The merger of Cougar Mining Group, Australian Mining Equipment, Highwall Mining Australia and Pipelion Operations into a single consolidated group headquartered in Tomago, NSW was recently announced. “The existing Cougar Mining Group and Australian Mining Equipment companies are merging together to form a new entity named Cougar Mining Equipment, bringing together our people, equipment and know how into one team.” The existing entity Bridge Mining Pty Ltd will be renamed Cougar Mining Group Pty Ltd and will be the ultimate holding company of the business units.

Cougar Mining Group (CMG) will operate three distinct business units: Cougar Mining Equipment (CME – consisting of the combined entities of the existing CMG and AME) – which is an OEM, underground plant and equipment hire and field service, repairs & overhauls, spare parts and product support business. Second Highwall Mining Australia (HWM) – an OEM, coal miner and operator of the Addcar Highwall Mining systems; and third Pipelion – a FRAS poly pipe manufacturing business servicing a range of underground coal mines.

The Directors, with each holding equal shareholdings of this whole group of entities, are Chad Dillinger, Jon Priddle and Simon Raftery. The statement said: “We thank you for your ongoing support and appreciate your patience whilst we transition to the new structure over the coming months. While this work is underway, the ABN’s for both existing Cougar Mining Group and Australian Mining Equipment entities will remain in place and operational, with the view to the new consolidated operating entity being in place from April 2022.

Sarah Gow has been Executive General Manager of the newly formed Cougar Mining Equipment Pty Ltd that combines the CMG and AME businesses. She will lead and manage the consolidation of hire, field service, new build, repair & overhaul, product support, spares and customer service. The remainder of the executive team includes Chad Dillinger as Chief Executive Officer of CMG and Managing Director of CME; Jon Priddle as Chief Operating Officer of CMG and Managing Director of HWM and Pipelion; Alexander Elder as Chief Financial Officer of CMG and Doug Woodham as Executive General Manager Assets of CMG.

In the hire business, CMG has increased its LWC (Longwall Chock Hauler) fleet from six to nine units due to market demand and now has four expandable units and five fixed narrow units becoming available for hire from November 2021. CMG said: “These haulers have proven to be the superior chock transporter in the relocation game, and are widely sought after throughout the underground coal industry.”