The Hunter Valley coal producer has been trialling Laserbond-coated fine centrifuge baskets.

Drayton planning superintendent Geoff Bettens said the mine's coal handling and preparation plant had been looking for ways to increase the life of its centrifuge baskets for some time.

"The Laserbond-coated fine coal centrifuge baskets that we have trialled so far have lasted three times what we were previously getting," he said.

"There was no obvious change in dewatering performance.

"I want to wash coal without hassles and these coated baskets will help."

Coal processing at Drayton is undertaken through a 2000 tonne per hour CHPP facility.

The CHPP uses large centrifugal screening equipment to dewater the coal - a vital part of the process.

It is estimated maintenance accounts for more than 40% of the total cost of washing coal and the frequent replacement of centrifuge screens makes up a large proportion of the maintenance costs.

The screen baskets are subject to abrasive wear as a result of the high throughput of fine coal slurry.

Laserbond will be putting its innovative surface technology, which has helped Drayton extend its centrifuge screen life, on show at the Mining & Engineering New South Wales exhibition.

The company specialises in the manufacture of components and assemblies for capital intensive industries that require optimised surface solutions.

The laser cladding systems, coatings or overlays from Laserbond feature a full metallurgical bond. This allows customers to deposit precise layers of material with minimal heat input and no undesired metallurgical side effects.

Laserbond's products can also be applied to pre-existing components and assemblies to reduce maintenance and operating costs.

Its portfolio of technologies can restore most industrial components.

The formation of Laserbond coincided with the development of high pressure high velocity oxy fuel as a form of thermal spraying.

HP HVOF substantially increased the quality and performance and quality of thermally sprayed coatings while broadening the range of potential coating applications.

Thanks to its work supporting the development of HP HVOF, Laserbond lays claim to being a technical leader in the thermal spray market.