BHP has opted to replace the radiators in its light vehicle fleet at its South Australian Olympic Dam location, with Terrain Tamer’s Heavy Duty offering, following a successful trial period, the vendor reports.

After almost 12 months of testing and assessing the performance of Terrain Tamer’s Heavy Duty, pressed aluminium radiators in the fleet of 79 Series Toyota Landcruiser’s servicing the sites light vehicle needs, BHP has committed to the purchase of the units across several months, set to fit out the entire fleet at the Olympic Dam site, which is situated around 500 km north of Adelaide and mines copper, gold and uranium.

The radiators feature a fully pressed aluminium design, with no welding and an improved fin pitch for approximately 8% greater cooling capacity. They also feature a built-in sensor plug the facilitate the fitment of an in-dash warning indicator, which works to alarm warns the operator in the event of radiator or hose damage, which may result in coolant stopping activation and potentially cause extensive and costly damage.

Kenny Garrard, the Workshop Manager from Outback Mining Services in Port Augusta, a Terrain Tamer Dedicated Stockist, and the mining maintenance provider who facilitated the radiator trial, said BHP had chosen the Terrain Tamer units largely due to the extended lifespan of the product.

“Decision makers indicated that the high-quality manufacturing of Terrain Tamer’s radiators was one of the things they were most impressed with,” he said. “The extended lifespan of parts is so important in the light vehicle fleets at mines, and with the Terrain Tamer trial, BHP noted that there was no premature leaking or corrosion of the fins like there had been with others.”

In late 2023, BHP also adopted Terrain Tamer Parabolic Springs for the fleet of over 100 Toyota Hilux servicing their Western Australia iron ore mining hubs in the Pilbara.