Although small units have been in use for many years, particularly in opal mining at shallow depths, there has been little effort in the past to explore the potential of the vacuum lift system in other more demanding applications. Recent developments in Western Australia by a small number of mining companies, contractors and manufacturers have seen the design and construction of several larger, more powerful units for use in winzing, shaft sinking, hoisting and spillage removal._x000D_
Some of these units have proved very successful and suggest that they could be developed for a wider range of applications and duties in future.