Drill Rod Trestle Fabrication Perth — Mining Equipment

Malaga, Western Australia | April 2026

Reviewed by: Elite Engineering WA • AS/NZS 1554 Certified

Structural Steel Mining & Resources

Project Summary

Elite Engineering WA designed and fabricated a custom drill rod trestle for Core Drilling’s Malaga operations. This heavy-duty structural steel assembly provides a dedicated workstation for efficient drill rod assembly and disassembly, streamlining mining drilling operations across Western Australia.

The trestle was engineered to withstand the demanding conditions of mining environments while enabling quick and safe handling of drill rods. All structural welding was performed to AS/NZS 1554.1 SP standards, ensuring compliance with Australian structural steel fabrication requirements.

This project demonstrates our capability in designing and manufacturing purpose-built mining support equipment that improves operational efficiency while maintaining the highest quality and safety standards.

Project Context

Core Drilling required a robust, purpose-built trestle system to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of drill rods at their Malaga workshop. Manual handling of drill rods is labour-intensive and time-consuming, creating bottlenecks in drilling operations and increasing wear on equipment.

The client needed a solution that would:

Provide a stable, load-bearing platform for drill rod handling
Enable quick assembly and disassembly cycles
Withstand the harsh conditions of mining operations
Comply with Australian structural standards for safety and quality

Without a dedicated trestle system, drill rod handling relied on improvised methods that were inefficient and posed potential safety risks. The fabrication of a purpose-built trestle addressed these operational challenges while improving workflow efficiency.

Design Requirements

The drill rod trestle design needed to accommodate several critical requirements:

Structural Performance: The trestle must support the weight of multiple drill rods simultaneously while maintaining structural integrity under repeated loading cycles. Carbon steel was selected for its strength-to-weight ratio and durability in mining environments.

Operational Efficiency: The design enables drill rods to be positioned at optimal working height, reducing manual handling and enabling faster assembly/disassembly cycles. The open framework design provides clear access to connection points.

Durability: Mining environments demand equipment that can withstand heavy use, impact loads, and exposure to dust, moisture, and temperature variations. The raw finish allows for future surface treatment if required, while the structural design prioritises long-term performance.

Compliance: All welding and fabrication work was performed to AS/NZS 1554.1 SP (Structural Steel Welding - Standard Penetration), ensuring the trestle meets Australian standards for structural integrity and quality.

Solution

Our structural steel fabrication team designed and manufactured a custom trestle framework tailored to Core Drilling’s specific drill rod dimensions and operational workflow. The design features:

Heavy-duty carbon steel construction using structural sections sized for the anticipated loads
Open framework design providing unobstructed access to drill rod connection points
Stable base support with load distribution across the footprint to prevent settling on workshop floors
Precision welding at all structural joints, performed by AS/NZS 1554.1 certified welders
Optimised working height reducing operator fatigue and improving efficiency

The trestle was fabricated in our Forrestdale workshop using our professional welding services, with each joint inspected to ensure compliance with the structural standard. The modular design allows for potential future modifications if Core Drilling’s drill rod inventory changes.

Technical Specifications

The drill rod trestle was fabricated using heavy-duty carbon steel structural sections, selected for their strength and durability in mining applications. Key technical features include:

Material: Carbon steel structural sections (Grade 250/350)
Welding Standard: AS/NZS 1554.1 SP (Structural Steel Welding - Standard Penetration)
Finish: Raw (unpainted) - suitable for future surface treatment if required
Design Load: Sized for multiple drill rod assemblies with safety factor
Framework: Open structural design for operational access
Base: Wide footprint for stability and load distribution

All structural welding was performed by qualified welders with current procedure qualifications, with welding procedure specifications (WPS) and welder qualification records (WQR) maintained for the project.

Manufacturing Process

The drill rod trestle was manufactured in our Forrestdale workshop through the following process:

1. Design & Engineering: Our team developed detailed fabrication drawings based on Core Drilling’s drill rod specifications and operational requirements. The design optimised structural performance while minimising material weight.

2. Material Procurement: Carbon steel structural sections were sourced from local Perth distributors, with material traceability to AS/NZS 3678/3679 standards as applicable.

3. Cutting & Preparation: Structural members were cut to length using CNC plasma cutting equipment, with joint preparations completed for full-penetration welding at critical connections.

4. Fabrication & Assembly: The trestle framework was fitted and welded in our workshop, with all structural welding performed to AS/NZS 1554.1 SP by certified welders. Each joint was inspected for compliance with the welding standard.

5. Quality Control: Dimensional inspection verified the trestle met design specifications. Weld quality was assessed visually, with welding procedure and welder qualification records compiled for the project documentation pack.

6. Delivery: The completed trestle was transported to Core Drilling’s Malaga facility, ready for immediate use in drill rod operations.

Standards Compliance

This project was fabricated in full compliance with Australian structural steel standards:

AS/NZS 1554.1 SP - Structural Steel Welding (Standard Penetration): All structural welding performed to this standard, with qualified welders and approved welding procedures
AS/NZS 5131 - Structural Steel Fabrication and Erection: Fabrication quality and tolerances meet this standard for structural steelwork
Material Traceability: Steel sections sourced with certification to AS/NZS 3678/3679 as applicable

Complete documentation was provided to the client, including welding procedure specifications (WPS), welder qualification records (WQR), and dimensional inspection reports.

Project Benefits

The custom drill rod trestle delivered several operational improvements for Core Drilling:

Increased Efficiency: Dedicated assembly/disassembly workstation reduced handling time and labour requirements, enabling faster turnaround on drilling operations.

Improved Safety: Purpose-built trestle eliminated improvised handling methods, reducing manual handling risks and providing a stable platform for drill rod operations.

Durability: Heavy-duty carbon steel construction ensures long-term performance in mining environments, withstanding repeated loading cycles and harsh conditions.

Compliance: Full documentation and AS/NZS 1554.1 certified welding provides assurance of structural integrity and quality, supporting the client’s safety and compliance requirements.

Operational Flexibility: The trestle design accommodates Core Drilling’s current drill rod inventory, with potential for future modifications if requirements change.

Applications

Custom drill rod trestles and similar mining support equipment are used across various drilling and mining operations:

Exploration Drilling: Dedicated workstations for drill rod handling at exploration sites
Mining Operations: Assembly/disassembly facilities for production drilling equipment
Drilling Contractors: Workshop-based trestles for equipment maintenance and preparation
Geotechnical Drilling: Support structures for soil sampling and investigation drilling
Water Well Drilling: Drill rod handling facilities for water bore construction
Civil Construction: Drilling support equipment for foundation and piling operations

Elite Engineering WA fabricates custom mining support equipment, drill rod handling systems, and structural steel assemblies for mining and drilling operations across Western Australia. Our AS/NZS 1554.1 certified welding and structural fabrication capabilities ensure all equipment meets Australian standards for quality and safety.