Nivek Industries’ TED and Big TED are leading the charge when it comes to safer, more efficient handling and maintenance.
With a clear commitment to reducing manual handling injuries and keeping workers out of harm’s way, Nivek Industries’ machines are transforming how mining operations approach maintenance and equipment management.
The company’s Tracked Elevating Device (TED), along with its larger counterpart, Big TED, have been designed to address specific hazards on mining sites, providing a safer, more efficient way to handle heavy loads and reduce physical strain on workers.
TED was born out of a near-fatal incident in 2008 when Nivek founder Kevin Cant, a mechanic and fitter working in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, narrowly escaped being crushed by a half-tonne belly plate while working on a bulldozer.
The weight of these belly plates, which can easily be hundreds of kilos depending on debris accumulation, poses a significant risk to miners that can lead to serious injuries.
Motivated by this life-threatening close call, Kevin Cant spent three years designing and developing TED – a machine that his brother and Nivek general manager Derrick Cant said is revolutionising the way mining maintenance is conducted.
“At Nivek, we’re focused on delivering cutting-edge and secure solutions for the mining and heavy industries that not only boost safety but also enhance efficiency and overall productivity,” Cant told Safe to Work.
“TED can be manoeuvred underneath a dozer into position under the belly plate. The table can then be raised to physically support the belly plate, eliminating the need to suspend the load.
“The operator can then undo the four bolts at the corners, step out of the drop zone and lower the belly guard, ensuring safety in case the guard falls off or debris spills.
“Once the component is safely lowered, the guard can be driven out using TED’s tracks for cleaning – avoiding the physical strain of dragging it – before being repositioned and lifted back into place.
“This approach makes the process much safer and more effective.”
TED’s lifting capacity of 800kg makes it an invaluable tool for removing workers from hazardous situations, particularly in challenging environments when a crane or forklift is not a viable option.
The original TED was designed for bulldozer belly plates, but its versatility quickly made it a go-to solution for a wide range of mining equipment, including graders, dump trucks and other earthmoving machinery.
It became clear to the team at Nivek that there is a high demand for equipment that makes manual lifting easier, safer and more efficient.
The introduction of TED into the Australian resources sector marked the beginning of Nivek’s ongoing mission to create a safer, more efficient work environment for Australian miners. This success led to the demand for an even more powerful solution, and Big TED – TED’s heavy-duty sibling – answered the call.
Big TED retains the key safety features of the original TED while significantly expanding its lifting capacity to 3000kg, making it ideal for handling larger components and more demanding tasks.
This heavy-duty machine allows mining personnel to lift and hold large equipment parts, such as haul truck brake disc hubs, grader tyres and drill rig fuel tanks without the need for cranes, forklifts, or other heavy lifting equipment.
“Our original TED has been on the market for over 10 years, and Big TED was created as a direct result of feedback from our customers,” Cant said.
“With Big TED, there’s no requirement for a crane or forklift. Big TED takes care of the load, lifts it, and keeps it steady while equipment is being installed or taken off.”
Big TED’s design offers numerous advanced features that further enhance safety and efficiency. The machine’s joystick-activated remote-control system enables operators to manage heavy components from a safe distance, further reducing the risk of injury.
The remote system also ensures that workers can maintain a safe line of sight while controlling the machine’s movements.
Big TED is equipped with a built-in side shift and powered turntable, which eliminates the need for manual handling when aligning bolts or positioning heavy components.
“This feature is particularly beneficial for complex maintenance tasks, as it reduces the physical effort required to move or adjust components,” Cant said.
Additionally, Big TED utilises a tilt sensor to prevent overbalancing, and load cells incorporated into the table provide real-time feedback on weight distribution, alerting operators to any potential overloading.
Dual emergency stops on the machine and remote control allow operators to quickly halt operations in the event of an emergency.
“The true value the TED range is in the attachments, which allow it to do multiple tasks,” Cant said. “It’s a versatile machine you can use every day for different jobs.”
Safety incidents not only harm workers, they also disrupt operations and lead to costly delays.
By removing workers from hazardous situations and streamlining maintenance tasks, TED and Big TED help mining operations run more smoothly and efficiently.
This feature appeared in the May–June edition of Safe to Work.