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Has your mum's sewing machine ever needed to be repaired or have you wondered who builds the drilling equipment used to extract minerals from the ground? Fitters are the skilled tradespeople who repair and turn pieces of metal into the production machinery that is used in the mining, agriculture and manufacturing industries.
Described as the backbone of the industries they work in, fitters are heavily involved in all metal based manufacturing. The manufacturing process generally begins with them, although fitters in Western Australia generally play a more significant role in the service and repair of metal products.
The Nuts And Bolts
First of all, a fitter looks at drawings of the part that has to be machined (altered or made). They mark out its shape and dimensions on to the metal, before cutting. The pieces are then assembled and fitted together. Drill holes or tap threads are inserted to enable the parts to be joined together. They check that the parts are an exact fit and, if not, they file parts until they are correctly proportioned. Finally, parts are either bolted, screwed, clipped or welded together, checked for faults and any problems are then corrected.
Speciality Service Skills
Fitters often become experts in undertaking repairs and replacements for specialist equipment used in particular industry sectors.
Farmers, who may be in the middle of harvesting when the clutch on the tractor fails, will tell you what a lifesaver a fitter can be. The farmers rely on diesel fitters who specialise in the maintenance and repair of the mechanical parts of heavy earthmoving equipment.
Former mechanical fitter, Joe Tufilli, who became a Client Service Representative, says he was heavily involved in the repair and servicing of mobile mining equipment.
''The type of machinery that I worked on varied, but it was mostly for use in the mining industry. I commonly worked on drills, used for extracting minerals from the earth, or loaders, which are similar to large bulldozers. A service could take a few days, while a complete overhaul of a loader, for example, could take several months.''
Maintenance fitters service and repair mechanical equipment such as pumps, compressors and conveyor belts. These types of machines are used in factories in the production process for goods such as toys and tinned food.
Other specialist areas include fluid power fitters (build or repair hydraulic pumps), bench fitters (work in workshops) and fitter welders (conduct repair by welding).
A Fitting Career!
People interested in this occupation should have an interest in, and appreciation of, things mechanical.
For example, a diesel fitter needs to appreciate how engines are assembled and how they operate. It's also important for potential fitters to know about the different types of metals and the methods involved in fastening metal parts.
In this work environment, an eye for detail, good hand-eye coordination, and an awareness of safety rules and procedures are desirable. Because fitters use potentially dangerous equipment, they need to wear protective clothing and equipment such as safety glasses.
Fitters often work in engineering workshops, which can be noisy and dirty. In Western Australia, most fitters work in the mining industry and on off-shore oil rigs. Australia's largest hydrocarbons project, the North West Shelf Gas Project in the Burrup Peninsula boasts the Cossack Pioneer Floating Production Storage and Off-Loading facility, the venture's sole oil-producing asset. The venture has provided a sound avenue of employment for local fitters.
The starting salary in this occupation is about $28,000 and may go as high as $60,000 per year for more experienced fitters working in the metropolitan area. For fitters working at minesites, salaries may go as high as $100,000 per year.
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