Machine Screen & Controller Services — Mareeba
Irrigation controllers, packing shed automation, and agricultural processing equipment across Mareeba and the Mareeba-Dimbulah region.
Mareeba sits at the centre of FNQ's agricultural engine. The Mareeba-Dimbulah Irrigation Scheme alone has over 125 automated channel control gates across 1,000+ farms — and every one of those gates runs a controller that needs maintenance, calibration, and programming support.
What We Service in Mareeba
Sunwater — Mareeba-Dimbulah Irrigation Scheme — A recent $32.5 million upgrade installed 125 automated irrigation channel control gates and upgraded 157 water offtakes across Biboohra, Southedge, South Walsh, North Walsh, and Atherton Creek. These gates coordinate using automated control systems to optimise channel flow. That's a significant installed base of PLCs and RTUs spread across a wide area, all needing ongoing maintenance and programming support.
Mango Packing Sheds — Mareeba-Dimbulah is one of Australia's largest mango producing regions. Packing sheds run optical graders, conveyor systems, and sizing equipment — often European technology from MAF Roda, Compac, or Tomra. These machines go from idle to 24/7 operation when mango season hits in November. If the grading line controller hasn't been backed up and it fails on day two of peak season, you're losing product, not just time.
Coffee Processing — 70% of Australia's coffee crop comes from this region. Skybury Coffee at Paddy's Green and multiple operations along the Mareeba Coffee Trail all run temperature-controlled roasting equipment and processing machinery.
Mareeba Industrial Park — Council-managed estate with three-phase power, close to Mareeba Airport. Light industrial and agricultural support businesses servicing the wider region.
Mareeba Challenges
The biggest issue here is seasonal peaks. Mango packing sheds sit idle for months, then go flat out. Equipment that was fine last season might not start this season — corroded connections, dead backup batteries, software that needs updating. The smart move is a pre-season checkup and backup before the first truck arrives.
Summer heat regularly hits 38-42°C. Equipment in open-sided packing sheds and pump houses cooks. Dust from rural operations gets into everything. Touchscreens fail faster in these conditions — and when they do, nobody has the project files.
The 125 automated irrigation gates are spread across a massive geographical area. Remote access and telemetry are critical. If a gate controller fails, someone needs to be able to diagnose it remotely before sending a tech out.