SMP Engineering in Mining: Why Structural, Mechanical, and Piping Still Matter

In an era when automation, digital twins, AI optimisation and remote operations dominate industry headlines, it’s easy to forget that mining remains one of the most physically intensive sectors in the world. Beneath every autonomous haulage system, every smart conveyor, every sensor-driven processing plant and every safety compliance audit is a foundation that has not changed in decades:

SMP — Structural, Mechanical and Piping engineering.

SMP is the backbone of mining.
It is the hidden architecture that holds loads, moves ore, transports fluids, supports equipment, maintains safety and keeps production running.

Automation may be the future, but SMP is the foundation — and it must be strong, compliant and reliable.

Trang Imagineering specialises in SMP engineering for mining projects across NSW and Australia. From retrofits to compliance checks, structural design to mechanical verification, and piping integration to standards-based auditing, Trang ensures the physical systems beneath mining automation remain safe, durable and efficient.

What Is SMP in Mining?

SMP stands for:

• Structural (steelwork, supports, platforms, gantries, frames)

• Mechanical (drives, conveyors, crushers, pumps, screens, rotating equipment)

• Piping (slurry pipelines, water lines, process piping, chemical and reagent systems)

Together, these systems form the core of mining infrastructure.

Without SMP:

• Ore cannot be moved

• Equipment cannot be supported

• Fluids cannot be processed

• Access cannot be provided

• Maintenance cannot be performed

• Plants cannot operate

While mining technology has evolved, the fundamental engineering that makes mining possible remains grounded in SMP.

Why SMP Still Matters — Even in Modern Automated Mines

1. Structures Hold Loads — and Mining Loads Are Enormous

Mining structures must withstand:

• Massive static loads

• Dynamic forces from machinery

• Vibration from conveyors and screens

• Wind loading on exposed gantries

• Corrosion

• Fatigue cycles

• Temperature fluctuations

• Impact forces from misalignment or equipment faults

Without structurally sound SMP systems, no amount of automation can keep a mine operational.

2. Mechanical Systems Move Ore — the Lifeblood of a Mine

Mechanical systems such as conveyors, crushers, feeders, pumps and agitators are essential for:

• Material handling

• Ore processing

• Production throughput

• Operational safety

These systems must be:

• Properly designed

• Correctly supported

• Regularly inspected

• Verified under AS3990

• Modelled for stress and fatigue

• Retrofitted as loads increase

Automation does not reduce mechanical loads — in many cases, it increases duty cycles and accelerates wear. Engineering oversight is therefore more critical, not less.

3. Piping Systems Transport Fluids, Slurries and Chemicals

Mining piping systems must manage:

• Abrasive slurry

• High-pressure water

• Chemical reagents

• Corrosive fluids

• Variations in temperature and pressure

• Fatigue from pump cycling

Design and verification must consider:

• Pipe supports

• Vibration

• Nozzle loads on tanks

• Anchor and guide locations

• API650 and AS4041 compliance

• Pressure and fatigue limits

• Expansion loops and thermal movement

A single piping failure can trigger costly shutdowns or environmental incidents — piping engineering must be rigorous.

The Role of Consulting Engineers in SMP Mining Projects

Mining companies rely on specialist SMP engineering consultancies like Trang Imagineering for design, verification, troubleshooting and compliance.

Here are the core components of the consulting role.

1. Designing SMP for New Mining Projects

New mines and brownfield expansions require:

• Structural layouts

• Mechanical integration

• Piping networks

• Tank support systems

• Conveyor structures

• Chute and hopper design

• Access and maintenance platforms

• Material-handling upgrades

• SMP interface coordination across disciplines

Trang provides:

• SMP design from concept to IFC

• FEA for structural and mechanical components

• Layout optimisation

• Standards compliance

• Safety-in-design

• Documentation for procurement and fabrication

Our SMP designs are practical, buildable, compliant and tailored to harsh mining conditions.

2. Verifying Ageing SMP Assets

Many mines operate equipment and structures that are:

• 20–40 years old

• Designed under outdated standards

• Exposed to extreme fatigue

• Modified over time (sometimes undocumented)

• Operating beyond original throughput

Trang performs:

• Structural integrity audits

• Fitness-for-service assessments

• Load analysis

• Verification against AS4100, AS3990 and API standards

• Access compliance reviews (AS1657)

• Fatigue modelling with FEA

• Corrosion assessment and mitigation plans

These assessments ensure ageing assets remain safe, compliant and capable of supporting production.

3. Retrofitting SMP Assets for Modern Loads and Standards

Retrofitting is one of the most cost-effective ways to keep mines running. Trang retrofits:

• Conveyor gantries

• Crusher and screen frames

• Transfer towers

• Tank supports

• Structural platforms

• Piping networks

• Mechanical interfaces

Retrofits may include:

• Adding stiffeners or bracing

• Upgrading welds

• Strengthening connections

• Improving corrosion protection

• Upgrading materials

• Revising pipe supports

• Designing new access systems

Retrofitting avoids expensive shutdowns and extends asset life — essential for mines with long-term production targets.

4. SMP Compliance and Regulatory Support

Mines are subject to stringent WHS, environmental and engineering compliance requirements. Regulators and insurers increasingly require:

• Signed engineering verification

• Documented compliance with AS/NZS and API standards

• Safety-in-design

• Independent structural assessments

• Access compliance (AS1657)

Trang delivers:

• SMP compliance reports

• Audit documentation

• Engineering calculations

• FEA evidence

• Structures and piping certification

• Safety-in-design documentation

• Failure analysis and remediation recommendations

Our verification services provide defensible evidence of compliance.

Why Mines Choose Trang Imagineering for SMP Engineering

✔ Technical expertise across structural, mechanical and piping systems

We understand how SMP disciplines interact and influence each other.

✔ Deep mining experience

From conveyor gantries to process tanks, SMP is our core business.

✔ Strong standards knowledge

AS4100, AS3990, AS1418, AS1657, API650, AS/NZS 5131, AS4041 — we design and verify to all major mining codes.

✔ Regional understanding

Trang works extensively in Central West and Western NSW — we understand local mining conditions, fabrication capability and operational constraints.

✔ Practical, achievable solutions

We design for real mines, real environments and real shutdown windows.

✔ Engineering that supports automation

As mines automate, their SMP systems must be stronger, smarter and more reliable — exactly what Trang provides.

SMP Is the Backbone of Mining — and Trang Keeps It Strong

Technology is changing mining, but the fundamentals remain the same:
Ore must be moved. Structures must be stable. Fluids must be pumped. Equipment must be supported. SMP engineering makes all of this possible.

Trang Imagineering ensures mining infrastructure remains safe, compliant and efficient through:

• SMP design

• Structural and mechanical verification

• Piping engineering

• Retrofitting and strengthening

• Standards-based compliance

• Engineering sign-off

SMP continues to be the backbone of mining operations — and Trang Imagineering provides the engineering strength that keeps Australian mines running.