Underground Compressor Skid Perth

Welshpool, Western Australia | June 2026

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

Structural Steel Skid Frame Fabrication

Underground Compressor Skid Fabrication for Mining Operations

Elite Engineering WA designed and fabricated a heavy-duty drag skid base for Pneumatic Engineering’s Elgi EG160 electric compressor — a skid type built to be dragged through underground mine shafts to its working position. The skid provides a rigid structural frame with precision mounting points that carry the compressor and its receiver securely through the harsh conditions of underground installation and operation.

The assembly was fabricated entirely in-house at our Welshpool workshop, from steel supply through to blasting, painting, welding and quality inspection. Building the skid under one roof allowed close coordination with the client on the mounting arrangement and ensured the finished unit matched their equipment exactly before it left the workshop.

Project Context

Pneumatic Engineering supplies compressed air systems to the resources sector, and their underground EG160 compressor package required a purpose-built drag skid suited to the confined, demanding conditions of underground mine shafts. Off-the-shelf bases were not suitable: the skid had to carry the compressor and receiver loads, withstand the dragging and impact forces of underground relocation, and maintain equipment alignment in a space with strict size and handling constraints.

Elite Engineering WA was engaged to deliver the drag skid as a completed, ready-to-load assembly.

What the Skid Needed to Deliver

Dragged, not just mounted. As a drag skid, the base is designed to be pulled through underground mine shafts into position. This puts concentrated wear and impact loading on the frame rails and corners, so the construction is heavy-duty throughout, with all equipment fixings shielded within the frame profile.

Rigid support. The skid base is built from welded 250UB universal beams and 150PFC parallel flange channels, forming a stiff frame that keeps the compressor and receiver securely located under dragging loads and operating vibration.

Precise mounting. Cut-outs and mounting points were positioned to suit the Elgi EG160 compressor and receiver fixings, so components sit exactly where the design requires without on-site modification.

Underground suitability. The frame was sized to suit the transport and shaft clearance constraints of underground operations while still providing heavy-duty load carrying capacity. Forklift pockets in the base allow the skid to be handled with standard equipment on the surface.

Protective finish. The completed skid was blast cleaned and painted in safety yellow, providing durable corrosion protection and high visibility in underground working environments.

Certified welding. As with all our structural work, welding was carried out to the AS/NZS 1554 structural steel welding standards by our qualified welders.

Our Solution

Our skid frame fabrication team fabricated the drag skid as a welded structural steel assembly, using 250UB universal beams for the main frame rails and 150PFC parallel flange channels for cross members, with plate steel mounting surfaces for the compressor and receiver. Equipment fixings, cut-outs and attachment points were incorporated directly into the frame during fabrication.

Working from the client’s equipment information allowed the mounting arrangement to be resolved in our workshop rather than on site — the skid arrived ready for the compressor and receiver to be installed and located quickly.

How It Was Built

Fabrication began with cutting and preparing the 250UB and 150PFC structural sections, followed by frame assembly on our shop floor where squareness and diagonal alignment were checked throughout the welding sequence. Mounting plates and equipment fixings were positioned and welded to the completed frame.

All welding was performed by our certified welders to AS/NZS 1554 standards, with weld inspection carried out as part of our in-house quality process. The finished skid was blast cleaned to prepare the steel surface, then painted in safety yellow before dispatch to the client.

Standards Compliance

Structural welding was performed to AS/NZS 1554 — the Australian Standard for the welding of steel structures. Our welders hold current qualifications for the processes used, and welder and weld records are maintained for traceability on every project we deliver.

Project Benefits

Single-source delivery — design coordination, fabrication and finishing handled in-house, reducing supplier interfaces and lead-time risk
Ready-to-install — mounting points resolved at fabrication, so the compressor package drops straight onto the skid
Built for the job — heavy-duty frame engineered for the loads and handling of underground mining environments
Documented quality — AS/NZS 1554 compliant welding with full welder qualification records

Applications

Elite Engineering WA fabricates similar skid bases and mounting frames for:

Underground and surface compressor installations
Pump and motor mounting skids
Generator and power pack frames
Air treatment and filtration packages
Process equipment containment and skidding
Modular plant and container-mounted equipment frames

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a compressor skid? A compressor skid is a structural steel base frame that mounts a compressor and its ancillary equipment as a single, integrated package. It provides rigid support, correct equipment alignment, and lifting and fixing points for installation.

Why are skids important for underground mining equipment? Underground installations have confined access and harsh handling conditions. A purpose-built skid lets the compressor package be transported, lifted and installed as one unit, with equipment securely located and aligned without on-site fabrication.

Can you build a skid to suit our existing equipment? Yes. We work from your equipment drawings and mounting information, and can verify fixings in our workshop before dispatch so the skid arrives ready to install.

What welding standards do you work to? All structural welding is performed to AS/NZS 1554 by qualified welders, with documentation maintained for traceability. Ask about AS1554 certification if your project requires specific compliance evidence.

What sizes of skid can you fabricate? We fabricate skid bases ranging from small equipment frames through to heavy, multi-equipment assemblies for mine site use. Contact us to discuss your load, size and transport constraints.