What Does a Mechanical Engineer Do? A Deep Dive Into Modern Engineering
When most people hear the term mechanical engineer, they think of machines — engines, motors, gears, pumps, or heavy industrial equipment. And they’re not wrong. But modern mechanical engineering goes far beyond simple machinery. It spans the full lifecycle of products, structures, and industrial systems: research, design, analysis, fabrication, installation, testing, compliance, maintenance, failure investigation, and life-extension engineering.
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest and most influential engineering disciplines in Australia and around the world. It underpins industries such as mining, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, water infrastructure, defence, construction, aerospace, food processing, heavy transport and more. If something moves, rotates, vibrates, carries load, transfers energy, or processes material — a mechanical engineer was involved.
Trang Imagineering sits proudly in the centre of this discipline. Our engineers design, analyse, verify, certify, retrofit, and maintain mechanical and structural systems for some of the toughest industrial environments in the country. From Western NSW mining infrastructure to regional agriculture, from SMP systems to API-650 tanks, from FEA modelling to risk inspections — Trang provides the engineering expertise that keeps industries operating safely and efficiently.
Mechanical Engineering: One of the Oldest and Most Evolving Professions
Mechanical engineering traces its origins back thousands of years. The invention of the wheel, levers, irrigation systems, gears and early machines all fall under mechanical engineering principles. As mathematics, physics, metallurgy and material science advanced, mechanical engineering evolved into a structured profession.
Today, almost every sector relies on mechanical engineering:
Mining & mineral processing
Structural & SMP steelwork
Manufacturing & fabrication
Power generation & energy
Water & wastewater infrastructure
Agriculture & broadacre machinery
Defence & heavy vehicle systems
Food processing & logistics
Transport, rail & mechanical handling
Mechanical engineering is the engine room behind Australia’s industrial capability — and Trang Imagineering contributes to this legacy across multiple industries.
So, What Does a Mechanical Engineer Actually Do?
Mechanical engineers deal with anything that moves or carries load. They analyse problems, design solutions, evaluate risks, improve performance, verify safety, and ensure that machines and structures can withstand real-world forces.
At Trang Imagineering, the work of a mechanical engineer includes:
Designing mechanical and structural systems
Frames, platforms, access systems (AS1657), SMP structures, tank supports, mechanical skids, machinery interfaces, pressure components, lifting systems and more.
Modelling stresses and loads using advanced tools
Trang engineers perform detailed calculations and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) using tools like ANSYS and RFEM to validate strength, fatigue life, stiffness and safety.
Inspecting existing equipment for safety and compliance
From mining conveyors to agricultural equipment to industrial plant steelwork, we perform inspections that reduce risk and prevent structural or mechanical failure.
Retrofitting and upgrading ageing infrastructure
Many assets in mining and agriculture operate far beyond their original design life. Trang engineers assess, strengthen, and extend their service life safely and cost-effectively.
Ensuring compliance with Australian Standards
We design and certify to:
AS4100 – steel structures
AS3990 – mechanical equipment
API-650 / API-653 – storage tanks
AS1657 – access systems
AS/NZS 5131 – structural steel fabrication
AS4041 – pressure piping
Managing risk and preventing failures
Mechanical engineers identify hazards such as fatigue cracking, excessive vibration, misalignment, overstressed components, or non-compliant structures.
Supporting fabrication and installation
Trang ensures projects are buildable, practical, and installation-ready. We work with fabricators, project managers, OEMs, and site crews to deliver real-world outcomes.
Providing independent certification and engineering sign-off
Our engineers certify steel structures, plant equipment, tank repairs, lifting devices, pressure components, platforms, mechanical modifications and more.
Mechanical engineering at Trang is not theoretical — it is grounded, practical and built for harsh conditions.
Mechanical Engineering Across Industries: Where Trang Operates
Because mechanical engineering is so broad, mechanical engineers specialise in different sectors. Trang Imagineering covers multiple industries where heavy loads, harsh environments and strict compliance requirements dominate.
Here are some of the most common applications.
Mining & SMP Engineering
Mining is one of the most mechanically intensive industries on the planet. Trang engineers design, analyse and certify:
Conveyor gantries and trestles
Crushers, screens, feeders and hoppers
Structural frames and supports
API-650 process tanks and sumps
Access platforms and walkways
Pump skids and slurry piping systems
Chutes and material-handling structures
Retrofitting of ageing SMP assets
FEA on load-critical components
We also verify compliance for insurers and regulators — a key requirement in modern mining operations.
Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
In processing plants, factories and workshops, mechanical engineers are essential for:
Machine design
Structural steel verification
Access compliance
Failure analysis
QA inspections
Fabrication support
Risk assessments
Trang provides independent QA for structural steel fabrication — ensuring equipment matches engineering drawings and meets all AS standards.
Agricultural Engineering & AgTech Innovation
Trang’s semi-autonomous seeding development proves our capability in:
Field machinery design
Sensor integration
ISOXML control systems
Mechanical durability testing
Harsh-environment engineering
Prototyping & farm-scale trials
Agricultural machinery is often as demanding as mining — dust, vibration, shock, moisture, corrosion and irregular terrain all require robust mechanical engineering.
Water, Tanks & Piping Engineering
From municipal to industrial water systems, Trang engineers design and certify:
API-650 tanks
Piping networks
Pump and valve systems
Access ladders, platforms and walkways
Tank repairs and roof modifications
Nozzle reinforcements and shell evaluations
FEA on tank and piping interfaces
Water infrastructure requires rigorous engineering due to pressure, corrosion and safety obligations.
Skills and Qualifications of a Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical engineers complete 4+ years of university study focused on:
Mathematics
Physics
Mechanics
Thermodynamics
Materials science
Computer-aided design (CAD)
Computer-aided manufacturing (CAM)
Stress analysis
Fluid dynamics
Engineering design principles
Modern mechanical engineers, including those at Trang, also work with:
FEA modelling
CAD modelling tools
3D scanning technologies
Structural analysis software
Project engineering and site supervision
Risk analysis and safety-in-design
Mechanical engineering today is technology-heavy — but grounded in physics and real-world constraints.
Roles Within Mechanical Engineering: The Many Hats Engineers Wear
Mechanical engineers may specialise in dozens of subfields. Trang’s team includes engineers who excel in:
Structural Verification Engineering
Ensures steel structures meet AS4100, AS3990 and AS/NZS 5131.
Mechanical Design Engineering
Designs machines, components, skids, brackets, guards, housings and more.
Welding & Fabrication Engineering
Ensures weld procedures, materials and QA processes meet standards.
Risk Management & Failure Analysis
Identifies root causes of failures and prevents recurrence.
Planning & Project Engineering
Coordinates installation, shutdowns, upgrades, and fabrication schedules.
Reverse Engineering
Digitises and rebuilds legacy components for repair or reproduction.
Inspection & Compliance Engineering
Assesses equipment condition and ensures safe operation under WHS requirements.
Mechanical engineers are adaptable — their skills expand with the industries they serve.
Why Mechanical Engineering Matters — and Why Trang Excels
Mechanical engineering keeps machinery operating, structures standing, and industries functioning. Trang Imagineering’s work reduces risk, improves reliability, ensures compliance, and supports production across mining, agriculture, water, industrial plants and beyond.
Our engineers:
Solve complex mechanical problems
Extend the life of ageing assets
Certify equipment for safe use
Ensure compliance with Australian Standards
Support projects from concept to commissioning
Use cutting-edge modelling tools
Deliver practical, buildable solutions
Understand the unique challenges of regional NSW
Trang doesn't just design components — we engineer outcomes that work in the real world.
Conclusion: Mechanical Engineering Is Everywhere — and Trang Imagineering Powers It
From the conveyor gantry on a mine site to the slurry tank in a processing plant, from a semi-autonomous seeder prototype to a piece of legacy machinery needing retrofitting — mechanical engineering sits quietly behind every successful industrial operation.
At Trang Imagineering, we embrace this responsibility. We design, analyse, verify, retrofit, certify and improve mechanical systems across some of Australia’s most demanding industries. Whether it’s SMP engineering, compliance audits, risk assessments, tank design, FEA modelling, safety systems or agtech innovation, our work keeps machinery safe, structures sound, and industries moving.
If you want engineering that is practical, compliant, efficient and future-ready - Trang Imagineering is your mechanical engineering partner.