Category Archives: News

Gearhart United and Redback™ Drilling tools are combining to form Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing. 

Gearhart United is the premier designer and manufacturer of oilfield equipment and custom manufacturing operating two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Wingfield, South Australia, and Moomba, South Australia. Redback™ Drilling Tools is a leader in Roller Reamer technology and delivers drilling optimisation solutions worldwide. The unprecedented reliability and quality of the Redback™ Roller Reamer revolutionised the industry and has been the go-to bottom-hole assembly tool for many drilling operations around the world since the late 1980s.

As part of a new strategic direction under the SGS Group umbrella, Gearhart United and Redback™ Drilling tools will be rebranded to unify into one company, Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing. 

 

Unifying two companies under one brand

To unify the brands, the two companies are combining into one, Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing. The company has over 40 years of experience with a reputation for superior quality combined with unparalleled reliability, proving how valuable innovation and trustworthiness are within the drilling market.

The company has won significant market share in many of the key drilling operations worldwide and earned the preferred supplier status with many of the world’s leading oil companies and major drilling service companies. Its global presence provides products and services across multiple countries, service centres and agents.

 

Passionate about innovation

By developing specialised reaming and torque-reducing tools, Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing aims to push the envelope on drilling performance. Its torque reduction capabilities and resultant vibration reduction capabilities ensures products worthy of their position in BHAs, where they enhance the performance of, and add life to other critical BHA components. 

Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing commits to excellence with a focus on delivering cutting-edge solutions as shown through their strong presence globally. Combining the two companies into one clear brand enables stronger resonance within the market and enhances customers’ trust in these world leaders in oilfield engineering and design.

 

“Reaffirming our commitment to innovative practices, customer satisfaction, and leadership.”

Bronte Gale, General Manager for Industries, said: “This rebranding initiative is not a simple name or logo change, it’s a symbol of our reaffirmed commitment to innovative practices, customer satisfaction, and leadership within our market. This rebranding mirrors our ambition to uphold our status as the industry pioneer in Roller Reamer technology, as we have since the 1980s.”

Clint Russell, Business Manager for Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing, said: “This rebranding will help focus interest on our services, tools and professional personnel that support both traditional and non-traditional energy markets while we continue to drive innovation.”

With the company continuously looking to improve and innovate, the new brand identity will help fortify the trust and confidence that customers all over the world have placed in Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing.  You can count on Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing to be a trusted partner, supporting your business ventures and driving sustainable growth.

For more information on how Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing can optimise your operations contact us today 

 

With a commitment to excellence and a focus on delivering cutting-edge solutions, Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing has established a strong presence in PNG, partnering with major mining companies and exploration firms to enhance their drilling capabilities. By providing state-of-the-art drilling tools and a comprehensive suite of services. 

 

As a proud member of the SGS Group, Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing possesses a unique advantage through our global network. This advantage enables us to deliver not only a comprehensive range of cutting-edge drilling solutions but also facilitates connections to a diverse array of upstream and industry services. Our primary objective is to support your operations throughout the entire lifecycle, ensuring seamless efficiency and success. 

  

One of the key factors that sets Redback™ apart is our unwavering commitment to quality. We adhere to the highest standards in the design, manufacturing, and delivery of our drilling tools. Redback™’s product range includes a wide variety of drilling equipment, such as drill bits, reamers, stabilizers, and hammers, among others. These tools are engineered to withstand the most challenging drilling conditions, ensuring optimal performance, durability, and efficiency. 

 

Mining companies and exploration firms in PNG have experienced improved drilling efficiency, reduced operational costs, and enhanced overall performance. Alongside client benefits, we are also creating job opportunities for skilled workers, contributing to the growth and development of the local workforce. By transferring knowledge and expertise, we are committed to upskilling local professionals and promoting the long-term sustainability of the drilling industry in PNG. 

  

We have a key emphasis on research and development in PNG continuously investing in advanced technologies, materials, and manufacturing processes to develop innovative drilling solutions. By staying at the forefront of industry advancements, we can provide tools that deliver superior performance, minimize downtime, and maximize productivity. 

  

Our competitive edge stems from harnessing the vast expertise and global connections of the SGS Group. This enables us to deliver an integrated approach tailored to your specific needs, whether it’s cutting-edge drilling solutions, extensive industry services, or steadfast support at every stage. With Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing, you gain access to a comprehensive suite of services coupled with unmatched industry insights. Count on us as your trusted ally, supporting your business ventures and driving sustainable growth in PNG’s energy industry. 

  

With an extensive range of services in PNG, contact us today to find out how we can benefit your operations.  

We are excited to launch our new look website, which will provide clients with succinct information and easily accessible resources.  

As part of the SGS Group, we are devoted to supplying the highest performance drilling tools for the global energy industry. Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing has manufactured the patented wedge lock system for roller reamers to revolutionise how projects are drilled through enabling reduced trip times and optimised cutting action.

Business Manager Clint Russell said, “the launch of our new website is optimising the way we’re able to meet our clients’ needs and closely aligns with Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing’s commitment to ensuring the highest level of quality in our service and products.”

Our commitment to the highest quality services and products in all elements of our operations is paramount. Our proven performance has won Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing’s significant market share in key drilling operations worldwide and earned us preferred supplier status with many of the world’s leading oil companies and major drilling service companies.

This new website will contain the most up to date information on Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing’s products and events as well as brand new case studies and research into best practice in drilling operations.

Visit the tabs above to explore the new look website.

 

Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing has taken great strides in bringing their manufacturing capabilities into the latest generation. The company has acquired a broad range of new equipment from some of the best equipment manufacturers across the world to modernise their facility and produce higher product volumes. These machines include modern CNC lathes, mills, robots, and saws, from leading manufacturers like Do-All, DMG-Mori and Mazak.

On top of the acquisition of new machines, the Australian based manufacturer has invested heavily into the reorganisation of the workshop to make production lines smoother and more efficient. The move to modernise the facility is to address the demand for Redback™ products set to increase in the coming years.

For more information about the manufacturing facility and Redback™ products please contact us.

 

 

With the advent of more advanced machines into the South Australian workshop, an increasing number of Redback™ products are being made through automated processes. These processes are beyond the standard CNC machining as they encompass the use of two high tech robots acquired by SGS-Gearhart early to mid last year to assist with Redback™ component production. Each robot serves a different purpose so this article will be focused on the first of the two machines, the carbide insertion robot cell.

In early 2018, the carbide insertion robot cell was designed and delivered to Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing in Adelaide by an Australian industrial equipment supplier. The two manipulator robotic cell was custom designed and built with the intention of reducing the amount of manual labour needed to insert carbide into roller reamer redress kit components. Carbide insertion is a slow, precise and highly repetitive task which is why it was a perfect use case for the robotic arms.

The robot cell consist of two independent manipulators, a small manipulator for picking up and holding tungsten carbide and a large arm that loads parts for carbide insertion. These two manipulators work in tandem to align the carbide pieces to the holes of the parts ready for pressing by use of an automatic press. Control of the machines is achieved through the use of a programming computer installed onto the exterior of the cell. This allows for changes to be made when required and new work cycles to be loaded when necessary.

Since the acquisition of the carbide insertion robot cell, the machine has been optimised to press in carbide at a rate equal to that of previous manual operations. The machine works accurately, and continuously for a long period of time until halted by an operator or a work cycle has been completed. This has increased the amount of available work force to tend to other components of the Redback™ Roller Reamers.

For more information about the manufacturing facility and Redback™ products please contact us.

 

Redback™ Drilling Tools & Manufacturing has made a great leap toward automation of Redback™ parts production. They have acquired, tested and successfully integrated an automated machining centre that takes in raw material and returns finished products. The automated system has been designed by a Japanese manufacturer and uses a specialised robotic control arm to feed material into a High-Precision, High-Efficiency Integrated Mill Turn Center.

Unlike the carbide insertion robot which finishes a product off, the automated system starts with a batch of cut raw material from the saw. The material is loaded into a materials bay by operators and a production cycle is selected in the pre-programmed mill and turning centre. From here, the arm loads the raw material which can be as heavy as 28kg into the milling and turning centre for a machining. From the start to finish, the machining process requires no additional operator input leaving the operator to tend to other tasks. At the end of this, the robot arm unloads finished part and starts on the next part. This process continues as long as the machine is fed batches of raw material by operators when stock gets low and there are no errors.

Both the machines sit on top of a 600mm thick high density concrete slab with double mesh reinforcement to provide high levels of stability and vibration reduction. Currently, the automated system is producing Roller Reamer components of various sizes and has proven itself to be precise and accurate in full production mode. Moving forward, the manufacturer looks to further automate processes to remain competitive in the world of high tech and high precision machining.

For more information about the manufacturing facility and Redback™ products please contact us.