Nautical mines supplier boasts a gold standard service

The mining industry has a lot of characters but not many seafarers. Let alone an America’s Cup crewman. John Byrne owns Combustion and Chemical Engineering in Townsville and fondly recalls the time when he was paid $15/day to be part of Alan Bond’s Americas Cup defence off Fremantle in 1987. It’s only one of the professional guises he assumes. Others include solicitor and not-for profit shelter provider. It is the same for the 60 years-old business he’s owned for the past 18 months. Since 1959 it has gone from being a provider of asbestos and sulphuric acid to a supplier of consumables to gold producers based both domestically and overseas. Business was good said Mr Byrne. “There certainly has been an increase in demand,” he said. “We're seeing a few mines going into slightly bigger versions of what they're doing, using bigger crucibles. “Gold has always been a safe haven so to speak. Every time the economy takes a dive or wider even than Australia, gold is where a lot of investors rush to. “That often means that when the mining industry generally might be contracting or avoiding spending, gold mines are actually spending like mad because their product is more in demand. “It's amazing, I've only realized in the recent year or so, how many different uses there are for gold that you scratch your head and go, ‘Well, how does that work?’ “For example, gold is used in the production of Covid-19 testing kits. So suddenly there's demand for it from that viewpoint. “It's used of course in all sorts of technology, like computers and phones and things. In recent times, the price has been surging upwards.”Both production of existing mines and the number of gold mines in Queensland was expanding said Mr Byrne. “It's a semi-secret number I think. A lot of the mines are keeping a low profile so to speak. “A lot of them have the mines they're operating on now, but they know where their next source is going to be, and they know where they're going to dig next. “There're geologists out doing exploratory work and they kind of don't want to let people know too much about what their future plans are, so that they can just roll along, … and then always have that future in mind.”The business supplies the industry the consumables it needs to package gold for sale. That includes the crucible inside the furnace containing molten gold from where it is poured and cascades into multiple custome designed and made moulds. The moulds cannot absorb or otherwise hold any gold residue and need to be replaced regularly.There were also bespoke services Mr Byrne said. “The size of the mould itself is quite important. There's a standard length of a gold bar and they need to produce a gold bar which is a certain weight. “We have some proprietary formulae and calculations that we use to make sure that the end result gold bar is the right size and the right weight. “Because different mines have different transport systems and storage systems they don't all use the same size bars.”"Then there is the protective equipment including aluminized Kevlar smocks and overalls and jackets, helmets, visors and gloves needed to work in conditions specific to the gold room. We supply these to order. "Across the broader heavy industries we supply filtration systems and components and design advice to filter anything from water and oil to gasses and steam." In his downtime these days John Byrne can be found at the Townsville Sailing Club lending his experience to young sailors.

Nautical mines supplier boasts a gold standard service

Industry Queensland

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