Mechanical Engineering Consulting for Mining, Industrial & Infrastructure Projects

At Hamilton By Design, we provide practical, project-ready mechanical engineering consulting for clients in mining, heavy industry, manufacturing and construction across Australia.

Whether you’re planning a brownfield upgrade, resolving recurring reliability issues, or looking to digitise your plant with 3D scanning and SolidWorks models, our role is simple:

Engineer-led advice, fabrication-ready deliverables, and clear accountability from first concept through to installation.

Below is an overview of our core mechanical engineering consulting services. Each service can stand alone or be combined as part of a broader project. (In your site, each heading below can click through to its own detailed page.)

Mechanical Design & Custom Equipment Layouts

We act as your mechanical design consultant, helping you move from idea to practical, buildable solutions.

Typical engagements include:

Concept and detailed design of chutes, hoppers, bins and transfer points
Custom plant and equipment layouts for brownfield and greenfield projects
Space-constrained shutdown upgrades and debottlenecking scopes
Guarding, access platforms and maintenance-friendly redesigns

We work closely with your operations, maintenance and fabrication teams to ensure designs:

Fit within existing constraints and shutdown windows
Can be fabricated locally with minimal rework
Align with relevant Australian Standards and site requirements

3D CAD Modelling & Mechanical Drafting

Our team provides SolidWorks-based 3D CAD modelling and mechanical drafting to support engineering, fabrication and installation.

As consultants, we can:

Develop full 3D assemblies of new or modified equipment
Convert legacy 2D drawings and sketches into accurate 3D models
Produce fabrication-ready detail drawings, BOMs and GA drawings
Prepare clear installation and maintenance documentation

This service is ideal for:

Fabricators needing complete drawing packages
Asset owners wanting accurate, current models of critical equipment
EPCM and project teams needing reliable models for coordination and clash checks

3D LiDAR Scanning for As-Built & Brownfield Engineering

Hamilton By Design combines engineer-led 3D LiDAR scanning with mechanical design capability, so your point clouds are collected and interpreted by people who understand plant and equipment.

We provide consulting support to:

Capture accurate as-built conditions in congested plants
Register and clean point clouds for engineering use
Generate 3D models from scans for retrofit and upgrade projects
Validate clearances, alignments and clash risks before fabrication

This service reduces rework, shortens shutdown durations, and provides confidence that new equipment will fit first time.

Finite Element Analysis (FEA) & Mechanical Assessment

We use FEA and engineering analysis to answer the question: “Will it work, and will it last?”

Our consulting work in this area includes:

Stress and deflection assessments of mechanical components and structures
Fatigue and life assessments for high-duty or cyclic equipment
Buckling and stability checks on frames, supports and platforms
Design optimisation for weight, stiffness and manufacturability

By combining field experience, LiDAR data and SolidWorks Simulation tools, we provide analysis that is both technically sound and grounded in real-world operating conditions.

Industrial Machinery & Plant Systems Design

(Mining, Processing, Manufacturing)

We support clients with end-to-end plant and machinery systems design, particularly in mining and heavy industry.

Consulting scopes often include:

Brownfield plant upgrades and debottlenecking
Bulk materials handling systems (conveyors, chutes, feeders)
Pumping and piping systems, supports and transitions
Reliability-focused redesign of recurring problem areas

Our goal is to integrate mechanical, structural and layout decisions so your plant is safer, more reliable and easier to maintain.

Product — Environmental Impact & Material Studies

As part of our design process, we can leverage SolidWorks Sustainability tools to help you make better environmental decisions without slowing projects down.

Our consulting support can include:

Comparing alternative materials based on environmental impact
Assessing CO₂ footprint, energy use and other sustainability indicators during design
Advising on weight reduction, material efficiency and manufacturability
Documenting sustainability considerations for internal or external reporting

This allows project teams to:

Align with ESG and sustainability goals
Justify design decisions with quantifiable data
Reduce waste and material usage over the life of the asset

How We Work With You

Consultative from day one – We start with your constraints: shutdown windows, production targets, safety and budget.
Engineer-led site work – When we scan, inspect or measure, it’s done by engineers who understand what will matter later in design.
Single-source accountability – From LiDAR scan to model, drawing, FEA and support during fabrication, you deal with one team.

Talk to Us About Your Next Mechanical Engineering Project

Whether you need a targeted assessment (e.g. FEA of a critical component) or a full mechanical upgrade scope (scan → design → drawings → support), Hamilton By Design can tailor an engagement to suit.

Call or email us to discuss your upcoming shutdown, plant upgrade or problem asset, and we’ll outline how these services can be combined into a practical, staged solution for your site.