As the mining and construction industries prepare for a low-emission future, the need for skilled tradespeople who are equipped to manage new technologies has never been greater. Komatsu is leading this transformation, with apprentices like Madeleine Kwong setting the standard for excellence and innovation.
Madeleine, a 3rd-year Auto Electrical Apprentice (AUR 30320) at Komatsu’s Wacol facility, has already earned the title of Queensland’s 3rd Year Apprentice of the Year. Her training includes:
- Depower and Reinitialise Battery Electric Vehicles (AURETH101)
- Inspect and Maintain Battery Electric Vehicles (AURETH102)
- Battery Electric Vehicle skill set (AURSS00064)
As part of her day-to-day responsibilities, Madeleine works on diagnosing and repairing low-voltage faults in electric dump trucks and other mining machines. Her tasks also include:
- Disconnecting and reconnecting batteries.
- Installing customer-specified options and Komatsu-specific technologies like KPAR, a communication relay system between trucks and the cloud.
- Performing voltage and resistance checks, bridging circuits to meet operational parameters, conducting quality checks on builds and predelivery inspections.
Madeleine’s training combines her accredited trade courses with hands-on experience. This integrated approach ensures apprentices develop the skills needed to support advancements like battery and power-agnostic electric drive trucks, expected to roll out by 2030.
Her achievements highlight the importance of aligning industry training with the demand of emerging technologies. Congratulations to Madeleine on her success, and to Komatsu for championing a future-ready workforce.