Turnkey. Reliable. Relentless. DEFTEC: Engineering Solutions That Keep Industry Moving

From dismantling electronics as a five-year-old to leading an engineering company supporting some of Queensland's largest industrial operations, Deftec Managing Director and Principal Engineer Garry Thomas has always had a passion for technology – and it shows.

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Founded in 2013, Deftec has grown into a Queensland-based industrial automation and control systems company, with a full electrical workshop in Mackay and a design, software and electronics hub in Brisbane. Today, alongside business partner Steven Pel and a team of more than 50, the company delivers engineering solutions that help keep mining and heavy industry operating safely and efficiently.

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"Our goal is to serve the mining industry by building intelligent, reliable systems," Garry said.

Deftec specialises in industrial control and automation, designing, building and supporting the PLC and SCADA systems that monitor and operate industrial plants. The company also delivers electrical infrastructure, including field panels, substations and motor control centres, managing projects from scoping and design through to manufacture, commissioning and ongoing support.

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Rather than relying on multiple contractors, Deftec provides a complete turnkey service.

"We own the whole lifecycle – we scope it, design it, build it in our own workshop, commission it on site and support it afterwards," Garry explained.

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"For a mining or industrial operation, that means one accountable partner for the systems they can't afford to fail, not a chain of suppliers pointing at each other."

Among the company's proudest achievements is the development of SubMon, an innovative monitoring system designed to detect ground movement at mine sites. Using cameras and computer vision, the technology measures movement down to a fraction of a millimetre, providing around-the-clock monitoring and early warnings if critical infrastructure begins to shift.

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"If a tower starts drifting beyond safe limits, it alerts operators straight away so they can act before anything's compromised. It's already detected real tower movement and raised the early warning – which is exactly why we built it."

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While engineering innovation sits at the heart of the business, Deftec says its people remain its greatest strength. Its multidisciplinary team includes engineers specialising in electrical, software, mechatronics, electronics and computer systems, alongside electricians with expertise across communications, instrumentation, fibre, wireless, surface and underground operations.

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Garry acknowledges that mining is a demanding industry and credits the company's dedicated team for driving Deftec’s continued growth and success.

"We put real effort into looking after our people: plenty of team activities to reward them for what they put in and to keep the close-knit culture we've built."

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Supporting the wider community is another key focus. Deftec recently raised $7,400 through the Beyond Blue Big Blue Table campaign, funding 112 contacts to the Beyond Blue Support Service while helping raise awareness of mental health within the industry. The company also supports grassroots sport across the region, including local cricket and the Powerhouse Fight Series.

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Deftec plans to continue investing in its people, expand its regional capabilities and remain at the forefront of automation and control technology for mining and industry.  

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Find out more about Deftec and its industry-leading automation solutions at this month's QME Expo!

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