Multi-Float® hose and cable floats redefine liquid management

Main image credit: 

As Australia’s leading liquid control specialists, Coerco’s Multi-Float^® hose and cable floats reflect a commitment to product innovation and quality engineering over three decades. 

Originally developed in 2008 for a Cooljarloo slurry pipeline project, these versatile, durable and adaptable floats have gained popularity across Australian mining, municipal and renewable energy projects. They have since been successfully deployed in large-scale projects around the world. 

Manufactured in Australia, thoroughly tested, and compliant with international standards, the Multi-Float® hose and cable floats are designed for multiple applications, from dewatering and dredging to slurry pipelines and heavy-duty floating pump systems, in the harshest industrial and marine environments.  

Floats are available in diameters ranging from 75mm to 1200mm. They are purpose-built to secure the floatation of cables, hoses and pipes, while protecting them from damage in exposed water bodies, which reduces maintenance costs and extends the life of equipment. The floats are engineered with stability, operational efficiency, and safety in mind. Foam-filled options are available, which provide critical redundancy to ensure reliability, even if a float is compromised. Additional features such as custom bushings accommodate varying pipe or cable sizes — or a combination of both in the same float — offering versatility in different applications. 

For added support, Coerco’s pipe float calculator enables precise buoyancy assessments to determine the optimal number and spacing of floats required for each project.

In 2008, Tiwest (now Tronox) upgraded its Cooljarloo Mineral Sand Mine to improve pumping efficiencies for its dredging operation. Situated approximately 170km north of Perth, Cooljarloo is a key site for extracting heavy minerals from ancient shoreline deposits in the Lancelin to Gingin region. 

The project saw Coerco collaborate closely with the mine’s team to develop and deliver a tailored flotation solution in just three months. This included 156 pipe floats (450mm) for slurry pipelines, several 90mm floats for electric cables, and 315mm floats for other site-specific needs. 

Today, the pipe float system supports Tronox in producing over 770,000 metric tons of heavy mineral concentrate annually. Using floating dredges and a concentrator, the mine efficiently processes ore, while maintaining consistent feedstock to the Chandala processing plant for further refinement.

• Cooljarloo Pipe Floats (Origin Story) 
• Tower Hill Project - Greenlands 
• Kidston Hydro Project 
• Sepon Mine Legacy 
• Central American Copper Mine

Coerco’s involvement in large-scale projects globally is a testament to its world-class solutions, engineering capabilities, and technical expertise. Examples include Tasmania’s Rosebery Mine and Panama’s First Quantum Minerals, where the team addressed the challenges of expanding a large dewatering system into areas with deeper water deposits. 

At the First Quantum Minerals copper mine, which is made up of multiple sites spanning 13,600 hectares, rising water levels posed a significant challenge. However, Coerco’s innovative approach delivered a rapid solution that could be assembled in-situ to manage the influx of water efficiently. 

A specialised dewatering system was designed to support critical mineral processing operations at the site, which involved the supply of a large number of Multi-Float^® pipe floats. These floats were seamlessly integrated into the dewatering infrastructure for robust and reliable performance. 

The Kidston Hydro Project—a landmark renewable energy project in Far-North Queensland, and the first pumped storage hydro project in Australia in over 40 years—tested the Coerco team on all technical design, fabrication, and logistical fronts. 

Overcoming the remote location, rugged terrain, accessibility and serviceability issues, and complex engineering requirements, Coerco needed to design a dewatering solution that could pump 30 gigalitres of water from an abandoned gold mine, and manoeuvre with fluctuating water levels at a vertical depth of 180 metres. 

Working with engineering consultants, pump manufacturers, and lead contractors, a heavy-duty yet stable modular Multi-Float^® pontoon structure was custom-built after an in-depth 12-month design and review process. The team also engineered a winch system capable of safely launching the pontoon into the dam, while a helicopter was used to lower personnel down the pit embankment to install the manifolds, pumps, and motors onto the pontoon.

No matter the location, Coerco’s engineered solutions cater for projects of all scopes, sizes and complexities. Coerco applies in-depth knowledge of liquid management, to deliver practical and cost-effective solutions to help asset owners avoid unnecessary downtime and cost blowouts. 

As a family-owned and operated company with over 450 years of combined experience and more than 300 products, the company pushes the boundaries to deliver top-tier liquid management outcomes. The team thrives on tailoring solutions to meet specific sites and client needs—from design and engineering to manufacturing, delivery and commissioning. 

Connect with Coerco today and discover how our liquid management expertise can benefit your next project. You can also download Coerco’s comprehensive product catalogue here.