Leading Caterpillar dealer WesTrac helped Orange-based mining services company PYBAR
celebrate a landmark anniversary in style by handing over the latest Cat underground mining
truck in a special ceremony.
With PYBAR this year celebrating 25 years of operation, WesTrac NSW/ACT Chief
Executive Greg Graham delivered PYBAR Executive Chairman Paul Rouse and CEO
Brendan Rouse with the latest Cat AD45B articulated truck, as well as a commemorative
memento. The ceremony took place at PYBAR’s headquarters in Orange on Friday 9
November.
“We are extremely proud to have played a supporting role in helping PYBAR grow to
become the extremely impressive mining services company it is today,” says WesTrac’s
Greg Graham. “We value the close working relationship we share with PYBAR and we hope
to continue helping the company to grow for the next 25 years and well beyond.”
Established in 1993, PYBAR was initially a one-man consultancy service run by founder
Paul Rouse. In 1995, the company took over the management of the Mineral Hill Mine in the
Cobar Basin. The first piece of new equipment it bought was a Cat R1500 underground
loader.
Brendan Rouse explains that in the years that have followed, PYBAR has rapidly expanded,
and now employs more than 1,000 people and is active at 12 mining sites across most
Australian states and in the Philippines. “We provide all underground hard-rock mining
services,” he says. “Our ideal project is one where we operate the whole underground mine
for a company, doing everything from development to drill and blast, and load and haul. But
we’re also happy to handle any of those components on their own.”
Brendan Rouse says one of the secrets of PYBAR’s ongoing success has been a
willingness to take on new challenges and invest in quality equipment for the business.
“Over the years, we have said ‘yes’ to the opportunities that were presented to us,” he says
“We borrowed money and bought equipment when we had the opportunity for it. In 2004, we
picked up a contract in Ballarat and we doubled in size every year for the next four to five
years.”
PYBAR’s relationship with WesTrac stretches back to 2006 when the company bought two
Cat articulated underground mining trucks from WesTrac representative Neil Roberts.
PYBAR has since bought a further 36 pieces of equipment from WesTrac.
“We see our relationship with WesTrac and Caterpillar as a partnership,” says Brendan
Rouse. “There are benefits in it for both parties and reasons for both to contribute
significantly. They help us out in terms of availability of stock, and we help them out with
rentals and product development.”
PYBAR recently helped Caterpillar’s Tasmania-based Underground Mining division to fine-
tune the new R1700 underground mining loader by trialling it at an operation in Western Australia.
“All of our operations rely on equipment, so efficient, reliable machines are key to everything
we do,” says Brendan Rouse. “The majority of our load and haul fleet is Caterpillar because
they have been consistent over time, you can always get an operator who knows the
equipment and there’s good resale value. Buying equipment is one thing, but we also get
good after sales support, availability of parts, and technical support.”
WesTrac Mining Business Manager Western Region NSW Neil Roberts says WesTrac’s
relationship with PYBAR has gone from to strength to strength, with WesTrac eager to
provide new solutions and equipment.
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