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Equipment hire is a great option for saving money and ensuring you are getting the best tools for the job at hand, with our experts close by to advise your choice according to your requirements. At Contatore Engineering, we know growth and progress in the earth moving industry can call for expensive investments. That’s why we offer our fully serviced, top-of-the-range equipment for hire. Still, need some convincing? These are some of the many ways that renting equipment can help you save time and money across the board:

Paying for a specific time

Budgeting for a project is made easier when you know what the expenses will be ahead of time. Using our rental equipment, if you know how long your project will take, you know how much the equipment will cost to use. We offer a flexible period attachment hire means you can hire equipment for as long or short as you need. Hiring a piece of bulky equipment like an excavator or rock breaker for a specific amount of time means that not only do you save money by not having to buy a brand-new machine, but you don’t have to stress about the cost of storing it or maintaining it over time as you would for your own gear.

Avoid Wait Times

Why pay out of pocket for equipment that you can’t use straight away? Supply and demand chains across many industries are under incredible strain. Heavy machinery is no exception to this. Wait times for the right resources to manufacture equipment can extend from weeks to months, meaning you could be missing deadlines or turning down jobs in this time. Renting means you can work immediately with reliable equipment.

Different tools for different jobs

For start-ups or small businesses, making the wrong investment can be devastating. Imagine buying a new piece of equipment only to be booked for a series of jobs that don’t require it. You could be paying to maintain a machine that doesn’t move for weeks to months when all along you could have saved for longer. Rental services mean that even before you are positive you are ready to invest, you can still do all sorts of jobs with our high-quality equipment. It gives you freedom from stress and financial burden while you explore your options.

Expert Support

Do you know how much you can save when you don’t have to pay for repairs or maintenance? We love our equipment! So, we always want it to be in the best working condition possible. On top of covering servicing, insurance and maintenance, our expert team can also ensure that you have the best equipment for the job. Another way of avoiding costly frustration on work sites is having the best-suited machines to get your work completed efficiently and to a high standard. Can you be certain your current equipment will be the best option for the next site you need to clear?

Our diverse range of rental equipment is ready when you are. We offer different multi-function buckets, hydraulic attachments, specialised rock breakers and many other options to give you the power to tackle any job. No matter what you are looking for, how long you want it for or even if you just want to explore your options, our team can help set you up with the best quality service and equipment in the industry. Get in touch with us today via our Contact page!

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Knowing when to stop

Hazards arise for heavy machinery operators when rains impact the ground material they work on. Gravel, soil, and other loose materials become difficult to work with once it has been saturated by rain. The ground can turn muddy, meaning it will not retain its shape and could become quite dangerous for workers to navigate work sites and excavation efforts in any capacity may be futile. Not only does texture change underfoot, becoming more slippery and difficult to navigate, it also increases in weight by three or four times its normal amount. While some may be tempted to shrug off rain events as “just a bit of rain”, it is vital to pay attention to the changing conditions of the ground being worked, otherwise tremendous strain could be put on the machinery in use which can result in some costly delays.

Servicing

To prevent damage to machinery in events of rain and high winds through the cold months, a planned maintenance service should be conducted every year before the turn of the season. A regular service will identify technical weaknesses in a piece of machinery that would only be exacerbated in cold months if left untreated. Old batteries, stiff and rusty joints, damaged bearings or worn out tyres could all add to the risk of malfunction and add to delays caused by bad weather. Contatore Engineering provides a large range of services catered to the needs of clients. Our experts in the trade are well accustomed to providing high quality repairs, maintenance servicing and fitting of all mechanical and hydraulic components.

Daily Safety Checks

When workers get called in from site due to severe weather conditions, the machinery stays out. Doing a daily walk around can assist in identifying any external obstacles that may have occurred because of wind and rain, like felled power lines, soft edges and large debris surrounding the machinery intended for use. Daily checks may also provide a chance for operators to notice any abnormalities that may have appeared on the equipment in their absence: rust, broken attachments and other external damage may be the first indication of further internal damage. Taking the time to assess one’s surroundings and equipment will ensure that the site is as safe and successful as possible. To check out more safety tips, read our blog: 8 Safety Tips When Handling Heavy Machinery.

Minimising Delays

While changes in the seasons and weather conditions are inevitable and cannot be helped, having an experienced team paired with the best equipment for the job will help to minimise delays. A foreman can make informed decisions to ensure as much work can be conducted as possible, with a call to cease and return to work when conditions change. While lighter rains and winds might not pose as much threat to a work site, having suitable equipment and protective gear (such as gloves, boots, and anti-fogging safety glasses) will make sure work conducted in mild conditions is safe for all involved. Equipment made from high grade metal alloys are more resistant to corrosion than pure metals, so having a fleet of heavy machinery made of these stronger materials will prepare you for any inclement weather conditions and serve you throughout the whole year.

The winter months might be intimidating for some, but don’t let a few dark clouds throw off your plans! Get in touch with the team at Contatore Engineering today to see how we can help you get in best shape for the rainy days ahead.

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For over 30 years, Contatore Engineering have provided customers with top quality service and earth moving equipment that our customers can rely on. With a focus on long-lasting equipment and relationships, we specialise in producing quality products first time, every time. Since its conception in 1990, our Australian-owned and -operated business has valued honest business ethics and quality in service and products above all else.

Over the years, it has committed to partnerships with companies that share these core values and strive to uphold the highest standards in every area of their business. Those who work with heavy machinery know the load of work their equipment is required to maintain. We at Contatore and the partners that have been carefully selected know the value of excellent equipment and know how to ensure that equipment lasts.

To do our part to protect customers and staff from inferior products, Contatore implements regular checks for equipment integrity in every aspect of our business. We also recommend and provide servicing for the machinery that is purchased to ensure it always operates at its highest functionality. A well-maintained machine will be less likely to breakdown, will reduce repair costs and mitigate risk of operator injury. The importance of our customers’ safety and peace of mind is paramount. At Contatore, we pride ourselves on building equipment, customer relationships and partnerships that last.

Socomec

Contatore Engineering partnered with Socomec to be the sole distributors of their top-of-the-range rock breakers in Australia. Socomec has a century of experience in developing innovative technological solutions. To make it to 100 years of active business, they have developed a strong Code of Conduct that prioritises a sense of responsibility, commitment, and openness to consolidate a trusting relationship between them, their customers and all their partners and other stakeholders. The rock breakers that Contatore distributes are therefore developed with the utmost care and rigorous testing as part of the commitment to integrity. The focus on honesty and customer service shared in this partnership reinforces our drive to set the benchmark of ethical business practices in the Australian engineering industry.

Cangini

Since 2016, Contatore Engineering has proudly been the sole distributor of Cangini Benne’s range of mini excavator buckets in Australia. In the same year of this partnership’s beginning, Cangini was awarded a Mention of Honour for Safety as a part of the 22nd Samoter Innovation Awards – a credit to their prioritisation of safety and durability of the products they develop. Without compromising on excellence, Cangini have fine-tuned their processes since 1989 to provide high-quality, innovative equipment to clients and partners. Read more here about this partnership and why it began, its importance in providing more to our clients and what makes Cangini such a natural fit for Contatore.

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COMPANY ROLE: Mechanical Draftsperson 

Contatore Engineering is incredibly excited to welcome our first ever female draftsperson to the business and drawing office! Glennys comes to us with over 14 years of experience in the industry, and specializes in 3D modelling. She may be quiet in nature, but her positive attitude and fantastic work ethic have already made a huge impact to our team. 

What led you to this career? 

I am originally from Venezuela, a beautiful country in South America. I grew up in an industrial city named Guayana, housing the largest steel company in the country. My father worked there for over 40 years as an engineer; I remember going to the building as a child when they were allowed to bring their kids to work for a day. He inspired me to follow in his footsteps and study engineering.  

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?  

Not working! But seriously I just enjoy being active. Every day I try to do something different. I take part in outdoor and street rollerblading two times a week. I started 1 year ago when I found a social group on Facebook; we usually skate at Optus Stadium, around the city and the river. It’s a great group of people and I always have a lot of fun, like when we dress up for themed rides. I also go to the gym where I do boxing or a session with my personal trainer. Last but not least I love swimming, although I do a little less of it now. Spending time with my friends on the weekend is always fun too.

Can you speak more than one language? 

Yes, I speak Spanish.  

What is your favorite meal or favorite restaurant to eat at in Perth? 

I am not a fan of fast food but I do love a big hamburger. My husband and I enjoy eating at Varsity Burgers! 

Where’s your favorite place in the world? 

I used to have a place but now it is really anywhere I can be with my family and friends. It doesn’t matter where I am; if I am with family, it will be good. Just before the pandemic started, I was very lucky to catch up with my family in Argentina.  

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Global Exports 

In The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ most recent report on International Trade in Goods and Services (published in March 2022), it was recorded that an 8% increase was observed in Goods and Services Credits in the reporting period of December 2021 to January 2022. This increase was mostly due to a rise in exports of metal ores and minerals. The rise could be attributed to the ongoing global export disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more countries looking to alternative sources with more readily available materials. While other global events this year have turned more eyes to Australian resources than previous years, Australia’s Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt, believes that the trend of global powers looking to Australia is set to continue: “The world is increasingly looking to Australia for the resources needed.” This boom comes at a time of revision of the 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy which looks predominantly at meeting future global demand.  

Resource Booms in WA 

While government bodies and reports look at the growth of exports and profits from one year to the next, what does all of it mean for Australian earth movers? Frankly, it’s good news. As demand for Australian metal ores and minerals is growing, there is a boost in Australia’s economy that will be invested in the mining sector and all related industries. It can be expected that not only the mining sector will be benefitted from a boom, but construction, engineering, finance and insurance, legal and transport are all sectors that could see business flourishing in coming months. In 2013, we saw an enormous expansion project for new and existing Western Australian mine sites which resulted in mining firms requiring more equipment and more workers to meet the high demand. This year, equipment manufacturers and workers are up for the challenge.  

What’s the forecast? 

The ongoing success of the mining and resource sector through years of challenges has set Australia up for a very promising 2022 and beyond. As the industry powers forwards, a unique opportunity for growth and innovation has presented itself. The 2022 Deloitte’s Tracking the Trends report indicates that innovation, sustainability and meeting the environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments that have been made are real drivers towards an evolved world of mining. Steven Walsh (National Mining and Metals Sector Leader) suggests that these areas of focus for 2022 provide opportunities for leaders in the industry to “reorganise, generate new value, and forge partnerships to create a more responsible and attractive future for the industry.” The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy emphasise the importance of innovative mindsets which push boundaries while maintaining productivity and safety. 

We have the experience 

Productivity and safety have been cornerstones of Contatore Engineering’s 30 years of business experience in the production and supply of quality equipment. We use the combined knowledge of our team to deliver our customer’s exact requirements: top-of-the-line equipment completed with the finest high-grade materials. At Contatore Engineering, we build everything here in Western Australia, which means we’re all for local business booms! We’ve been around long enough to see the highest highs of resource booms and we have risen to the challenge of meeting and exceeding demands for earth moving equipment time and again. If you want to know more about why we are the preferred suppliers, read more here.

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Contract Period: 9 months.

Client: Tronox Inc.

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Rock breakers are used to break apart concrete, asphalt, rock, and other tough construction materials. Predominantly manufactured from high-grade steel, they are perhaps one of the strongest pieces of machinery on-site at any given moment. They function by focusing force into a small piston which is redirected through hydraulic hoses to apply massive force into the surface of the target material to demolish or reduce it down.

The heavy work done by rock breakers and hammers will obviously result in wear and tear. To ensure all parts of the rock breaker are functioning at its highest potential, regular maintenance checks should be completed. These checks, as outlined in Equipment Today must include:

Checking Hydraulic Hoses

Hydraulic hoses are the main drivers of the incredible force of a rock breaker/hammer. The hoses are generally made of strong, flexible materials that should be measured to fit the equipment it is fixed to – the correct measurements of this hosing will vary on the size of the breaker head but should not be so long that it gets caught on rebar or debris, nor should it be so short that wear and tear occurs rapidly as it is forced to stretch to its limit every use.

Greasing the Attachment

A lubricated hydraulic breaker is a healthy hydraulic breaker. Greasing the attachment serves many vital functions: it clears the tool bushing areas of debris, prevents friction between metal components and withstands high temperatures to make this protection last longer than other lubricants. Many breakers are fitted with automatic greasing units to simplify this maintenance task.

Checking Nitrogen Pressure Levels

Nitrogen pressure is something which will change with the weather – literally. Checks and adjustments of nitrogen pressure levels must occur with every job and requirements of this pressure will depend on the temperature of the location you are conducting work. The pressure required to break up asphalt on a road will be different than that required to demolish a wall of concrete. Ensure the operator and supervisor of this project are aware of this and factor in all conditions to make sure the breaker/hammer can perform well for longer.

Completing Visual Inspection

Taking the time to inspect the machinery is vital to ensure safety and efficiency when operating it. Parts of the rock breaker or hammer that should be checked closely to ensure no visual chips or fractures include the piston and the tie rods. Any type of damage noticed in a visual inspection should be noted and the equipment should not be used until it is repaired.

The ever-evolving engineering space has seen massive improvements to these machines in recent years. Socomec has released their DMS range of rock breakers and hammers which were developed to move away from tie rods; instead, these attachments are manufactured as a sole piece with a fully forged rod. The Socomec DMS range eliminates the risk of tie rods wearing out and needing repair, making the durability and reliability of the machinery last longer. The addition of automatic greasing units is also an example of developments to reduce laborious checks and manual lubrication.

Conducting routine checks of the heavy machinery you rely on in your projects will save time and money in the long run. Identifying damage because of wear and tear before it gets to breaking point is a way to ensure your equipment (and your team) stays safe and operates at its peak performance.

Heavy machinery requires TLC to make sure it works with you, not against you. If you find yourself wondering about the last time you had your equipment professionally serviced, it probably means it was too long ago. At Contatore Engineering, we take great care in the repair and maintenance work required to ensure you can continue to get the work done.

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Batter Bucket

Some buckets exist solely for the function of moving large amounts of soft materials like dirt, sand, and other debris. The batter bucket, otherwise known as a mud bucket, gummy bucket or clean-up bucket – do not have any teeth on the front edge, making this style specialised for cleaning up sites and back-filling holes. This bucket is an essential for any landscaping work site and to create batters/side walls on dams and draining ditches.

Rock Bucket

Rock buckets are the heavy hitters of the excavator bucket family. These buckets are made to withstand the full strain of any job. They are made with high strength, wear and durability in mind, with strong ripping teeth to loosen earth while digging and are structurally reinforced to withstand high impacts. This bucket is a mining industry favourite and is especially popular now as we continue to experience strong demand and prosperity in our mining sector.

Since manufacturing our first bucket in 1992, Contatore Engineering has a long history of providing an extensive range of the highest quality steel buckets and accessories. Fun Fact; the first bucket we ever made was a Rock Bucket to suit a CAT 992 Loader!

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Company Role: Mechanical Engineer

We are pleased to introduce Lynne, one of our trusted Mechanical Engineers.

Lynne truly lights up the office with her presence and is a great asset to the team with her positive outlook and experience within the industry.

We chose Lynne to feature in our “Staff Profiles – Meet the team” posts, as we wanted to give our clients an insight into some of the great employees we have here at Contatore Engineering.

What do you like about Contatore Engineering?

I love the people here at Contatore. The working atmosphere is friendly and everyone is treated with respect. I always feel supported at work. I also like how professional the projects are conducted at Contatore; people have excellent working experiences and I feel very lucky to be a member and develop my skills here.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I like going to the gym and do trainings. I also enjoy having group classes such as Pilates and Yoga. From those classes, I have gained so many health benefits. Pilates helps me to develop my core strength and Yoga helps me to stabilise my emotions by adjusting my breathing.

What is your favorite movie?

I love Interstellar; it’s my all-time favorite.

What is your favorite meal or favorite restaurant to eat at in Perth?

I love Korean food, and my favorite would be all kinds of soup. They can be a bit spicy but make my stomach really comfortable, especially in the winter. My favorite restaurant in Perth is Phil Bean.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

I am an early bird. I am more productive in the morning than at night. Waking up early makes me feel that I can make the best use of my time.

What is something (big or small) that you are really good at?

I am good at making weekly meal plans and shopping lists. It is something small but I think it is very important to me as one’s health conditions directly relates to eating habits. Therefore, I trained myself to be able to make efficient and healthy meal plans.

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