AMMS goes under

Engineering and maintenance company AMMS has gone under, apparently the latest victim of the mining slowdown.

The privately owned WA group, which had been turning over about $20 million a year, was put into the hands of administrators from Pitcher Partners last week.

Joint administrator Bryan Hughes said he was still coming to grips with the company's finances and the reasons behind the failure, but suggested the weaker commodity prices which have undermined the resources sector for 18 months were ultimately to blame.

"Some of these companies have been trying to get by, but have found that trading is flat-lining or getting worse," Mr Hughes said.

Founded in 1989, Belmont-based AMMS provided asset maintenance, labour hire services and industrial wash systems, mainly to the resources sector.

Mr Hughes said most of the company's staff of about 40 had been terminated and the rest would finish up once AMMS' residual contracts were completed.

The Australian Taxation Office is believed to head the list of creditors.