Timken’s PT Tech is elevating safety and productivity in underground mines through enclosed wet brakes and torque-limiting clutches.
The best performing underground operations have confidence that they can push their equipment to the limits without unintended movement.
Recognising that unscheduled breakdowns are an operator’s worst nightmare, Timken’s PT Tech is making waves in the Australian market with its innovative enclosed wet brakes and torque-limiting clutches.
Since acquiring PT Tech in 2017, Timken has been broadening its reach beyond its heritage in bearings, delving deeper into underground mining technology. Timken national mining manager Mark Davies said the move has given the company exposure to critical underground equipment segments previously outside of its product range.
“PT Tech has been designing and developing brakes and clutches for the mining industry for over 25 years,” Davies told Australian Mining. “PT’s enclosed wet brake is considered one of the most reliable and high-performing braking solutions for underground mobile equipment globally.”
Central to the PT Tech portfolio is the A+ enclosed hydraulic brake, a product renowned in the industry as “the brake that lasts”.
Designed for continuous miners, shuttle cars, longwall shearers and more, the A+ brake offers a spring-set parking brake and a dynamic service brake in one compact unit.
“It’s not just about stopping power,” Davies said. “These brakes are engineered to meet the highest safety standards, especially in high-risk environments like coal mines.
“Being fully enclosed, they eliminate fire risks caused by heat and dust ingress – critical for explosive atmospheres underground.”
PT Tech’s through-shaft cooling technology increases brake survivability and durability and, according to the company, outperformed competitors in rigorous in-house testing.
With lower drag and less heat generation, the A+ brake is designed to enable greater productivity without compromising safety.
“We keep these brakes in stock and offer local servicing through our authorised distributor network,” Davies said.
“We also have servicing capabilities in Sydney, which gives our customers nationwide support.”
What makes the A+ even more attractive for Australian mining operators is its interchangeability with competitor systems, allowing for straightforward integration into existing fleets.
Spare parts kits, including replacement discs, compression plates and wear indicators, are readily available.
Underground mining is no place for guesswork, especially when it comes to brakes. That’s why the A+ brake is designed to be tamper-proof, a feature Davies said is a critical differentiator.
“These brakes can’t be adjusted on-site,” he said. “They’re factory-set to meet OEM (original equipment manufacturer) specifications and once they wear out, they’re replaced or rebuilt entirely.
“That removes the risk of incorrect adjustment by maintenance crews, which can be a serious safety hazard.”
Fitted with the dynamic service brake, used when the vehicle is in motion, and the spring-loaded parking brake, the system ensures multiple layers of fail-safe stopping power.
For mine sites where narrow margins can separate routine operations from disaster, this assurance is worth its weight in gold.
PT Tech doesn’t just stop at brakes. The company also manufactures torque-limiting clutches (TLCs) such as its UJT-500 series, built for longwall machinery and continuous miners.
These clutches act like a mechanical fuse, disconnecting drive systems during overloads to help prevent damage and downtime.
“Imagine a continuous miner cutting through coal,” Davies said. “If it hits a rock seam, the torque spikes and the cutter head could stall or get damaged.
“The torque limiter absorbs that shock, disengaging the drive momentarily, then reconnecting once the load normalises.”
Unlike traditional shear pins or pressure-slip devices, the UJT-500 is continuously engaged, with no need for lubrication or adjustment throughout its lifecycle.
Its tamper-resistant torque settings are calibrated at the factory using colour-coded spring cup bolts, which eliminate the potential for on-site misconfiguration.
“You don’t need special equipment to check torque settings. Just count the bolts and match the colours,” Davies said. “It’s designed to simplify maintenance and eliminate human error.”
The UJT also features a graphited bronze bearing for permanent lubrication, a wear indicator for quick visual inspections and optional output configurations to match common driveshaft set-ups used in mining vehicles.
While PT Tech’s technologies are widely embedded in North American mining operations, Timken is working to increase their footprint across Australia. Davies said the company has more ground to cover in understanding the full landscape of Australian underground mobile fleets, but the foundation is solid.
“We’re focused on promoting these products through our distributor network, backed by strong local support,” he said.
“Our goal is to provide both OEM and after-market customers with a comprehensive solution – not just a product but a reliable, supported system that improves both safety and efficiency.”
For an industry facing constant pressure to boost productivity while maintaining safety standards, PT Tech presents a compelling value proposition.
With decades of proven reliability and cutting-edge engineering, and a growing local support network, these solutions are poised to become fixtures in Australia’s underground mining scene.
“As Timken continues to diversify, it’s clear that we’re much more than a bearing company now,” Davies said.
“Our technical portfolio is growing, and PT Tech is a key part of that strategy, especially as we look to support Australia’s evolving mining sector.”
From the coal seams of central Queensland to the hard-rock mines of Western Australia, one thing is clear: Timken’s brakes and clutches are ready to take on the underground challenge.
This feature appeared in the September edition of Australian Mining.
