Austin Engineering probes big bucket rival Schlam Engineering after sales star Anastasia Podulova jumps ship

Heavy-duty bucket builder Austin Engineering is digging into what sensitive information was allegedly taken when a top sales representative left and joined a major rival.

Austin Engineering has gained a series of Federal Court orders against Schlam and client services champion Anastasia Podulova, who jumped ship at Christmas allegedly buoyed by Austin’s intellectual property.

Federal Court orders reveal Austin has had forensic computer specialist Rodney McKemmish ready since at least April 17 to analyse computer hard drives and folders it hopes to obtain under injunctions focused on Ms Podulova.

Austin has gained two sets of injunctions as it pursues claims its copyright has been breached by Ms Podulova since she allegedly emailed and uploaded material from the sharemarket-listed company’s computer systems.

The row comes amid intense competition between Austin and Schlam for replacing and upgrading the giant tipping bucket structures — or so-called bodies — that sit on top of the trucks hauling iron ore from deep down Pilbara pits.

Austin’s biggest customer is understood to be Rio Tinto and Schlam’s is believed to be BHP’s, but both sides have teams ready to bid whenever new body work comes up with these giants or with other miners.

The legal action had remained secret even after Justice Darren Jackson issued a series of orders against Ms Podulova on April 20 requiring her to hand over a variety of electronic records and devices.

The Federal Court file became public on Monday after Austin secured follow-up orders against Ms Podulova and Austin’s claims process were not available until Wednesday morning.

Austin is pursuing final orders that Ms Podulova and Schlam destroy any material copied from its computer system and pay damages, including exemplary damages. It is also seeking an account of profits and compensation.

The orders and the originating process give the brands and serial numbers of two devices that were allegedly in Ms Podulova’s control. Austin wants to protect the contents of these devices, specified email accounts and unspecified devices and email accounts.

The latest orders, gained by consent, include that Ms Podulova she explain why she has not handed over a Western Digital Elements story device specified in court papers.

The new orders require Ms Podulova to disclose the contents of the Western Digital device from January 13 by describing what folders and files, if any, had been copied from Austin’s computer network.

This stepped up digital probing comes five months to the day since Ms Podulova was chosen from among Austin’s 1300 employees to be the global group’s worker of the week.

She was described as being “incredibly resourceful, committed and enthusiastic”, and praised for continually striving to do her best for clients.

“Anastasia oozes positivity and lifts the team around her, while leading by example,” the December 1 award said.

She is believed to have left Austin just over three weeks later.

Austin said in a statement that Ms Podulova was subsequently employed by a Schlam subsidiary.

Justice Jackson’s Monday orders requires a director of six Schlam companies to provide details of all computer and other electronic devices provided to Ms Podulova, as well as details of the Schlam computer networks that she could access.

The orders also require Schlam directors provide details of a so-called “comprehensive review” of information technology systems that had been referred to in a letter sent to Austin’s lawyers in late February.

The matter is due back before court on May 26.

Schlam has been contacted for comment.