Uncategorized

Madsen Giersing has been commissioned by K92 Mining to carry out a series of condition inspections on six critical bridges and causeways supporting mining operations near Kainantu in Papua New Guinea’s Eastern Highlands.

These inspections cover five structures along the mining haul road — Lower Baupa, Kasese, Kokomo, Maniape, and Ramu bridges — as well as the Kokomo Causeway, which connects processing areas to key access routes.

“Our role is to assess the current condition of these structures through visual inspection and recommend any necessary remediation or maintenance works,” said Lasse Madsen. “It’s an important part of helping the client ensure safety and ongoing access across the site.”

The project faces certain challenges. Papua New Guinea’s distinct geography and climate make bridge inspections complex and, at times, dangerous. Heavy rainfall, high altitudes, and unstable terrain required the team to follow strict safety protocols to manage risk and carry out thorough inspections safely and accurately.

With experience across some of the region’s most challenging working environments, MG is proud to support K92 Mining in making infrastructure decisions based on sound engineering advice.

Madsen Giersing is proud to support St Barbara in the development of the Simberi Expansion Project in Papua New Guinea, which is set to unlock the full potential of Simberi’s substantial oxide and sulphide ore reserves.

🌍 Project Highlights:

✅ Multi-pit mining expansion as part of a 10+ year mine plan
✅ Increased gold recovery through advanced metallurgical processes
✅ Feasibility Study (AACE Class 3) commencing in February 2025
✅ Early works package—including wharf, ROM pad, and ball mill facility—well underway

Madsen Giersing previously led the detailed design for the new wharf during the earlier feasibility and front-end engineering studies. Now, we’re continuing our involvement, providing technical support for the construction tender process, with tenders set to be issued in early February 2025 and an award expected by March.

“We are delighted to continue our relationship with St Barbara and the Simberi Project,” said Lasse Madsen. “This project is a testament to collaboration, innovation, and engineering excellence in the mining sector. We’re excited to work alongside a fantastic team, including Pitch Black Group, AMC Consultants, Klohn Crippen Berger, Paradocs Metallurgy, Engeny, Tetra Tech, Trajectory, and Chemech Consulting.”

Stay tuned for more updates as we contribute to delivering a world-class mining expansion!

With a passion for cycling, health, athletic achievement and innovation, Madsen Giersing is delighted to have become a sponsor of the COBRA9 x Leigh Surveyors Race Team.

Established in 2010, the team is one of Australia’s longest running cycling teams, celebrated for its dynamic approach to racing, emphasising fun, race animation, and a strong media presence. The team’s roster includes notable cyclists such as Ben Carman, Christian Tunminello, Jake Cawthorn, James Bartlett, and Liam Cuthbertson, each bringing unique strengths and aspirations to the sport.

“I’m a passionate cyclist,” said Lasse Madsen. “While I’ll never reach the elite level, I love the camaraderie, friendships and positive experiences I get from cycling and can often be found taking on the river loop in Brisbane bright and early on a Sunday morning. I’m also a huge fan of innovation and have a huge respect for the ingenuity and craftsmanship that we have in Australia, particularly in custom manufacturing. This is something that COBRA9 and the racing team are founded on and as an active in-car supporter is something I witness at races across Australia.”

COBRA9 was founded in 2009 in Hobart, Tasmania, by podiatrists Nathan White and Chris Angel, initially producing plastic orthotics before transitioning to carbon composite materials in 2011. That same year, they launched the COBRA9 racing team, using competitive cycling as a testing ground for their products.

In 2013, they introduced the SemiPro line to redefine off-the-shelf orthotics, followed by the development of carbon fibre InnerCore technology in 2015, allowing for precise mechanical tuning and reduced mass.

The company expanded in 2017 by merging with the Pedaler Holdings Group, broadening its cycling-related health services in Brisbane. In 2022, COBRA9 entered the OEM market, developing innersoles for Bont, producing over 15,000 devices to date.

In 2024, COBRA9 took another step forward by incorporating in-house CNC fabrication, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and high-performance orthotic solutions.

“As the Innovators in Engineering Design, it is fantastic to be able to partner with an organisation and race team that values continuous development and a commitment to being the best of the best and having a lot of fun at the same time,” said Lasse.

It has been a busy couple of months at Madsen Giersing as our team builds on our portfolio of marine infrastructure projects securing work to support the development of infrastructure in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Key wins include:

• The design of a temporary crane platform for Brady Marine and Civil to support the development of Ampol’s product wharf in Brisbane.
• Providing expert advice to John Holland on flood loading for the new structures set to transform Brisbane’s Waterfront Place and Eagle Street Pier as part of a once in a generation project which will create a stunning business and tourist destination in the heart of the city.
• Undertaking a structural review for AIE of a temporary jetty at Port Hedland for their client BHP.
• Performing an assessment of bridge structures for Exxon Mobil Papua New Guinea to ensure their current and long-term health and performance.

CEO Lasse Madsen, “We are delighted to have partnered with organisations across Australia and Papua New Guinea to support their major engineering works. The projects we have secured highlight the depth of talent and industry expertise that we have at our disposal and our team is excited to bring their skills to enhance the design capability of each lead contractor and client. As the projects come to life, we are looking forward to seeing their progress from design through to construction,” said Lasse.

About Madsen Giersing

Outside the box thinking – an all too common catch phrase for some. Not for us however. At Madsen Giersing (MG) we take the box, and turn it into something extraordinary. Through a collaborative approach and tapping into our many years’ experience, the MG team delivers innovation unlike others in the field.

This approach has led to MG having a proven track record in the delivery of projects across Australia, PNG and South-East Asia, specialising in the innovative design and engineering of marine structures, bridges and temporary works.

About the Role

This is a permanent full-time position available for immediate start based in our Brisbane office.

• This position will work on projects within the Marine and Coastal Infrastructure, Temporary Works and Construction Solutions, Bridge and Structural engineering disciplines
• This position prepares engineering designs, calculations and verifications, specifications, and technical reports
• Adherence to internal procedures, processes, and quality measures, which are carried out in accordance with our quality control system, which is third party certified to AS/NZS ISO 9001:2015
• Occasional travel may be required in line with the development and delivery of projects

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering
• A minimum of 1-5 years’ experience
• Sound technical experience in structural engineering, preferably in the delivery of marine projects
• Ability to think critically and problem solve
• Experience working with Australian Standards, and a knowledge of Australian building codes is preferable
• Experience in finite element analysis is preferable
• Experience using structural analysis software, such as Microstrand or Spacegas
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• Solid verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills
• You must be eligible to live and work in Australia to be successful in applying for this role

Why Choose Madsen Giersing?

Don’t be deceived by our size. We may be a smaller firm in size, but the projects we work on are industry leading.

• We are the leading innovators in Structural Design Engineering specialising in marine structures, bridges, and temporary works
• Provide engineering consultancy services to both private and public sector
• Projects are based in Australia, PNG, and South-East Asia
• Long term respected client partnerships
• Large challenging projects

What we offer

• Remuneration and benefits in line with experience and qualifications
• A fantastic working environment in a modern top floor office in Newstead with close proximity to public transport and The Gasworks and Emporium complexes with their fantastic cafes
• End of ride facilities including bike storage and showers
• Close-knit culture and open-door policy

To apply, email mgce@madsen.lndo.site with a cover letter detailing your experience and what you will bring to our organisation, referee details and a copy of your current C.V.

No agencies please

Madsen Giersing is delighted to welcome Burt Wilken to the team in the role of Graduate Engineer. Originally from South Africa, Burt migrated to Brisbane with his family when he was ten and has called the city home ever since. With a natural aptitude for maths and science, Burt is one of life’s problem-solvers, which led to his studies at the University of Queensland where he graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in 2020.

Lasse Madsen welcomed Burt to the team “We are delighted to have Burt join the Madsen Giersing team. He is an excellent young engineer, and we look forward to him bringing his passion to his new role and getting involved in our projects across Australia and Asia.”

Before joining, Burt undertook work experience at FAS Consulting Engineers and a placement with Madsen Giersing in the final year of his studies, specifying remedial work on waste pipeline piles and support structures. Burt is also a graduate of Constructionarium Australia’s Story Bridge build program, an initiative that Madsen Giersing proudly support, completing the October 2019 program.

On joining Madsen Giersing, Burt outlined the excitement he has for the opportunity. “It has been fantastic to become part of the team. I can’t wait to be thrown in at the deep end, to work on a range of unique and diverse projects and to be challenged to excel in a field where we are known for our innovation and delivering great results for our clients.”

“I can’t wait to get involved in any project the team needs me to support. I’m currently working on the temporary works to help the demolition of a major road bridge in New South Wales, designing a steel frame with a rotating saddle that will enable 150-tonne bridge piers to be rotated horizontally before being laid flat on the barge deck. It is a fantastic project that is equally challenging and rewarding.”

“And Daisy, the corporate dog is great too. I love dogs, so having her in the office is awesome,” said Burt.

Outside of work, you’ll find Burt hitting the trails on his mountain bike, burning up the tarmac on his road bike or escaping to Fraser Island on a camping trip. He is also keenly exploring the world of 3D printing and usually has a project or two on the go at home, to divert him from his other passions of gaming and a bit of entertainment streaming.

As engineers, we work in an industry where we strive to design solutions that last a lifetime and are all aware of the great work undertaken by those before. This understanding provides us with respect for the design ingenuity and thinking that went into the pioneering approach to connecting Australia’s regions.

A perfect example of this is the North Coast Railway line which opened up Queensland’s East Coast to high-speed travel. Covering 1,680km from Brisbane’s Roma Street to Cairns, the railway was and still is a vital connection for people and commerce. Linking Brisbane, Nambour, Gympie Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville to Cairns, the railway turned a journey that would have lasted weeks overland into a 52-hour trip on opening in 1924.

These days with high-speed trains, the journey is much faster, but by and large, the railway still uses the same route and infrastructure from when it opened. And at Madsen Giersing we are fortunate to be working on a stretch of railway that dates back almost 150 years as we bring a new lease of life to bridge structures through modern technology, modelling and design.

Engaged by Canstruct as part of a D&C contract with Queensland Rail, we are reinforcing 150+ years old, heritage-listed cast-iron piers that hold up bridges within the Wide-Bay region.

Lasse Madsen outlined our involvement “This is a fantastic project to be involved in, because of the challenges it presents, but also due to the fact that we get to work with engineering designs that were directly responsible for opening up Queensland and connecting people and goods throughout the state.”

“Because of their age and design, each pier is heritage listed, and although they are coming to the end of their life and could easily be replaced with simple concrete supports, our challenge is to create a solution that preserves and extends their lifespan without fundamentally changing the look of the structure.”

The piers are designed in sections, with bolted joints connecting them and concrete reinforcing the interior. Over time, however, they have had to cope with larger trains and higher loads than ever before and battle the Queensland climate, which is not the kindest to cast iron. Therefore, they require upgrades to extend their life.

“Our team spent a considerable amount of time analysing the structures and identifying weak points in the piers, such as bolted joints and creating solutions that would remove any weakness, strengthen the structure and meet the requirements of heritage listing.”

“Essentially, we came up with a second skin solution involving a reinforced concrete and FRP wrap around the cast iron concrete-filled piers, which doesn’t destroy the look of the piers and complies with the heritage guidelines. In simple terms, it is like wearing a compression bandage that supports and strengthens a limb without changing its appearance.”

Madsen Giersing were then engaged to investigate the cast-iron pier behaviour under load, specifically the bolted connections between pier segments. This verifies the previous work completed, improves the knowledge on these types of piers and assists Queensland Rail in managing their existing assets.

In partnership with Canstruct as the contractor we worked with the University of Queensland using sections from decommissioned bridges to undertake a testing programme that would provide a full structural analysis which could act as a baseline for bridges of a similar age.

“Working with UQ enabled us to utilise their facilities to undertake comprehensive testing in a controlled environment, using the latest technologies and techniques.”

“Through our testing and analysis, we can provide feedback on bridge performance and help a major asset owner to keep vital transport connections operational,” said Lasse.