Australian Mining August 2024

COPPER SPOTLIGHT

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

VOLUME 116/07 | AUGUST 2024

NEXT-GENERATION TECHNOLOGY CAPTURES INDUSTRY ATTENTION

For the most challenging conditions

United. Inspired.

SmartROC C50

Introducing the new long feed SmartROC C50, designed to maximize productivity and reduce costs. This advanced COPROD rig extends drilling time and minimizes rod changes, leading to less wear on consumables and lower fuel expenses. Renowned for its speed and efficiency, the SmartROC C50 is now capable of greater hole depths, of up to 37 meters. Ideal for mining and quarrying, it combines power and precision for superior performance.

A MINING EXTRAVAGANZA

THIS EDITION INCLUDES A MINEXPO SHOWGUIDE, AS WELL AS A LOOK AT AUSTRALIA’S MINEXPO CONTINGENT AND WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE QUADRENNIAL CONFERENCE.

Dubbed the world’s largest mining show, MINExpo takes over Las Vegas from September 24–26, bringing together all the big mining industry names.

Caterpillar, Komatsu, Liebherr, Hitachi, Sandvik and Epiroc will feature prominently at the event, as will the Australian Pavilion, located at booth 2921 in the North Hall.

Presented by Austmine, the Australian Pavilion will host 34 Aussie companies doing great things in the mining industry. Each will have their own booth inside the pavilion.

This includes software pioneers, safety innovators, training providers, AI specialists and everything in between.

As Austmine chief executive officer Christine Gibbs Stewart attests, MINExpo is significant in more ways than one.

“While MINExpo is in the United States, it’s not strictly a US show because it attracts people from all over the world,” Gibbs Stewart told Australian Mining.

“While you have a lot of US miners walking through, you also have miners from Latin America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

“Companies want to promote what they do, talk to potential customers, make new connections, and find out about the US market and how it works.”

You can turn to page 50 to see what’s in store for MINExpo 2024.

This edition of Australian Mining also gives us the opportunity to celebrate Mineral Resources’ (MinRes) achievement at its Onslow Iron project, a groundbreaking

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

JOHN MURPHY

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

CHRISTINE CLANCY

MANAGING EDITOR PAUL HAYES

EDITOR

TOM PARKER

Email: tom.parker@primecreative.com.au

ASSISTANT EDITOR

ALEXANDRA EASTWOOD

Email: alexandra.eastwood@primecreative.com.au

iron ore operation that’s unlocked stranded deposits in the west Pilbara region of WA.

MinRes recently celebrated its first Onslow iron ore shipment, with 113,000 wet metric tonnes setting sail for China.

Elphinstone graces the cover of this edition, with the associated story showcasing the company’s range of mining products, including the E15 range of machinery which has seen Elphinstone partner with Jetcrete Oz and the Ernest Henry copper-gold mine northern Queensland.

Elsewhere, we showcase offerings from the likes of Tier 1 original equipment manufacturers Caterpillar, Hitachi and Komatsu, while innovations from Hexagon, Vocus, Orica and Bradken also take the spotlight.

On the events front, Australian Mining profiles all the winners from the recent Women in Industry Awards. We also look back at the 2024 PNG Industrial and Mining Resources Exhibition and Conference.

Rounding out this edition is a look at the unheralded critical minerals. Turn to page 90 to find out more.

FRONT COVER

With 45 years in mining, Elphinstone is an authorised Caterpillar OEM and a leading manufacturer of quality products for the global underground and surface mining industries.

Elphinstone’s product range includes specialised underground support vehicles, mine extraction devices, and surface mining solutions including extended distance off-highway haulage trucks and water tanks to suit Caterpillar articulated trucks.

Elphinstone introduced its new low-profile E15 series in January, which has been a welcome addition to the existing range of E10 (formerly WR810) underground support vehicles.

Models in the E15 range include the 7m³ agitator, the E15 delivery (with wireless remote crane), E15 flat deck, E15 water tank for dust suppression, and E15 fuel and lube service truck, with various other configurations presently in development.

Tom Parker Editor

JOURNALISTS

OLIVIA THOMSON

Email: olivia.thomson@primecreative.com.au

KELSIE TIBBEN

Email: kelsie.tibben@primecreative.com.au

CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER

JANINE CLEMENTS

Tel: (02) 9439 7227

Email: janine.clements@primecreative.com.au

SALES MANAGER

JONATHAN DUCKETT

Tel: (02) 9439 7227 Mob: 0498 091 027

Email: jonathan.duckett@primecreative.com.au

ART DIRECTOR

MICHELLE WESTON

michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au

Cover image: Elphinstone

Onslow Iron: A new era

With its infrastructure set for completion in the second half of 2024, the Onslow Iron project is set to redefine mining in Western Australia. 12 COVER STORY

Mixing with the best

As a growing niche manufacturer, Elphinstone has been able to respond quickly to demand, whether it’s an individual customer or global markets.

SURFACE MINING

The Zenith of ground engaging tools

Bradken has expanded its GET range to include Zenith plate lip GET to further support Australia’s mining sector.

SURFACE MINING

Maximising payload productivity worldwide

Schlam’s Hercules open-cut dump body is now a household name in the mining industry.

IN Golden bull charges on copper

While gold has always been Newmont’s bread and butter, the major miner may have its eye on a copper future.

42 M

The AI mining revolution Miners are unlocking the potential of AI in their operations thanks to a swathe of new digital infrastructure being built in the Pilbara.

50 W

Australian Mining sat down with Austmine chief executive officer Christine Gibbs Stewart to preview

90 CRITICAL MINERALS

The unheralded critical minerals Australian Mining spotlights three Australian-based companies with bright critical minerals futures.

Zenith® Plate Lip GET Solutions

Bradken’s Zenith® Plate Lip ground engaging tools are engineered to minimise dig energy required for penetration and extend wear life.

•Bradken Zenith® Points and Adapters are available in three options to suit multiple applications.

•Easy conversion to Zenith® GET from existing plate lip fitments or complete new lip.

Our unique design reduces change-out time with a truly hammer-free pin, and dedicated point removal tool to enable safer removal.

Discover the benefits of our latest surface mining innovation

D ELIVE RING AN

O PT IMISED FUTURE

FOLLOW THE LEADERS: THE LATEST EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST EXECUTIVE MOVEMENTS ACROSS THE MINING SECTOR, FEATURING EVOLUTION MINING, ST BARBARA, NEW HOPE AND NORTHERN STAR.

Former Fortescue chief executive officer Fiona Hick has joined Evolution Mining as a non-executive director and member of the company’s risk and sustainability committee, which took effect July 1.

Hick holds 29 years’ experience in the minerals and energy industries. Aside from her tenure at Fortescue, Hick previously held senior roles at Rio Tinto and Woodside Energy, with Hick working at the latter for 22 years.

At Woodside, Hick held leadership positions in areas such as health, safety and environment, strategy and planning, and engineering. She was also the executive vice president of the company’s Australian operations.

Hick has also been a member of the University of Western Australia’s strategic resources committee since 2019.

“Having recently accompanied the Evolution board on a visit to the Cowal and Northparkes operations, it has reinforced my view of the quality of the people and assets within the company,” Hick said. “I’m thrilled to be joining the board and supporting Evolution’s exciting future.”

Evolution executive chairman Jake Klein welcomed Hick to the board.

“I’m delighted to welcome Fiona to Evolution’s board,” Klein said. “She is a highly regarded executive and her depth of experience, and skills will complement those of our existing directors and further enhance the board.”

Barlow had been a non-executive director for New Hope since 2015, where he served as the chair of the nomination and remuneration committee and a member of both the sustainability committee and audit and risk committee.

director and AMB Holdings’ executive chairman. He was also a member of the Australian Takeovers Panel for nine years.

July also saw Stef Loader step down from her role as non-executive director at St Barbara.

Since her appointment in November 2018, Loader has served on the audit and risk committee and the safety and sustainability committee.

“On behalf of the board I would like to acknowledge Stef’s significant contribution to St Barbara over the last six years, including as chair of the safety and sustainability committee and more recently as chair of the remuneration and nomination committee,” St Barbara nonexecutive chair Kerry Gleeson said.

“The board has greatly benefitted from Stef’s skills and experience and I am particularly thankful for her support in facilitating a smooth on-boarding and transition to Mark (Hine), Joanne (Palmer) and Warren (Hallam) who were appointed as new directors in September 2023. We extend our sincere thanks to Stef and wish her all the very best for the future.”

New Hope Group non-executive director Todd James Barlow resigned from the board, which took effect from June 30.

“On behalf of the board and management team, I would like to thank Todd for his outstanding contributions and service to the company throughout his tenure,” New Hope chair Robert Millner said.

Brent Charles Albert Smith replaced Barlow from July 1.

He is employed by Washington H. Soul Pattinson & Company and holds a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology Sydney and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.

Smith will stand for election at New Hope’s annual general meeting in November.

“We welcome Brent and look forward to him joining the board,” Millner said.

“Brent’s depth of knowledge and experience will complement the skills and expertise of the current members of the board.”

Northern Star Resources recently welcome a new independent nonexecutive director to its board.

Michael Ashforth has almost thirty years’ experience in law, investment banking and corporate advisory.

Ashforth was previously a Freehills partner, Gresham Partners’ managing director, a Macquarie Capital executive

Most recently, Ashforth was a regional adviser with Goldman Sachs. He is also currently a director of the Wunan Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation based in Kununurra that empowers and supports Aboriginal people in the east Kimberley region of Western Australia.

“As Australia’s largest ASX-listed gold producer, Northern Star has an enviable portfolio of gold-producing assets and I look forward to helping it continue to provide superior returns to its shareholders,” Ashforth said.

Global power technology leader Cummins also welcomed a new executive managing director to its Asia-Pacific arm.

With over 14 years of experience Cummins, executive managing director Africa and Middle East, Annie Chu, took on the top job from July 1.

Chu will be based in Singapore and will oversee Cummins’ operations in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Southeast Asia, Japan, Korea and the Pacific Islands.

Cummins Asia-Pacific welcomed Chu to the role.

“Her strategic thinking, customer-centric mindset, and teamwork have been evident throughout her career,” Cummins said.

“Chu’s leadership in Africa and the Middle East has been marked by significant achievements, including record financial performance and transformative initiatives to enhance both customer support and employee engagement.” AM

MINRES DELIVERED FIRST ORE ON SHIP ONE MONTH AHEAD OF SCHEDULE IN MAY.

Iron ore has had a fluctuating year.

The commodity saw strengthened prices early in 2024 thanks to a boosted hunger for the steelmaking ingredient and China bolstering its economy.

Prices hovered around $US125 per tonne (t) in January and February, an improvement from a previous $US98/t slump in mid-2023.

A swift fall to a seven-month low in March and April reflected increasing concerns about a rapid build-up of Chinese iron ore inventories amid sluggish growth in steel output.

But there is still hope for Australian iron ore in 2024.

As additional greenfield supply comes online, Australian export volumes are forecast to increase by 1.6 per cent annually through to 2029.

A development set to unlock billions of iron ore tonnes is Mineral Resources’ (MinRes) Onslow Iron site, one of the largest iron ore projects currently being developed in Australia.

Located 150km east of Onslow in the west Pilbara region of Western Australia, Onslow Iron is forecast to have an annual capacity of 35 million tonnes across more than 30 years.

The project is being developed by MinRes and its Red Hill Iron joint venture (RHIJV) partners China Baowu Steel Group, AMCI and POSCO. MinRes purchased its stake in the RHIJV in 2021, which has since grown to 60.3 per cent.

The RHIJV sees MinRes deliver all mining services and infrastructure for Onslow Iron.

“The original joint venture for Onslow Iron project was studied for 15 years and, at the time, the market had largely written the project off, believing the capital costs and development challenges were too great to overcome,” MinRes managing director Chris Ellison told Australian Mining.

“However, MinRes is built on the love of a challenge and Onslow Iron had three major challenges, each requiring innovative thinking and technology to overcome.”

Autonomous road trains

In late April, MinRes welcomed its first convoy of road trains equipped with autonomous haulage solutions (AHS) technology developed with autonomy specialists Hexagon.

The Kenworth C509 quad road trains were transported from Perth in a

ONSLOW IRON: A NEW ERA

WITH INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2024, THE ONSLOW IRON PROJECT IS SET TO REDEFINE MINING IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA.

two-and-a-half-day journey spanning more than 1280km.

According to MinRes, the singleengine road trains are the “biggest in the world” and can haul 330 tonnes of iron ore each. The full fleet of 150 trucks will be fitted with AHS technology at a rate of around 10 per month.

The road trains are to be operated by MinRes’ CSI Mining Services and will carry Onslow Iron product along a dedicated and fenced 150km haul road running from the Ken’s Bore mine site to the MinRes transhipping terminal at the Port of Ashburton.

“Safety is at the forefront of the project’s design,” MinRes said. “Grade separation will ensure there is no interaction between the road trains on the haul road and vehicles using public roads.

“A range of jobs will be created to support autonomous haulage operations, including automation specialists, dispatch and logistic offices, mechanics and auto electricians.”

In June, it was announced Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners would purchase a 49 per cent stake in the haul road for $1.3 billion.

Under this agreement, MinRes will retain majority ownership and exclusive rights to use, operate and maintain the haul road. Any tolling payments for iron ore volumes above 40 million tonnes per annum will also be fully owned by MinRes.

Transhipping operations

Once Onslow Iron product reaches the Port of Ashburton, it will be shipped via an initial fleet of five transhippers.

Onslow Iron’s first two transhippers – MinRes Airlie and MinRes Coolibah – were transported from China to the WA coast on a specialised heavy-lift vessel called Xin Guang Hua in May.

On arrival at the Port of Dampier, the heavy-lift vessel was partially submerged so the pair of transhippers could be unloaded in a complex maritime operation.

From there, the transhippers were towed to anchorage and linked to a pair of tugs named MinRes Thor and MinRes Odin.

Each transhipper has a shallow seven-metre draft to reduce its environmental footprint and associated costs.

“The cost and environmental impact of building a deepwater port

was overcome with our shallow draft transhippers,” Ellison said. “Expensive heavy haul rail was replaced with our autonomous road trains.

“And the high capital cost of mine infrastructure construction was overcome with the installation of our modular NextGen crushers.”

Measuring 123m long and 36m wide, the MinRes transhippers can hold 20,000t of ore to be distributed throughout the hold via a selfloading system.

The transhipper barge is then propelled out to sea by a powerful tug that also serves as accommodation for the crew. When the barge and tug are locked together, they operate as one vessel.

“This innovative approach has enabled the project to be developed in record time, just 21 months after the final investment decision and only one year after major construction commenced at the mine and port – an amazing feat,” Ellison said.

The third transhipper is expected to arrive at the Port of Ashburton in mid2024, the fourth by the end of 2024 and the fifth in early 2025.

Onslow Iron will eventually expand

“While cost and timeframes were important, we also wanted to minimise the impact of the operation on local communities, leading to Onslow Iron being the first mine-to-ship, dustfree iron ore project in Australia,” Ellison said.

of the RHIJV partners and the world’s largest steelmaker.

“This historic moment for MinRes cements our position as Australia’s leading commodity infrastructure business,” Ellison said.

“We have unlocked a whole new iron ore region for Australia, while Onslow

history with MinRes and a true demonstration of the industry-leading innovation and can-do attitude that forms the foundation of our business,” Ellison said.

“It’s an extraordinary display of the unique capability of MinRes’ infrastructure and mining services, technology and methodologies, Onslow

THE AUTONOMOUS ROAD TRAIN SOLUTION FROM HEXAGON IS A WORLD-FIRST.

ONSLOW IRON WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE A FLEET OF SEVEN TRANSHIPPERS.

A MEETING OF MINDS

AUSIMM’S ANNUAL THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SERIES BRINGS TOGETHER MINING INDUSTRY LEADERS TO DISCUSS CURRENT AND EMERGING TRENDS IN THE SECTOR.

Tto unprecedented levels if demand is to be met in time for impending netzero targets.

But the resources sector is in the midst of a reckoning as to how those resources will be extracted.

Now in its seventh year, the AusIMM Thought Leadership Series (TLS) offers a unique platform to bring together mining executives, financiers, governments and resource professionals.

The aim is to explore global issues surrounding the mining industry, exchange ideas and foster the kind of thought-leadership that drives innovation and transformation.

The 2024 TLS theme ‘responsible mining in a digital era’ aims to build on last year’s conversations that reviewed the shifting paradigm of sustainable mining.

In the second session of the series titled ‘Investing in a sustainable future’, a panel with more than 100 years combined industry experience explored the challenges and opportunities in solving energy transition and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues across the mining value chain.

A key focus of the evening was the ramp-up in production needed to achieve a sustainable future, with special focus on the challenge of attracting investment to new and emerging projects.

Whincup emphasised the complexity of the sustained growth needed from the Australian mining industry.

“We’ve got to double-to-quadruple the amount of critical minerals extracted and processed today within the next 15 years,” Whincup told the audience.

“Tier 1 assets are getting harder to find and we’re spending less on greenfield exploration – a market that is dominated by juniors who are often underfunded and under-resourced.

“Building momentum and capacity around asset discovery is getting harder.”

Once an asset is found and funded, Whincup said it takes 17 years on average to reach operation. Then there are geopolitical considerations associated with mineral processing chains.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for the sector. Far from it.

“The opportunity is there,” Whincup said. “We should be able to overcome the challenges.

The final step in the public review stage wrapped up in June when the Victorian Government-appointed Inquiry and Advisory Committee (IAC) issued its recommendations report on the project’s environment effects statement (EES) to the Minister for Planning.

The Minister will make an assessment of the environmental effects of the project after considering the IAC’s report, as well as the EES public submissions, and any other relevant matters.

A positive ministerial assessment for the Goschen EES will trigger the Earth Resources Regulator assessment of VHM’s mining licence application and be the green light for VHM to apply for its relevant permits.

Douglas told Australian Mining events like the TLS are critical in bringing the resources sector together to tackle challenges like regulations collaboratively.

“Challenges shared by the panellists resonated with the audience because they are experiences in common,” Douglas said. “This was the resounding takeaway for me and highlights that

operate in recent years, the reduction of our capital costs ensures that this project is competitive and at the bottom of the cost curve,” Douglas said.

According to Douglas, the diversity in the panel perspectives offered a broad insight into the complexity of the project investment landscape for critical mineral assets and exploration in Australia.

“Rhetoric around Australia’s inherent need to grow its domestic downstream capabilities in industries linked to renewable technologies and global netzero aspirations has been amplified by media attention,” he said.

“This TLS event was timed perfectly to discuss the role of critical mineral mine and processing developers, project funding strategies and government support on the road to net-zero.”

Southern Cross Gold (SXG) is another junior making a name for itself in Victoria. General manager Lisa Gibbons was in the audience and found SXG’s experience reflected in the panel’s discussion.

“As someone involved in a junior company that has a significant gold and antimony critical mineral exploration

VHM CEO RON DOUGLAS DISCUSSING THE IMPACT OF REGULATIONS ON JUNIORS.

and development project, I feel the panel precisely understood and expressed the current difficulties and future opportunities in developing critical mineral projects in Australia,” Gibbons told Australian Mining

“They highlighted that most critical mineral exploration is carried out by junior companies and despite the world’s scramble to secure critical minerals, junior mining companies struggle to raise equity to continue exploration, and to raise finance to bring projects into production. This is due to the loss of global institutional investment over the last 10 years.

“There are of course many facets as to why this is, such as small markets and opaque commodity prices for some critical metals, global challenges with permitting, lack of trust from stakeholders about our industry, and that the new critical mineral incentives from the government don’t fill the gap in securing equity that the junior companies are searching for.

“We believe we are fortunate that conventional gold production will predominately finance our future operation and that our critical mineral, antimony, which is about 20 per cent

standard and conventional flotation process to produce antimony-gold concentrates. But global supply chains to smelt the concentrate have been fragmented.”

In June, Southern Cross Gold announced it was set to merge with Canada’s Mawson Gold to consolidate ownership of the Sunday Creek asset in a deal that will list the company on both the ASX and Toronto Stock Exchange.

as well as local stakeholders and Traditional Owners.”

The company’s Sunday Creek project is one of Australia’s most significant gold-antimony exploration projects. The asset is well on the way to being Victoria’s next gold producer.

“The Sunday Creek project is a significant gold and antimony discovery, and we are already beginning to assess our pathways for permitting in Victoria,” Gibbons said. “Southern Cross Gold is a company that has been built to reflect the high ESG values that Victorians will require in order to permit any future mining project.

“As we look to the future, we are having positive discussions as to what permitting will look like with all stakeholders including local council, State and Federal Governments

Gibbons addressed the TLS panel with a question on how industry and regulators can work together to ensure the Australian mining sector continues to thrive.

“One consistent theme we have encountered is there is a lack of understanding by less senior regulators as to the importance of critical minerals in our everyday life and how junior companies work and raise funds, and that our people, assets, money and time are limited and fungible across many jurisdictions,” she said.

“My question to the panel was around how we as an industry can educate the regulators that we need home-grown critical minerals projects and that government support through accelerated permitting validates and de-risks our projects for investors, which in turn attracts new capital.”

The panel was in agreement that there is a need for consistent communication at all levels, to educate, engage and bring the regulators along on the journey.

“We as individual companies and as an industry need comprehensive and proactive strategies on how we manage our environmental impacts, foster positive social relationships, and ensure robust governance, and how we communicate all of this to gain the trust of our regulators and larger stakeholder group,” Gibbons said.

Through its latest seminar, AusIMM proved yet again the value in bringing together industry representatives to discuss issues and opportunities at hand.

As the mining sector continues to reckon with the demands of the environment, governments, the public, and the industry itself, forums like the Thought Leadership Series will continue to offer a platform for collaboration and discovery. AM

VHM CEO RON DOUGLAS GREETING FELLOW PANELLIST, ERM GLOBAL DIRECTOR TOBY WHINCUP.

SXG GENERAL MANAGER LISA GIBBONS ASKING A QUESTION OF THE PANEL.

ACORN CAPITAL SENIOR ANALYST KARINA BADER SPEAKING ON THE PANEL.

ERM GLOBAL DIRECTOR TOBY WHINCUP (RIGHT).

MIXING WITH THE BEST

AS A GROWING NICHE MANUFACTURER, ELPHINSTONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO DEMAND, WHETHER IT’S

AN INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMER OR GLOBAL MARKETS.

When Elphinstone introduced the new low-profile E15 series to the market in January, it was a welcome addition to the existing range of E10 (formerly WR810) underground support vehicles.

Models in the E15 range include the 7m3 agitator, the E15 delivery (with wireless remote crane), E15 flat deck, E15 water tank for dust suppression, and E15 fuel and lube service truck, with various other configurations presently in development.

Headlining the series, the new E15 agitator 7m3 specialises in the transport of shotcrete or concrete for backfilling voids, featuring outstanding ride and handling at full capacity, improving cycle times and increasing productivity.

These features quickly captured the attention of Australia’s leading ground support specialist, Jetcrete Oz Pty Ltd and Evolution Mining’s Ernest Henry copper-gold mine in Queensland.

Mixing with Jetcrete

The relationship between Elphinstone and Jetcrete Oz originated in 2018, resulting in the purchase of a fleet of Elphinstone WR820 10m3 agitators

still in operation across Australia today.

Jetcrete has extensive experience in all areas of ground support, providing a complete service for each stage, including manufacture, supply, delivery and application.

The repeat orders were a testament to the success of the WR820 machines; however, on review, Jetcrete identified a need for a smaller machine with greater manoeuvrability to access and deliver the right amount of shotcrete to the headings.

Additionally, Jetcrete wanted more seating, greater comfort and safety, machine diagnostics and monitoring features.

“Operator comfort in the E15 was a key consideration for Jetcrete throughout the machine review process,” Elphinstone regional sales and support manager Kyle Allen said.

Jetcrete’s considerable experience in underground and surface applications has provided “work hardening” and valued feedback, which allowed Elphinstone to improve the E15 7m3 agitator even further.

After an extensive design and review process, Jetcrete took delivery of a new E15 7m3 Agitator in March of this year.

“Since arriving at Bluestone’s

Renison mine in Tasmania, the machine has been working around the clock, which is encouraging from a new product introduction viewpoint,” Allen said.

Mining with a message

In mid-February, Elphinstone delivered two new E15 7m3 agitators to the Ernest Henry mine.

The two E15 7m3 agitators featured colour-coordinated agitator bowls requested by the mine to promote breast cancer (pink) and prostate cancer (blue) awareness.

“On delivery, the pink and bluebowled agitators were positioned at the entrance of the underground portal for a group photo,” Allen said.

The mine’s owner, Evolution Mining, has since ordered a third agitator with a green bowl to raise mental health awareness.

These and several other initiatives underpin Evolution Mining’s social responsibility approach, investing in meaningful community projects and developing engaged and lasting relationships with stakeholders and wider communities.

“Feedback so far has been excellent; in fact, the ride and comfort are so good that none of the operators want to

operate the old agitator trucks,” Allen said. “Evolution has now decided to standardise their support fleet with E15 machines and, as they say, there is no better testimony than a repeat order”.

Ernest Henry also has two E15 flat deck delivery trucks on order completing their fleet of five machines.

Cab comfort

The E10 and E15 platforms have been designed and built to work in some of the harshest underground environments. Maximising the comfort and safety of the miners who operate in these conditions is vitally important.

More broadly, the E15 series – which has been continuously improved since its introduction alongside the E10 in 2017 – has a lower profile than the existing E10 (2.4m in height versus 3m), a key consideration for mining operations overseas.

At a height of 2.4m, the frontmounted operator cabin on the E15 features three-person air suspended seating, climatecontrolled air conditioning, an ergonomic central driving position with a clear 180° view, and a dial controller for the retarder, speed and implement controls.

There are also some thoughtful

smaller details, such as a cooled compartment for lunchbox storage, cupholders and smartphone charging ports.

Improved ride and manoeuvrability

An A-frame front axle suspension, combined with the oscillating hitch and air-suspended seats, delivers a high level of machine comfort to the operator and passengers.

The oscillating hitch means all wheels are constantly on the ground offering superior traction in rough or wet conditions.

Although the E15 machines are typically longer than the E10s, the common rear frame and axle position mean that the machine has a better turning circle improving manoeuvrability.

Safety features

An optional safety feature of the E15 is the front and rear hydraulic jacks. The front jacks operate with a “park” function to enable the operator to safely exit the cabin with the engine operating. The rear jacks are used to level or lift the machine for discharge. All jacks can lift the machine off the ground for changing tyres.

The machine features intelligent electronic speed control that combines the functions of the heavy-duty electromagnetic driveline retarder, engine speed and the correct

transmission gear to control speed while descending into the mine, reducing wear and tear on the service brake components.

Operator presence, onboard brake testing and advanced machine diagnostics ensure that the operator is in control of the machine and has the right information to diagnose any issue on the 12 inch touch screen dashboard.

Ground-level serviceability

All service points such as tanks, filters, lubrication points and compartment drains are conveniently located at ground level for servicing.

Downtime during service and maintenance is reduced markedly on the E15 due to clever engineering and placement of service points with service personnel in mind.

Quick-change air filters and 500hour oil service intervals reduce downtime and keep machines in operation longer for greater productivity. A centralised on-board service centre includes fast fill, evacuation, and fluid sample points for analysis.

“Product support, parts and components are readily available through Elphinstone and our authorised Caterpillar dealers,” Allen said.

MINExpo 2024

With E15 delivery and flat decks in production, the Elphinstone team is confident the E15 range will continue to grow in popularity among customers

OPERATOR COMFORT AND MACHINE DIAGNOSTICS WERE KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR JETCRETE.

both in Australia and overseas.

“We’re looking forward to exhibiting on stand 13751 at MINExpo in Las Vegas this September,” Elphinstone global sales and marketing manager Tim Mitchell said.

“We’ll be displaying an E15 Delivery

(with wireless remote crane and flat deck) and a MED210 mine extraction device used for extracting bogged or buried machinery underground. Both are new machines in our continuously expanding range of underground hard rock mining support vehicles.” AM

FRONT JACKS OPERATE WITH A “PARK” FUNCTION FOR SAFE EGRESS WHILE THE MACHINE IS OPERATING.

EXCAVATORS ENHANCED

TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ITS EX-7 EXCAVATOR SERIES, HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY AUSTRALIA IS ABOUT TO RELEASE TWO NEW TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS.

For over 50 years, Hitachi Construction Machinery has been a pioneer in manufacturing equipment, machinery and parts for a range of industries.

To expand its global footprint, the company founded Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia in 1999.

“We’re a supplier of surface mining and construction equipment to Australian operations within the mining, civil and forestry sectors,” Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia general manager – mining sales Sean Ryan told Australian Mining

One of Hitachi Australia’s flagship offerings is the Hitachi EX-7 series of excavators, which first hit the global market in April 2019.

While the series has seen over 120 units sold, Hitachi is all about improving and innovating its range to meet customer feedback.

It was customer consultation that planted the seed for the long-life boom and arm and operator assist systems, both of which Hitachi has developed over the last five years.

“The boom and arm system extended the component’s maintenance life

by 1.5 times, improving the durability and serviceability of our ultra-large hydraulic excavators,” Ryan said.

“To bolster durability, we have implemented cast steel technologies in high stress connection points, specifically the connection points of the boom to the arm and the cylinders to the boom. This has improved the strength and quality of those structures.”

Hitachi also placed manhole covers inside the boom to improve serviceability.

“The manhole covers have allowed easy access to the internals of the boom so non-destructive testing inspections can be carried out throughout the life of the component,” Ryan said.

“We haven’t increased the weight of the boom and arm, so we don’t reduce the capabilities or bucket sizing of the equipment.

“We also looked to improve the welding processes by using new design techniques and technologies. This included alleviating high stress areas.”

Further supporting digging and loader operations is Hitachi’s new operator assist system, which aims to reduce burdens such as operator fatigue.

With the help of sensors, a digging assist function helps to automatically improve control of the hydraulic excavator, while the loading assist function helps to avoid collisions by automatically controlling the front attachment when material is loaded onto a dump truck.

“The operator assist system makes it safer at the dig face, increasing productivity by maximising the use of the machine’s capabilities,” Ryan said.

“Rather than having a fully autonomous piece of digging equipment, which is very difficult because of the variabilities of mining conditions at the dig face, we can make

THE OPERATOR ASSIST SYSTEM HAS UNDERGONE A SUCCESSFUL TRIAL ON A HITACHI EX3600-7 BACKHOE EXCAVATOR OPERATING IN THE PILBARA REGION OF WA.

part of that process automated, so operators realise the greatest efficiencies of the excavator’s capabilities.”

Ryan said decarbonisation was a key driver behind the creation of its boom and arm and operator assist solutions.

“The operator assist system is about looking at how you can get the most efficiency out of the fuel burn for your operation,” he said. “While the boom and arm seeks to extend the service life of components, therefore extending the overall life cycle.

“With every ultra-class mining piece of equipment that gets scrapped at the end of its life, an estimated 400 tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) is generated. If we can extend serviceability and overall life, it reduces the need for new replacement components and it improves our decarbonisation position.”

The operator assist system has undergone successful trials that commenced in early 2024. The system was fit to a Hitachi EX3600-7 backhoe excavator operating in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

As a result of the effective trial, Hitachi is aiming to achieve practical application of the operator assist system in stages from 2025.

“The operator assist system is retrofittable, meaning it can be set up with any EX-7 mining series excavator,” Ryan said.

The boom and arm solution has also seen a successful trial in the Pilbara,

being fitted with the product as standard at the start of 2026.

To aid the rollout of the boom and arm and operator assist system over the next few years, Hitachi Australia has 19 mining branches located in regions such as the Pilbara, Townsville,

Mackay and Brisbane in Queensland, and Muswellbrook in New South Wales.

“With over 1300 employees, more than 900 are electric and mechanical tradesmen who are there to service our customers and their Hitachi products in the field,” Ryan said.

“We also have a division that manages any parts required for equipment across Australia and two remanufacturing centres in Brisbane and Perth where components get repurposed at the

end of their lives and are sent back to customers, reducing the amount of raw material and carbon emissions that come with new products.”

Alongside its extensive excavator range, Hitachi Construction Machinery Australia manufactures rigid dump trucks and wheel loaders for a variety of mining applications, among other solutions.

“We provide the whole service for overburden or mineral product removal from a mine site,” Ryan said. AM

HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY AUSTRALIA WAS FOUNDED IN 1999.

Emerald,

SLASHING HAULAGE EMISSIONS

A LARGE PORTION OF GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS ARE CREATED FROM HAULAGE

Areport from the Rocky Mountain Institute, there are around 28,000 large haul trucks operating globally.

Almost all of these haul trucks are diesel-powered, with each consuming around 900,000 litres of diesel and emitting 68 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per annum, making these vehicles a significant contributor to global carbon emissions.

To combat this sustainability hurdle, Hexagon’s mining division has stepped in to help.

Describing itself as “an enabler of a sustainable future, providing solutions that address the main environmental and social challenges that companies and nations face today”, Hexagon has a diverse range of products and solutions that can help mining companies reduce their haulage emissions.

ESG and fuel optimisation

Hexagon has advanced its MinePlan Schedule Optimiser, a digital solution that determines the most productive cut mining sequence to achieve the highest project profitability, and then

project schedules.

One of the flagship benefits of the solution is the way it improves equipment efficiency by including the ability to constrain time spent hauling material for a more practical schedule, as well as minimising or maximising haul hours.

The MinePlan Schedule Optimiser can now measure an electric haul truck’s energy usage and downhill energy generation.

“Load and haul represent the majority of greenhouse gases within a mine and a large source of costs,” Jesse Forgues, head of product – resource optimisation, Hexagon’s mining division, said.

“By modelling alternative energy sources and integrating them within our current solutions, such as the MinePlan Schedule Optimiser, we can ensure the mine plan is being assessed to minimise energy usage costs, which positively impact mineral extraction costs and ultimately trickle down to the end consumer.”

For the last decade, Hexagon’s MinePlan Haulage solution has been providing inputs into MinePlan Schedule Optimiser.

planning process and reflects the extraction sequence using the fleet available,” Forgues said.

“Fuel consumption is modelled based on the route and vehicle type.

Fuel consumption is then calculated for each route, allowing the user to quantify trade-off scenarios based on fuel usage.”

This process can now be followed for an electric haul truck.

“We can model the kilowatt hours required to move the required amount of tonnes against the optimal routes, considering both the energy usage uphill and the energy generation downhill,” Forgues said.

“This approach results in a mine plan that reflects the specific model or models of truck being assessed.”

This integration will help mining companies increase their efficiency and profitability while reducing emissions.

“The integration between MinePlan Haulage and MinePlan Schedule Optimiser boils down to enabling better decision-making that is considerate of all aspects of the mine plan, ensuring that the economics

Forgues said.

“It also allows for seamlessly understanding trade-offs of different fleets and mixed fleets so that optimal outcomes can be determined with minimal user intervention.”

Hexagon is committed to supporting its customers and suppliers in their CO2 reduction plans, further evolving the company’s journey towards a greener future.

“Hexagon’s sustainability strategy is to empower and create a positive ESG impact either through our solutions and partnerships, or through our value chain and people,” Hexagon chief strategy officer Ben Maslen said in the company’s 2023 sustainability report.

“Strengthening our performance on the sustainability side will feed directly into a stronger performance on the business side and vice versa, and our success in business is tightly linked to our contribution to sustainability.”

“Our goals and expectations are deliberately set high, and whether you are a valued shareholder, customer or employee, we look forward to sharing our journey and progress with you.” AM

THE MINEPLAN SCHEDULE OPTIMISER CAN HELP MINERS MINIMISE OR MAXIMISE THEIR HAUL HOURS.

PROPRIETARY RUBBER AND COMPOSITE FORMULATIONS

OPTIMIZATION OF WEAR PARTS & PROCESS EFFICIENCY

TAILOR MADE PARTS

ASSET MANAGEMENT

INSTALLATION AND WEAR MONITORING PROGRAM

DESIGN SUPPORT

THE ZENITH OF GROUND ENGAGING TOOLS

BRADKEN HAS EXPANDED ITS GET RANGE TO INCLUDE ZENITH PLATE LIP GET TO FURTHER SUPPORT AUSTRALIA’S MINING SECTOR.

Given the often-harsh conditions of the Australian resources industry, it is critical that mining companies select the right ground engaging tools (GET) for their operation.

Premium GET solutions extend machinery wear life and lessen the risk of equipment failure, minimising costly downtime. The right GET tooling also delivers reduced dig energy and improved penetration.

That is why Bradken has continually advanced its own GET solutions, ensuring customers always have the right option at hand. This includes the Zenith series, the latest addition to Bradken’s GET range suited to 100–250-tonne hydraulic excavators.

Bradken GET principal product manager Glenn Baxter explained the evolution of the company’s products.

“Bradken’s GET range has evolved from being regionally based with a suite of first-generation products, to now being more globally focused with a second and third generation of innovative products, all backed

by a global original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in Hitachi Construction Machinery,” Baxter told Australian Mining

“The Zenith technology is Bradken’s next generation of plate lip GET products, so it’s one of the latest solutions in the Bradken GET range.”

As Bradken developed an improved GET solution for higher tonnage hydraulic excavators, the company had several research and development (R&D) objectives.

“In the development of the Zenith range, we had a focus on creating an efficient tooth system from a machine performance and maintenance perspective,” Baxter said.

“We wanted to minimise the size of the tooth (without compromising strength) so the machine uses less power during each cycle, and simplify the locking system so it’s intuitive to use and easy to maintain when required.”

The Zenith locking system requires only 180° of rotation to be actuated, with the locking pin pre-installed in the point, which is another simplifying aspect of the range.

THE ZENITH SERIES OF GET IS SUITED TO 100–250-TONNE HYDRAULIC EXCAVATORS.

ZENITH PLATE LIPS CURRENTLY COME IN STANDARD, LONG AND HEAVY-DUTY OPTIONS TO SUIT ALL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

Other key benefits of the unique design is the reduction in change-out time and improved safety with the truly hammer-free pin and dedicated point removal tool enabling a safer removal process. Together these improve the ease of use and enable greater diversity in the workforce.

The Zenith points currently come in standard, long and heavy-duty options to suit all application requirements. And they can be used to extract any commodity, including copper, gold, coal or iron ore.

Baxter said operators have resonated with the intuitiveness of the range with simple installation and removal, along with the flat contact surfaces between the point and the nose enabling easy rebuilds if required.

“Maintenance teams will often have a list of tasks to complete on a shift, and when they come to changing their Zenith GET, because of its simplicity, personnel can easily make their tooth changes without having to constantly refer to the instruction manual,” he said.

“GET can be replaced in a consistent short timeframe, meaning maintenance personnel can plan and spend more time on other tasks that might be of a higher priority.”

A product comparison demonstrated the efficiency of the Zenith range, with teeth able to be replaced in one minute each, whereas a generation-one tooth took on average 11 minutes to replace.

“When changes are made to six teeth, operators can save a lot of time on maintenance and spend more time in production,” Baxter said.

“Our R&D teams conducted numerous simulations during the design

phases and when compared to our generation-one system, the Zenith teeth penetrated material using up to five per cent less power, which is a significant advantage over the long run.”

The Zenith range also has on average an 11 per cent longer wear life than Bradken’s first generation system, based on recent infield performances.

Bradken understands that not only can it supply customers cost-effective and reliable solutions such as its Zenith GET range, but it can also bring together solutions from other product lines to provide a holistic offering.

“We’ll continue to expand the Zenith range as part of this new generation of plate lip products,” Baxter said.

“More broadly, Bradken is combining the recent structural development work undertaken on our mining excavator buckets – including the addition of a cast upper structure – with our GET solutions on the front of the bucket.

“Our design team specifies the right sizes for the operating conditions, and by using machine parameters we can take a more holistic approach, rather than just provide the GET solution alone.”

Baxter said Bradken’s digital portfolio is also advancing.

“The advancement of our tailored condition-monitoring solutions, where we can track the performance and wear of the GET in real-time, demonstrates that there is some pretty exciting R&D occurring at Bradken,” he said.

“And through all our innovations, Bradken is fortunate enough to be backed by a Tier 1 OEM in Hitachi Construction Machinery, who support our product development and the speed with which we can innovate.” AM

IMAGES: BRADKEN

MAXIMISING PAYLOAD PRODUCTIVITY WORLDWIDE

Offering clients a range of proven benefits from increased payload capacity to extended asset longevity, Hercules is a true testament to Schlam’s business.

With a commitment to customer service and a foundation built on strong values, Schlam partners closely with its clients to tackle unique challenges and optimise payload productivity.

Stronger together

Guided by a commitment to customer service and backed by a strong set of values, Schlam has a reputation for assisting its clients in overcoming any challenge. Innovation continues to play a big part in Schlam’s success, demonstrated by the triumph of its Hercules open-cut dump bodies, which continue to deliver significant payload savings for miners across the globe.

According to Schlam Payload AsiaPacific managing director Hendrik Mueller, the success of Hercules has ensued from a culture of continuous product improvement, based on the specific needs of clients.

“Our clients are our partners, and we collaborate to tackle the payload challenges they encounter,” Mueller said. “Their challenges drive us to push our limits, resulting in continuous improvements in our payload products.”

Payload productivity

The Hercules open-cut dump body, characterised by its innovative curved shape, has become one of the most sought-after payload solutions among leading miners.

Hercules bodies offer both reduced body weight and a longer service life, achieved by targeting weight reduction in all non-wearing areas and optimising lighter materials for structural components – all without sacrificing structural integrity.

SCHLAM’S HERCULES OPEN-CUT DUMP BODY IS NOW A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN THE MINING INDUSTRY.

“Traditionally, miners have faced a choice: a lightweight body that offers a greater payload but has a shorter lifespan, or a heavier body that lasts longer but reduces the payload capacity,” Mueller said. “Hercules was developed to offer both.”

Improved asset longevity

To maximise asset investment, most mining operators plan for a long asset service life. Hercules dump bodies are designed to experience less structural fatigue, prolonging the life of the asset and ensuring compatibility with any site production strategy.

Schlam also assists operators in further extending the service life of their Hercules body by designing the ideal wear package for installation during manufacturing, and providing an optional product lifecycle support program.

The lighter Hercules body means it can accommodate a wear package without sacrificing payload performance. A Hercules body fitted with a bespoke wear package usually weighs less than a comparative OEM (original equipment manufacturer) dump body.

Schlam’s optional product lifecycle support program includes site visits and inspections where wear rates are measured, enabling corrective measures to be prescribed.

“Hercules bodies typically have a longer service life, which can be further extended with the right wear mitigation strategy. For instance, one Hercules dump body was recently decommissioned after a long 12 years of operation,” Mueller said.

Schlam works closely with its clients to address site-specific variables, including wear, material flow, and asset lifecycle management, to design and engineer every Hercules body individually.

“Each mine site is unique,” Mueller said. “One site might struggle with abrasion, while another could be dealing with material hang-up.

“We invest significant effort in designing each Hercules for maximum performance at each specific site.”

Global expansion

Trusted by Tier 1 mining companies, contractors, and OEM truck suppliers, the demand for Hercules dump bodies has only continued to increase across the global mining industry.

The first Hercules was manufactured in Australia in 2003. Today, Hercules dump bodies are actively engaged in mining operations across six continents.

From the deserts of Australia to the plains of Kazakhstan, Hercules dump bodies consistently deliver the payload advantages they were individually designed for.

Strengthening its global presence, Schlam has formed partnerships with quality-driven manufacturers in China and Mexico, allowing the company to quickly respond to the demands of clients in key international markets.

In 2023, Schlam opened a dedicated Americas office in Tucson, Arizona, to better serve its clients within the region.

In the same year, Schlam supplied a leading miner in Kazakhstan with seven Hercules bodies.

“In a relatively short time, we’ve developed into a truly global company,” Mueller said. “We’ve achieved a lot, and celebrated many milestones along the way, including the recent 2000th Hercules body.”

Commitment to innovation

As a category-leading manufacturing business, Schlam is focused on technology and innovation.

By investing in automation, robotics, and other advanced technologies, the company ensures consistent product

quality, enhances manufacturing efficiencies, and creates more rewarding career opportunities.

Schlam also continues to research and address new challenges and opportunities presented in the mining industry, including autonomous haulage and decarbonisation.

“We continue to work with our clients throughout the evolution of autonomous fleets, especially in the iron ore mining centre of Western Australia,” Mueller said.

“We’ve even made modifications to Hercules designs to accommodate autonomous technologies, and seen Hercules bodies adopted by major autonomous mining fleet operators.”

With a commitment to taking global sustainability seriously, Schlam is also assisting mining operators to address the growing challenge of reducing carbon emissions.

While Hercules contributes to significant savings in fuel consumption

(per tonne produced), allowing miners to reduce carbon and other emissions, Schlam continues to work towards developing lower-carbon product options.

“Decarbonisation has become a priority within the resources sector, and we are proud to be developing product options to help our clients achieve their net-zero goals,” Mueller said.

“We are also excited to see Hercules included in new fleets using alternative fuel sources, including hydrogen.”

Schlam’s journey from a regional player to a global innovator is testament to the company’s dedication to excellence and client satisfaction.

With a widespread global reach, and with long-term supply contracts in place with some of the world’s major miners, Hercules remains committed to its overarching goal of being the partner of choice for the world’s leading hardrock miners. AM

IMAGE:

IMAGE: FORTESCUE

THE DELIVERY OF THE 2000TH HERCULES WAS RECENTLY CELEBRATED BY SCHLAM.

A HERCULES BODY DESIGNED FOR FORTESCUE’S HYDROGEN-POWERED HAUL TRUCK PROTOTYPE.

Tbeen upgraded with multiple new product developments.

manager David Rea said they’re built on an advanced platform with common electronic architecture, cab and controls.

“These next-generation mining trucks feature a flexible technology platform and optional configurations to help each mining operation meet their goals,” Rea told Australian Mining

All models are direct mechanical drive and boast the latest electronically controlled transmission with advanced electronic control strategy.

The transmission offers smooth gear shifts for a smoother ride and delivers productivity and efficiency improvements.

“The walkthrough cab offers 34 per cent more space than the D series,” Cat 793 product applications specialist Rob Shea told Australian Mining

This results in more room for the operator and trainer, increased storage, and added space for third-party or dealer-installed options.

The new trucks also feature cuttingedge connectivity that offers increased data transfer speed, power of electronic control modules and advanced underlying architecture.

New enhanced automatic resistive braking control takes speed control to a

three to six per cent higher speeds on average during resistive braking.

“Field data shows operation speed during resistive braking can increase up to 25 per cent, elevating the average skill level of all operators to that of an experienced operator, while protecting the asset,” Shea said.

Next-generation trucks now offer hill start assist with anti-rollback – two separate features that work together.

Anti-rollback stops the machine with automatic brake application when the truck rolls in the opposite direction of the selected gear.

If drive is selected, the truck won’t roll backward, and if reverse is selected, it won’t roll forward.

Hill start assist uses grade and payload to determine the necessary rimpull to keep the truck stationary on a hill, simplifying truck movement in the selected direction.

The next-generation trucks also include Cat’s AutoHoist, which helps simplify body dumping to provide lower cycle time.

Integrated with the transmission control, AutoHoist consolidates four continuous operator hand and foot inputs into two simple hand inputs.

On previous models, the operator shifted the truck into park, applied the park brake, moved the hoist lever in the raised position and held the accelerator to dump, increasing the opportunity for inconsistency and inefficiencies.

With AutoHoist, the operator moves the truck into park, holds up the lever and pushes the up button on the gear shifter, and the truck takes over.

“It can reduce typical dump cycle times in some instances by up to 12 seconds and potentially reduces fuel burn during the cycle,” Shea said.

Significant safety advancements, a new dynamic stability control system and an anti-lock brake system (ABS) provide operators with better truck control to improve cycle time and safety in poor underfoot conditions.

The four-wheel, oil-cooled brakes in Cat mining trucks have always allowed for four-wheel braking at any speed to enhance truck controllability and safety. Now, when a locking wheel is detected, ABS regulates the brake pressure to maintain traction and truck control, so the truck keeps tracking forward.

The new dynamic stability control modulates the brakes while braking and turning.

It monitors operator steering intention through the brake and throttle inputs – plus the inertial measurement unit informs the system of the truck’s travel direction – and modulates the brakes to keep the machine tracking with the operator’s steering inputs.

This brings the truck back under control and keeps it travelling straight if a locked wheel or slide is detected AM

THE CAT 785 NEXT-GENERATION TRUCK.

GOLDEN BULL CHARGES ON COPPER

WHILE GOLD HAS ALWAYS BEEN NEWMONT’S BREAD AND BUTTER, THE MAJOR MINER MAY HAVE ITS EYE ON A COPPER FUTURE.

It’s been a busy 12 months for Newmont.

With its $26.2 billion acquisition of Newcrest wrapping up late last year, the miner has gone from major to universal, firmly taking its place as a global gold powerhouse.

Now, Newmont is evolving its strategy. A flurry of activity in recent months has seen the miner put a host of gold mines up for sale, including

the Telfer operation it inherited in the Newcrest takeover.

When it comes to gold, it seems Newmont is only hungry for Tier 1 assets. The company brought in 1.7 million attributable gold ounces (oz) in the 2024 March quarter alone, 1.4 million of which was driven by the company’s Tier 1 portfolio.

As Newmont optimises its gold portfolio, the major hopes to have 10 Tier 1 gold mines under its belt,

more than half of the world’s largest gold mines.

But the sell-offs may offer more than a leaner, more stable profile defined by world-class assets. Newmont chief executive officer Tom Palmer recently revealed the company is looking to maximise its copper potential.

With the future importance of copper being increasingly understood, a host of majors are eager to boost their exposure to the base metal.

In a recent fireside chat at the Melbourne Mining Club in June, Palmer said Newmont’s “bullish” attitude towards gold will help it gain a foothold in a copper future.

When asked where he wants Newmont’s copper to be in the next decade, Palmer said it’s a “more complicated equation” to work through.

“Our project pipeline is all copper,” he said. “How do we develop our project, in what order, at what pace and which communities are we working in?

“If we’ve got the support of the permitting, we’ve got projects here that are going to deliver appropriate returns with that view on copper and copper pricing, and gold and gold pricing.

“So it’s looking at all those variables and making decisions about where we (should) invest our next dollar after

the existing projects … it’s more about understanding how you develop that project pipeline successfully.”

As host to the third-largest copper reserves in the world, Australia is a big part of Newmont’s future.

The major’s existing Australian projects are industry behemoths already putting the company ahead of the curve.

Perhaps Newmont’s best-known copper-gold operation is Cadia.

Nestled underground near Orange in New South Wales, Cadia produced over 98,000 tonnes of copper last year alone.

One of Australia’s largest coppergold mines, Cadia is touted to contain over 3.6 million tonnes of copper.

It’s a crown jewel in an already impressive portfolio, one that doesn’t even consider Newmont’s copper hotspots across the globe.

Palmer said half of Newmont’s costs come from labour – a cost that needs to be balanced if the major is to continue building its pipeline of copper projects.

“The potential for Australia to miss that opportunity because we can’t get ourselves organised and have policies to support the development of copper resources here would be a shame,” Palmer said. “That capital will go elsewhere if we don’t get ourselves organised in Australia.”

Palmer emphasised the right policy settings need to be in place to attract investment from miners looking for opportunities to develop Australia’s copper deposits.

“You’re going to see the demand for copper either drive opportunities where you can buy or where you can build,” he said. “I think there’s a real opportunity for Australia to participate in the energy transition and copper, but we need to get a wriggle on.”

It’s no secret the energy transition is going to demand a massive effort from the Australian resources sector, and Palmer said new mines and collaboration are going to form a golden ratio for success.

“We’re going to need to build more copper mines,” he said. “What will differentiate mining companies in the future will be the capability to build mines and the capability to form longlasting strategic relationships.”

The extent of Newmont’s future partnerships will continue to unfold, but for now, it’s clear copper is a commodity to watch as hunger for the base metal grows worldwide. AM

TOM PALMER SAID NEWMONT’S “BULLISH” ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOLD WILL HELP ITS COPPER ASPIRATIONS.

NEWMONT CEO TOM PALMER AT THE MELBOURNE MINING CLUB.

AUTOMATION DRIVES ENGINEERING EXCELLENCE

MASPRO IS LEVERAGING AUTOMATION TO DELIVER PREMIUM ENGINEERED MINING SOLUTIONS MORE EFFICIENTLY.

Through its specialised engineered mining solutions, MASPRO prides itself on being “exceptional in the market”, with the ability to solve pressing equipment headaches quickly and effectively.

MASPRO will often be presented with intricate time-critical issues, some of which require novel solutions. The company’s engineering team will then go to work to reverse engineer an ailing component to not only understand the problem but conceive the solution.

In addition to leading the charge with its ability to crack complex engineering codes, MASPRO is also a technology frontrunner, with four automation work centres at its engineering headquarters in Condobolin, NSW.

Complementing these centres, MASPRO has implemented optical 3D metrology equipment, which can complete the measurement of millions of data points in seconds, and advanced computer numerical control (CNC) machining tools to enhance precision and safety.

These technologies remove the need for many hands-on tasks and assist MASPRO in expediting its engineering and manufacturing processes without losing out on build quality.

This means jobs can be turned around quicker, and mining customers can implement their re-engineered parts sooner, which, in MASPRO’s case, is within a matter of weeks.

MASPRO production scheduler

Arnold Small explained the company’s typical process.

“When a customer has a problem with a part, that goes to MASPRO’s engineering department, which will analyse the component to see what a re-engineered part might look like and how it can be improved,” Small told Australian Mining

“This is where Tony (Waterman, MASPRO head of engineering) and his team come in to re-engineer the part. We then start our NPD (new product development) process, which is where myself, Tony and his team get together.

“We will discuss the problem, look at its engineering to see how it could be improved and the number of parts that go into it. We will then determine whether the solution is a potential candidate for our automated work centres.”

Automation removes the need for MASPRO employees to complete more monotonous, time-intensive tasks, and the fact that robots can operate around the clock means the company can significantly enhance and accelerate its production scope.

Robots never act in isolation, with MASPRO’s team of highly skilled technicians providing high-level monitoring and management during the production process.

Some of the automated technology MASPRO has implemented includes the Agile Flex 35D automated CNC machine loader, which loads pre-cut steel blanks in sync with machining software ready for batch production. This removes the need for manual handling and eliminates the risk of repetitive stress injuries.

The ATOS ScanBox takes 12 million points of measurement per scan, creating three-micron repeatable part item reports, removing set-up times and repetitive tasks associated with

A T-SCAN Hawk hand-held scanner enables fast digitisation to facilitate informed research and development (R&D), while MASPRO also boasts a suite of automated welding and

MASPRO understands that some of its products, such as inner zooms and cradles, are complicated to manufacture, requiring precision welding that can be difficult for even the most skilled welders.

The Corner Cell welder and X-Wing welding positioner are designed to remove human error from the process while delivering precise finishes, leading to improved product manufacturing.

While automation isn’t a new concept, MASPRO is maximising its own operability and synergy of automation to create an agile interconnected engineering capability that delivers premium mining solutions.

“Automation is there, but to combine automation like we have is new,” Small said. “We are one of the first companies in the mining sector to cross-pollinate automation across different engineering workstreams to create an end-toend operation.

“This enables us to keep our automation systems operating around the clock to satisfy customers with premium products and on-time delivery.”

And at MASPRO, robots don’t replace humans, with skilled engineers more important than ever in an era of automation and artificial intelligence.

“Automation offers faster, safer, more precise production, and can give us economies of scale; however, skilled employees will always be a critical part of this exciting and innovative new era for the mining industry,” MASPRO managing director Greg Kennard said.

“Innovation via robotic equipment, programming and automation will help the industry free up time for their skilled engineers and internal experts, removing dull manual tasks and clearing the decks for creative thinking and design. This is what the industry desperately needs more of right now.

“The culture of innovation that Australia is known for is sure to remain strong when we collectively give our best people more time to think, create and experiment.” AM

MASPRO’S PRODUCTION CENTRE IN CONDOBOLIN, NSW.

AUTOMATION ENABLES MASPRO TO EXPEDITE ITS ENGINEERING AND MANUFACTURING PROCESSES WITHOUT COMPROMISING BUILD QUALITY.

GD955 Grader

Built from the blade up

Designed to be a highly productive unit, achieved through its market leading blade down force, a 426 horsepower engine and weighing in at nearly 47 tonnes, Komatsu’s new GD955 really is built from the blade up.

A MINERAL PROCESSING PIONEER

MCLANAHAN’S RANGE OF FEEDERS AND SIZERS IS HAVING A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY.

No two mining operations are the same, so it stands to reason no two mines will require the same equipment set-up. It takes an experienced hand to determine the unique requirements of any given site.

Enter McLanahan, an equipment manufacturing specialist with over a century of experience meeting the Australian mining industry’s mineral processing needs.

The company has seen great success with its range of apron feeders, which director of global sales – mining Lee Hillyer described as the “ultimate” in flow control.

“Integrating a McLanahan apron feeder ensures peak efficiency,” Hillyer told Australian Mining. “Our crawler undercarriage design has been a proven success in hundreds of apron feeders still in use today.”

McLanahan apron feeders work by channelling material at a controlled speed, handling anywhere between 10–6000 tonnes per hour.

The feeders come in six chain sizes, 16 standard flight widths and an infinite range of lengths – all designed to meet the changing needs of a site.

An alternative feeder is McLanahan’s wobbler feeder, which is perfect for applications with particularly wet, sticky materials or where excessive fines could cause trouble down the track.

“All undersized material falls through the rotating elliptical bars rather than into the sizer where it can potentially cause wear on the teeth,” Hillyer said. “It’s an alternative that has gone out of fashion in recent years but is making a swift comeback thanks to its efficacy.”

A key feature of a McLanahan wobbler feeder is its scrubbing action, which cleans sticky fines from larger lumps.

As material is moved from the feed end to the discharge end, large lumps of material are forced up and down within the load, scrubbing against each other.

Hillyer said the company has had positive feedback from customers looking for such a solution.

“Users of the wobbler feeder have told us it works incredibly well,” he said. “We have also had strong feedback on our sizers, which are the next step along the mineral processing chain.”

McLanahan’s primary sizers are one example of the company’s quality equipment making an impact on a number of underground and surface operations across the country.

Primary sizers are selected based on the specific material and lump size to be crushed, whether it be coal, bauxite, clay, or other friable materials.

By selecting the correct tooth profile, material is easily grabbed and pulled into the crushing zone for maximum efficiency.

Hillyer said McLanahan is one of the world’s most experienced manufacturers in the design and production of sizers.

“We have sizers installed and operating around the world,” he said. “In addition to our great success in the coal industry, McLanahan sizers have proven extremely capable in helping other mineral sectors achieve necessary size reductions as well.”

When it comes to McLanahan equipment, Hillyer said the dynamic reality of daily operations are at the centre of its design considerations.

“We’ve designed our equipment to be super maintenance friendly and easy and safe to maintain,” he said. “Our aim is to provide a great product at a costeffective price.”

This consideration has led to McLanahan’s base models including features typically considered as extras.

“We have incorporated rapid-changeout shafts that can be easily swapped out within a single shift,” Hillyer said. “The sizers also come with individually replaceable teeth and an adjustable breaker bar to adjust sizing as needed.”

MCLANAHAN’S WOBBLER FEEDER IS PERFECT FOR APPLICATIONS INVOLVING WET, STICKY MATERIALS.

communication and listening to customer needs. requirements,” he said. “As a result, the range we offer is well defined

MCLANAHAN SIZER IN A POTASH PROCESSING APPLICATION.

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VITAL PROTECTION FROM CYBER THREATS

CYBERSECURITY IS CRITICAL FOR AN INCREASINGLY DIGITALISED AUSTRALIAN MINING INDUSTRY.

In recent years, the digital transformation has revolutionised the way mining companies operate.

Delivering a multitude of benefits, including reduced costs and improved operational performance, introducing digital solutions is a no-brainer.

However, an aspect of digitisation that isn’t widely discussed in the Australian mining industry is cybersecurity. This is something Brennan is working to change.

Drawing on extensive experience in the mining sector and boasting over 27 years of IT expertise, Brennan has evolved into one of Australia’s leading and independently owned systems integrator.

With cybersecurity woven across their business and within their solutions, Brennan understands that improved technology availability has created more opportunities for threat actors to interfere with mining operations.

“With mining companies increasingly using technology to manage their operations, they’re effectively becoming technology companies,” Peter Soulsby, Brennan’s head of security, told Australian Mining

“The challenge with that is more technology means more opportunities for disruption.

“Disruptions can take many forms. They can be the unintentional kind, created by users, employees or contractors. Or they can be intentional, created by threat actors such as hackers.

“The modernisation of mining has inadvertently created more risks, which is why cybersecurity is just as important in mining as it is in any other industry.”

Utilising cybersecurity technology can help users understand risks, such as what could go wrong and how those events could occur and unfold. In turn, this can inform the strategies needed to protect businesses against unwanted outcomes.

“Cybersecurity incidents can erode trust, potentially affecting revenue and opportunities to generate new business,” Soulsby said. “On the flipside, cybersecurity is an investment that will protect your operations, revenue and profit, as well as establish your brand as trusted and safe.”

Brennan proactively identifies and

assesses the risks identified as important to its mining customers, using these as a starting point to find the best solutions for their needs.

“We map business priorities and risks with IT and cybersecurity priorities and risks. It’s crucial that we understand what’s important to a business, and don’t just deliver a solution for the sake of it,” Soulsby said.

“When you understand what those risks are and what they mean, we can implement controls to mitigate those risks.”

As an ISO 27001 certified partner, Brennan’s outsourced IT services are underpinned by a comprehensive cybersecurity framework that follows the Essential Eight mitigation strategies.

These include patch applications, patch operating systems, multifactor authentication, restricting administrative privileges, application control, restricting Microsoft Office macros, user application hardening, and

regular backups.

“We’ve developed cybersecurity reference architecture to ensure bestpractice cybersecurity practices are in place within Brennan and across our client base,” Soulsby said.

“We use this architecture to help our clients efficiently deliver cybersecurity, helping them both understand the importance of cyber protection and protecting their company from pressing cyber threats.”

Like many sectors, the mining industry is facing cyber challenges related to identity, with corporate email addresses and passwords susceptible to being compromised.

In large part, this is due to different authentication systems requiring various forms of identity, often resulting in the creation of several identity systems that then makes identity management more difficult.

“What Brennan does is successfully implement solutions that enable better identity management. It means that

commonly recurring actions, such as onboarding a new starter, keeping track of a contract’s lifecycle, or offboarding an employee at the end of their employment, is made simpler and more secure,” Soulsby said.

“We view security solutions through three lenses: what the security market is telling us and what emerging technologies are out there; securing managed services; and client feedback and demand for new capabilities.”

Through its team of certified experts, Brennan removes the complexity around cybersecurity technology by evolving the links between cybersecurity and IT, as well as operational technology (OT).

“By managing identities across IT and OT and breaking the boundaries that previously existed between the two, we’re proving cybersecurity can be done across the entire mine value chain,” Soulsby said. AM

GROUNDBREAKING SOLUTIONS FOR MOBILE MINING EQUIPMENT

SAFETY • RELIABILITY • PRODUCTIVITY

From CNC machines to robotic arms, MASPRO is using automation to transform our production process, enabling us to consistently deliver superior parts and components for mobile mining machinery with unparalleled efficiency. Our advanced facilities leverage cutting-edge technology to optimise production processes, ensure the highest standards of quality and meet the demands of modern industry.

A NEXT-GENERATION DATA SOLUTION

MST’S HELIX SOFTWARE IS STREAMLINING DATA MANAGEMENT AT MINES ACROSS THE WORLD.

MST has been a household name in the underground mining industry for over 30 years since the development of its first personal emergency device (PED).

A key safety system for underground mines around the world, the PED’s ability to transmit critical data from the surface to workers or PED receivers underground paved the way for generations of groundbreaking advancements in MST’s safety offering.

One of those developments came in 2010 when MST launched 2D visualisation and tracking software, ICA.

These are offerings that have not only helped shape the underground mining experience but have also empowered safety and productivity improvements across Australian operations.

Now part of the Komatsu family, MST’s software tracking engine has made strides in the decade since, and with that the company birthed its next-generation software platform: HELIX.

The platform works by integrating on-site sensors with a digital ecosystem tailored to the needs and existing technologies of a given site.

MST product management and marketing general manager Alex Gawad said HELIX is designed based on a modern software stack with a focus on system scalability and cybersecurity.

“As mine operations expand from initial tunnelling development through to a larger, more complex production operation, the capabilities of HELIX can be extended with additional modules enabling both safety and productivity solutions,” Gawad told Australian Mining In the same manner that legacy program ICA broke ground in 2D tracking, Gawad said the foundation of the HELIX platform is HELIX 3D.

“HELIX 3D provides a geospatial digital twin of an underground mine, giving control room operators a real-time view of the location of personnel and mobile equipment,” he said. “Additionally, HELIX can provide a 2D aerial map for visualisation of GPS-tracked devices for surface operations.”

With multi-site capabilities, HELIX 3D enables customers with large mines, or those operating over multiple locations, a total overview from a single, centralised HELIX instance.

“We have had great success deploying HELIX across the globe,” Gawad said. “Our customers have been able to streamline their operations and enjoy the benefits of a tailored solution that takes into account their specific needs.”

It’s all part of MST’s ‘whole of mine’ approach to safety and productivity. HELIX and its associated hardware are designed to be agnostic to existing on-site equipment, while supporting multiple technologies at any given time.

Whether in hard or soft rock operations, HELIX can track people

and assets using multiple technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa, LTE, as well as global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) underground and on the surface.

“HELIX 3D allows control room operators to quickly search and find key personnel, vehicles or tools in an underground mine,” Gawad said. “This saves time and improves operational performance which has been greatly appreciated by our customers.”

HELIX is also easily accessible onsite by authorised personnel via any web browser-enabled devices.

MST offers the HELIX platform on a subscription basis with additional remote support contract options.

“Our regional service and support teams are available 24–7 to ensure continuity for the customer’s operation as this is our priority,” Gawad said.

“The subscription model ensures customers receive continued product improvements, new features and capabilities, ultimately unlocking more value with every update released.”

Looking ahead, Gawad said MST is working on new developments and improved technologies, the next being HELIX Dispatch, a fleet management system developed in collaboration with Modular Mining, another member of the Komatsu family.

“This has been a synergy initiative between the two Komatsu businesses allowing us to bring this muchanticipated product to market in record time,” Gawan said.

“We have exciting times ahead with a busy roadmap that will help mining operators ensure personnel safety on-site and extract more ore out of the ground.” AM

MST AND CSIRO TESTING PED IN 1989.

HELIX INTEGRATES ON-SITE SENSORS WITH A DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM.

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AN ENVIRONMENTAL LIFESAVER

THROUGH ITS INSPIRED DREDGING TECHNOLOGY, DREDGE ROBOTICS IS HELPING MINING COMPANIES MITIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.

Just as much as they are important assets on a mine site, lined ponds can also be hazardous waste catchments which, if not maintained properly, can spell trouble for a mining company.

Dredge Robotics has developed a solution to enable the safe dredging of lined ponds without damaging the liner, with its technology able to clean ponds containing all kinds of “exotic liquor”.

“Exotic liquor refers to any liquid that is corrosive, whether it’s high pH

Dredge has extensive experience in executing projects in a range of conditions, whether it’s pH 13 lined oxalate ponds or pH 2 conditions including sulphuric acid and pregnant leach solution (PLS) ponds.

Other exotic liquor conditions include the cyanide-rich environments synonymous with gold mining, ferric chloride-rich environments, or alumina, nickel and lithium processing loops.

“There’s a real gamut of environments you can get exposed to, and you’ve got to understand the intricacies of what each one is, and then have gear that’s tooled

DREDGE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN EXECUTING PROJECTS IN A RANGE OF CONDITIONS.

By providing equipment that can navigate all manner of chemicals, Dredge Robotics is helping mining companies navigate complex and potentially costly issues associated with their lined pond systems.

ensure their lined ponds are dredged regularly with the right equipment.

Old explained the conundrum some miners face.

“All ponds need to be maintained to ensure they are functional,” Old said. “For ponds that contain environmentally sensitive material, you have an escalating level of consequence if the pond liner becomes damaged.

“Traditional dredging methods are unable to protect the pond liner, meaning they are unsuitable for sensitive applications. That’s where our unique liner-safe technology comes in, allowing miners to keep their assets online and safely remove all sediment, even from particularly challenging pond types.

There are also key safety advantages to Dredge’s technology.

“In other dredging processes, you typically have a person on a barge, in an excavator or in a pond manually digging with equipment,” Old said.

“This exposes staff to whatever’s in the pond, but given our robotic dredging system is remotely operated, those risks are totally eliminated.”

The liner-safe robot is just as quick, if not quicker, than other dredging methods, due in part to the sophisticated navigation arrays and obstacle modelling capabilities of the machines.

The robots can be fitted with an array of tooling, which can be adapted to different environments, enabling sludge to be removed efficiently from the asset.

Dredge Robotics works closely with several Tier 1 mining companies to

“We have clients who have become lifelong converts to what we do, sometimes by learning the hard lessons of using the wrong approach first,” Old said. “And we’ve been through extensive risk management processes with Tier 1 miners to advance to the stage of doing multi-year dredging projects in very challenging conditions..

“Not only does liner-safe dredging technology exist, which can return a lined pond to its original state while the pond remains in full service, but it’s also been checked off and used by Tier 1 miners in high-consequence environments.”

As Dredge Robotics rapidly expands its Australian mining clientele, the company is attending MINExpo in Las Vegas from September 24–26 to further develop international business opportunities.

Dredge has received inbound interest for its liner-safe dredging technology from the US, South America and Canada, highlighting the global appeal and applicability of its solutions.

“Dredge Robotics is ready to move into the broader US market to support miners with their exotic liquor lined pond projects,” Old said.

It appears many mining companies, whether Australian or international, are facing similar environmental concerns, with traditional dredging equipment proving largely ineffective in many dredging situations.

Luckily for that, Dredge Robotics has developed a foolproof dredging solution, capable of handling “exotic liquor” from any commodity or mine site AM

DREDGE ROBOTICS’ LINER-SAFE ROBOT IS HELPING MINERS DREDGE THEIR LINED PONDS SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY.

WATER AND ELECTRICITY DON’T MIX –UNTIL THEY DO

TOSHIBA’S HIGH VOLTAGE MOTORS DELIVER EFFICIENCIES FOR

COMPANIES LOOKING TO MAXIMISE INVESTMENT ACROSS A RANGE OF PUMPING APPLICATIONS.

The consequences of mixing electricity and water are usually learnt in childhood.

But on a busy mine site, water is an essential resource, and the water used needs to be pushed around by an electrical source. And while the two don’t mix, they certainly work hand-inhand to power mining operations.

Toshiba has proudly delivered a range of reliable high voltage motors and drives that can power water pumps across a range of applications.

Toshiba’s high voltage motors and drives can deliver a range of efficiencies for companies looking to maximise their investment across many different pumping applications.

Centrifugal pumps are one example. These pumps could be called the workhorse of the pumping world and when coupled with a Toshiba high voltage motor and variable speed drive (VSD), they deliver exceptional benefits for a busy mine site.

A VSD allows the pump to adjust speed smoothly, whether it’s starting up or shutting down. Typically, quick stops cause water hammering, which can put a lot of mechanical stress on the pumps. But with a VSD, the ramp up and down is so smooth that this doesn’t happen, causing less wear on the pumping mechanism.

Coupling a VSD with Toshiba motors for pumping applications also helps to improve the motor’s power factor.

A good example of this is slurry pumping. A mine site’s economics depend on the efficient movement of slurry and its water removal. A HV motor, VSD and slurry pump combination ensures that the operation continues safely and smoothly.

It helps to ensure that less energy is drawn and wasted, and the energy that is used is utilised far more effectively. The pump itself receives less unwanted stress, while reducing wear.

When multiplied over an entire mine site, this can translate to significant savings on a business’ energy bill.

The use of a Toshiba electric motor and drive can also create efficiencies in project delivery.

Mine sites are typically located in remote areas, and the ore produced

there is required to travel long distances to reach its next destination. Faced with hilly, undulating terrain to navigate, installing an overland conveyor to transport the ore isn’t always the most effective solution.

Conveyors split the land in two, requiring a new underpass or overpass to be built. They generate high levels of noise and are extremely visible – two areas which aren’t generally favoured by those living around the mine.

This is where Toshiba motors and VSDs support the delivery of another solution.

Laying a transport pipeline is generally a faster, more effective option to quickly transport slurry or tailings from the mine site and onwards. Pipes are easier to lay down, they don’t produce any noise, and the visual impact is far less.

provided by a team that can deliver the full package, from design and simulation, to manufacturing, delivery, and commissioning.

Toshiba provides reliable HV motor and VSD solutions that are trusted Australia-wide to deliver results, in even the most challenging environments, without compromising safety. AM

COMBINING A HV MOTOR, VSD AND SLURRY PUMP CAN HELP AN OPERATION RUN SAFELY.

IMAGES:

TOSHIBA

Hexagon is the global leader in digital reality and autonomous solutions, connecting sensor, software and autonomous technologies in ONE powerful platform. We partner with customers for transformative improvements across the workflows that define a mine’s safety, value, reputation, and life expectancy. Designed by mining professionals for mining professionals, our solutions are backed by meaningful support and deliver insights to help mines achieve operational excellence.

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RISING TO MEET A CRITICAL FUTURE

SCALING UP CRITICAL MINERALS PROCESSING IS ESSENTIAL IF THE WORLD IS TO MEET ITS NET-ZERO GOALS. BUT THERE’S ONE KEY STEP THAT CAN’T BE OVERLOOKED.

Critical minerals are more than just an industry buzz word.

If the world is going to rise to the challenge of meeting net-zero targets and step into a more sustainable future, it’s going to take a mammoth effort from the mining industry to get there.

Demand for critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) is set to skyrocket, but with mines currently taking on average 12–17 years to come into production, the industry is going to have to get creative to meet demand.

Extracting critical minerals and REEs is a complex business. The processes are highly technical, and what was once a 100-tonne-per-year global industry is looking at a future measured in the tens of millions. Scaling these processes is even more complex.

According to Stantec energy and resources growth leader Stephen Beamond, a considered approach to scaling up critical minerals processing is an essential step in the supply chain.

“We haven’t previously mined critical minerals at this scale, so we need to develop new processes,” Beamond told Australian Mining. “These must be effective, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable.

“We’ve all seen mines lose time and money when things haven’t gone

to plan. But in the fight against climate change, we have no time to waste.”

Demonstration plants are one way Australian miners can get ahead of the game, by testing the processing of critical minerals before investing in commercial scale production.

By scaling up processing of critical minerals in increments, demonstration plants are able to validate new technologies and the materials used in construction, verifying their viability for commercial scale.

“Going straight from lab scale to a 500 to 1000 times scale-up is too risky,” Beamond said. “There are no guarantees that what works in a lab will work in a commercial-scale processing plant”.

“We’ve seen companies stagnate after skipping the demonstration plant phase. Our rule of thumb is to never increase operations by more than 200 times on the first go-round.”

plant in Brisbane for battery minerals producer Lava Blue.

Beamond said he even recommends scaling up unit operations in increments of no more than 50 times.

“If something doesn’t go to plan in a demonstration plant, there are ways to make changes,” he said. “If everything runs smoothly, proponents can keep refining their processes or confidently take their operations up a notch.”

Stantec recently designed a highpurity alumina (HPA) demonstration

Working closely with the team at Lava Blue and Queensland University of Technology, Stantec was able to help the company process 20kg batches of HPA.

Stantec project manager Damian Pianta said plants like this give HPA producers a chance to develop their processes and products in a controlled environment.

“We’re working with clients to design demonstration plants that help them

scale their critical minerals processing without the risk,” Pianta said. “We can use this HPA plant as a template for the development of large-scale HPA plants around the world.”

It’s this kind of solution Pianta said will deliver long-term value to Australian miners.

Not only are the plants designed to test a specific process at scale, but plants also have the space to refine the process based on real-world performance and market demands.

“This flexibility allows a mineral processing demonstration plant to operate for many years,” he said. “We’ve seen some of them still running after a decade.”

If there’s one thing governments and industry can agree on across the board, it’s that critical minerals will be the driving force of a greener future.

The International Energy Agency estimates demand for critical minerals will quadruple in the next five years as the transition to green energy speeds up.

That’s why Beamond emphasised now is the time to act to ensure processes are scaling efficiently to meet that demand.

“Demonstration plants bridge the gap between the lab and practical viability,” Beamond said. “They play a key role in evolving and advancing critical minerals processing.

“They will help us efficiently, economically and sustainably extract the critical materials and REEs to power our future.” AM

WORKING WITH LAVA BLUE AND THE QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, STANTEC DESIGNED A HPA DEMONSTRATION PLANT.

INSIDE THE HPA DEMONSTRATION PLANT, WHERE TESTING CAN BE DONE AT A SCALE FAR GREATER THAN A LABORATORY.

MINE-TO-MILL

PLATFORM WITH ENDLESS POTENTIAL

ORICA DIGITAL SOLUTIONS’ INTEGRATED EXTRACTION SIMULATOR RUNS THOUSANDS OF SIMULATIONS TO SUPPORT MORE INFORMED DECISION-MAKING ON A MINE SITE.

Australia’s eminent technology sector continues to inspire new processes and methodologies in the country’s mining sector. And there are few digital offerings with as much operational breadth and compatibility as Orica Digital Solutions’ Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES), a software application

that enables the rapid evaluation of processing scenarios from mine-to-mill and beyond.

The fact that IES is cloud-based means it can run thousands of simulations in a short space of time to support more informed operational decision-making.

“Mining and mineral processing is decision-making under uncertainty,” Orica Digital Solutions manager for

technology (IES) Greg Shapland told Australian Mining

“There is typically sparse data available regarding geometallurgical characteristics, and therefore we must make estimations and assumptions. Orebodies are variable, as well, which means variability in data and riskier decision-making.

“To understand risks, it’s important to be able to run simulations, ask

so through the platform you can also look at fragmentation and what impact that has on throughput and consequently profit.

“Maybe this doesn’t deliver the desired level of insight, because it turns out the throughput of your circuit is quite sensitive to hardness.

IMAGES:

ORICA DIGITAL SOLUTIONS’ INTEGRATED EXTRACTION SIMULATOR ENABLES THE RAPID EVALUATION OF PROCESSING SCENARIOS.

Then you can focus on capturing more information about the hardness of your rock and better optimise your circuit from there.

“This will help you not only optimise but understand where to prioritise focus and investment to realise value.”

IES is versatile in that it can deliver insights to guide short-, mediumand long-term mine planning along with operations. This could be to plan material destinations for 12 months or more, or tweak feed blends and process plant set points for next week’s schedule.

“It’s important to recognise that not every flowsheet in IES contains blast, comminution and flotation models,” Shapland said. “It can build to include these, but often the opportunity is around the interfaces.

“Between comminution and flotation or leaching, operators can ask themselves, ‘Do I have the right grind size? What’s the trade-off between throughput and recovery?’

“IES can help operators answer these value-driven questions.”

IES can create models for any mineto-mill use case and enable a company to assess any scenario, whether for now or into the future.

The platform is agnostic and can be integrated with other Orica Digital Solutions technologies, as well as other industry applications, which can be seamlessly integrated with IES.

Most importantly, and despite the sheer volume of data that underpins the platform, IES is being made simpler to interact with a wider array of users who can extract value from it.

“Some users don’t see the data-filled IES flowsheet interface,” Orica’s mineto-mill senior manager Angelo Labriola told Australian Mining

“They just need to interact with a companion user interface to IES that automatically integrates source data and queries IES in the background, enabling them to see exactly what they need to in order to make role-specific optimising decisions in the context of the wider value chain.

“I was recently speaking to one of our longer-term users in North America. This individual’s role is around longterm strategic planning. I asked him, ‘Why do you use IES? How does it generate value?’.

“For him, the integrated nature of the application and the fact he can use one application to simulate everything from orebody intelligence through to blasting and final metal concentrate is an invaluable resource.

“And the fact he has the capability, through IES, to readily run simulations for every block in the block model means he can more easily analyse a wide array of mining and process strategies quickly and comprehensively.

“He said, ‘Having that in one application is key for us’.”

FROM HIGHER INTENSITY BLASTING.

When Labriola asked the customer what his alternatives were, the affirmation for IES was clear.

“The client said he wouldn’t be able to model the desired range of scenarios with an alternative, because it would require a range of different simulators generating their independent outputs,” Labriola said.

“Then the client would need to work out how to transfer the output from one simulator into the next. IES has allowed him to analyse more alternatives to a greater degree of detail, at less time, effort and cost.”

This is the essence of IES, packaging thousands if not millions of data points across various operating verticals –whether it be blasting, comminution, flotation or beyond – into easy-tounderstand integrated modelling that allows mine planners and operators to make quick, informed decisions to uplift value.

While the IES technology is advanced, Labriola said Orica is still “scratching the surface” of the platform’s potential.

“When we look at our vision and where we’re going, we see the process starting with life of mine and long-term strategic planning, which forms the core of IES usage today,” he said.

“But we also see the engine getting used more and more in mine operations, in the medium- and short-term planning space and in operational workflows.

“This is where mining and processing constraints are introduced. Blending decisions need to be made, pieces of equipment might go down, so the plan needs to change. It needs to react, and every task needs to be optimised not just individually, but in the context of the wider value chain, where there are several other constraints.

“And it’s IES again providing the platform for this decision-making.” AM

HEAT MAP OF IMPROVED THROUGHPUT OPPORTUNITY

THE AI MINING REVOLUTION

MINERS ARE UNLOCKING THE POTENTIAL OF AI IN THEIR OPERATIONS BY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF NEW DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE.

Mining is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution. The team at Vocus has witnessed firsthand how artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge connectivity are transforming mineralrich regions.

The fusion of AI, high-speed networks, and edge computing isn’t just enhancing existing operations – it’s redefining what’s possible.

Australian mining has always been at the forefront of innovation, with the world’s largest fleet of autonomous haul trucks. But to fully capitalise on AI’s potential, miners have been telling Vocus they need digital infrastructure that rivals metros like Singapore or Sydney.

That’s why Vocus is investing heavily in expanding its fibre network well beyond traditional areas served by telcos in inner cities and intercapital routes. Why is this so important? Because in mining, milliseconds matter. When sensors collect data, AI models analyse it, and decisions are issued to autonomous equipment, speed is critical.

Minimising the distance that data needs to travel is important. It could take more than four times longer to send data over to the east coast of Australia than a data centre close to a mine, or 10 times longer if the data has to be sent all the way to the US, where most of the world’s big AI models are still being trained.

It might sound like fractions of a second might not make much of a difference, but when multiplied by millions of packets of data being sent every hour, it can have very tangible impacts on mine production. Delays in data transfer can translate to autonomous vehicles hauling less volume every day. It can also mean safety of workers is put at risk if feedback from sensors isn’t processed fast enough.

That’s where edge computing comes in.

NEXTDC is building world-class data centres in the mining hubs of Port Hedland and Newman, bringing processing power close to mine sites. This enables real-time data analysis and decision-making that simply wasn’t possible before.

With AI and advanced connectivity, miners can predict equipment

failures before they occur, optimise complex processes through digital twins – complete digital replicas of mine sites, and make every decision – from extraction to environmental management – based on real-time data analysis.

Vocus is also extending these capabilities beyond established mining centres.

The latest generation low earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology can provide high-speed connectivity in the remotest areas, with performance rivalling fibre.

This means an exploration camp 500km into the Great Sandy Desert can have the same broadband as a Hilton Hotel. It’s a game-changer for remote operations, enabling everything from real-time data analysis to highquality video transfer to mining engineers at head office, even from the most isolated locations.

Vocus is also helping miners blanket vast mines with secure wireless connectivity. The company is building

a new Private 4G network for Mineral Resources’ (MinRes) Onslow iron ore project in the Pilbara.

This network will cover both the mine site and a 150km private haul road, enabling 330-tonne jumbo road trains to operate autonomously.

Private 4G and 5G networks offer significant advantages over traditional Wi-Fi in industrial settings. They provide better coverage, more reliable handoffs between towers, and the ability to prioritise critical applications.

While Wi-Fi might struggle to cover 2km reliably, and can be subject to signal interference, a mobile network can easily blanket an area of over 500 square kilometres with thousands of devices, operating in secure licensed radio spectrums where interference is uncommon.

As Vocus builds this digital infrastructure, security is paramount. Vocus is an Australian-based, Australian-backed company,

keeping sensitive data onshore, operating facilities with securitycleared Australian personnel, and even providing physically separated network topology for classified workloads.

The convergence of high-speed fibre, edge computing, LEO satellites, and private mobile networks promises to unlock unprecedented productivity, efficiency, and sustainability benefits.

Mining has always been the engine room of the Australian economy. Now, it’s poised to become the global example the world looks to as a leading innovator in resources and clean energy.

The future of mining will be shaped as much by the data streams and satellite beams above the ground as by the resources beneath it. This digital revolution isn’t just about improving existing processes – it’s about reimagining what’s possible in mining and resource extraction. AM

MINERAL RESOURCES’ JUMBO 330-TONNE ROAD TRAINS WILL OPERATE AUTONOMOUSLY ON A 150KM HAUL ROAD CONNECTED TO A PRIVATE 4G NETWORK.

IMAGE:

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THE POWER OF HYBRID

VOLVO CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT IS A HUB OF PIONEERING IDEAS AND FORWARD-THINKING CONCEPTS THAT ELEVATE MACHINE CAPABILITIES TO WORK SMARTER AND HARDER.

Volvo equipment supplier CJD Equipment is noticing a growing trend in the mining industry: hybrid excavators.

These innovative machines blend traditional power with electric energy to slash fuel consumption and boost efficiency – and Volvo Construction Equipment has been leading the way.

Volvo’s comprehensive product portfolio has been crafted to enhance machine performance and drive profitability. With top-tier guarantees, warranties, and cutting-edge technological solutions, Volvo helps to set the standard for excellence in construction equipment.

With a drive towards more sustainable construction practices and the constant quest to reduce fuel consumption, Volvo’s hybrid excavators emerge as a significant leap forward.

And with dealers like CJD Equipment behind the scenes to offer support, Volvo ensures that its construction machinery continues to cater to the evolving needs of the mining industry.

Volvo’s hybrid models for its EC250E, EC300E, EC350E and

EC380E excavators are at the forefront of construction machinery innovation, offering significant advantages over traditional equipment.

These advantages are rooted in cutting-edge technology, saving fuel and reducing emissions, thereby improving project profitability and making a mine site greener.

There are multiple advantages to Volvo’s hybrid range, including up to a 17 per cent boost in fuel efficiency, a 15 per cent reduction in fuel consumption and up to a 12 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

These advancements signify Volvo’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, providing a compelling case for adopting hybrid technology in construction equipment.

The blend of fuel efficiency, operational excellence, and reduced environmental impact positions Volvo’s hybrid excavators as a superior choice for the future of construction machinery.

At the core of Volvo’s hybrid system is the hydraulic accumulator, which captures ‘free’ energy generated during the boom-down motion. Often wasted in traditional excavators, this energy is efficiently stored for later use.

The stored energy in the accumulator drives an assist motor. This motor powers the engine system, effectively reducing the torque requirement on the engine and leading to lower fuel consumption.

The EC300E Hybrid uses this energy to assist the boom-up motion, lightening the load on the engine.

Volvo’s hydraulic hybrid system optimises energy capture during a typical loading cycle, unlike traditional hybrid models that capture swing energy.

Volvo’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its development and implementation of advanced technology.

THE VOLVO EC300E HYBRID EXCAVATOR.

Hybrid and electric construction equipment, such as Volvo’s EC300E Hybrid excavator, plays a crucial role in this commitment, significantly reducing the emission of pollutants like nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

Not only does the technology behind Volvo’s hybrid excavators reduce fuel consumption and emissions, but it is also backed by comprehensive support through initiatives like Volvo’s lifetime frame and structure warranty and ActiveCare Direct.

These programs ensure the machinery’s optimal performance and environmental compliance throughout its operational life.

By integrating these sustainable practices and technologies, Volvo Construction Equipment is leading the way towards a more environmentally responsible future in construction, demonstrating that efficiency and environmental care can go together.

Volvo has pioneered the integration of hybrid technology into its construction machinery lineup, offering a blend of efficiency, sustainability, and power.

The key models within Volvo’s hybrid range underpin its commitment to advancing construction technology while addressing environmental concerns.

The EC300E Hybrid and EC380E Hybrid excavators are at the forefront of this, offering enhancements in operator comfort, such as an electric control joystick, fully electric travel pedals, and new boom-and-arm bounce reduction technology.

The EC380E Hybrid is the largest model in Volvo’s hybrid range, boasting an operating weight of 37,800–43,000kg and a gross power of 230 kilowatts.

performance of these machines with a range of attachments designed to work in perfect harmony with the equipment.

Complementing the hardware, Volvo offers a suite of solutions to maximise machine performance and profitability. These include uptime services, fuel efficiency, emission reduction, safety, and more, all designed to ensure Volvo machinery operates at its peak while delivering on sustainability goals.

Volvo’s hybrid and electric models are more than just machines; they are

HAZEMAG allmineral Australia

2/6 Meares Way, Canning Vale, WA 6155 info.australia@allmineral.com

For more information, contact JACO BOTHA jaco.botha@allmineral.com or +61 439549 182

construction industry and contributes to broader goals of sustainability and environmental preservation.

Through the meticulous exploration of Volvo’s hybrid and electric machinery, it’s clear that technological advancements and sustainable practices are pivotal to transforming the industry.

Volvo’s robust portfolio exemplifies a commitment to innovation, efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

This aligns well with the industry’s drive towards sustainability, reducing

demands of machinery.

The significant benefits in fuel efficiency, operational advantages, and the push towards reducing emissions delineate a path forward for the industry.

As the sector continues to evolve,

Volvo’s leading-edge solutions exemplify how technological advancements and a commitment to sustainability can harmoniously drive the industry towards a more efficient and environmentally conscious future. AM

THE VOLVO EC250E HYBRID EXCAVATOR.

FMS GROUP: YOUR ALTERNATE OEM

AUSTRALIAN MINING SAT DOWN WITH FMS GROUP TO DISCUSS THE

Sfor the Australian mining industry, with expertise in site shutdowns and ad-hoc maintenance support and machine repairs.

“We do work across the mining stream, whether we’re supporting mobile equipment, critical plant such as draglines or rope shovels, or mining excavators,” FMS Group general manager, equipment Tony Liddelow told Australian Mining

“Our focus has been around major shutdowns, with more than 600 FMS employees across Australia supporting this critical work. Most of the Tier 1 miners in Australia and PNG now work with us on a regular basis and rely on our workers’ expertise.”

To further support its mining customers, FMS Group developed its own hydraulic lifting and on-site machining systems for critical plant maintenance, making jobs safer and easier while reducing downtime on-site.

“We’ve got two complete safety lift sets with another three to come online in the very near future,” Liddelow said.

work quicker. This is our tradition and underlying company focus.”

While FMS Group understands its strengths, the company also recognises its growth pathways, having complemented its services business with an equipment division in recent years.

“We’ve coupled our trusted service capability with a range of synergistic products,” Liddelow said. “We already have capabilities around project management, in-house engineering and technical design, and on-site support. That’s where our tradition started.

“Now we can provide all of those services and manufacture and supply equipment to our trusted partners as well.”

Liddelow said FMS has added “the other side of the circle”.

“I often talk to people about a circle,” he said. “We had half the circle, which was our on-site support, centred on people, labour, servicing, design and maintenance, and now we’re adding the other side of the circle which is our equipment portfolio.

FMS GROUP HAS MORE THAN 600 EMPLOYEES ACROSS AUSTRALIA SUPPORTING MAJOR MINE SHUTDOWNS.

FMS GROUP DEVELOPED ITS OWN HYDRAULIC LIFTING AND ON-SITE MACHINING SYSTEMS FOR CRITICAL PLANT MAINTENANCE.

“This includes quality brands that have synergies with what we do.”

FMS is the Oceania supplier of Ground Force Worldwide and TowHaul, two companies recognised for providing unique engineered designs and solutions to support load and haul operations across the Oceania region.

Not only can all Ground Force Worldwide and TowHaul products be ordered through FMS Group, but the growing company can service and maintain this equipment. FMS Group now also manufactures Ground Force Worldwide water tanks and dump trays across Australia under license.

With plenty of new business stemming from its partnership with Ground Force Worldwide and TowHaul, FMS Group has added another product to its portfolio.

“We recently introduced a new brand called HAWC, which we’re now sourcing and supplying globally,” Liddelow said. “This includes TrackHAWC undercarriage components for large rope shovels and excavators.”

The HAWC brand, which stands for “Hard-As Wear Components”, leverages the innovative induction hardening processes that FMS Group and its manufacturing partner have been working on over the years. HAWC provides enhanced wear life

for undercarriage components for all makes and models of rope shovels and excavators found within the Australian and Oceania markets.

As FMS Group further supplements its services business, the company will continue to grow its equipment portfolio with engineered products and components.

But with any product addition, Liddelow said, it’s important that FMS Group “doesn’t lose its core”.

“We’ve got a great culture and business built around service, but we feel we can support and augment those services with new products that make sense,” he said.

“We have a vision to be the alternate OEM. While large OEMs typically have a full suite of products, services and parts, we feel we can fill a void in the specialty OEM space.

“Our fluidity and reactivity are what our customers value. This enables us to provide a customised service – we’re not tied to one brand or product; we’re focused on providing the best solutions that suit our customers.”

Coming to MINExpo in Las Vegas from September 24–26, FMS Group will be located at booth 6393 in the main hall next to Komatsu and Caterpillar.

Liddelow said the quadrennial conference will offer FMS the

opportunity to cement its partnership with Ground Force Worldwide and TowHaul.

“By the time MINExpo comes around, it will be about 15 months into our journey with Ground Force Worldwide and TowHaul and their introduction into the Australian and Oceania markets,” he said.

“We’ll be making sure there’s awareness of the Ground Force

Worldwide and TowHaul products, and we’ll have a 136-tonne lowboy float on the stand, as well as several other Ground Force Worldwide products.

“We’ll also have an Australianathemed section within the stand to highlight our bumper conversion kit. This will help cement our presence and our profile for supporting Ground Force Worldwide and TowHaul products.” AM

FMS GROUP IS THE OCEANIA SUPPLIER OF GROUND FORCE WORLDWIDE AND TOWHAUL.

COPPER IS KING

BHP ASSET PRESIDENT COPPER ANNA WILEY OUTLINED A COPPER-FOCUSED FUTURE FOR THE BIG AUSTRALIAN AT THE 2024 COPPER TO THE WORLD CONFERENCE.

BCopper to the World Conference on June 18–19 in Adelaide.

Taking the stage on the first day of the event, BHP asset president copper Anna Wiley discussed the mining giant’s aspirations for the base metal, highlighting South Australia as a jurisdiction of interest.

SA is home to 70 per cent of Australia’s copper resources, making it one of the world’s premier copper jurisdictions.

“This places additional importance on ensuring we economically extract as much copper as possible from our current operations,” Wiley said in her speech.

for growth,” Wiley said.

K with our teams searching for new copper prospects in South America, the US, and here in South Australia.”

SA copper operations

When BHP acquired OZ Minerals in May 2023, it brought two significant SA-based copper assets into the fold: Carrapateena and Prominent Hill.

“Today as BHP we operate three underground copper mines and a nationally significant smelter and refinery complex in South Australia’s far north,” Wiley said.

This includes the Olympic Dam operation, which BHP is hoping to

CARRAPATEENA IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS IN BHP’S ACQUISITION OF OZ MINERALS.

“One of the amazing things about Olympic Dam (is) we haven’t found the bottom of it yet.

“It’s a big operation – and it’s getting bigger.”

BHP is also focused on growing its Oak Dam deposit, 65km south-east of Olympic Dam.

“Right now, BHP is running one of the largest copper exploration and drilling programs in Australia,” Wiley said.

“We currently have 13 rigs and hope to construct a new decline as part of our exploration progress at Oak Dam, which we hope could become the fourth mine in our copper SA operations in the years to come.”

A world-class copper province

BHP’s growth plan coincides with ongoing investment in its existing SA copper operations. This includes:

• progress and completion of the Prominent Hill shaft that will haul ore to surface from 1.3km deep

BHP

• t ransitioning to a block cave at Carrapateena following the recent commissioning of a second underground crusher this year

• f urther underground development at Olympic Dam

BHP ASSET PRESIDENT COPPER ANNA WILEY SPEAKING AT COPPER TO THE WORLD 2024.

THE PILLAR OF INNOVATION

AHEAD OF MINEXPO 2024, AUSTRALIAN MINING TAKES A DEEP DIVE INTO AUSTRALIA’S METS INDUSTRY.

The Australian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector is one of the world’s largest and most influential.

Since the term was coined by Austmine in 2009, the METS sector has been steadily gaining a powerful voice and identity, with 40 of the world’s top 100 METS companies now headquartered in Australia.

But how did the sector go from a nameless entity to the key pillar for the mining innovation and digitalisation we see today?

And, perhaps more importantly, what comes next?

The history

Austmine, the leading industry association for the Australian METS sector, was formed in November 1989.

Just one year later, the company held its first annual general meeting and was welcoming its 56th foundation member.

Austmine quickly recognised that there was little recognition of the size and scope of the METS sector in Australia – so the company set its sights on changing this.

The company played a critical role in branding the METS sector in Australia by identifying that the sector exists, and defining its economic size, high value adds, export performance and industrial complexity.

Throughout the early 2000s, Austmine was simultaneously making a name for itself and for the future Australian METS sector.

The company held its first Austmine conference, now a cornerstone of the mining industry’s event calendar, in 2005.

From there, it expanded into different reaches, executing a technology cooperation agreement with Chile in 2007 and sending missions to Brazil and Chile in 2008. Austmine has now led over 85 missions to 20 different countries.

The early 2010s were spent further developing the Austmine conference while broadening the reach and name of the Australian METS sector.

A key turning point arrived in 2013, when Austmine launched its national METS survey.

That survey found that the METS sector generates $90 billion a year in revenue, employs over 400,000 people and exports $15 billion in products and services to over 200 countries.

Austmine director international business Robert Trzebski said the survey was a breakthrough.

“This is where the METS sector turned from being a silent sector to gaining recognition as a key driver of the Australian economy,” he said.

Austmine’s ongoing advocacy saw METS acknowledged by the Federal Government as one of six key growth sectors for the Australian economy in 2014.

As a result, METS Ignited was formed to further strengthen the competitiveness of the Australian METS sector and provide a platform to accelerate growth.

“The formation of METS Ignited was an important step forward for Australian METS,” Austmine chief executive officer Christine Gibbs Stewart said.

“The Government recognised the sector’s importance to the Australian economy and made a critical investment in our future.”

The future

Austmine’s three decades of tireless work championing the Australian METS sector is paying off.

Now, with a global footprint, recognised identity and world-leading

capabilities, the sector is ready and able to continue its long-term growth.

But the growth of any sector requires a strong collaborative effort, and Austmine is keen to help foster this.

Austmine’s DNA has been built on smart, passionate people coming together to solve some of mining’s biggest challenges.

The recent launch of mineinnovate is taking this collaboration to greater heights through open innovation opportunities and creating a platform for innovators to connect.

Austmine encourages all METS companies to streamline the pathway to technology development and access value-adding knowledge and research by collaborating with one another.

This collaboration, coupled with the innovation, social value and global reach the sector is now so well-known for, should see the Australian METS industry thrive for years to come.

“With the mining industry continuing to grow globally, the METS sector will be critically important in supporting its development through substantial technological

capabilities,” Austmine chair Dallas Wilkinson said.

“The Australian METS sector is recognised throughout the world for its strong record of delivery and service, along with its innovation capacity and proven solutions. This provides a solid foundation for future growth and positions us uniquely to meet new challenges of these markets.”

By working closely with mining customers, METS companies have implemented transformational technologies and practices into operations around the world, including artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, electrification, machine learning and augmented reality.

The widespread adoption of powerful technologies has automated processes and enabled transformation, allowing mining companies to create safer, more productive and sustainable operations, and the METS sector is just getting started.

With such a strong foundation behind it, and a wide-open future in front, the sky truly is the limit for the Australian METS sector. AM

NORTH HALL

2MT MINING PRODUCTS

Stand CB02

2MT delivers high-quality innovative products and solutions through a tradition of trust and integrity. 2mtminingproducts.com

3D DATA GUIDANCE

Stand S03

3D Data Guidance provides optimised rehabilitation designs and improves bulldozer performance. 3ddataguidance.com

AMPCONTROL

Stand CB01

Ampcontrol is a provider of electrical, electronic, and control solutions for the energy, infrastructure and resources sector. ampcontrolgroup.com

APPLIED MINING TECH

Stand S15

AMT is a leader in high-accuracy underground navigation systems, automated mining and advanced sensing technologies. appliedmining.tech

AUSIMM

Stand S18

AusIMM is the peak body for people working in the resources sector, offering professional development, global networking and membership. ausimm.com

AUSROAD

Stand SK8

AUSROAD manufactures specialised mining and blast support vehicles designed to enhance safety, accuracy and efficiency on mine sites. ausroad.com.au

BLUVEIN

Stand S07

BluVein is a dynamic charging technology for heavy-duty battery-electric mining vehicles. bluvein.com

COMMIT WORKS

Stand SK4

Commit Works delivers operations planning and execution software that improves work coordination and drives performance improvements. commit.works

COREPLAN

Stand S01

CorePlan is an integrated drilling management platform for exploration, development and production. coreplan.io

DURAPAC

Stand CB03

Durapac is a leading force in highpressure hydraulic tools, producing a complete range of quality industrial tools. durapac.com

DY-MARK GLOBAL

Stand S08

Dy-Mark is a leading manufacturer and distributor of top-quality specialised marking paints and coatings. dymarkglobal.com

GEKKO SYSTEMS

Stand SC01

Gekko is a world technical leader in gold processing and low-energy mining solutions. gekkos.com

GEOGRAPHE

Stand S02

Geographe manufactures, engineers and supplies parts and services for fleets in the mining, resources and earthmoving sectors. geographe.com.au

HAULTRAX

Stand S14

Mining operational technology specialists. Leaders in AHS implementation and FMS solutions. haultrax.com

HAWK MEASUREMENT

Stand SK6

Hawk Measurement’s aim is to provide comprehensive expertise in level measurement applications. hawkmeasurement.com

HERMES AND SOTERIA

Stand SC03

Hermes and Soteria provide sub-surface monitoring technology through an interconnected, end-to-end, IoT solution. hermesandsoteria.com

INFORMATION ALIGNMENT

Stand SC04

Information Alignment specialises in the development, implementation and management of information and reporting systems. inapl.com

JEVONS ROBOTICS

Stand SK2

Jevons Robotics builds hi-tech, robust, wheeled vehicle solutions, specialising in the global mining industry. jevonsrobotics.com.au

KLINGE

Stand SC02

KLINGE is a proven international leader in quality tyre management control systems and services. klinge.com.au

MECHANICAL ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA

Stand S06

MEA specialises in engineering design, mechanical refurbishment, fabrication and abrasive blasting and painting. mecheng.com.au

METZKE

Stand SK1

Metzke is a specialist in reverse circulation consumables and systems, drill sampling and drilling rig design. metzke.com.au

MINCORE

Stand SK5

A leading EPCM contractor providing quality solutions in mining, metals, mineral processing, building materials, and renewable energy. mincore.com.au

MINING SKILLS AUSTRALIA

Stand S13

MSA is an expert supplier of competency and proficiency-based training resources and programs within the mining industry. miningskills.com.au

MIPAC

Stand SK7

Mipac delivers operational technology and control systems to transform the mining value chain, boosting efficiency, safety and value. mipac.com.au

NIVEK INDUSTRIES

Stand CB04

Nivek Industries has been creating lifting products to safely remove a belly plate for the mining industry around the world. nivekindustries.com.au

NMT SHIPPING

Stand S09

Your global shipping specialist, NMT transports mining and earthmoving components, equipment, trucks, trailers, cars and more. nmtshipping.com

PITCREW AI

Stand S17

Pitcrew AI provides real-time condition monitoring and AI-based assessments for mining vehicles. pitcrew.ai

REFLEX SUCTION STRAINER

Stand S11

Innovative REFLEX suction strainers are flexible and adaptable to help meet your unique pumping filtration needs. Pump safer and longer, and reduce cost. sandpindustrial.com

SAFE-T-PRODUCTS

Stand S05

Safe-T-Products designs and manufactures first-class emergency stop and protective stop devices. safe-t-products.com.au

SPEE3D

Stand S10

SPEE3D is a leading advanced manufacturer through its 3D printing processes, making industrial-grade metal parts at rapid build rates. spee3d.com

SWING INVENT HOLDINGS

Stand SK3

Swing Invent Holdings is a leading manufacturer and supplier of dragline and wire rope shovels and swing pedals. swinginvent.com.au

TIMINING

Stand S04

TIMining creates software that transforms data into insights to help mines run more efficiently, safely, and sustainably. timining.com

VERIDAPT

Stand S12

VERIDAPT is an award-winning IoT and fintech company leading the digital revolution in commodity monitoring and management technology. veridapt.com

WILCO TECHNOLOGIES

Stand S16

Wilco Technologies specialises in resin-set rock bolting to minimise the potential for rock-falls and roof collapse in underground mining. wilcotechnologies.com.au

AUSIMM

STAND NO: S18

AusIMM is the peak body for professionals working in the resources sector, with a focus on shaping careers, showcasing leadership, creating communities and upholding industry standards.

AusIMM represents a global community from 100 countries involved in all aspects of the mining industry, existing to support and advocate for those who are building a professional career in the resources sector, whether they’re a director, manager, technician, consultant or student.

AusIMM offers outstanding professional development opportunities including world-class technical mining conferences, leadership events, online courses and digital resources to help build and accelerate careers.

The industry body hosts local and global networking opportunities to connect professionals with common goals and interests and help build their profile.

AusIMM’s outstanding membership program offers a range of exclusive benefits to support students through to senior executives throughout their career in resources.

ausimm.com

MIPAC

STAND NO: SK7

Mipac is a global leader in operational technology, control systems, and engineering services for the mining industry. The company provides intelligent solutions that improve efficiency, productivity, and safety across the entire mining value chain.

With over 27 years of experience and a team of over 175 staff, Mipac tackles complex challenges other vendors avoid, offering custom automation solutions alongside the company’s innovative SaaS software, designed by miners for miners.

At a greenfield site, Mipac helps customers with everything from feasibility studies to commissioning, ensuring your operation is set up for success. At a brownfield site, Mipac helps customers optimise or modernise their operation.

The company’s experienced engineers will analyse current plant performance to provide considered, methodical advice and implement improvement plans. Founded in Australia, and with its North American headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, Mipac is a trusted partner for intelligent mining.

mipac.global

GEOGRAPHE

STAND NO: S02

Geographe supports global miners with improving their maintenance and safety practices through enhanced performance parts and specialised tooling solutions. The company’s enhanced performance wear parts are engineered to solve unique mine site challenges.

Geographe specialised tooling solutions are designed to deliver reduced downtime and improve overall safety on mine sites. The company leverages innovation, automation and advanced technology to ensure reliability and durability in all its offerings.

By listening to the unique challenges faced by mine sites, Geographe works closely with maintenance teams to deliver solutions that unlock incremental gains in operational efficiency.

Geographe understands the importance of maintaining a safe and efficient mine site.

Visit Geographe at MINExpo to learn how the company’s enhanced performance wear parts and specialised tooling solutions can help achieve your maintenance and safety objectives.

geographe.com.au

SAFE-T-PRODUCTS

STAND NO: S05

Safe-T-Products, a global leader in safety devices for mining and mineral processing, continues to thrive under managing director Marcus Coyle’s leadership. Marcus took over from his late father, company founder Martin Coyle, more than 15 years ago.

Under his guidance, Safe-T-Products has expanded into new markets worldwide while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and sustainability. The company’s cutting-edge products, developed through intensive design processes and rigorous testing, are used by major companies across the globe.

Safe-T-Products has experienced substantial growth due to Coyle’s targeted regional strategy, with particular emphasis now placed on the promising US market. With its headquarters in Perth, Western Australia, Safe-T-Products is located in one of the world’s premier mining regions. This strategic positioning allows for close collaboration with mining partners and fosters an ideal environment for continuous research and development. The company remains committed to innovation, customer needs, and pushing the boundaries of mining safety technology, continuing the legacy of its founder.

safe-t-products.com.au

MINING SKILLS AUSTRALIA

STAND NO: S13

Mining Skills Australia (MSA) is a global leader in skills development, revolutionising traditional classroombased learning with advanced technologies such as 3D animation, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, and gamification. These technologies are supported by competency and proficiency-based safety and training programs delivered through digital blended learning experiences, learning management systems (LMS), and on-site training specialists.

MSA’s technology replicates various standard operating procedures and work instructions, demonstrating best practices across safety-critical controls, principal hazards, and machinery operations in load and haul, drill, and blast environments. This implementation aligns with Australian standards of process and procedure, further enhancing content resource support through a robust LMS. MSA’s Academy of Training and Consulting offers Australian standard-accredited courses, from certificate to diploma levels, available on-site or online. MSA delivers practical machine operator training, supporting load and haul production personnel with train-the-trainer programs, production supervision, site safety, content development, and training systems and processes. This includes drill and blast across open cut and underground mining sectors.

miningskills.com.au

VERIDAPT

STAND NO: S12

Veridapt leads the digital revolution in fuel management, commodity monitoring and emissions tracking.

The company’s proprietary AdaptFMS platform monitors, controls and authorises the use of over 30 billion litres of fuel annually, across more than 150 global mining, rail and terminal operations.

At the forefront of mine-site fuel management for over 20 years, Veridapt’s technology is built on rugged hardware and enterprise software specifically developed to fit operations of any size.

Tracking the entire fuel and lubricant chain down to the last litre from delivery to consumption, AdaptFMS ensures all inflows and outflows across an operation reconcile to within a suitable error limit.

AdaptFMS users achieve real-time reconciliation, increased productivity, asset efficiency, cost optimisation, optimal security, and accurate emissions monitoring.

Veridapt’s worldwide clients include BHP, Rio Tinto, Vale, Teck, Syncrude and major rail companies.

veridapt.com

beyond the solution

No two projects or clients are the same.

At Mipac, our global team of specialists have real-world experience across the entire mining life cycle as well as every layer of the automation pyramid. We understand your challenges intimately and can tailor our solutions to meet your specific needs.

Whether you’re a greenfield or brownfield operation, our team has the know-how to design, build, maintain and optimise your site, delivering tangible benefits, including cost savings, productivity and efficiency gains.

If you’re facing a complex problem, let Mipac be your trusted partner in finding the best solution.

embedding sustainability in their supply chains to create greater value for their organisations and the community. This is particularly relevant to the Latin American mining powerhouses of Chile, Peru, and Brazil.

Delegations from these countries will be attending MINExpo, and there will be great opportunities for Australian METS companies to learn more about the market as well as how the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) can inform, assist, and connect them with potential customers.

The mining industry plays a critical role in securing a sustainable future for our planet. Mining provides the essential resources needed to create the renewable energy technologies, electric vehicles, green construction materials, medical devices, communications, computing and space technologies that will guide the world’s greener economic and social development.

Chile, Peru and Brazil are all to committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This region also includes emerging markets for Australia’s clean energy solutions and technologies. In this pursuit, Australian METS companies are natural partners for the global mining industry.

Austrade’s team from Lima and Santiago will be on the ground at MINExpo at the Australia Pavilion to provide briefings on Latin America, give advice on how to win business in these dynamic markets and to help Australian METS take advantage of the opportunities LATAM offers in the green economy.

Austrade is delighted to be a partner of the Australia Pavilion at MINExpo 2024. We look forward to growing your business in Latin America and showcasing Australia’s world-leading innovation in sustainable mining. AM

fifteen more exhibiting independently throughout the hall.

NSW is a dynamic hub of mining innovation, renowned for developing groundbreaking solutions like longwall mining and autonomous equipment

that have transformed the global mining landscape.

Our companies are advancing real-time data analytics platforms to optimise mine productivity and designed environmental management systems, reducing the ecological footprint of mining activities.

Technology developed in NSW sets new standards for efficiency, safety, and sustainability. NSW METS companies are active in major mining markets worldwide, including the US, offering world-class products and services tailored to your specific needs.

In NSW, we foster a vibrant ecosystem of research institutions, government agencies and industry associations, ensuring our solutions remain at the forefront of the industry.

Investment NSW actively supports METS companies through initiatives like the Investment NSW Going Global Export Program by providing resources and connections to drive international success for our partners.

We invite you to discover how NSW is revolutionising the mining industry and explore the innovative capabilities of NSW METS companies showcased at MINExpo International 2024. We are excited about collaboration opportunities this event presents and look forward to building strong international partnerships.

I encourage you to visit the NSW companies at the Australian Pavilion and exhibition hall to experience the future of mining firsthand. AM

TRADE AND INVESTMENT QUEENSLAND

BRENDAN RUTHERFORD TRADE AND INVESTMENT QUEENSLAND PRINCIPAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT OFFICER MINING, RESOURCES AND ENERGY

Trade and Investment

Queensland (TIQ) is the Queensland Government’s dedicated global business agency with representation in 16 countries, with 12 Trade and Investment Commissioners covering seven international regions.

TIQ helps Queensland companies access international markets and facilitates foreign investment into the state.

TIQ is thrilled to be leading the largest mining, equipment, technology and services (METS) trade delegation in our state’s history to MINExpo 2024.

Over 70 world-class Queensland companies will be on the ground at MINExpo 2024.

Our objective is to support employment growth and economic development in Queensland by assisting businesses achieve trade outcomes and enabling direct international investment in Queensland.

Queensland has an established connection with Nevada, with a sister state memorandum of understanding signed between the two states across several industries in 2018.

While these arrangements between state governments encourage closer relations, understanding of shared priorities and economic cooperation, the Queensland METS community has a global reach that transcends geographical, cultural and language barriers.

The Queensland METS sector employs over 20,000 skilled and dedicated people in Queensland, and while making a significant economic contribution, it values an everincreasing level of social governance at its core.

Queensland’s endowment of natural resources is both rich and diverse, and the METS sector has responded and evolved to serve the demands of this mineral diversity and the highly cyclical nature of the resources sector.

Importantly, there is a distinct community dynamic, a unity of purpose, where collaboration is encouraged and rewarded. It’s widely understood that Queensland METS have real solutions to the challenges that confront mining operations all over the world.

Many of the innovative solutions that have their genesis in Queensland can transfer to support mine operations globally to improve productivity, safety, energy efficiency and decarbonisation.

One of the world’s largest and advanced resources and commercialisation hubs has developed in Queensland as a direct result of the collaboration between venture capital, academic institutions, government agencies at all levels, mine operators of all sizes, and the METS supply community.

Perhaps that’s the reason most of the top-tier miners think of Queensland as home, and we know once you meet our METS, you’ll understand too. AM

STATE OF VICTORIA

NIGEL WARREN

STATE OF VICTORIA COMMISSIONER TO THE AMERICAS

The State of Victoria of Australia is delighted to welcome attendees to Las Vegas on behalf of the Americas Victorian Government Trade and Investment (VGTI) team and Global Victoria.

Our mission fosters meaningful connections and drives economic growth for Victoria by leveraging strong international partnerships, including the Austmine Pavilion and everyone at MINExpo.

As the Commissioner to the Americas for the State of Victoria, based in San Francisco, I am proud to lead a team focused on pursuing trade, investment, education, and strategic economic opportunities on behalf of Victoria.

The Victorian trade team provides services, assisting companies to prepare,

establish, and commence trading in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Assistance is provided through information, training, referrals, advice, facilitation of trade missions, and bespoke assistance packages.

A range of small, medium, and large companies are assisted in key sectors including mining, consumer goods, technology, food and beverage, defense, aerospace, and life sciences.

The Victorian investment team works to promote Victoria as a prime location for international business and foreign direct investment.

Victoria’s capital, Melbourne, is an internationally recognised hub for Australia’s mining and resources industry. Home to global mining majors including BHP and Rio Tinto, Victoria boasts an innovative and dynamic cluster of mining

equipment, technology and services (METS) companies.

With cutting-edge universities, advanced manufacturing, and a pioneering research and development ecosystem, the state is a world leader in delivering product and service solutions for the global resources sector.

The Goldfields, active since the gold rush of the 1850s, are more productive than they have been for over a century.

In addition to gold, Victoria is advancing projects in rare earths, antimony, and ‘future-facing’ metals such as lithium, high-purity alumina and magnesium, ensuring a resources legacy for a new generation.

We invite you to engage with our Victorian team to explore the vast opportunities that our state offers. Together, we can create impactful and lasting partnerships. AM

INVEST & TRADE WESTERN AUSTRALIA

HON

ROGER COOK MLA PREMIER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Western Australia is a global mining leader with a legacy of rich natural resources and innovation.

Our mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector showcased here is world-class, and Western Australia is a prime destination for global METS investment and expansion.

Producing over 30 per cent of the world’s iron ore and more than 50 per cent of the world’s lithium, our state underpins both Australia’s economy and the global energy transition.

Western Australia is a hub for pioneering mining technologies, such as autonomous haulage, which enhance productivity and sustainability worldwide.

Our expertise in mining innovation is exemplified by the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct, a 50-hectare facility supporting the development of large-scale robotics and automation technologies.

Located within 35km of Perth, ‘The Precinct’ provides an ideal environment for global METS companies to innovate and scale in proximity to many of the world’s largest mining companies.

Last year, the Western Australian Government, in collaboration with US company Intuitive Machines, funded Fugro SpAARC (Space Automation, AI, and Robotics Control Complex) to successfully land a payload on the moon. This achievement leveraged our worldleading expertise in remote operations,

initially developed within the mining sector.

Through partnerships with AROSE (Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth consortium) and Invest and Trade Western Australia, we are now supporting WA METS companies to showcase their exceptional capabilities beyond mining in the USA.

The Western Australian Government is committed to supporting industry leaders in driving sector priorities. MINExpo is a vital event for fostering and expanding connections that ensure business success for all participants.

I commend Austmine for promoting Australian ingenuity in the METS sector and wish all attendees a successful and productive experience at MINExpo 2024. AM

REAL SUCCESS VIRTUAL SKILLS

Mining Skills Australia (MSA) is a leading global provider of comprehensive and specialized training programs, personnel and resources tailored for the mining industry, mining suppliers and many other industrial sectors.

The training industry is no stranger to disruption with traditional ways of learning evolving from classroom training to eLearning, and innovative digital blended learning experiences. MSA uses and develops for clients globally a range of digital technologies to bring learners into immersive learning environments . A blended learning approach will optimize and augment a digital Learning Management System.

The transition in training resource development to incorporate Mixed Reality is happening. MSA immerses workers in engaging learning environments using 3D animation, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Mixed Reality (MR) and gamification. This technology replicates realistic machinery, environments and standard operating procedures using client concepts, enhancing educational content and transference of learning. Our approach combines these technologies with a robust Learning Management System to enhance training and accessibility.

At MSA, we leverage modern technologies to deliver exceptional solutions, enhancing productivity and safety in the mining industry, globally.

Discover how MSA’s innovative training solutions can elevate your operations by visiting www.miningskills.com.au

OUR DEPARTMENTS

Motion Curve develops innovative, interactive, customizable animations and immersive digital learning technologies, supporting various industries globally, costeffectively. This includes 3D animation, VR, AR, MR, and gamification, to enhance eLearning and development across industries.

Training Department provides practical operator proficiency training, train-the-trainer, supervisor mentoring, industryspecific mentoring, and competency-based programs, supported by equipment-specific animations and eLearning resources that address workplace Literacy, Language, and Numeracy (LLN) issues.

Academy of Training is an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO), globally supplying proficiency and competency-based programs with blended eLearning supporting Education, Mining and Resource industries.

Drill and Blast offers consultancy and contracting services to Surface and Underground Mining industries including explosives auditing, handling compliance, shotfirer and blast crew mentoring, drill rig operations consulting and mentoring, and shotfirer course delivery.

Emergency Management provides comprehensive on-site emergency response services, ensuring our clients are prepared and compliant with Australian mining standards, including consultancy, operational personnel, and emergency medical response.

A QUARTER TO REMEMBER

IN THE FIRST OF A TWO-PART SERIES, AUSTRALIAN MINING TAKES A LOOK AT THE IRON ORE AND GOLD OUTLOOK FOR THE YEARS AHEAD.

The June 2024 ‘Resources and energy quarterly’ (REQ) is out, forecasting the value, volume and price of Australia’s major resources exports.

In the first of a two-part series, we take a look at two of the commodities that Australia is most well-known for: iron ore and gold.

Iron ore

Australia remains the largest iron ore exporter in the world, and the world’s number one for iron ore resources.

In 2023 alone, the sunburnt country exported 862 million tonnes of iron ore, and export volumes are only tipped to rise following further greenfield supply.

Australia’s iron ore export earnings were $34.4 billion in the 2024 March quarter, a 4.5 per cent (or $1.5 billion) increase year-on-year.

The REQ reported spot iron ore prices stabilising in recent months, following price falls of around 30 per cent in the March quarter.

“The recent recovery reflects inventory restocking and improved demand sentiment, given strengthening forward indicators of Chinese industrial production,” the report said.

“Australian export volumes moderated in the March quarter, because of a combination of weather disruptions and maintenance and capital works at key operations.

“As more greenfield supply comes online from existing and emerging producers, export volumes are forecast to increase by 2.3 per cent annually over the next two years.”

As in recent years, China’s hunger for iron ore to make steel is one of the major drivers of Australian exports.

“In the coming months, rising Chinese iron ore consumption (as steel production picks up) is expected to see a gradual easing in port inventories,” the report said.

“Low iron ore inventories at Chinese steel mills will also need to be restocked, which should support iron ore demand.”

Looking at the bigger picture, global steelmaking has a healthy outlook for 2024, with the growth forecast to exceed 4.5 per cent. European steel mills are expected to make up some of the production lost when high energy prices in 2022 led to widespread plant idling and production stoppages.

“This data shows the resources industry remains the bedrock of our economy and our economic wellbeing,” Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King said.

“Our iron ore and LNG (liquified natural gas) exports also continue to support the energy security of our major trading partners.”

While iron ore is forecasted to enjoy an uptick in export volumes for the next two years, the REQ estimates

that demand could fall from 2026 as China experiences a modest fall in steel output.

“This is expected to soften the rate of growth in global iron ore demand in the coming years, putting downward pressure on iron ore prices,” the report said.

The REQ highlighted Mineral Resources (MinRes) and BHP as top exporters of iron ore for the quarter, though acknowledged that BHP’s output was down seven per cent due to inclement weather.

“In May 2024, MinRes’ Onslow Iron project achieved its first ore on-ship, with a 113,000 tonne shipment sent to China for delivery to joint venture partner China Baowu Steel Group,” the report said.

“This was a significant milestone for the project, achieved 11 months after ground was broken at the Ken’s Bore mine site 150km east of Onslow.”

BHP left its production guidance for 2023–24 unchanged at 250–260 million tonnes, with its South Flank mine remaining on track to reach full production by the end of June 2024.

Rio Tinto was also a top exporter for the quarter, shipping around 78 million tonnes of iron ore in the March quarter.

Although this was a five per cent drop from 2023, Rio’s production guidance also remained unchanged at 323–338 million tonnes.

Gold

Australia is the world’s third largest gold producer, holding the world’s largest percentage of gold resources at 22 per cent.

High demand for the precious metal has driven prices higher and they are forecasted to remain elevated throughout 2024–25 before dropping again in 2026.

Exports for gold have increased, with export earnings reaching $33 billion throughout 2023–24.

Gold prices averaged about $US2200 an ounce in the first half of 2024, up 15 per cent year-on-year due to strong demand from investors and central banks.

“Australia’s gold exports rose by 41 per cent year-on-year to $8.5 billion in the March quarter, a record in nominal terms,” the report said.

“The gain was driven by higher gold prices and a weaker Australian dollar (export unit value up by 26 per cent) and a 12 per cent year-on-year increase in export volumes.

“Exports to Hong Kong were particularly large, more than quadrupling to $3.7 billion.”

As with iron ore, wet weather was the scourge of many gold producers, resulting in production dropping four per cent in the March quarter.

INTRODUCING THE ALL NEW

ATLAS COPCO

WHERE AUTONOMY MEETS EFFICIENCY

The all new HiLight BI+4 is an innovative and easy-to-use light tower that delivers energy-efficient light coverage helping boost operational productivity, minimise environmental impact and meet stringent safety standards.

Featuring lithium-posphate batteries the BI+4 provides up to 600 hours of autonomy and has the capacity to operate in four modes offering users maximum flexibility, while covering an area of up to 4,000m2 with an average of 20 luxes of brightness ensuring a brighter, safer and more productive site.

Production was lower at several major operations in the March quarter 2024, including Newmont’s Boddington mine in Western Australia and at Agnico Eagle’s Fosterville operation in Victoria.

But the news was not all bad; sequencing to new higher-grade orebodies at other projects led to improvements in production levels.

“Production at Northern Star’s KCGM operation in WA was up by 21 per cent year-on-year in the March quarter 2024, at 3.6 tonnes,” the report said.

“Production at Evolution Mining’s Cowal operation in NSW increased by 5.9 per cent year-on-year to 2.4 tonnes, as higher-grade ore output continued to ramp up from its new underground mine – with commercial production declared by the end of the quarter.”

Stay tuned for the September issue of Australian Mining where we will take a deep dive into the REQ’s forecast on Australia’s critical minerals. AM

AUSTRALIA’S IRON ORE EXPORT EARNINGS WERE $34.4 BILLION IN THE 2024 MARCH QUARTER.

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS 2024

THE ANNUAL WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS SPOTLIGHTS THE TALENTED WOMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE ACROSS A RANGE OF TYPICALLY MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRIES LIKE MINING.

In a night of celebration, champagne, and sequins, the Women in Industry Awards continues to shine brighter every year.

With the aim of supporting outstanding women driving change and breaking down barriers in their respective industries, the Women in Industry Awards spotlights the possibilities for the next generation and rewards those who inspire to succeed. The sectors celebrated at the awards are traditionally male-dominated industries, underlining the significance of those recognised given the barriers women face.

These winners may have been nominated by colleagues, or those they inspired from afar, or by those they

have provided invaluable guidance and support.

As a proud partner of the Women in Industry Awards, Australian Mining believes the dedication and exceptionalism of these women should be celebrated.

In this feature, we profile all the awards winners from the big occasion.

Excellence in Mining Award Winner: Sinead Booth

As head of decarbonisation delivery at Fortescue, Sinead Booth has been described by her peers as a visionary leader and trailblazer epitomising excellence and innovation in the mining industry.

With a decade of extensive experience spanning international

and interstate realms, Booth has spearheaded transformative initiatives, particularly in sustainability and decarbonisation.

“I feel extremely privileged to win the Mining Excellence Award,” Sinead told Australian Mining. “There is incredible work happening across the mining industry and I feel lucky that I get to play this little role in making the mining industry greener.

“It will become a critical focus for the mining industry over the next decade, and at Fortescue we are definitely forging a path of greening the industry.”

In her role at Fortescue, Booth has established pioneering programs aimed at bridging the gender gap in the mining sector, making significant strides towards gender equity.

Booth’s commitment to women’s development extends beyond her professional endeavours, demonstrated by her leadership at the Gomo Foundation, which is dedicated to educating disadvantaged women in Africa.

“Having women represented in the mining industry has always been a focus for me,” Booth said. “And now I get to do that as we transition into the next era of the industry.”

At Fortescue, Sinead is entrusted with a pivotal mandate: overseeing the seamless integration of all innovative green equipment and energy systems within the company’s iron ore operations in the Pilbara.

At the helm of a dynamic team, she not only orchestrates but champions

THE WOMEN IN INDUSTRY AWARDS CELEBRATES BRIGHT FEMALE TALENT FROM A RANGE OF INDUSTRIES.

groundbreaking initiatives, solidifying Fortescue’s position as an industry leader in sustainable mining practices.

Her astute leadership is evidenced by the recent milestone in facilitating the delivery of Australia’s maiden fleet of electric excavators to Fortescue’s operations.

This achievement, coupled with her team’s commitment to advancing eco-friendly technologies, underscores Fortescue’s dedication to environmental stewardship and Booth’s visionary approach to shaping mining’s future.

“Not a day goes by where we rest on our laurels. We drive change ourselves,” Booth said. “I’ve only been here just over a year, but I already feel like I’ve found my home at Fortescue, everyone here is completely dedicated to the mission.”

Booth’s enthusiasm knows no bounds as she eagerly anticipates the realisation of forthcoming projects on her agenda.

These initiatives, including the introduction of battery electric mobile equipment and locomotives, embody Booth and Fortescue’s commitment to eliminating emissions across the company’s mining operations.

Through her strategic foresight and dedication, Booth is not only shaping the trajectory of sustainable mining practices within Fortescue but is also setting a precedent for the broader industry to follow suit.

Booth’s dedication to nurturing talent and fostering diversity within the mining sector is underscored by her role as a mentor to a diverse cohort of young women across the industry.

With a network of over 30 emerging professionals, she recognises the importance of cultivating talent to drive industry-wide innovation and productivity.

Starting with just three staff, a basic commercial property and a small office space converted into a lab, Mitchell has built HFM into a multi-million-dollar business on the cusp of launching a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

Mitchell is deeply committed to growing local manufacturing capabilities and advocating for women in the field, dedicating her efforts to progress these important areas.

HFM contributes to a number of charities and initiatives in the Moreton Bay region where its headquarters are located, with Mitchell leading the charge in boosting local jobs and encouraging women to enter the industry.

Business Development Success of the Year Award

Winner: Sandra Robinson

“You can’t be a leader unless people are willing to follow you,” Booth said.

“I love Fortescue because we attract some of the best people in the industry.

“We have a team of young, driven, motivated people, and I feel a certain amount of responsibility to use my role at Fortescue to drive better quality outcomes for the mining industry.”

Booth’s steadfast commitment to breaking gender disparities and promoting diversity is intricately interwoven with her passionate advocacy for decarbonisation.

She firmly believes that by fostering a more diverse and inclusive workforce, the mining industry can achieve a fundamental shift towards sustainability and operational excellence.

“Having women represented in the mining industry has always been a driving force for me,” Booth said.

“That’s why Fortescue is the perfect place for me, because it sings to both passions I have around equality and decarbonisation.”

This holistic approach underscores Booth’s leadership and her unwavering dedication to shaping a brighter future for the mining sector.

Woman of the Year and Excellence in Manufacturing Awards

Winner: Derelle Mitchell

This year’s Excellence in Manufacturing Award also took out the Woman of the Year Award.

Glowing at the award event in Sydney, Health Focus Manufacturers (HFM) managing director and founder Derelle Mitchell took to the stage.

Mitchell founded HFM in 2011 after purchasing the assets of a cosmetic manufacturing company that was closing.

Recognising an individual who has created new growth opportunities that allowed their organisation to expand and generate greater revenue, Kennards business development manager Sandra Robinson is an industry stand-out.

In the first six months of her role, she was able to achieve more than 250 per cent of her sales target and increase the size of the company’s project management team by 200 per cent due to the number of new projects won.

Over the past year Robinson has introduced several new initiatives that have helped to grow Kennards’ market share and increase revenue within the commercial business segment.

Her efforts have been instrumental in the success and growth of Kennards’ major projects division.

Safety Advocacy Award

Winner: Kathleen Kelly

Working actively to improve safety for her industry, Kathleen Kelly is deeply passionate about crafting and implementing health, safety, and wellbeing programs.

Kelly has garnered her expertise from a career spanning industries like construction, engineering, and mining.

Currently, Kelly is a significant contributor to the strong safety culture that has been established for the new Bridgewater bridge project in Tasmania.

Throughout her 22-year career, she has earned multiple accolades from projects and organisations alike for her fervent dedication to cultivating a culture of safety excellence.

Rising Star of the Year Award

Winner: Kate Leone

Like a true rising star, this award recognises an individual under 30 who has shown significant promise with their chosen industry or reached new goals at the start of their career.

This year’s winner, Kate Leone, is described as a versatile, multidisciplinary problem-solver, passionate about engineering for

in 2021, Leone is now a communications engineer and advocate for increasing global access to technology and diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Leone has ambitions to lead her own projects with gender balance front and centre. She is also a passionate teacher and mentor with active involvement across various industry organisations and associations.

Mentor of the Year Award

Winner: Kirstin Reblin Opal transformation general manager Kirstin Reblin has been described as the embodiment of the Mentor of the Year Award.

Reblin has tirelessly fostered female talent at Opal across all functional areas, hierarchy levels, and sites, ensuring inclusivity and empowerment at every turn.

Serving as a National Association of Women in Operations (NAWO) mentor since 2020, Reblin has spearheaded the expansion of mentoring programs, including the driving of Opal’s NAWO Mentoring initiative and engaging senior leaders to participate as mentors.

Her dedication to fostering diversity is evident in the creation of the ‘Thinking Diversity: Women at Opal’ program in September 2022, a network which boasted over 450 members in March 2024.

Industry Advocate Award

Winner: Steph Gee

Steph Gee is a sparkling example of grassroots advocacy for the national electrotechnology sector.

A fully licensed electrician and business owner, Gee has a knack for making the complex seem simple.

She actively promotes gender equality and empowerment on site while holding influential positions on national industry boards and government training and apprenticeship committees.

Through her unwavering dedication and tireless efforts, she ensures that the voices of her sector are heard and represented in the highest levels of decision-making within the electrotechnology sector and national energy market.

Excellence in Construction Award

Winner: Sinead Redmond

GeelongPort’s head of infrastructure delivery Sinead Redmond has been a qualified engineer and project manager in the construction industry for over 18 years.

She has extensive experience in project delivery across various areas and is a proven influential leader who works within business development, directing large teams and managing stakeholder expectations.

Her entrepreneurial approach and engineering background enable her to consistently develop creative solutions to complex problems.

Redmond’s advocacy and volunteering in the industry has led to changes in policies and the development of mentoring programs, reflecting her dedication to growth, gender equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Excellence in Energy Award Winner: Vesna Olles

BOC South Pacific clean energy and strategy director Vesna Olles has been a member of BOC’s executive leadership team since October 2019.

Here, she has driven the company’s strategic direction in clean energy encompassing renewable hydrogen, alternative fuels and LNG.

In her current role, Olles has championed BOC’s efforts in clean energy, and advocated for the company’s investment in nation-building projects that will support Australia’s transition to net-zero and pave the way for the emerging hydrogen industry to develop.

Olles is a strong advocate for women in the workplace and actively mentors female colleagues in her direct team and the wider business.

Excellence in Transport Award Winner: Anne Modderno

As the first female managing director of any Swietelsky international subsidiary, Anne Modderno has led significant progress since her appointment.

She spearheaded the development of the company’s sustainability strategy, reflecting her dedication to driving positive social and environmental impacts.

Modderno also actively advocates for inclusivity and diversity within the transport sector, promoting initiatives to increase female participation and close the gender pay gap.

Throughout her career, Modderno has demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentorship and program management skills, successfully delivering large-scale maintenance and capital projects with a steadfast commitment to excellence.

Excellence in Engineering Award Winner: Allyson Woodford

APA engineering and planning general manager Allyson Woodford has led 355 people to support the company’s $22 billion critical energy infrastructure projects across Australia.

With more than 20 years experience in engineering, operations and business improvement, Woodford been focused on safe, affordable and lower emissions fuels for everyday Australians whether it be via gas, renewable energy or cleaner transport fuels.

Woodford’s passion for leadership is obvious, highlighted by her more than 25-year commitment to the Institution of Chemical Engineers in various leadership roles.

She is also a major supporter of universities as an industry representative and gender diversity advocate, which has seen her create award-winning in-house leadership training programs for emerging engineering leaders.

MENTOR OF THE YEAR KIRSTIN REBLIN.

WOMAN OF THE YEAR DERELLE MITCHELL (RIGHT).

Enhancing communities improving lives

,

Komatsu is proud to support the work of women in industry. We recognise the invaluable contributions women have made to our company and are dedicated to nurturing an inclusive environment for women across our global workforce.

Diversity and inclusion are a critical part of Komatsu’s purpose: creating value through manufacturing and technology innovation to empower a sustainable future where people, businesses and our planet thrive together. komatsu.com/inclusion

TRANSFORMING THE MINING VALUE CHAIN

FOR 27 YEARS, MIPAC HAS BEEN A TRUSTED LEADER IN OPERATIONAL TECHNOLOGY, CONTROL SYSTEMS AND ENGINEERING SERVICES.

With many advantages, it’s easy to understand why digitalisation, automation and connectivity – the main pillars of Mining 4.0 – are the key to the future of mining.

But it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the number of solutions available on the market. Luckily, Mipac is here to help cut through the noise.

With almost three decades of experience in mining and mineral processing operations, Mipac is known for its unwavering dedication to solving complex challenges across an entire operation.

“We cover the whole lifecycle of a mining operation from the feasibility stage to basic design, right through to the project stage, including detailed design, configuration, commissioning and site startup,” Mipac sales and marketing manager Steven Cohen told Australian Mining

“Once processing plants are operational, we also provide support and optimisation for those facilities.”

From industrial automation and software solutions to advanced process control and process optimisation, Mipac’s portfolio of solutions and services help mining operations increase

productivity, reduce costs and energy usage, all while addressing ongoing global industry challenges.

“A process that fluctuates around an ideal state won’t recover ore as consistently or efficiently,” Cohen said. “What we’re trying to do is achieve stability by automating or optimising the process using technology.

“Once stability is achieved, we help increase recovery by seeing how much ore can run through the plant and how many minerals can be recovered, in a bid to address the current issue of declining ore grades.”

Mipac’s solutions also help reduce unplanned plant downtime, which can cost operations millions of dollars of lost productivity per day.

“We help improve equipment reliability through modernisation and predictive analytics, by providing condition monitoring solutions and utilising machine learning so our clients can get ahead of any issues,” Cohen said.

Efficient decision-making is critical to each mining process. However, a poor decision can lead to misdirected work and a ripple effect on other business areas.

This is why the need for accessible, timely and trustworthy data is important. But data on its own is meaningless.

“Mining operators need actionable information,” Cohen said. “We collect and analyse data to provide meaningful insights to our clients about what their process is doing, where it’s working and where improvement opportunities are.”

With operational experience in more than 55 countries, Mipac has established a strong global footprint.

But the company isn’t settling with its current profile, with further growth opportunities in North America, where it has had a presence for over 10 years.

“We see the next stage of the Mipac journey as growing our capability to support North American clients,” Cohen said.

“We’ve set up a Mipac entity in the United States to join our Canadian business, and we’re setting up our North American headquarters in Tucson, Arizona. We want to have more resources on the ground so we can better support our US clients.”

The company will use the upcoming MINExpo conference in Las Vegas as an opportunity to build its North American customer base by showing how it can address ongoing challenges facing US miners such as the skills shortage and meeting sustainability goals.

“One reason for the labour shortage is an ageing workforce,” Cohen said.

“There are so many competing industries for young people now, and mining appears to be a less attractive option, so it’s harder to encourage newer generations to get involved in mining. Our solutions support our clients in that environment.

“We also aid our clients in meeting sustainability mandates. By operating plant in a stable and efficient manner, inputs such as energy and water usage required in the process are reduced. Our solutions can support that.”

Like any mining jurisdiction, there are US mine sites that have ageing infrastructure, technology and equipment. Mipac is eager to help these clients modernise their operations.

“A lot of US facilities have been in production for decades, but they don’t have unlimited capital and they’ve got declining ore grades,” Cohen said.

“We want to support them in modernising their plant by increasing their efficiency and reducing their inputs all within their capital constraints. All these projects also need a return on investment, so we want to help our clients make that business case.”

Backed by expertise in operational technology and control systems, Mipac is committed to helping clients find the right solution for their needs wherever it is in the mining value chain. AM

EXTRACTING VALUE, REFINING GROWTH

Full-spectrum IT solutions that unlock IT and OT value.

As mine operators continue investing in technology to drive efficiencies, lift safety, build stability, and extract savings across a widening field of operational facets, it pays to invest in partners that consistently unearth value at every level.

With an established national presence, over twenty-five years of IT experience, and pressure-tested exposure across the mining sector, our strategic thinking, proven know-how, and full-spectrum solutions work hand-in-glove across IT and OT footprints.

If you’re looking to unlock new levels of productivity and profitability, including in commonly overlooked fields such as networks, infrastructure, applications, telecommunication, and procurement, let’s talk.

Ready to dig a little deeper?

COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE

SAFE-T-PRODUCTS CONTINUES ITS GROWTH AND INNOVATION UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MANAGING DIRECTOR MARCUS COYLE.

Safe-T-Products is a global leader in designing and manufacturing emergency stop and protective stop control devices for the mining and mineral processing industries.

The story of Safe-T-Products kicked off in 1991 when Martin Coyle founded the company with a clear vision: to make mining safer through pioneering a new refined design for emergency stop solutions. In the three decades since, this vision has driven the company’s relentless pursuit of excellence in safety technology.

Managing director Marcus Coyle, who took over the family business from his late father more than 15 years ago, has not only maintained but significantly expanded upon this legacy.

Under his guidance, Safe-T-Products has evolved into a global powerhouse in mining safety technology, expanding into new markets while consistently upholding the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability.

These days, Safe-T-Products’ emergency stop and protective stop control devices are installed by major companies worldwide.

This global success is underpinned by the company’s commitment to intensive design processes.

THE PERTH LOCATION OF SAFE-T-PRODUCTS’ HEADQUARTERS PROVIDES A KEY STRATEGIC ADVANTAGE.

THE DEVICES ARE DESIGNED TO MEET DIVERSE ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES, FROM OUTDOOR EXPOSURE TO CORROSIVE CONDITIONS.

Each product undergoes rigorous prototyping, incorporates valuable customer feedback, and is subject to exhaustive testing. This meticulous approach helps to

ensure every device that leaves the Safe-T-Products facility delivers uncompromising safety and performance, regardless of where in the world it will be deployed.

the immense potential and unique requirements of the US mining industry, Coyle has steered the company towards expanding its manufacturing footprint to better serve this crucial market.

However, this focus on the US has not come at the expense of other regions. Safe-T-Products has adopted a global mindset, broadening its product line to meet the diverse needs of mining operations worldwide.

This approach has allowed the company to not only enter new markets but to become a dominant player in them.

“Our success is built on prioritising customer needs, sustainability and the relentless pursuit of excellence in everything we do,” Coyle said.

“We’ll continue raising the bar and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in mining safety technology.”

This commitment is evident in the company’s ongoing investments in research and development.

Safe-T-Products continually explores new technologies, materials and design approaches to enhance the effectiveness and reliability of its emergency stop and protective stop control devices. From incorporating advanced sensors to developing more

MANAGING

DIRECTOR MARCUS COYLE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED UPON HIS FATHER’S LEGACY.

Strategic location and industry partnerships

Safe-T-Products’ headquarters in Perth provides a strategic advantage that, according to the company, cannot be overstated.

Perth offers invaluable proximity to major mining operations and industry partners. The location allows Safe-TProducts to maintain close relationships with its clients, gain firsthand insights into the challenges faced by mining operations, and test its innovations in real-world conditions.

The company leverages this position to foster strong partnerships within the industry. These collaborations not only inform product development but also ensure Safe-T-Products remains responsive to the evolving needs of the sector. The result is a range of products that are not just theoretically sound but practically indispensable in modern mining operations.

In line with global trends and its own ethical standards, SafeT-Products has placed a strong emphasis on sustainability and corporate responsibility. The company has implemented eco-friendly manufacturing processes, utilises renewable energy sources where possible, and is constantly seeking ways to reduce its environmental footprint.

ingrained safety culture that permeates every aspect of its operations. This culture is not limited to the products the company produces but extends to its own manufacturing processes, employee training, and corporate ethos.

By embodying the safety principles it promotes, Safe-T-Products has become more than just a supplier to the mining industry; it has become a trusted partner in the global effort to make mining operations safer and more efficient.

Looking to the future

As Safe-T-Products continues to grow and innovate under Coyle’s leadership, the company remains true to its founding vision while adapting and incorporating new technologies of the 21st century.

With its combination of technical expertise, industry knowledge, global reach, and unwavering commitment to safety, Safe-T-Products is well-positioned to continue its trajectory of growth and innovation for years to come.

WE’LL CONTINUE RAISING THE BAR AND PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT’S POSSIBLE IN MINING SAFETY TECHNOLOGY.”

This commitment to sustainability extends to the products themselves. Safe-T-Products’ devices are designed not only for optimal performance but also for longevity and minimal environmental impact.

The company’s approach to sustainability has won it accolades while also positioning it as a partner of choice for mining companies looking to support their own environmental credentials. durable and responsive mechanisms,

In an industry where safety is paramount, and where the consequences of failure can be catastrophic, Safe-T-Products stands as a beacon of reliability and innovation. As mining operations around the world continue to evolve and expand, they do so with the confidence that comes from having Safe-T-Products’ emergency stop and protective stop control devices as a crucial component of their safety infrastructure.

The legacy started by Martin Coyle in 1991 has not only endured but flourished under his son’s leadership. As Safe-T-Products looks to the future, it does so with the same pioneering spirit and commitment to safety that has defined its past, promising a safer

A TECHNOLOGICAL TRIUMPH

WHEN

A

MAJOR COAL

MINER SOUGHT TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND INJURY-FREE OPERATION OF ITS DRAGLINES, IT TURNED TO SICK FOR AN INNOVATIVE AI-BASED CAMERA

SYSTEM SOLUTION.

Few machines stand out on a mine quite like a dragline excavator.

These heavy-duty machines pick up hundreds of tonnes of ore in every scoop and, at around 70m long, are hard to miss on any mining operation.

But the bigger the machine, the smaller people walking around the machine seem, which can spell trouble for both the employee and the mine.

“A dragline operator essentially works with a bucket from hundreds of metres away in the operating cabin,” SICK product manager Tim Baron told Australian Mining. “To put the scale into perspective, you could drive a heavy truck into those buckets, and the dragline excavator machine housing is many times bigger than the bucket.

“You can imagine if someone is walking behind the cab performing cable relocation work, the risk of being struck by rotating dragline is high; they are unlikely to be detected by the operator.”

And it’s not just the mining and technology companies that are noticing this inherent problem.

“The OH&S (occupational health and safety) body associated with the mining industry has a goal to eliminate injuries and deaths from draglines,” Baron said. “That’s where we come in.”

Baron was recently on-site at a major coal mine to install a SICK Visionary-B Two camera and help the operator monitor blind spots around their dragline base area.

The camera also provides adequate supervision for anyone undertaking work in the vicinity of operational swing boundaries of the dragline.

“The camera is installed under the excavator, identifying people around it and identifying how many metres away they are from the danger zone,” Baron said. “This danger zone can be customised for each machine.”

A live feed from the camera is transmitted to a screen in the operator’s cabin. Not only does the screen show those moving near the excavator, but it will also indicate their distance from the machine.

scale: red to indicate danger, orange to indicate caution, and green to indicate safety.

By using a camera based on artificial intelligence (AI), there’s no danger of non-human objects being detected.

“We’re working to eliminate false signals altogether,” Baron said. “So when the operator hears the alarm, it’s because there is a real danger of injury.

“Ultimately, this technology will save lives.”

Baron explained how SICK developed the Visionary-B Two camera to work in the often-harsh Australian mining environments.

“Using a security camera won’t suffice because that will easily break,” he said. Our Visionary-B Two camera is built to last.”

Mine sites are often filled with various objects, like light vehicles, that can obstruct an operator’s view of people around a machine.

Luckily, the Visionary-B Two only needs to see a fraction of a person to report their presence to the operator.

“The camera only needs to see 30 per cent of a person and can measure the exact distance of the object from the person with millimeter precision,” Baron said.

“We’ve also tested the camera with a crowd, and it can detect and measure the distance of every person in that crowd.”

Baron said the coal miner was delighted with the camera and its installation.

“This Visionary-B Two camera has been a game changer for the company,” he said. “It excels at detecting people around the machine with its advanced technology all packed into a robust, easy to install unit.

“The camera demonstrates exceptional effectiveness in detecting individuals across diverse conditions, owing to its advanced technology and robust SICK sensor.

“The camera’s very accurate distance detection and user-friendly setup are remarkable – just bolt it on and you’re ready to view.” AM

THE VISIONARY-B TWO CAMERA IS INSTALLED UNDER THE DRAGLINE EXCAVATOR.

SICK HAS DEVELOPED LONG-STANDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ITS CUSTOMERS.

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FROM VIDEO GAMES TO MINERAL VEINS

REVITZO IS BRINGING ITS PROJECT COORDINATION PLATFORM TO THE MINING INDUSTRY, WITH THIESS ONE OF ITS TRUSTED MINING CLIENTS.

Over 12 months ago, Thiess was looking to digitise its engineering coordination workflows across projects and streamline its site-based delivery objectives.

The global mining services provider wanted to visualise its upcoming construction projects by using a platform to better deliver projects digitally, while managing all external project members, its technical query processes and site-based defects.

To address these issues, Thiess engaged Revizto, a Swiss-based company that first launched its coordination software for the architecture, engineering, construction and mining industries in 2012.

“One of the fastest growing 2D and 3D fully integrated collaboration platforms, Revizto has been operating in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region for more than seven years now.” Revizto mining lead Jack Joy told Australian Mining.

The Revizto platform empowers users to access, manage, and collaborate on construction and infrastructure projects through the unity of building information modelling (BIM) intelligence.

“Built on a video game engine, Revizto is easy to use and allows fast adoption by project teams across all disciplines and with any level of technical skills,” Joy said.

“Its processing power and ability to bring in hundreds of 3D models and

REVIZTO USES THE UNITY OF BIM INTELLIGENCE TO EMPOWER ITS USERS.

thousands of 2D drawings into the one platform is unmatched, making Revizto suitable for projects of any size.”

Users can also use Revizto via a mobile app, allowing subcontractors and site-based teams to access and use the models and drawings on-site, leading to less redrafts, safer workflows, and higher efficiency.

It was these features, and Revizto’s ease of use, that caught the eye of Thiess.

Thiess senior civil engineer Brett Jenkins told Australian Mining the company operates a greenfield site in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, which includes the construction of the mine infrastructure area.

“Revizto is working with Thiess on this construction to coordinate and collate the various design models and drawings,” Jenkins said.

“Thiess and MACA (Thiess’ subsidiary) are also working together

SINCE USING REVIZTO, THIESS HAS SAVED A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES.

with Revizto to assist with the project management of construction activities Thiess provides to the mining industry.”

Since using Revizto, Thiess’ civil engineering and delivery teams have seen an array of operational benefits.

“Revizto has allowed for the various design models, including the pit and dump designs, to be incorporated into a single program allowing multiple views without the need for installing design software,” Jenkins said.

“Revizto has also allowed for the management of subcontractors with RFIs (requests for information), NCRs (non-conformance reports) and asbuilt mark ups all coordinated into the single program.”

Prior to using Revitzo, Thiess would have a person go through each NCR or RFI to ensure they were referenced in drawings, which used a significant amount of time and resources.

“Previously, RFIs and NCRs were managed through emails and folders with information needing to be updated for the as-built mark ups,” Jenkins said.

“Revizto incorporates this into the program, eliminating the requirement to manually update document trackers and as-built drawings, and email documentation to relevant parties.

“The Revizto software also automatically references the relevant drawings and has helped stakeholders visualise the design of the infrastructure, as well as recommending design changes prior to construction.”

After resolving various engineering and design issues with Revizto, Thiess is in talks with the company to bring the platform to other upcoming projects.

The partnership between Thiess and Revizto continues to thrive.

“Revizto’s ability to manage RFIs and NCRs has significantly reduced our manual efforts,” Jenkins said.

“With these improvements, Revizto looks forward to demonstrating its impact at various events across APAC and beyond, highlighting the substantial benefits the company brings to the mining industry.” AM

USERS CAN ACCESS REVIZTO VIA A COMPUTER OR MOBILE APP.

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LIGHTING UP THE INDUSTRY

ENERGIZER’S PRO SERIES HAS A SOLUTION FOR EVERY LIGHTING CHALLENGE.

ENERGIZER’S NEW PRO SERIES PORTABLE LIGHT RANGE IS SHINING A LIGHT ON A NEW ERA OF MINE VISIBILITY.

When the inventor of the flashlight comes out with a new release, you know it’s going to be huge.

Energizer has come a long way since founder Conrad Hubert lit up the world with the help of newly invented dry cell batteries in the 1890s.

And according to Energizer national account manager Steve Daw, the new Pro Series range is set to uphold Hubert’s legacy of game-changing innovations.

“The Pro Series has been specifically developed with industry in mind,” Daw told Australian Mining. “It’s ideal for our mining customers in non-gaseous environments looking for high specs at a reasonable price.”

The Pro Series range includes three key light solutions: headlights, handhelds and work lights.

The headlights feature energy efficient hybrid power technology that packs a punch with 12 times brighter output than a standard LED at 500 and 650 lumens.

A hands-free solution with a pivoting head, the Pro Series headlights have multiple modes including strobe, red and green light.

“The red light is ideal for work at night so operators can see perfectly without being blinded by bright white light,” Daw said. “And the green light is excellent for contrast, so when users are reading diagrams or other critical information, they can proceed with confidence.”

With a non-roll, non-slip grip, the Pro Series handhelds come in three sizes that all include a versatile holster for storage and easy access.

“The pouch attaches easily to a belt and even has spare pockets for extra

batteries,” Daw said. “We designed it after hearing our customers were looking for a solution to carry all three handhelds easily.”

Perfect for the harsh conditions of a mine site, the handhelds are made specifically non-conductive for applications like coal mines.

Energizer lights marketer Abigail Reyel-Enriquez highlighted a star feature of the Pro Series handhelds: a high colour rendering index (CRI).

“Standard flashlights might cast more white or yellow light, but the Pro Series handhelds’ high CRI means users can enjoy high fidelity in critical situations,”

comes in plastic-free packaging for a greener footprint.

The whole series also boasts hybrid charge technology, meaning they can be easily recharged or run on batteries supplied with the kit.

The Pro Series is designed to cover a range of dynamic challenges facing the mining industry – and Daw said Energizer isn’t stopping there.

“We’ll be adding a new heavy-duty spotlight to the series by early next year,” he said. “It has a 1150 lumen output and enjoys all the benefits of the other products in the Pro Series – strength, durability, and reliability.

“The spotlight can easily be made hands-free and comes with three-metre impact resistance.”

With the launch of the Pro Series and its continued expansion, Daw emphasised Energizer’s commitment to listening and learning from its customers in order to provide a seamless, stressfree experience.

“Our goal is to provide the mining industry with portable lighting solutions to enable them to get the job done under any conditions,” he said.

“We’re always looking to expand and innovate our products by listening to our customers to meet their needs.” AM

THE PRO SERIES HEADLIGHTS HAVE MULTIPLE MODES INCLUDING STROBE, RED AND GREEN LIGHT.

THE FUTURE OF CONVEYOR COMPONENTRY

AUSTRALIAN MINING SPOKE TO LORBRAND ABOUT WHAT MAKES ITS COMPOSITE ROLLERS STAND OUT.

LORBRAND HAS PROVIDED INDUSTRY-LEADING CONVEYOR BELT SYSTEMS FOR OVER A DECADE.

Conveyor rollers remain one of the most important conveyor belt components on the market.

As it looked to boost operational efficiency and material transportation, the bulk material handling industry had been searching for a lighter and more robust conveyor roller.

Enter Lorbrand Australia.

For over a decade, Lorbrand has provided industry-leading conveyor belt systems and solutions such as conveyor idlers, pulleys and rollers.

Now, Lorbrand offers a lightweight and durable alternative to standard steel conveyor rollers.

“Traditionally, steel rollers have been the way of the industry, but over the last 10 years there’s been a transition to composite,” Lorbrand general manager – Australia David Massarotto told Australian Mining

“There’s several drivers behind the change, weight being one. A composite roller will weigh anywhere from 30 to 60 per cent less than a steel roller.”

Reduced weight offers several advantages.

“By carrying less weight, we considerably reduce the risk of manual handling issues and physical injury,” Massarotto said. “Our aim for iron ore is to get everything under 20 kilograms, which is not possible with steel.

“Miners and exporters are always looking at ways they can put more tonnes on their conveyors. So every kilogram we take off a machine means an added kilogram to their throughput.”

Available in materials such as highdensity polyethylene (HDPE), ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) and nylon, Lorbrand’s composite rollers are known for reducing noise violations and being “belt-friendly”.

“If a composite roller is to seize or fail, it won’t damage the conveyor belt allowing belt crews to plan a roll changeout or slot it into scheduled conveyor downtime rather than having to stop the conveyor to prevent damage to other conveyor componentry,” Massarotto said.

“With a traditional steel roller, if it jams or seizes and the belt runs over it, the rollers begin to wear and form sharp edges which can severely damage the conveyor belt, impairing a critical piece of conveyor componentry and leading to

unscheduled downtime. This can have considerable cost implications.”

It’s no secret unscheduled downtime can cost operations millions of dollars of lost productivity per day. With Lorbrand’s composite rollers, operations can continue even if a roller fails.

“Historically, a site will immediately have to stop a belt if it has a seizure,” Massarotto said. “If you’re in iron ore, to change one roll can take between one and three hours of downtime given the associated safety measures that need to be completed first, especially on long overland conveyors.

“However, a composite roller will continue to wear without sharpening, meaning you don’t get this razor sharpness that can cause conveyor failures.

“A composite roller enables you to continue running the belt, and then when you have scheduled downtime, you can go through and change the rollers when possible.”

While many Australian mining operations are in remote regions of the country, there are also mines proximate to residential areas. Here, noise reduction is critical.

“In regions such as the Hunter Valley, you might have big overland

conveyors running close to residential areas between a power station and a coal mine,” Massarotto said.

“Noise pollution can be deadened by transitioning to composite rollers, because there isn’t the shell resonance that you get with steel or aluminium rollers.

“This means mining companies and exporters can operate for longer with lower chance of noise restrictions being enforced on them.”

Lorbrand also manufactures composite conveyor guarding and composite wind guards to further supplement conveyor systems. These provide further noise reduction.

“Our guards and wind guards tend to further dampen noise around the conveyor,” Massarotto said. “Plastic tends to absorb noise, whereas steel reflects noise.

“We installed wind guards to help with corrosion and weight, but we’re seeing this product also make conveyors quieter.

“This highlights the advantages of using composite componentry around conveyors. They are safer, can drive down weight and noise and enable operators to avoid costly unscheduled downtime on their conveyors.” AM

Big challenges need brilliant technology

Network solutions with brilliant reliability and security.

As a leading specialist in fibre and network solutions, Vocus supports some of Australia’s largest resources businesses.

With the second largest inter-capital city fibre network, direct subsea fibre connections into Asia from Australia’s west and north, and LEO satellite connectivity available anywhere in the country, Vocus is connecting the resources industry from land, sea and space.

TRANSFORMING CUTTER CHANGING

MASTER DRILLING AUSTRALIA HAS DEVELOPED A SAFER ALTERNATIVE TO THE CUTTER CHANGING PROCESS.

Since its inception in 1986, South African company Master Drilling has grown to become one of the largest rock boring and drilling companies in the world.

With a presence in over 23 countries, Master Drilling hit Australian shores in June 2020 and has successfully delivered raise bore projects across the country for many Tier 1 miners.

Master Drilling, in collaboration with a Tier 1 mining operator, came up with the idea of a remote thermal lancing tool, a solution designed to enhance safety on a mine site by ensuring personnel are kept at a safe distance from the brow during the cutter changing process.

A thermal lancing tool also removes the need for manual handling and removes operators from the line of fire.

“The tool was initially engineered by DSM Consulting Engineers in 2021 to safely and accurately lance ground engaging tools in crusher and mobile equipment pins,” Master Drilling general manager – Australasia Joshua Sugden told Australian Mining.

“We are utilising this tool for underground applications, particularly for our cutter changing method. The key objective of using the remote thermal lancing tool is to comply with

recent regulatory updates on cutter changing procedures by DEMIRS (the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety),

enhancing safety by reducing personnel exposure in the brow.”

The remote thermal lancing tool heats and melts steel by feeding pressurised oxygen through a steel tube packed with steel rods, creating high temperatures for cutting.

“For the reamer cutter changing process, we lower the reamer head to the bottom of the shaft and place it onto a skid,” Sugden said.

“The remote thermal lancing tool comes in attached to an integrated tool carrier or telehandler, where an operator can be positioned within the carrier at a safe distance from the brow.

“The operator uses the tool to cut a reaming stabiliser, which is 16-inches in diameter of high-grade steel coming in at around 800kg of drill rod, thereby detaching the reamer from the stem of the drill rig.

“Once the reamer has been disconnected from the stem, it can be dragged away from the brow for the cutters to be changed.”

The remote thermal lancing tool was recently used at one of Master Drilling’s projects in Western Australia, where it was required to perform two cutter changes due to challenging rock conditions.

“The Master Drilling Australia crew were able to successfully use the tool and safely replace the cutters on the

reamer head,” Sugden said. “The client was extremely pleased with the outcome when using the tool.

“In both instances, our crew was able to ensure safety standards exceeded the client’s expectations, and the process was completed in a timely manner.

“For the second cutter change, through our collaboration with the client, Master Drilling was able to further streamline the process to improve efficiency.”

Alongside the remote thermal lancing tool, Master Drilling is working on another solution to remove the need of cutting a reaming stabiliser entirely.

“Although the remote thermal lancing method enhances safety during the cutter changing procedures, there is still potential to make it more efficient and cost-effective,” Sugden said.

“We are currently developing a new innovative tool that removes the need to lance, therefore streamlining operations while prioritising team safety.”

Master Drilling Australia’s remote thermal lancing tool and its upcoming innovation for cutter changing emphasises its core values of innovation, safety, and efficiency.

“This differs from our competitors as we consistently strive to push the bounds of raise bore technology and meet the demands of the ever-evolving mining industry,” Sugden said. AM

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A SAFETY PIONEER

YANCOAL AUSTRALIA IS AN INDUSTRY FORERUNNER WHEN IT COMES TO IMPLEMENTING A CULTURE OF SAFETY EXCELLENCE.

When Yancoal Australia rolled out its ‘Safe way every day’ program in 2019, the company didn’t just employ a stopgap measure; it was trying to turn the tide on safety culture in the mining industry.

‘Safe way every day’ is underpinned by a consistent approach to health, safety and training management that involves simple concepts and tools to empower Yancoal employees to implement their own safety behaviours.

Since the program’s introduction, the coal miner has enjoyed a 31 per cent reduction in total injuries, as well as a 37 per cent decrease in days lost to injuries.

Craig Hagan, Yancoal Australia head of training and safety culture, is at the helm of the company-wide program. He likens his experience of developing a safety culture to the upand-down nature of a game of snakes and ladders.

“If you’ve got the right processes and frameworks in place, your company will continue to climb the ladder towards a culture of excellence, but there will be things that happen along the way that may disrupt that journey,” Hagan told Australian Mining.

“That could be a change in management, a change in legislation, or a significant incident – these are the snakes you can land on, and they can all have an impact on where your safety culture sits at any point in time.

“The key is having a robust cultural system in place, so that when you land on a snake, you know how to keep climbing upwards.

“Without the right framework in place, a lot of organisations hit a snake and then everything falls apart.”

Recognised for his work at driving safety culture, Hagan was named the Safety Advocate and Project Lead of the Year at the 2023 Australian Mining Prospect Awards. Suffice to say, his words bear weight when it comes to training and workplace culture.

So how does a mining company begin the climb towards a culture of safety? According to Hagan, it starts with knowing the data.

“The most important thing is to understand why your incidents are happening and how they relate to human factor elements,” he said.

“Having that kind of operational knowledge will allow you to build your framework around it.”

When Yancoal examined its own data, the company found that 85 per cent of its safety incidents were related

to an element of human behaviour such as rushing, taking a short cut, or a loss of concentration.

Despite implementing comprehensive layers of risk assessment, governance and supervision, a persistent theme emerged: inconsistent individual behaviour often led to incidents.

While there is a role for rigorous, legally compliant, up-to-date safety procedures on a mine, part of the journey towards a culture of safety involves empowering employees to recognise the significant impact of human behaviour, and the ability to normalise risk, on their decision-making processes.

‘Safe way every day’ tackles this situation with a coaching approach, where every individual is empowered to speak out if they feel unsafe, or see something unsafe, on-site. This allows employees to keep themselves and others in check without fear of speaking out.

“People can get into a false sense of confidence when it comes to risk-taking behaviour and, after long enough, not realise that they’ve created bad habits,” Hagan said.

“Unless you’ve got that peer support, and confidence in a no-fear leadership process where people can put their hand up and say, ‘hang on a minute, I might have lost my way’, then you’ll end up seeing a higher number of incidents.

“As humans, we’re all subject to making mistakes, and having that better peer support network allows someone else to be able to keep an eye on us when we’re conducting highrisk tasks.”

‘Safe way every day’ has taken safety at Yancoal to new heights. The company has not only experienced significantly fewer incidents, but has increased incident reporting by 32 per cent and achieved a 96 per cent positive safety feedback rating from its employees.

But a change like this doesn’t come about overnight – it’s the result of years of dedication and determination from the whole Yancoal team.

“The key thing is that when you start down this path, you have to be committed to implementing a long-term operating model change,” Hagan said.

“There will be ups and downs, but you have to commit to the cultural framework and maintain that energy as an integral part of the business model going forward.

“There is a fixed mindset that when people go to work, safety is the responsibility of the company.

“What we’re teaching people is that safety is a shared responsibility and, in actual fact, we’re all safety leaders, regardless of our role in the business.” AM

CRAIG HAGAN IS AT THE HELM OF YANCOAL’S ‘SAFE WAY EVERY DAY’ PROGRAM.

PROTECTION AND SUSTAINABILITY MADE EASY

MECHANIX WEAR HAS LONG BEEN THE TRUSTED NAME IN AUTOMOTIVE, HOME IMPROVEMENT, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT – NOW, THE COMPANY IS ALSO ENHANCING ITS OFFERINGS IN THE MINING SECTOR.

Investing in high-quality personal protective equipment (PPE) is not just about immediate safety –it’s about long-term savings and sustainability.

Quality PPE, like the gloves offered by Mechanix Wear, last longer and reduce the need for frequent replacements. Each pair of gloves that doesn’t need to be replaced represents a significant reduction in the environmental footprint.

Logistics costs are a significant factor in the total cost of ownership for PPE. By minimising the frequency of shipments, businesses can reduce fuel consumption and lower their carbon footprint. Additionally, reducing the total consumption of PPE means less waste is generated, both during production and at the end of the product’s lifecycle.

Mechanix Wear’s gloves, which are designed for longevity and durability, contribute to these savings and environmental benefits, making them an economically and ecologically sound choice.

Mechanix Wear understands that the primary purpose of PPE is to protect the user. The company’s gloves provide superior protection against cuts and impacts, two of the most common hand injuries in the mining sector.

The wide size range, from XXS to XXXL, ensures a perfect fit for every worker, enhancing comfort and reducing the likelihood of gloves being removed during critical tasks.

But protecting hands is only part of Mechanix Wear’s mission.

The company is equally committed to protecting the planet, making its gloves from recycled materials.

In addition, the gloves are fully recyclable through Upparel, aligning with the Global Recycled Standard. This 360-degree approach to sustainability means that every glove produced not only provides top-notch protection but also contributes to a healthier environment. By choosing Mechanix Wear, companies can ensure they are reducing their environmental impact while maintaining the highest standards of worker safety.

In today’s market, it’s essential to work with companies that offer transparency and credibility, especially when it comes to sustainability claims.

Mechanix Wear is proud to carry the Global Recycled Standard logo, a testament to its commitment to genuine environmental responsibility. Avoiding greenwashing – where companies make false or exaggerated

claims about the environmental benefits of their products – is crucial.

To ensure companies are working with genuinely sustainable products, Mechanix Wear recommends they look for the Global Recycled Standard logo and request to see certification documents. Mechanix Wear readily provides these certifications, giving its clients confidence that its claims are backed by rigorous standards.

Mechanix Wear assists its clients in setting up recycling programs, providing guidance on proper disposal, and offering take-back programs to ensure its gloves are recycled efficiently.

Mechanix Wear also offers a comprehensive solution for companies in the mining and industrial sectors looking to enhance safety and sustainability. Its gloves provide unparalleled protection and comfort, ensuring workers can perform their tasks safely and efficiently.

Mechanix Wear’s approach to PPE combines superior hand protection with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.

The company’s gloves are designed to last, reducing total consumption and waste, and are backed by reputable certifications and comprehensive waste management solutions.

Protecting hands and the planet is not just a slogan for Mechanix Wear; it’s a core part of the company’s mission. By choosing Mechanix Wear, companies can be confident they are making a responsible and sustainable choice that benefits both their workers and the environment. AM

MECHANIX WEAR IS ENHANCING ITS OFFERINGS IN THE MINING SECTOR. THE SPEEDKNIT ECO S6DE58 GENERAL PURPOSE GLOVES.

MECHANIX WEAR’S GLOVES REDUCE THE NEED FOR FREQUENT REPLACEMENTS.

USE THEM ALL DAY LONG!

Runtime of at least 6 hours in high mode with the Pro Series handhelds and the Work Light!

EVEN IN DEMANDING

CONDITIONS

Withstands at least 2M drop(1) IP67 WATERPROOF & DUSTPROOF

NEVER RUN OUT OF POWER

The Pro Series are Hybrid: Runs on rechargeable and with primary batteries thanks to a cartridge included

HIGH CRI (2) Avoid any color confusion

Thanks to a HIGH CRI of at least 90 You will easily see the electrical cables and the painting colors in dark work sites.

HANDHELDS & WORK LIGHT with a convenient construction

• Non-slip grip

• Large push button easy to use with gloves

• Magnet for hands-free use or storage

• Penlight with clip for secure pocket storage

LIGHTWEIGHT HEADLAMPS that fit all helmets and provide comfort and safety

Large head-strap with silicon layers

Multiple light modes for versatility.

A FLAG IN EVERY STATE

AAA TRAILERS’ CRITICAL EXPANSION IS NOW COMPLETE, AND THE SUPPLIER IS ALREADY HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING.

over a decade ago.

That’s why AAA Trailers made the herculean effort to grow its reach into nearly every state, with strongholds now in Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane – and plans to move into the Northern Territory.

According to director Daniel Bull, it’s all part of AAA Trailers’ dedication to delivering efficient, quality service to its customer.

“The expansion of our presence signifies more than just the physical opening of new branches,” Bull told Australian Mining. “It represents a strategic commitment to meet the evolving needs of our clientele.

“By locating branches in key urban centres and transport hubs, AAA Trailers is positioning itself to better serve a wider spectrum of clients, from large logistics companies to independent truck operators.”

AAA Trailers has always put the needs of its customers first. Whether it is delivering solutions within a tight timeframe or customising existing stock to meet the needs of a

trailers to low loaders, side tippers and more, AAA Trailers thinks ahead when it comes to holistic hauling solutions.

With an emphasis on safety and reliability, Bull said AAA Trailers is perfectly situated to manage an operation’s entire trucking fleet.

“AAA Trailers’ commitment to quality extends beyond our products to every aspect of our operations,” he said. “We aim to ensure customers receive not only top-of-the-line trailers but also unparalleled support and service at every touchpoint.”

The benefits of AAA Trailers’ expansion go beyond the mere sale of its products; it highlights the company’s commitment to investing in Australian infrastructure, resources and personnel.

By backing the resources sector into the future, Bull said AAA Trailers is showing the industry the company is confident in the growth potential of the Australian mining industry.

“By investing in expansion during a time of economic uncertainty, we are not only bolstering our own footprint but also contributing to the vitality

continued success.

“As AAA Trailers celebrates this milestone, we invite our customers, partners and stakeholders to join in commemorating this achievement,” Bull said.

“Our expanded accessibility speaks to our unwavering dedication to quality”, Bull said. “AAA Trailers is poised to redefine the standards of excellence in the Australian mining industry for years to come.” AM

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THE UNHERALDED CRITICAL MINERALS

AUSTRALIAN MINING SPOTLIGHTS THREE AUSTRALIAN-BASED COMPANIES WITH BRIGHT CRITICAL MINERALS FUTURES.

Some critical minerals garner more attention than others; some have glossier and more intelligible end uses than their lesserknown cousins.

But that’s not to say the antimonies, fluorines, niobiums and molybdenums of the world aren’t important, with equally critical purposes for global advancement and renewable energy development. The same goes for tungsten, vanadium and rare earths, each of which has an exciting future in Australia and abroad.

While Australia’s rare earths industry has attracted plenty of international attention of late, with the US and Canada two of the key backers, the local industry remains in its infancy.

There are also Australian-based companies looking to cut their teeth in international rare earths jurisdictions.

Australian Mining spotlights three local companies that are on the hunt for or producing lesser known but equally important critical minerals.

Axel REE

Brazil is becoming a globally significant rare earths jurisdiction, with emerging projects defined by low-cost mining and processing methods.

Axel REE and its suite of Brazilian rare earths assets is a key player in the area. Axel’s Caladão project in the state of Minas Gerais was the first rare earths discovery in Brazil’s ‘Lithium Valley’, which boasts the country’s largest lithium reserves.

“Axel REE founder Pat Volpe has been operating in Brazil for 14 years and has built a team of tenement managers, geologists, geophysicists and drillers,” Axel REE executive chair Paul Dickson told Australian Mining

“A lot of the leg work was done during that period, including the completion of 48 drill holes across 25km at Caladão. The project now spans around 400 square kilometres, which is huge.”

Recent drilling has been focused on Area A and Area B within Caladão. Auger drilling conducted in August 2023 at Area A intercepted grades as high as 2m at 7612 parts per million (ppm) total rare earth oxide (TREO).

Area B has also delivered highgrade assays, including 10m at 2872ppm TREO with 35 per cent magnetic rare earth oxide (MREO), and 6m at 2449ppm TREO also with 35 per cent MREO.

MREO includes the high-value and in-demand inputs for the permanent magnets used in electric vehicles

and wind turbines. Neodymiumpraseodymium (NdPr) are two wellknown MREOs.

At the time of writing, Axel REE was preparing its initial public offering with a hope to raise $15 million. Once the company lists on the ASX, it will be drilling at Caladão to delineate a JORC resource.

“This will be a combination of auger drilling to test Caladão’s scale potential and reverse circulation drilling to explore deeper into the deposit and generate data to develop the JORC resource,” Dickson said. “Importantly, the project is open in all directions along strike, laterally and at depth. Drilling has demonstrated Caladão’s depth potential, with grades strengthening as drill holes have gone deeper. We will be looking to further validate this.”

Once sufficient drilling samples have been generated at Caladão, Axel will commence metallurgical test work at the project.

Axel REE is also represented by its Caldas project in Minas Gerais, located adjacent to Meteoric Resources’ ionic adsorption clay Caldeira project, its Itiquira project in the state of Mato Grosso, and its Corrente project in the state of Piauí.

The company will be advancing all four projects in parallel. Given each project’s discovery potential and unique geological characteristics, Axel REE believes each of the assets could be company-making in their own right.

Group 6 Metals

Operating its Dolphin mine in King Island, Tasmania, Group 6 Metals is one of only a few tungsten miners to come online outside of China in recent years.

Tungsten prices have remained robust in 2024 due to changing Chinese supply dynamics and increased activity from Chinese buyers in Western markets. In early June, the ammonium paratungstate (APT) CIF Rotterdam price was $US335–360 per metric tonne unit – a 12 per cent increase on the six weeks prior.

Buoyant pricing is enabling emerging operations such as Dolphin to navigate the teething issues that come with their ramp-up and be optimistic for the future, where margins are expected to be higher at nameplate production levels.

After experiencing some challenges during its first 12 months of operations, Group 6 has commenced mining at Dolphin’s high-grade C lens.

“The C lens is high-grade and it’s consistent – you don’t get a lot of variability in it,” Group 6 managing director and chief executive officer Keith McKnight told Australian Mining. “We’re mining that now, and we’re supplying the process plant with 0.75 to 0.8 per cent tungsten trioxide from the mine. To put that into context, that’s at least three to four times higher than any other mine in the Western world outside of China.”

In parallel with mining higher-grade ore, Group 6 is working on reducing operational expenditure at Dolphin and making some adjustments to its processing plant.

“We’ve undertaken a comprehensive review of the processing plant in consultation with OEMs (original equipment manufacturers),” McKnight said. “This is to ensure individual equipment components are working optimally.

“We’ve identified some areas of improvement. Once we complete that work, along with feeding higher ore grades, we should see a significant step change in production, and that should see the operation become cashflow-positive.”

AXEL REE’S CALADÃO PROJECT IN BRAZIL.

IMAGE: AXEL REE

be found in engine valves, LCD panels, light bulbs, laser printers, electrical switch gear and even golf clubs.

Richmond Vanadium

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be critical as Australia looks to replace its current system fuelled by coal and natural gas with more energyefficient means.

Long-duration BESS capability is underpinned by vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), which are powered by vanadium electrolyte derived from vanadium ore.

VRFBs are preferred to lithium-ion batteries for grid-scale energy because they are non-flammable, provide immediate-release power supply and can be recycled indefinitely. VRFBs are proving a vital option as the energy grid is decarbonised.

While Australia is yet to produce any vanadium, there are several companies eager to change this and create a new industry.

This includes Richmond Vanadium, which is holder of the world’s largest undeveloped vanadium resource at its Richmond–Julia Creek project in Queensland.

Following a positive pre-feasibility study, Richmond Vanadium is currently advancing its bankable feasibility study (BFS) towards

DIRECTOR JON PRICE.

completion in the middle of 2025. The BFS will demonstrate the viability of Richmond Vanadium’s mine-tobattery strategy.

“We’re focused on creating a vanadium industry in Australia, so a complete supply chain from mined material all the way to battery manufacturing in Queensland,” Richmond Vanadium managing director Jon Price told Australian Mining. “We’re spending a lot of time on battery deployment and educating people that vanadium redox flow batteries are far superior to any other battery for grid-scale stationary technology.”

So how will Richmond Vanadium achieve this particular goal?

By completing geological, mineralogical and metallurgical testwork across four laboratories in China and Australia, the company is beginning to find out.

“There’s two parts of the processing pathway for vanadium,” Price said.

“One involves a simple concentrator; because our orebody is so big and unique in its geology, we can generate 1.8 to two per cent concentrate through simple screening and flotation.

“Then we go into downstream processing, which involves an acid-

leaching plant and solvent extraction and delivers a 99 per cent vanadium pentoxide product.

“There is also possibility that we can take our concentrate to vanadium electrolyte without having to go through the powder or flake stage. That’s what we’re testing right now.”

“If that works, that changes the flowsheet a bit, but it also lowers the capital and operational costs considerably.”

Pending approvals and a positive environmental impact statement, Richmond Vanadium hopes to be in construction by the end of 2025 and producing in 2027. AM

DRILLING TAKES PLACE AT THE RICHMOND–JULIA CREEK VANADIUM PROJECT IN QUEENSLAND.

GROUP 6’S DOLPHIN TUNGSTEN MINE IN KING ISLAND, TASMANIA.

RICHMOND VANADIUM MANAGING

IMAGE: RICHMOND VANADIUM

IMAGE: RICHMOND VANADIUM

IMAGE:

GROUP 6 METALS

AI TO UNLOCK EXPLORATION FRONTIERS

MACHINE LEARNING HAS PROVEN A SUCCESSFUL TOOL IN EXPANDING THE EXPLORATION SEARCH SPACE INTO NEW FRONTIERS AND REFINING AREAS FOR FOLLOW-UP EXPLORATION.

A GROUP OF 10 SRK CONSULTING GEOLOGISTS ARE USING AI TO DEVELOP PROSPECTIVITY MODELS FOR A MINING PROJECT IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

Athis decade, enabling companies to analyse larger datasets and develop new geological insights.

That’s the view of Ben Jupp and Stephen Johnson, respectively principal and senior geologists at SRK Consulting, an international resources consultancy.

They believe machine learning in mineral exploration, while still an emerging technology, will become more widespread as miners and explorers use algorithms to test and refine geological concepts currently applied to exploration.

One key area in particular is the application of AI in prospectivity analysis, an area which SRK has recently seen success.

“I’m an absolute convert to using AI in mineral exploration,” Johnson said. “I’ve seen the benefits of using machine learning first-hand through a number of recent projects. The results have been incredibly powerful.”

For Jupp, the key is integrating AI with existing knowledge-driven exploration approaches.

“Essentially, AI allows us to integrate deep technical knowledge about a particular terrain and mineral system into a set of critical inputs to

prospectivity analysis is the rapid integration and analysis of large datasets by machine learning.

“Using training data such as known mines, machine learning can identify patterns and relationships in the data that geologists might overlook with traditional approaches,” Jupp said.

“Often, exploration companies will pay a highly knowledgeable expert to assist with their exploration targeting and narrow down their exploration efforts. With AI, we can use that knowledge, insight and human expertise to map out critical targeting elements and feed this into the machine learning to analyse and make predictions.”

cost effectively.

“For junior explorers with a package of tenements and limited capital, the ability to narrow exploration targeting is crucial,” Johnson said. “AI can help do that and potentially find new value in tenements that have been overlooked or are a lower priority.”

AI also removes human biases and assumptions in exploration targeting.

“A consistent theme in exploration projects is people being drawn to certain areas based on existing data and preconceived ideas,” Johnson said. “With AI targeting, you’re feeding the available data and geological layers into a model to develop a holistic view of the prospectivity of a tenement package.

AI projects underway

SRK’s interest in AI emerged around 2019. Jupp and Johnson were part of a team of Australian and Canadian SRK Consulting experts who competed in OZ Minerals’ Explorer Challenge, a prominent competition that attracted more than 1000 participants from 62 countries.

The SRK Consulting team won the Fusion Prize after reinterpreting and adding value to existing datasets by applying data-driven machine learning to guide a set of knowledgedriven, mineral-system-informed fuzzy inference solutions. The result was three highly ranked iron-oxide

A MACHINE LEARNING PREDICTED PROSPECTIVITY MAP (LEFT) AND A STRUCTURAL FEATURE INPUT LAYER (RIGHT).

copper gold (IOCG) targets and seven secondary targets.

In 2021, SRK began applying these and other machine-learning techniques to help companies reduce their exploration targeting at brownfield and greenfield sites.

SRK has a global partnership with DeepIQ, a leading US developer of generative AI in the oil and gas, utilities and mining sectors. SRK experts have integrated DeepIQ algorithms into their mineral prospectivity analysis at some projects.

SRK has also recently applied machine learning to exploration projects in several regional project areas, including Australia, South America and Europe, with good results.

“There’s a lot of work underway at SRK globally to test and apply AI methodology for mineral exploration,” Jupp said.

Knowledge-driven targeting SRK’s work with machine learning builds on its work in prospectivity analysis using more traditional knowledge-driven approaches for developing prospectivity maps. Methods such as fuzzy logic in mineral prospectivity analysis aim to quantify intricate relationships between geological attributes to define mineralisation potential.

“The main aim of the prospectivity analysis process is to assist our clients to narrow the focus area for exploration prior to field-based exploration, ideally as specific as the prospect area and even drill target areas,” Jupp said. “One of the key benefits of this method is you’re not reliant on the availability of training data when compared to machine learning methods.”

SRK recently applied fuzzy logic targeting on a project for Astute Metals, an ASX-listed resource company. Astute holds an 80 per cent interest in the Georgina Basin IOCG project in the highly prospective east Tennant province of the Northern Territory.

“We were successful in identifying several promising target areas in the undercover extents of east Tennant Creek,” Jupp said. “Recent drilling by the client at one of these targets intercepted strong indications for

IOCG-style mineralisation that will be followed up with additional drilling to be completed later this year.”

In the Middle East, Johnson has used fuzzy logic processes for exploration targeting.

“Through our fuzzy logic approach, we developed a prospectivity model that we followed up with systematic fieldwork to validate,” Johnson said. “The outcome was fantastic because the fuzzy logic results were able to be tested and refined during follow-up phases of field work, with some really encouraging results.”

Bright future for AI

Jupp and Johnson believe industry

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR AI AND EXPLORATION TARGETING

Stay abreast of latest trends: AI technology in mineral exploration targeting is moving rapidly. New algorithms are being developed and tested, and more projects overseas are implementing the technology.

Be open minded: Because it challenges traditional approaches to exploration targeting, AI has been met with some resistance, despite the technology’s successful use in the oil and gas sector. View AI as another tool to complement and add to existing geological processes, not replace them.

Access to AI resources: There is only a small group of experts globally who are skilled in mining geology and implementing and interpreting AI-driven data models. Ensure your organisation has access to internal or external resources with knowledge of the latest AI technologies for exploration.

Understand how AI can be used: A mineral explorer could use AI to understand the critical elements that control the location of a nearby mining operation and map out areas in their tenement holding that display similar characteristics.

Focus on data: Like all data-driven models, AI is only as good as the data it analyses. Ensure data being fed into AI models is high quality and based on a clear understanding of the mineral system under investigation.

Use an iterative approach: For some companies, the value of AI is to test data collected from drilling or other exploration, and used to refine and test prospectivity models in an interactive fashion. In this way, AI is a tool to validate existing geological work by providing another layer of analysis.

Communication: Consider how the organisation will communicate the use of AI to internal and external stakeholders. Reporting of AI-generated exploration results could become a bigger issue for listed mining companies over time.

MINERAL

EXPLORATION METHODS ARE EVOLVING WITH THE ADVENT OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES.

LONG-TERM SAFETY MILESTONES

NMaddern has a busy job.

As the mining services group’s support and improvement superintendent, she oversees the firm’s safety and compliance reporting across seven mines sites in Queensland.

Based at Moranbah, Maddern took on the newly created role in early 2023 as part of National Group’s ongoing investment in its safety protocols and its broader focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.

She describes her new role as “another layer” for National Group’s safety procedures and reporting.

“My job is to work with all the site admin teams to co-ordinate compliance reporting and ensure everything is done precisely,” Maddern said.

That task is a complex one. National Group, a leading supplier of heavyearthmoving equipment and end-toend mining services, works with some of the world’s largest mining companies across Australia. The miners each have different safety policies, procedures and reporting requirements.

“A big part of my role is client interaction,” Maddern said.

client requirements and expectations around safety and communicating those needs to our Queensland crews. This ranges from detailed monthly reporting to weekly field site safety inspections for clients.”

As a supplier, National Group employees or contractors fall under the client’s health and safety management plan at each mine.

“We know when a National Group employee or contractor swipes at the gate to enter a mine that they have adhered to the client’s safety policy for that site,” Maddern said.

“We also know that all National Group equipment used on site has been maintained correctly and is being used with the right PPE (personal protective equipment) from a safety perspective for that mine site.”

Safety performance

National Group’s safety strategy continues to achieve strong results.

The past two years have seen the firm achieve several key safety milestones at mines sites in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia.

In Queensland, National Group has been LTI (lost-time injury) free at the

Basin for almost eight years, which covers the entire contract length. At the Daunia and Goonyella Riverside mines, also in Queensland, National Group is around three years LTI-free.

And in WA, National Group is 12 years LTI-free on clients’ mine sites.

National Group head of business development in WA, NT and SA

company, we’re able to move quickly when clients adjust their safety policies and procedures,” he said. “Our personnel adapt to different safety requirements across different sites.”

Binstead said National Group’s safety focus has two main goals. First and foremost is keeping people safe by correctly following National Group and

NATIONAL GROUP’S SAFETY PERFORMANCE IS UNDERPINNED BY TOPTIER EQUIPMENT FROM LEADING OEMS.

NATIONAL GROUP FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR MARK ACKROYD SEES SAFETY AS A KEY PART OF THE COMPANY’S NEW ESG STRATEGY.

“The last thing we want to do is introduce problems on-site for clients through poor safety performance,” Binstead said.

“Potential injuries to National Group employees on-site could affect equipment performance and output. Our goal is to make things hassle-free for clients, who rely on us to consistently get the job done safely while meeting their safety requirements.”

According to National Group maintenance superintendent –Queensland Damien Melville, the firm’s focus extends beyond procedures.

“Ultimately, it’s about National Group’s workplace culture,” he said.

“We have a tight-knit crew that looks out for the safety of their colleagues and other workers on site, and always does the right thing by clients.

“We talk about safety a lot, including identifying potential safety hazards at the start of each day.

“It’s ingrained into all our mine superintendents to work closely with clients on their health and safety management plans, and to ensure National Group employees have appropriate safety training.”

ESG focus

National Group founder and managing director Mark Ackroyd said safety is a key part the firm’s new ESG strategy.

Launched in 2023, the ‘National Group sustainability strategy’ builds on the firm’s sustainability work and provides a roadmap to expand its ESG focus this decade. The project involved extensive stakeholder consultation and industry research, including using external sustainability experts.

The strategy describes employee safety as a key area of focus, stating “The company is committed to a zero harm policy by promoting a safety culture through the organisation and ensuring its employees are aligned with customers’ safety values”.

Ackroyd said National Group has always focused on safety.

“From day one, we have achieved consistently strong safety performance,” he said. “We’re not perfect and there is always the potential for accidents and injuries with heavy earthmoving equipment in tough conditions, but we have worked very hard to minimise that risk and continue to do so every day.”

National Group’s safety performance is also underpinned by its fleet of mostly top-tier equipment from the world’s leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

“Investing in the best equipment means National Group provides machines that offer excellent reliability and safety for our employees and customer workforces,” Ackroyd said.

“We do a lot of work with OEMs around equipment safety, maintenance and training requirements.”

“We always do work on maintenance scheduling and ensuring our equipment is well-maintained. We’re also investing more on in-house maintenance training, including our expanding apprenticeship program, all of which contributes to safety.”

In the health space, National Group is a long-term sponsor of sporting events in remote towns and has recently increased its support for mental health charities.

“National Group has helped the remote towns where our employees live and work with financial or inkind support for community events or charities,” Ackroyd said. “If we can make even a small difference to health in those towns, it’s worth it.”

For all the good work, Ackroyd knows safety requires a never-ending focus.

“We never take anything for granted with safety,” he said. “We’re proud of our recent safety milestones, but that’s in the past. What matters is the safet y of our employees and our customer workforces today and tomorrow.” AM

Supporting mining companies on their path to decarbonisation

carbon by capturing and storing it

DRIVING SUSTAINABILITY IN MINING TO READY CRITICAL MINERALS FOR DECARBONISATION. FIND OUT MORE.

AN AURA OF SUCCESS

CONDITIONS IN AN UNDERGROUND MINE CAN CHANGE IN A HEARTBEAT. EMESENT IS KEEPING MINERS INFORMED ON WHAT THEY’RE WALKING INTO.

Change detection and convergence monitoring might sound like a mouthful, but no underground mine can operate without it.

When excavating below the surface, the displacement and movement of rock can have significant consequences, including everything from injuries to unscheduled delays.

Things can change dramatically in an instant, and that’s why efficiently and effectively monitoring change and convergence across the whole excavation process is a vital safeguard.

But as anyone who’s set foot on a mine site can attest, monitoring underground mine conditions is not so simple.

Only a fraction of the subterranean network is observable through drill holes or excavation fronts, meaning critical data is hard to capture and often missed.

Traditional monitoring methods have their place but are often expensive or time-consuming, with some capturing as little as five per cent of the overall rock mass affected by mining.

In short, they just aren’t up to the task.

Enter Emesent, a data capture specialist on a mission to revolutionise the way mine mapping is done.

Emesent co-founder and chief strategy officer Stefan Hrabar said the company’s change detection and convergence monitoring solution is helping operators make more

These results enable operators to track excavation behaviour and identify areas requiring additional monitoring.

“Although many mines have implemented SLAM technology into their monitoring plans, Emesent is the first to provide a combined data acquisition-to-implementation solution,” Hrabar said.

But Hrabar emphasised observations and monitoring data produced in isolation provides a limited idea of the

“Rock masses are complex, heterogeneous and non-linear systems with interactions between components,” he said. “Extracting the most from convergence monitoring results involves combining the results with other available geological and geotechnical information.”

While many mines have used SLAM technology to scan the entire site and establish a baseline, Hrabar said the alignment of these scans is a timeconsuming manual process that usually requires complex third-party software.

“Uniquely, the solution eliminates the need for data transfer between multiple third-party software for the alignment and visualisation tasks necessary for change detection and convergence monitoring,” he said.

“This collation of insights allows geotechnical engineers to understand where change is happening and more accurately respond to improve workplace safety and mine productivity.

“That context provides the basis for sound engineering decisionmaking processes.”

Hrabar said the repeatability and efficiencies enabled by the Emesent solution have the potential to transform operational safety across the industry.

“Aura’s results can also be imported into most mining packages used on sites, making this phase of monitoring a seamless process,” he said.

“It ultimately delivers a faster, more efficient workflow and more repeatable, quantifiable outputs on where change or dilation is occurring and the rate of this change over a large area.”

By augmenting Hovermap’s ability to capture detailed 3D data with a convergence monitoring module in Aura, Hrabar said Emesent is making it easier for operators to keep their workers safe while boosting overall efficiency.

“Safety is the top priority when it comes to underground mining,” he said. “Emesent has been working with its customers to help them take the next step in their journey towards safer, more efficient, and more productive mining.” AM

EMESENT’S TECHNOLOGY ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR DATA TRANSFER BETWEEN THIRD-PARTY SOFTWARE.

RETHINKING TAILINGS

WHILE PRODUCING TAILINGS IS INEVITABLE, WEIR IS HERE TO ENSURE WASTE IS REMOVED AND HANDLED SUSTAINABLY.

As millions of tonnes of ore are processed each day across the mining industry, it stands to reason that not all material is exported or used.

Although mine waste – also known as tailings – is unavoidable, heightened environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards in the mining industry are necessitating enhanced waste management methods.

Luckily, Weir is here to help.

Backed by an extensive portfolio of tailings solutions, technologies and processing equipment, Weir is on a mission to help the industry rethink, reduce and repurpose tailings through its transformational tailings flowsheets.

“We are looking to engage with the market to assist with solutions that will achieve new benchmark outcomes for water recovery, energy consumption, carbon footprints and safe storage,” Weir head of tailings and pipelines – Asia Pacific Simon Acutt told Australian Mining

“We want to trigger new thinking on

An example of this is Weir’s Cavex DE hydrocyclone, a technology that performs two stages of classification in one operational unit.

“The larger particles move downwards under gravity and leave via the bottom outlet with a small quantity of water,” Acutt said.

“A small amount of the fine solids remain with most of the water; this then spirals upwards through a central pipe and out the top as the overflow product. The Cavex DE hydrocyclone goes through this process twice.

“The aim is to separate the large particles and use them for construction material. The main use for the cyclone underflow is to build tailings dam walls.”

The Cavex DE hydrocyclone works without the need for intermediary pumping, piping or sumps. It’s fitted with an air core booster to improve capacity and efficiency by reducing the total pressure across the hydrocyclone and increasing the volume flow split to the overflow.

“This creates value out of the mine’s waste,” Acutt said. “By using sand from tailings, operators have less product going into their tailings storage

be smaller and save on diesel-powered earthmoving equipment.”

Another example of innovation is Weir’s second-generation Cavex 2 hydrocyclone, which expands upon the Cavex hydrocyclone range and marks a new era in separation technology.

Combined with the feed chamber, the LIG+ advanced laminar spiral inlet reduces turbulence and enables the hydrocyclone to classify up to 30 per cent more feed slurry within a similar footprint as the original Cavex hydrocyclones.

Alongside Weir’s range of tailings products and solutions, the company carries out pipe loop testing to provide design data, centrifugal pump testing, and high-pressure positive displacement pump testing at Weir Technical Centre in Victoria.

“Mineral slurries vary in many ways, meaning each slurry behaves differently in a pipe system,” Acutt said. “Therefore, pilot testing is important to help determine the best solution for each site and reduce the overall design risk.

“Weir can run a variety of tests to identify possible operational issues, with testing able to determine how the slurry behaves when pumped in a range of different conditions, solids concentrations and velocities, all while simulating pump failure and a potential

“The outcome ensures the selected pump and motors are right for the job and tailored to a mine site’s unique operating environments.”

To ensure it can offer the coarse particle flotation (CPF) technology to its customers, Weir has a cooperative agreement with Eriez, allowing the company to collaborate and apply its HydroFloat CPF technology when needed.

The CPF solution reduces energy consumption by 10–20 per cent and increases water recovery by up to 85 per cent by using advanced dewatering technologies.

“The technology works by injecting air bubbles into the lower levels of the tank,” Acutt said. “These bubbles lift ore to the top of the tank, which is collected via a concentrate overflow.

“The grind size is substantially larger than conventional flotation, significantly reducing energy consumption in the comminution phase. This also makes it much easier to separate water from tailings.

“CPF waste stream can be used for dam wall construction and dam wall support. It requires little further treatment, hence less expensive capital equipment and energy consumption.

Weir is working closely with Eriez on several pilot trials.”

With a long-standing global presence in tailings management, Weir is an ideal partner to help the mining industry rethink its approach to tailings.

“Weir is not new to the tailings space,” Acutt said. “We have been actively investing in and expanding our knowledge and testing support facilities, positioning ourselves as a key partner for the future.” AM

THE CAVEX DE HYDROCYCLONE WORKS WITHOUT THE NEED FOR INTERMEDIARY PUMPING, PIPING OR SUMPS.

ONE FOR THE AGES

AUSTRALIAN MINING TAKES A LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2024 PNG EXPO.

TExhibition and Conference (PNG Expo) opened its doors from July 3–4, wowing attendees with the latest mining innovations and technology.

Over 100 displays of equipment and stands could be found across the exhibition floor and, for those wanting to hear the latest advancements in the sector, a packed conference schedule showcased key decision-makers from both local and international markets.

Held at the Stanley Hotel in Port Moresby, the PNG Expo is the premier event for industry professionals to network and discuss the latest development in the sector.

Gold sponsor D&T Hydraulics was excited to be in attendance.

“D&T is proud to be partnering with PNG and sponsoring the PNG Expo,” D&T general manager Ben Moore said.

“We endorse the promotion of international trading alliances with PNG and within the Australasian region.”

The last few years have been some of the biggest in D&T’s history. January 2019 saw the opening of the company’s new facility in Mackay, Queensland, boasting 13 acres of hardstand and over 3000m2 of workshop space.

cylinder repairs and re-manufacturing.

“D&T supports the continual development of the PNG resources industry by providing high quality manufacturing, remanufacturing and service exchange services,” Moore said.

“Valuing our existing PNG and neighbouring relationships, D&T continues to support the development of PNG tradespeople by employing and training PNG nationals at our facilities in Queensland, Australia.”

Breakfast sponsors Jacon Equipment, Comet Equipment and JLE Group were similarly thrilled to network and get to know those in attendance.

“We believe that Papua New Guinea has several synergies with our businesses,” Jacon and Comet president, global sales Adam Doyle said.

“The country has a booming mining industry and is a key market for the future of the industry.”

Jacon, Comet and JLE enjoyed building relationships with the sector while realising the mutual commercial benefits the country has to offer.

As surface and underground mining equipment specialists respectively, Comet and Jacon have extensive knowledge of regional mines. This is backed up by JLE’s experience in the

electrical infrastructure.

“Many PNG mines are regionally based which we have expertise in,” Doyle said. “Regional mines have their own complexities, and we all have the experience and expertise to deal with those when they arise.

“We have a solid belief that local engagement is key, and we want to provide the opportunities for locals to collaborate and grow with us –as partners.”

This year marked the first time Prime Creative Media hosted the event.

Siobhan Rocks, Prime Creative general manager, events, said the event was a true testament to the strength and ongoing growth of the PNG resources and industrials sector.

collaborations seen today are clear signs of the hard work, dedication and passion that everyone in these sectors demonstrates,” Rocks said.

“It has been wonderful to witness the innovations, discussions and connections that have come from today, and to see the dedication and work that went into creating the PNG Expo pay off.

“We remain committed to the continued growth and development of PNG and recognise the significant global impact the country continues to have.” AM

PNG Expo will return to Port Moresby in 2025. To stay up to date, visit www.pngexpo.com

THE EXHIBITION FLOOR PROVIDED ATTENDEES WITH A WEALTH OF MINING PRODUCTS.

SAFE PRACTICE AT LIFTEX 2024

LIFTEX 2024 OFFERS MINING COMPANIES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SOURCE LIFTING EQUIPMENT AND IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING

Increasing industrialisation and economic growth around the world is generating more lifting activity in Australia’s mining industry and, therefore, more risk for its workers.

Given lifting in this sector often takes place in environments that exacerbate the risk, ensuring safe practice is vital.

The impact of accidents is potentially devastating for people involved and to the mining businesses they work for. Therefore, it makes clear sense for mining operators to take every possible step to reach the ideal goal of zero accidents and injuries.

Avoiding disruptions caused by accidents also builds resilience in mining supply chains.

It’s important to adopt a safety culture, not only among those who use, or are in proximity to, lifting equipment but also among senior management, who are bound to legal obligations and culpability for any unsafe practice.

LiftEx Gold Coast – being held on September 12–13 at the Gold Coast’s Event Centre, Star Hotel –offers a great opportunity for sourcing lifting equipment and improving knowledge and learning techniques to help mining operators seeking safer lifting practice.

TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE LIFTING SAFETY.

The two-day exhibition and conference brings lifting and height safety equipment suppliers together with end-users engaged in operating, inspecting, and testing lifting equipment in mining and many other industries.

The conference will provide complimentary case studies, thoughtprovoking panel sessions, and professional development workshops.

Among the speakers will be Brant Webb, one of two miners who survived the tragic collapse at the Beaconsfield gold mine in 2006. His story of survival and resilience is nothing short of extraordinary.

Webb and fellow miner Todd Russell were trapped one kilometre underground for two weeks after the mine collapsed, killing a third miner, Larry Knight.

Webb and Russell’s condition was unknown for five days before rescuers found them alive. They had survived on just one muesli bar and ground water.

Webb’s experience has given him a unique perspective on safety, resilience, and the human capacity to endure. His story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of safety protocols and procedures in high-risk environments.

LiftEx visitors will also discover an exhibition floor of cutting-edge

technologies from local and countrywide suppliers of lifting and height safety equipment – many targeting the mining sector.

LiftEx 2024 exhibitors

Andromeda Industries manufactures Superflex steel cable, slings and steel flat woven slings to meet industrial applications such as mining. All of its steel slings and cables are stringently tested to meet and exceed Australian standards giving customers peace of mind for any lifting application.

Yoke is a Taiwan-based manufacturer of lifting fittings for chain, wire rope and webbing slings. Safety is the core element for all of Yoke’s safety hook products, with the company embracing the pursuit of quality perfection, constant innovation, sustained management improvement and customer satisfaction.

Pacific Hoists delivers lifting and material handling solutions throughout Australia and New Zealand. Its range includes hoisting equipment from leading brands such as Hitachi, Vital, J.D. Neuhaus, Yale and CM Lodestar. The company also provides customisation, servicing, repairs, inspections, and after-sales support.

Vector Lifting has undertaken a variety of engineering projects both locally and abroad. The company’s locally engineered products, coupled with its range of aluminium Reid Lifting dual use portable gantries and portable davits, allows it to offer solutions to support most lifting, material handling, height safety and confined space access needs.

Townley Drop Forge manufactures a range of premium lifting and rigging components. The company’s products are routinely used in many of the country’s largest mining and infrastructure projects, where performance and reliability is paramount. The company can also custom design and manufacture steel forged products to a customer’s exact specifications.

WireCo manufactures wire and synthetic ropes. Its northern Gold Coast distribution centre carries large stocks of wire ropes for cranes, mining and general industry. The company also offers synthetic ropes for lifting and vehicle recovery as well as general lifting gear including chain, shackles, and round and webbing slings.

WireCo’s engineering and technical knowhow is matched by in-depth knowledge of rope and lifting equipment performance and applications.

LiftEx Gold Coast is organised by The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA). Safety underpins everything LEEA has been doing throughout its history and will continue to do going forward, with zero accidents and injuries being its prime goal.

Staff will be on hand to discuss why the LEEA logo carried by members is a recognisable global benchmark of best practice and safety for all sectors including mining AM

To attend LiftEx 2024, register for free at events.leeaint.com/liftex-gold-coast

LIFTEX BRINGS LIFTING AND HEIGHT SAFETY EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS TOGETHER WITH KEY END-USERS IN THE MINING INDUSTRY.

LIFTEX 2024 IS BEING HELD FROM SEPTEMBER 12–13 ON THE GOLD COAST.

Master Drilling Australia sets the industry standard with world-class boring technology for vertical drilling.

Drawing upon our 35-years experience and drive for innovation, MDA is committed to spearheading essential drilling projects across Australia.

Raise Bore Drilling

As an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), our expertise includes the construction of ventilation shafts and other vertical developments. We believe our proactive approach marks a new era in Australian mining, ensuring precision, efficiency and safety in every project undertaken.

Our Services

MDA, excels in raise bore drilling, revolutionising underground access. Our rigs remote drilling system, showcases operational safety and efficiency.

Geotechnical Engineering

Our geotechnical engineering services analyse and manage poor stability zones for construction. We ensure structures stand the test of time.

Consulting

MDA’s consulting services provide comprehensive guidance in mining projects. Early engagement at prefeasibility ensures our expertise maximises a project’s potential.

BUILDING THE FUTURE, TOGETHER

AS THE MINING INDUSTRY ENTERS A NEW GENERATION OF SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION,

COLLABORATION

IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL TO ACHIEVE THE BEST RESULTS.

In the mining industry, staying one step ahead of the game is crucial.

Miners need to predict the ebb and flow of the sector to get the most bang for their buck, but with so much changing so quickly, how can the industry keep its finger on the pulse while still ensuring their projects meet requirements?

AusIMM and UNSW’s International Future Mining Conference 2024 seeks to answer this question.

“Further worldwide advancements rely heavily on the mining industry,” conference chair and UNSW professor Serkan Saydam told Australian Mining.

“The main aim of our conference is to look at what we need to be implementing now to meet these future challenges.”

The International Future Mining Conference has earned a reputation in the industry as the go-to event for those looking to understand the upcoming industry trends.

“We’re a forward thinking conference,” Saydam said. “And in Sydney from September 2–4, we will continue this tradition, treating attendees to the rich conference program and future-focused discussions they have come to expect.”

The 2024 iteration of the conference will focus on five themes: innovations, energy innovations, mining in extreme environments, sustainable mining, and future skills and workforce evolution.

While each theme will be an integral part of the conference program, Saydam highlighted one in particular that he is looking forward to hearing more about.

“Knowing how to operate in extreme environments is going to be key to the mining industry of the future,” he said. “Australia can already be a harsh environment to mine in, and high-quality ore deposits are only getting deeper.

“We won’t be able to reach some of these ore deposits without the help of autonomous machinery. It’s important to look at the technology we have now and identify what we might need in the future.”

Saydam said he is also excited to hear discussions centred on the mining workforce of the future.

“We had an enormous number of future workforce-related papers submitted, showing the interest of both the industry and academia,” he said.

professionals with the skills and knowledge required to navigate the emerging technological landscape of the industry.”

Along with themed discussions and abstracts, the conference will also feature several renowned professionals keen to speak to their experience in the industry.

The 2024 keynote speakers include BHP head of product development

Maki Ikeda, Fleet Space Technologies chief product officer Hemant Chaurasia, and Orica Digital Solutions senior vice president Rajkumar Mathiravedu.

“The conference will be incredibly vibrant, especially considering the prominent keynote speakers we have lined up,” Saydam said.

“The way we do things at Future Mining is unique; the talks are dynamic and include panel discussions and networking opportunities instead of just having someone speak at you for 20 minutes.”

And, as Saydam said, these networking opportunities are particularly important.

“We need to get together to solve the

Saydam credits his role in teaching as the reason he is such a big believer in collaborative work.

“Learning from each other in academia is important, and that can be applied to the mining industry as well,” he said.

“We need to collaborate with other disciplines who have differing points of view; only then will we be able to move forward in the industry.

“The International Future Mining Conference 2024 will be a big help with that. And of course, a couple of drinks and good food with friends never goes astray.” AM

THE INTERNATIONAL FUTURE MINING CONFERENCE HAS EARNED A REPUTATION AS THE GO-TO EVENT FOR THOSE LOOKING TO UNDERSTAND THE UPCOMING INDUSTRY TRENDS.

CONFERENCE CHAIR AND UNSW PROFESSOR SERKAN SAYDAM.

12-13 September 2024

The Star Gold Coast Australia

Join the only dedicated event for the lifting and height safety industry in Australia.

Attended by professionals involved in operating, inspecting, and testing lifting equipment in the mining sector.

Presentations include:

• Why Safety Matters by Beaconsfield Mining Survivor Brant Webb

• Solutions for safe lifting in hazardous mining environments

• Technical Updates including standards development and challenges that can be addressed during their development

• Free Professional Development training workshops for pre-use inspection of lifting equipment (valued at $600)

Your free ticket includes:

u 2-day Exhibition

u Conference

u Free Training Sessions

u Networking

If you are a user of lifting equipment in the mining sector, you should attend this event

The Hazemag roller screen can help mining operations handle sticky and difficult materials in different weather conditions.

The Hazemag roller screen has a separation surface area featuring disc-fitted, polygonal-shaped rollers. These rollers help transport, circulate and loosen material for downstream equipment.

Fines pass the gaps between the rollers while coarse material is conveyed from the screen to the screen overflow. Compared to a vibrating screen, the Hazemag roller screen is non-vibrating, which is helpful in specific operations with wet and sticky materials. The Hazemag roller screen with gap setting can be adjusted for product size 70mm–120mm and secondary 20mm–70mm. This enables operators to adapt to changing requirements and easily suit material specifications.

The roller screen’s ability to handle difficult material means less wear and reduced energy consumption for operators and a longer, more efficient crusher life.

• hazemag.com

TIME SYNC TECHNOLOGY IN THE MINING INDUSTRY

In the mining sector, autonomous machines such as drill rigs, haul trucks, and robotic loaders are essential, relying heavily on precise sensor fusion technologies.

The Vecow ECX-3200 controller, provided by Backplane Systems Technology, integrates data from multiple sensors to create a comprehensive environmental model, essential for safe and efficient operations.

ALLFLO REMKO STANDPIPE PUMP PACKAGE

Remko’s standpipe pump package offers an efficient solution for filling water trucks. This package is designed to provide rapid water delivery, with the ability to fill trucks in as little as four to five minutes.

The system is robust and user-friendly, featuring high-quality components to ensure reliability and ease of use.

This robust solution ensures consistent performance in demanding environments and is ideal for construction, mining, and agricultural applications. This package can significantly enhance operational efficiency by reducing downtime.

• remko.com.au

ECO-FRIENDLY POWER GENERATION

Backplane Systems Technology aims to ensure time synchronisation is effectively maintained across various sensors such as 3D LiDARs for light detection and ranging, cameras, inertial measurement units, global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), and radar sensors.

This synchronisation is essential in the mining industry for mapping, localisation, obstacle detection, and path planning.

The ECX-3200 employs advanced time stamping and winding technologies to align GNSS with sensors’ internal clocks, ensuring continuous precision across all nodes. This feature is vital for maintaining a consistent baseline for sensor data, crucial in the vast and dynamically changing landscapes of mine sites.

The ECX-3200 also runs the curium calibration suite, offering a fully automated multi-sensor calibration solution.

• backplane.com.au

The Atlas Copco ZBP45, also known as the ZenergiZe, is a portable energy storage system designed for clean and quiet power generation.

Leveraging lithium-ion battery technology, its compact size and lightweight design make it ideal for noise-sensitive environments like urban and residential construction sites.

The ZBP45 significantly reduces fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

With a single charge, it can provide power for over 12 hours, making it suitable for applications with variable loads or low-power needs. The unit can be charged from very low to full power in fewer than 60 minutes, helping to ensure operators don’t experience unnecessary downtime.

The ZBP45 can be used as a stand-alone source of power or in conjunction with other sources such as diesel, solar, mains power and wind.

Easy to use and maintain, the ZBP45 offers a versatile and eco-friendly solution for portable power needs.

• atlascea.com.au

When it comes to your hauling operation, Caterpillar and Cat® dealers are here to help you achieve your emissions-reduction targets. One of our most important goals as a manufacturer is to find new ways to make every mining truck we offer more sustainable. Solutions like renewable fuel options and autonomy help you reduce emissions by decreasing carbon and increasing productivity. And we’ve increased component and fluid life and offer solutions like rebuilding to help you reduce lifecycle waste.