One Australian company recognises that earthmoving contractors need to keep their equipment clean to carry out proper maintenance procedures. The bigger the fleet, the bigger the equipment, the more challenging the clean up is.
Australian Pump Industries, Aussie Pumps, pioneered heavy duty high pressure water blasters for earthmoving, mining, quarry and construction applications. Beginning with their famous Aussie Scud 4,000 psi machine, the choice of Australia’s biggest hire and rental companies, they’ve now released a new 5,000 psi machine called the Aussie Predator.
Encased in a super heavy duty stainless steel frame, the big pressure cleaner delivers enormous cleaning power with 5,000 psi pressure, matched to 16 lpm flow. That unique cleaning capacity, with high pressure gun kit including stainless steel lance, can carry out cleaning tasks as onerous as chopping baked on clay or schist from the track gear of crawl mounted dozers, excavators or other equipment as a young engineer.
“We set out to design this machine as if we were earthmoving contractors ourselves”, said Aussie’s Chief Engineer, John Hales. Hales started out his career as a cadet engineer at Tutt Bryant in the sixties, and was designing bucket wheel excavators, asphalt finishers and other equipment.
Aussie decided to be original in design, building the new concept machine from the ground up.
“Ergonomics are important, as is balance and manoeuvrability on site. The result, is the new Aussie Predator”, said Hales.
The heart of the system is a ‘Big Berty’ Bertolini triplex heavy duty slow speed pump running at 1450 rpm. Power is transmitted from the Kohler 26 hp air cooled diesel engine, mounted on a floating sub base built into the chassis of the frame.
The high pressure hydraulic system is designed to protect the operator and the machine with Aussie’s ASP (Aussie Safety Protection) kit. That includes not only a thermal dump to protect the machine from extended bypass running but a safety valve that blows off in the event of a pressure spike.
Four big 16” steel wheels with pneumatic tyres make the machine easy to manoeuvre while the Predator is fitted with what Aussie call their Mine Boss features. They include emergency stop, dry cell battery with lockable battery isolation, double insulated wire loom, and a fire extinguisher.
The company believes that people operating on big plant need more than the standard 10 metre hose supplied by most manufacturers. For this reason most of the machines built at their 2.5 acre Castle Hill premises are fitted with their unique stainless steel high pressure reels, with 30 m of high pressure hose as standard. Optional reels with 50 m of hose are also available.
Aussie Pumps are proud of what they do and is pleased with the great acceptance from the earthmoving fraternity in general.
“We cut out teeth working with some of the most famous name contractors in the history of earthmoving in Australia. We’ve had dirt under our fingernails and were raised of the smell of diesel fumes”, said Hales.
Further information including Aussie’s new Blaster Blitz 7 catalogue is available online. Aussie also offers a free safety training program for operators to build confidence, awareness and to keep operators safe cleaning equipment in the field.
