Loadscan continues to expand in mining market

Last year, 2016, was the first year Loadscan with its Load Volume Scanner (LVS) entered the European market with sales in Germany as well as Switzerland and to RWE, the largest coal mine operator in Europe. There was also continued expansion into Australian underground mines, as well as the first full 24-hour trailer mounted solar system installed in Senegal, Africa.

Loadscan started from humble beginnings when, in 1998, the first Load Volume Scanner (LVS) was developed by Wayne West in New Zealand. Initially named Tally Clerk, West wanted to solve the problem of accurately counting truckloads of materials. He developed a prototype unit which was extensively trialled at an Auckland site during the construction season, monitoring the movement of 150,000 m3 of fill material from the site in truck and trailer units. In 1999, Tally Clerk was first certified in New Zealand.

Following some initial success in New Zealand, in 2006, West employed the engineer who helped develop the original product and they continued refining it and working towards trade approval in Australia. A total of eight LVS units was sold in New Zealand in 2007, this time including quarrying customers, with a further four units heading to Australia to be used in the civil construction industry. The year 2009 brought the first sale into the USA. The same year Loadscan also started working with the National Institute of Weights and Measures (NMI) in Australia to gain approval to use the LVS for trade purposes in Australia. Metrological testing was completed on the LVS components, accuracy testing was done with the NMI in New Zealand.

Trade approval was gained in Australia in 2010 and in 2012 Carey West, son of the late Wayne West, took over the company and rebranded to Loadscan. Carey used to work in the construction industry in Hamilton while his father was developing the original scanning machine, and was well positioned to see what improvements could be made to the product. By 2013, Loadscan was exporting to Canada, Mexico, Mongolia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Senegal, Zambia the Philippines and Indonesia. He took the LVS system to the next level in 2014 by introducing a portable, semi-portable and fixed gantry models to best suit the customer’s application as well as extending the range of measurable load materials and truck types. LVS devices are now successfully operated on a full spectrum of truck and trailer designs including on-road truck and trailers, semi-trailers and centre-dumpers, as well as off-road articulated dumpers and quarry trucks.

Loadscan continued exporting to Mongolia, Russia, Canada and the USA with Odod Gold being the first to purchase four portable LVS units and added additional ones later that year. A big breakthrough in 2015 saw Loadscan re-entering the Australian market with Fulton Hogan. The well-known construction company needed an accurate load management solution and purchased custom mount units to install into underground mines in New South Wales.