RUD FELS Titan X23 tyre protection chains outperformed a competitor in a real-world comparative trial at Mt Marion, a highly abrasive lithium mining site near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. Tested on the front axle of a CAT 992 (WL2240) loader under identical operating conditions, the RUD solution delivered 40% longer service life (+1,592 hours), along with more predictable wear patterns. This resulted in reduced downtime, improved maintenance planning and a lower cost per operating hour in one of the world’s toughest hard-rock environments.

"The RUD solution demonstrated not only a longer operating life but also a more consistent wear curve, enabling better maintenance forecasting and reduced operational disruption".

Toowoomba Heavy Diesel upgraded from a traditional service pit to Finkbeiner wireless hoists, significantly boosting workshop efficiency, flexibility and service capacity. Finkbeiner's mobile wireless hoists enable faster turnaround times, support a wide range of heavy vehicles and equipment, and free up valuable floor space, thereby improving overall productivity. Towoomba Heavy Vehicles chose the smart lifting solution for capacity, flexibility and uptime.

“The Finkbeiner hoists are a game changer. We no longer turn away work and can manage workflow more effectively. Their ease of charging and simple operation optimise productivity, while built-in safety features ensure our team can work safely under vehicles.”

RUD supplied Philipp cast-in lifting hoops for the bridge girders on the $700 million Singleton Bypass Project in NSW, a major infrastructure upgrade improving safety, freight efficiency and travel times along the New England Highway. Designed for lifting heavy precast elements such as beams and girders, the engineered solution enabled safe, efficient installation while simplifying lifting operations. This resulted in improved site productivity, streamlined construction processes and reliable performance on a high-volume transport corridor.

"The benefit of engaging RUD was that all girders were installed on time and without incident. The advantage RUD provides is a solution-focused engineering team with a quick turnaround time".

RUD implemented its TECDOS drive technology to enable the safe operation and controlled decoupling of a ferry terminal walkway on the Brisbane River during floods and extreme weather events. Designed for harsh marine conditions, the engineered solution addressed challenges such as corrosion, tides and high water levels, preventing structural damage during storms. Delivered in collaboration with Aurecon, the system improved safety, ensured reliable performance and supported long-term durability in a demanding waterfront environment.

The project demonstrates the effectiveness of RUD TECDOS drive technology in delivering safe and reliable solutions in challenging marine conditions.

RUD Chains has supplied tyre protection chains to Boral Quarries’ West Burleigh site in Queensland for over a decade, including fitment on a CAT 988G wheel loader to support continuous production in a high demand hard rock quarry environment. The solution protects tyres from rock cuts and staking by creating a durable barrier between the tyre and ground surface, significantly reducing unplanned failures and maintenance costs. This improves equipment uptime, safeguards critical production schedules and ensures reliable aggregate supply to the Gold Coast region.

“We see our long-term relationship with RUD Chains more as a partnership than supplier and customer. RUD’s product keeps our tyre costs down - a major expense for any quarry operation.”

An Italian freight company successfully transported a 200+ tonne, 16m high boiler to a refinery using RUD’s customised lashing solution. Given the extreme size, weight and transport challenges, RUD engineered a system with clearly defined Working Load Limits (WLL) and optimised lashing design. The high capacity lashings effectively managed shifting forces caused by inclines and manoeuvres, while strategically fitted anchor points minimised tipping risk during narrow turns. Durable and wear resistant components ensured consistent performance and reliability throughout the journey.

RUD engineered lashing and load securing solutions deliver maximum safety, control and reliability for heavy haul transport.

RUD’s TECDOS drive system was implemented in the construction of a cruise terminal gangway in Western Australia, providing a robust and reliable solution for safe passenger and cargo access between ships and shore. Designed for demanding maritime environments, the system uses calibrated steel chains and sprocket technology to deliver precise, multi-directional movement and height adjustment across varying vessel positions. The PI-GAMMA drive configuration enables both horizontal and vertical operation, replacing traditional pinion and wire rope systems with improved durability, safety and performance.

To meet the project requirements, RUD engineered a dual-strand loop drive component package tailored to deliver reliable operation and seamless integration within the gangway system.

RUD Germany successfully executed the lifting of a 25-metre-long, 56-tonne lattice cage in downtown Berlin, part of a bridge pier infrastructure project and the largest structure of its kind ever installed in the area. Due to the scale and instability of the load, extensive planning was undertaken with project stakeholders to ensure a safe and controlled lifting method. The operation was completed using two 22 mm RUD VIP chain blocks, enabling precise load distribution through a specialised suspension system where the chains run over deflection rollers for optimal control.

RUD engineered a dual-chain VIP lifting configuration that delivered balanced load distribution and secure on-site installation of the large structure.

RUD Australia supplied engineered lifting hoops and lifting design support for the erection of bridge girders on the Pacific Highway Upgrade Project at Exit 41, delivered by Georgiou Group and Universal Cranes. The project involved a two-span bridge with 14 girders in total, each weighing 85 tonnes, requiring precise planning and execution using a 160-tonne Grove GMK7450 crane positioned in the highway median, with full closures over four nights to ensure safe installation.

RUD/Philipp lifting hoops provided a safe, high-capacity solution for lifting heavy precast girders, enabling direct load transfer within the concrete and simplified rigging without the need for heavy lifting clutches.

RUD has provided innovative material handling solutions to Enercon GmbH, including the TECDOS Tool Mover, to safely rotate and position wind turbine rotor hubs weighing up to 65 tonnes at its Mechatronics Competence Centre in Aurich, Germany. The system replaces traditional crane based handling with a compact turning table that enables precise intralogistics movement of large, complex components during assembly, significantly improving safety and efficiency on the production floor.

The RUD TECDOS TM Tool Mover delivers controlled rotation for up to 65 tonne rotor hubs, reducing handling time from hours to minutes while ensuring stable and precise positioning. 

RUD provided specialised lashing solutions for the safe transport of 129 wind turbine rotor blades for the Eneco offshore wind farm project in the Netherlands, delivered by Van Oord. The blades, each 50 metres long and uniquely shaped, were transported over sea, requiring a highly engineered securing system to withstand significant loads during multiple sea voyages and high winds.

The solution combined RUD ICE Grade 120 10mm lashing chains with ropes, delivering a lightweight, high strength system that minimised elongation, reduced handling effort and ensured precise load control across all force points.

RUD Australia designed and delivered a customised apron feeder conveyor system for SIMS Metal’s new recycling plant in Perth, where controlled feed, metering and reliable material flow were critical to operational success. The system enables continuous handling of scrap material with sharp edges across both horizontal and inclined transport, supporting high productivity in a demanding recycling environment.

The solution delivers variable-speed operation, low maintenance requirements and a long service life, while allowing efficient material transfer and recovery in the event of blockages. This has resulted in a robust, high-performance conveyor system that continues to enhance productivity and operational reliability on site.

RUD worked with Logan Water and Infrastructure Alliance to engineer a safe and efficient pump removal solution for the Alfred Street SPS69 wastewater pump station in south-east Queensland, which services around 200,000 people in the Logan region. The existing maintenance method required confined space entry into 22m deep wet wells, creating significant safety risks and operational challenges during pump retrieval.

The RUD solution was a compact lifting system enabling safe pump removal without personnel entering the wet well. This delivered a safe and efficient maintenance process and a repeatable lifting solution for deep wastewater infrastructure applications.

The Australian Defence Force operates a diverse fleet of large, heavy vehicles, including the Bushmaster PMV, which requires a specialist lifting solution suited to the demanding, mobile nature of defence workshops. To support safe and efficient servicing and maintenance, RUD supplied Endurequip Portalift to meet strict operational and safety requirements across both workshop and field environments.

The Portalift delivers a mobile, single-operator lifting system with no installation required, providing full underbody access, enhanced safety through remote operation and low maintenance performance in harsh conditions. This enables faster, safer and more flexible vehicle servicing across defence operations, both domestically and in deployed environments. 

During the Wheatstone Project, the lead rigging engineer identified an opportunity to extend the operational reach of permanent bridge cranes to support maintenance activities, enabling components previously out of range to be safely accessed. Chevron engaged RUD Australia, in partnership with Edwards Heavy Lift and Pacific Hoists, to develop a turnkey lifting solution based on a structurally supported lifting beam design.

RUD managed the detailed engineering, fabrication, testing and commissioning despite tight lead times and complex supply chain requirements, including custom trolley systems from Germany. The completed solution won the CICA Lift of the Year award in 2017 for its innovation and execution.

RUD Australia was engaged by Humes (Holcim) to engineer a safe and efficient lifting solution for the final stage of the Townsville Ring Road project in Queensland, a 22 km freight bypass involving major bridge, culvert and earthworks construction. The scope included designing lifting systems for deck units and piles as part of the delivery of eight bridges and large-scale infrastructure works.

RUD developed a 35-tonne, 25-metre modular spreader beam and integrated cast-in lifting hoops, fully designed, manufactured, proof loaded and certified in Brisbane. The lightweight, modular system improved lifting safety, reduced crane load demands and increased operational efficiency, enabling fast, reliable installation of heavy precast elements under tight construction timeframes.

At Eraring Power Station, a fleet of eight condensate extraction pumps (CEPs) was experiencing frequent failures, resulting in extended eight day outages and complex overhaul procedures involving multi-stage disassembly and high-risk work under suspended loads in confined conditions. These repeated failures also increased production risk by reducing system redundancy and exposing the site to output losses.

RUD Australia developed a custom lifting solution using certified lifting brackets and fittings, enabling each pump to be removed in a single lift for off-site overhaul. This reduced removal time from five days to four hours and reinstallation from seven days to six hours, significantly improving safety, reducing downtime and increasing overall plant reliability.

Australia’s hard rock quarries are among the most demanding environments for rubber tyred machinery. The West Burleigh Quarry supplies road base and aggregates to the Gold Coast region and uninterrupted production is critical for ongoing infrastructure projects. The site relies heavily on a CAT 988G face loader, where frequent tyre damage from abrasive rock previously led to costly, unplanned downtime and supply chain disruption.

RUD Australia's close mesh heavy duty tyre protection chains deliver continuous protection against rock cuts and staking. RUD's solution has improved traction and fuel efficiency while reducing tyre changeouts, unplanned maintenance and ensuring consistent production and lower operating costs.

At Jundee Gold Mine, frequent and unpredictable tyre failures on underground machinery were causing significant downtime, high replacement costs and production losses, with limited availability of spare tyres further compounding operational disruptions. Mine operators engaged RUD Australia to address the issue and improve long-term equipment reliability in a severe underground environment.

RUD trialled the Toro X19 tyre protection chain on a CAT R29000 underground bogger, delivering exceptional performance with over 5,500 hours of tyre protection, zero tyre failures and significantly improved wear rates. This solution was rolled out across key equipment, improving productivity, reducing downtime and enhancing overall site reliability.

Defence operations present complex materials-handling challenges driven by extreme environments, heavy equipment loads and the need to operate under high-pressure conditions. The safety of personnel remains a critical priority for the Australian Defence Force. RUD Australia has been engaged to design and deliver specialised lifting, load restraint, vehicle maintenance and traction solutions across land, sea and air applications, supporting safe and efficient operations in demanding defence environments.

RUD Australia provides engineered systems including heavy vehicle lifting equipment, secure transport restraint solutions, specialised lifting devices and tyre protection technology, designed for reliability and performance in extreme conditions.