fill Plant.
 
Mr John Burgess (Consulting Engineer) has an extensive background in mining and e