Fenner Dunlop belting along

Kwinana manufacturer Fenner Dunlop has started an expansion project, which it says will eventually double production at the plant and lead to the employment of an extra 13 people.

Picture: Fenner Dunlop plant manager John Thomson

The $20 million expansion at the Mounsey Road plant, involving the construction of a second press line, will increase production capacity to about 200,000 tonnes a year.

Plant manager John Thomson said the site employed 19 workers and next September would employ the extra workers and start training them for when the new equipment started producing in March 2013.

The company manufactures industrial conveyor belts, mainly for the Australian mining industry.

Mr Thomson said one of the biggest belts the company had made, weighing 70 tonnes, went to Newman about four months ago.

‘‘The expansion will double our capacity to supply conveyor belts, predominantly to the mining companies up north, mainly to the iron ore industry,’’ he said.

The company also exports, mostly to German power companies.

Mr Thomson said one of the smallest belts the company had made, a six-tonne conveyor belt, went overseas to a mining company.

Executive director David Landgren said the company used advanced technology to make its products, which were used by companies to increase production from their mine sites and improve material handling at their ports.

Mr Landgren said WA mining companies now had the convenience of dealing with a substantial and state-of the-art heavyweight conveyor belt manufacturer in their own backyard.

‘‘Previously the State’s resources and industrial sector, particularly the iron ore industry, relied on importing a big percentage of the heavyweight steel-reinforced conveyor belting required for their operations,’’ he said.

‘‘Our plant is close to our customers, allowing us to provide a quality product, reduce lead times and keep investment in the State.’’