P&H 2100BLE III relocated from Western Australia to Bracalba Quarry, near Brisbane, for R&D purposes.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN -- June 2006 -- P&H MinePro Services - Australasia and CRC Mining are working as collaborative partners to develop and commercialize technology in the field of semi-autonomous operation of mining and earth moving equipment. The relationship began with successful collaboration in the development and introduction of the P&H Universal™ Dragline System in 2003.

CRC Mining is a research center established by the Australian Commonwealth Government, supported by four universities and twelve industry partners.

In support of its partnership with CRC, MinePro has committed to provide and maintain a P&H 2100BLE III electric mining shovel to be used for research and development for a minimum of seven years. The shovel was relocated from Hamersley Iron in Western Australia to Bracalba Quarry, just north of Brisbane, where it was upgraded with the P&H Centurion™ Control System. Two MinePro engineers will work full-time to support the machine for the duration of the project.

Technology developed by this venture will underpin significant cost savings and productivity gains for the mining industry. The most recent product launched by the partnership is the P&H PayLoad™ System. This new system provides accurate dipper payload measurement with repeatable, consistent, and reliable performance.

P&H will be the exclusive licensee to distribute electric mining shovel products and services developed by its partnership with CRC.

P&H MinePro Services is the global distribution and support arm of P&H Mining Equipment of Milwaukee, the world's leading supplier of electric rope shovels, large rotary blasthole drills and walking draglines. MinePro provides life cycle management of surface mining machines, and also is a full line distributor of wheel loaders, trucks, hydraulic excavators and allied products and services.