Nome is redefining how mining operations approach safety, combining real-time monitoring, practical site solutions and engineered reliability to reduce risk and improve performance in underground environments.
Nome has built its reputation on a clear and uncompromising objective: improving safety outcomes in some of the world’s most challenging operating environments.
Headquartered in Queensland, the company designs and manufactures a suite of underground mining solutions that prioritise reliability, efficiency and, above all, worker safety.
For managing director Nathan Owen, this mission is deeply personal.
Growing up in a family with three generations of coal miners, Owen witnessed firsthand the risks associated with underground mining operations.
“I’ve seen my father’s co-workers injured and killed in coal mines,” Owen told Safe to Work.
“When the opportunity came along to make a difference and help prevent those injuries and fatalities, it was something I had to pursue.”
With nearly two decades of experience across mining, tunnelling and construction, Owen has steered Nome into a position where practical, site-driven innovation underpins every product in the company’s portfolio.
Rather than focusing on a single flagship solution, Nome delivers a comprehensive ecosystem of safety-focused products, spanning strata monitoring, ground support, gas management, cable handling and operational efficiency systems. Each is engineered to address specific underground challenges while integrating seamlessly into existing site practices.
Rock Monitor XR: Data-driven strata control
At the core of Nome’s offering is the Rock Monitor XR, a fully networked strata monitoring system designed to measure displacement in roof and rib environments across both soft- and hard-rock operations.
By continuously capturing displacement movement data, the system enables mine operators to move beyond subjective assessment methods such as manual sounding, instead relying on real-time, quantifiable information to guide decision-making.
This shift allows for improved hazard identification, more effective support design, and reduced exposure to high-risk areas.
Independent validation has demonstrated the system’s significant operational impact, including up to 65 per cent reduction in injury and incident reports, 40 per cent increase in productivity, and 49 per cent reduction in standing support costs.
In an industry where roof falls remain one of the leading causes of fatalities, the ability to monitor and respond proactively represents a critical advancement.
S-hooks and installation tools: Practical efficiency underground
Nome’s S-hook cable management system provides a robust alternative to traditional zip ties, aligning with increasingly stringent underground standards.
Available in single- and double-hook configurations, the system allows multiple cables to be secured from a single fixing point, reducing installation time and simplifying routing.
A key differentiator lies in the packaging and usability:
Supplied in heavy-duty hessian bags
Pre-packed in bundles of 10 to prevent tangling
Designed to minimise dropped or wasted materials underground.
Complementing the hooks is a magnetic installation tool extending up to three metres, enabling safe placement in elevated or difficult-to-access areas without the need for additional operators, equipment, man-baskets or working at height permits.
Plastic geogrid mesh: Lightweight strength for ground support
Nome’s plastic geogrid mesh has been engineered specifically for underground applications where handling efficiency and corrosion resistance are critical.
Providing a viable alternative to steel mesh, the product offers a high strength-to-weight ratio, fire-resistant, and corrosion resistance for long-term durability.
The mesh design incorporates large apertures to allow drill steels to pass through during installation, while reinforced ribs maintain structural integrity.
Available in 20–50kN strength grades and multiple configurations to support client requirements, the mesh supports rib and roof reinforcement, tunnel stabilisation, and cavity support applications.
Leveraging its in-house manufacturing capability, Nome can tailor mesh specifications to site requirements, delivering customised solutions in both sheet and roll formats. Products are also shipped in containerised loads to optimise handling, storage and stock control on site.
Borehole crossover kits: Rapid gas management solution
Designed specifically for gas drainage applications, Nome’s borehole crossover kit provides a streamlined alternative to traditional, labour-intensive systems that also require fixed grouting methods.
The lightweight unit can be rapidly deployed and inflated using compressed air or water.
Once activated, it seals the borehole intersection via a flow-through valve that prevents gas leakage into active workings.
Captured gases are then redirected through hoses and valves to adjacent boreholes, allowing operations to resume significantly faster compared to conventional methods.
This approach reduces downtime while improving overall safety in gas-prone environments.
Pogo systems: Simple solutions for critical control
Nome’s pogo systems play a key role in underground demarcation and ventilation control.
Available in standard 4.8m and 6m configurations, the systems are used extensively for brattice installation, work zone delineation, and airflow management.
Supplied in bulk quantities for large-scale deployment, the systems are supported by readily available spare components to minimise operational disruption.
A specialised demarcation pogo variant features an adjustable lower section, allowing machinery such as graders to pass beneath without damaging infrastructure, enhancing both safety and practicality.
Nome has also recently introduced the QuickStik variant, a quick-adjustable pogo system designed to further streamline installation. Unlike traditional designs, the QuickStik does not require the adjustment bolt and pin to be removed to change height. Adjustment can be completed in a vertical position, significantly reducing handling effort, improving installation speed and increasing overall productivity underground.
MK3 air pump controller: Efficiency through control
The MK3 air pump controller is designed to optimise the performance of diaphragm pumps used in underground dewatering.
Traditional pump systems often run continuously, leading to excessive compressed air consumption, increased wear and maintenance, and reduced system efficiency.
The MK3 addresses these challenges by ensuring pumps operate only when water is actively flowing, delivering reduced air usage, lower maintenance requirements, and improved system longevity.
The unit can be installed in approximately 15 minutes and is built to withstand a range of harsh underground conditions.
Engineering safety into every solution
Across its product range, Nome maintains a consistent philosophy: practical, site-driven solutions that deliver measurable safety improvements.
Rather than innovation for its own sake, the company focuses on developing products that operators can deploy quickly, integrate easily and rely on in critical situations.
“Our goal is simple,” Owen said, “Every product we develop is about improving safety outcomes and helping operations run more efficiently. If we’re not achieving that, we’re not doing our job.”
As mining operations continue to demand higher safety standards alongside increased productivity, companies like Nome are demonstrating that the two objectives are not mutually exclusive – but fundamentally linked.
This feature appeared in the May-June edition of Safe to Work.
