Queensland machinery maker achieves first Chilean export

Phibion, a former Queensland Export Award Winner, will ship the first of its machines bound for Chile this week.

The Lytton-based company manufactures multi-million dollar units used in consolidating tailings at dams and recovering water for reuse. It won the Environmental Solution category at the state’s export awards in 2018.

“Phibion values the protection of natural resources, and we pride ourselves on delivering a solution that contributes to the sustainability of two of the earth’s most valuable assets, land and water,” said company founder David Smirk in a statement.

“The MudMaster was designed in Queensland, built in Queensland, and shows what Queenslanders are capable of achieving in both mining and manufacturing,” added state resources minister Scott Stewart.

“Research is continuing with the University of Queensland, as part of a long-term partnership with Phibion, developing additional sensors to further expand how this technology can be applied.”

According to its website, Phibion’s MudMaster machines are customised to each tailings type “to ensure… the maximum possible dewatering performance” and which are “transported on dedicated freight cradles as a single unit” to a customer.

The company opened a new office in Belo Horizonte, Brazil last year, anticipating growth as the region’s economy recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Picture: www.tiq.qld.gov.au

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