EXTREME POWER FOR EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
Kobelco machinery has found a place in the hands of AusCrush, where it’s now being put to the test.
PERFECT ISITE
Komatsu’s iSite fleet management solution provides site managers with real-time machine data.
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE
A locally operated Australian energy, retail and industrial company, Viva Energy is committed to providing dynamic and adaptable service.
With a new factory designed 5.5m3 bucket, in addition to new heavy duty axles,brake cooling package, larger counterweight, auto digging system and advanced joystick steering system (AJSS) as standard, Komatsu’s new WA480-8 continues the long tradition of being the industry’s ideal yard loader.
As with all our wheel loaders, key components are manufactured by Komatsu to work together in an integrated package. The WA480-8 comes standard with our Komtrax remote monitoring and location system, backed by our Australia-wide service and support.
Call us today on 1300 566 287 to find out more.
20 BIG RESULT FOR BIG PLAYERS
Boral and Adbri have plenty to celebrate with strong end-of-year results.
22 ELTIRUS
Eltirus founder Steve Franklin checked out new releases at CONEXPO 2023.
24 GETTING BEHIND THE ADVANCED WHEEL
Introducing John Deere’s new 904 P-Tier wheel loader.
32 QUARRY CERTIFICATION
EXTREME POWER
Kobelco machinery has found a place in the hands of AusCrush, where it’s now being put to the test.
PERFECT ISITE
Komatsu’s iSite fleet management solution provides site managers with real-time machine data.
NTRO has taken over quarry certification.
34 REELING IT IN
A new maintenance pod from BOA Hydraulics keeps hydraulic hoses neat.
36 MILBRAE ON TRACK TO SUCCESS
ONTRAC excavator buckets are put to work at Milbrae Quarries.
38 GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY
Epiroc’s ongoing commitment to innovation.
40 WHERE YOU WANT IT, WHEN YOU WANT IT
Precisionscreen’s SM1290 and SM12120 wheeled conveyors.
46 CLEARING THE AIR
EXPERT KNOWLEDGE
A locally operated Australian company, Viva Energy is committed to providing dynamic and adaptable service.
QUARRY SUITED FOR THE LONG HAUL
A landmark sale process for a quarry in central Queensland has begun.
Kinder Australia’s new dust management solution.
48 REINVENTING SAND
The benefits of manufactured sand.
50 SCREENING FOR SUCCESS
Screenmasters’ new partnership with Shaorui Heavy Industry.
52 CIRCULAR ECONOMY
COVER ADVERTISER:
Kobelco has had almost 100 years of history developing pioneering technology. In 1930, it produced the first construction machine in Japan, the 50K electric mining shovel, and has continued to create vital products and technology.
Circular marketplaces can help to redistribute waste materials.
The Lippmann 300c is a heavy duty cone crusher with an innovative material flow that maximizes capacity and throughput while delivering a consistently high quality product. POA
Heavy duty 20x6 screen box, Cat C7.1 engine, hopper extensions, apron feeder, full radio remote control function
New & Used units available throughout Australia, Tricon is Australia’s only authorised Terex MDS distributor.
Lippmann LS range, 22x6 and 20x5 triple deck finishing screens now available, POA
LIPPMANN L620R 20x6 SCALPER LS520 LS622
New Superior Telestackers in stock, 1000TPH, 46m, AS3000 electrics, AS4324 structure, auto stockpile, radio remote control. POA
Wash your natural, manufactured or recycled sands with a greatly reduced water demand. POA
TSSA 130’ telestackers back in stock, 1000TPH, AS3000 electrics, AS4324 structure, auto stockpile, radio remote control. POA
Superior Guardian 6203 20x6 horizontal screen boxes now available Australia wide (ex QLD & NSW) POA
RAZERTAIL TRUCK UNLOADER
For people outside of the sector, quarrying might seem like a pretty straightforward industry. But, as we all know, it is anything but.
In my time working in what could be called ‘resources journalism’ (and when I think about it, that time actually started back before 2010), one of the questions I have most commonly come across is: ‘Are quarrying and mining the same thing?’
The answer, of course, is an emphatic no.
The easiest way to explain it, I guess, is something like this:
A quarry is a site of extraction, and the materials extracted are used mainly in construction activities like building roads and bridges. Mines, on the other hand, involve activities on the surface and underground that usually consist of extracting smaller quantities of more valuable materials such as coal, iron ore, gold, and the like.
A bit reductive, perhaps, but it goes some way towards providing an explanation about what makes the two industries different.
When possible, I also like to mention how quarrying has been around for thousands of years all over the world. People have always needed the natural resources that come from quarrying, whether for tools, structures or anything else that was needed to survive.
Today’s quarrying has, of course, developed into a modern, sophisticated industry that still
provides the world with some of its most vital materials – it just does it in a far more advanced manner.
And in the May issue of Quarry we take a look at some of the products and innovations that make today’s industry such a well-oiled machine.
From hydraulic hoses and manufactured sand, to crushers and screeners, to data-monitoring solutions, we run the gamut of modern quarrying gear.
This issue also provides a number of industry and business insights.
We examine the latest reports from some of the industry’s biggest players, including Epiroc, Boral and Adbri, and take a deep dive into Viva Energy and its place in Australian extractives.
And, in something of a unique turn, we break down the impending sale of the Butlers Yarwun quarry in Queensland, which is set to go under the hammer for the first time in its 38 years of operation.
We were also able to sit down and have a chat with David Hogan, an Honorary Fellow of the IQA, who gave us some remarkable insights into a decades-long career that has seen him work across the US, Canada, Poland, Germany, the UK, Scandinavia, West Africa, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, to name just a few.
Quarrying is a truly global industry, and it has been since the first rock was extracted thousands of years ago.
Paul Hayes Managing EditorFROM HYDRAULIC HOSES AND CRUSHED SAND, TO CRUSHERS AND SCREENERS, TO DATA-MONITORING SOLUTIONS, WE RUN THE GAMUT OF MODERN QUARRYING GEAR.
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At 40 tons and over 30 feet long, safety comes first. By combining cameras, radar, and machine learning, obstacle intelligence gives operators eyes in the back of their head. To protect your crew, and other investments, like never before.
904 P-TIER OBSTACLE INTELLIGENCE
Alot of what we take for granted owes its thanks to the quarry industry.
Take a walk through any town or city in the country and you’ll see our imprint everywhere you look – in the concrete under your feet and in the buildings above you. The work we do is absolutely abundant.
And, in much the same way the industry holds up our modern way of living, it’s our people who hold up the industry.
The IQA has a long and proud history of bringing the extractive industry together. We’ve continued that journey this month and made strides in advancing our vision to educate and lift up our community.
There have been a number of recognitions and movements within the IQA in recent months that have been incredible to witness.
We saw Sarah Bellman taking the position of Deputy President, David Hogan’s recognition as an Honorary Fellow, and a slew of other large and important contributors to the IQA and IOQ.
The IQA – and the industry as a whole – is fuelled by its people, so it has been rewarding to see these excellent contributions celebrated. Growth within the sector is essential. We’re reliant upon those who have made these significant contributions to help the next wave of innovators keep holding up the industry.
The long-awaited Quarrying and Mining Safety and Health Conference is slated for early next month in Queensland and July in north Queensland. As we prepare for these events, there has never been a better time to reflect on how we can band together and continually improve on safety outcomes in the industry.
The IQA has worked tirelessly in implementing and rolling out our
education framework, providing our industry community with timely access to information to support –among other things – the health and safety of our people.
But health and safety goes beyond physical hazards. It’s also about cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees feel safe and valued. We’ve been candid in our support of this type of workplace.
Our annual diversity and inclusion day is once again set for September 1 and presents an opportunity to encourage broad involvement in our industry.
Diversity and inclusion days represent an invaluable tool for our industry to spread awareness, provoke discussion and facilitate the inclusion of all into our industry.
As social focuses evolve, it’s essential for the industry to evolve along with it so we can remain competitive for the next generation entering the workforce.
We continue to strengthen our education development pathways in order to support improved knowledge, skills and business outcomes for our community, regulators and stakeholders. It remains our objective to be the education provider of choice for the extractive and associated industries. At the end of the day, we want our people to be as rock-solid as the material we move.
As always, I’d like to thank our branch members, committee members and the broader IQA community. It’s your continued support and contributions that make IQA what it is today. I actively encourage all members to stay in touch as the year goes on.
Let’s continue to work together as we grow our industry.
Duncan Harris President Institute of Quarrying Australiawww.quarry.com.au
The IQA’s Strategic Plan 2020 to 2025 embodies the following vision, values and strategic priorities:
Vision:
Educating and connecting the extractive and associated industries.
Values:
e and sustainable environment. ersity and inclusion.
orking development skills, careers and life-long learning.
• Networking, connection, trust and communication.
Strategic Priorities:
• Maximise outcomes for industry through education and sustainable practise.
• Increase our relevance.
• A high performing and sustainable organisation.
IQA Contacts:
Phone: 02 9484 0577
Email: admin@quarry.com.au
Chief Executive Officer Kylie Fahey
Deputy President Sarah Bellman
Company Secretary Rod Lester
For all education, member and branch enquires please email: admin@quarry.com.au.
ON HOW WE CAN BAND TOGETHER AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE ON SAFETY OUTCOMES IN THE INDUSTRY.The Institute of Quarrying Australia
Having a clear idea of what you have in the ground, where it is and what you can make from it is critical. From face mapping to planning and organising drilling campaigns, managing sampling and logging through to geological modelling, we can help. Talk to us about how we can help you better understand your resource.
Breaking news out of Glasgow, Scotland: Researchers have discovered a revolutionary new method for trapping carbon dioxide that is guaranteed to rock your world. Literally.
The study, detailed in a research paper called ‘Mechanochemical processing of silicate rocks to trap CO2’ from the University of Strathclyde, suggests that the crushing of rocks commonly used in construction has the potential to revolutionise the way we approach carbon capture and storage.
The technique – which involves no additional energy to trap the CO2 –involves the deformation, fracturing and cold wielding of particles during repeated collisions with a ball during high-energy milling.
“It’s like putting your CO2 in a rock tumbler and watching it get trapped,” lead researcher Professor Rebecca Lunn said.
“We’re essentially turning rocks into superheroes. They have the power to save the world.”
Imagine 357,000 square kilometres of carbon dioxide, with no additional energy required to trap it. Trapping his amount – 0.5 per cent of global emissions – would be the equivalent to planting a forest of mature trees the size of Germany’s Black Forest … times 60.
The construction and materials sectors are responsible for 11 per cent of total carbon emissions worldwide. Annually, over 50 billion tonnes of rock are crushed globally, and conventional crushing techniques do not typically include CO2 capture.
Earlier studies have investigated the entrapment of carbon in individual minerals using a similar approach, but the latest research shows that this approach is unstable, causing the carbon to dissolve out of the mineral when exposed to water.
The new study shows that polymineralic rocks, such as granite and basalt, whether high or low in carbonate-forming metals, are
CHL, Holcim Australia and Janus Electric have announced the successful completion of their breakthrough zero-emissions electric truck trial in Queensland.
The electric Janus Electric converted prime mover was the star of the trial, which was a first for the construction sector, and a milestone in the transition to a more sustainable transport industry.
The trial, which began in November 2022, tested the economic viability, reliability and performance of the Janus Electric converted prime mover, using it to cart sand and aggregates from Holcim’s plants across Brisbane and Southeast Queensland.
Rebecca Lunn
more efficient at trapping CO2 than individual minerals, such as magnesium and iron, which were used in precious studies.
“If this process was applied, the CO2 footprint associated with building houses and public infrastructure could be greatly reduced, helping to meet global objectives to combat climate change,” said co-investigator Dr Mark Stillings.
Of course, as you can imagine, people on social media had a field day with the news.
“It’s official: the Flintstones were ahead of their time,” one person said.
Another commented: “I can’t wait for the day when we all have little rock crushers in our homes, churning out CO2-absorbing pebbles like some kind of bizarre garden appliance.”
So, if you hear a loud banging sound coming from your neighbour’s house, don’t be too alarmed.
Quarry caught up with the general manager of Janus Electric, Lex Forsyth, who said that the successful trial proved sceptics wrong.
“We’ve had a lot of people say: ‘This will never work.’ Now, we’ve proven that it has worked,” Forsyth said.
“The common misconception is that an electric motor can’t do what a diesel motor does. And in actual fact it does the same, if not better. The challenge has been trying to get that recognised by state and federal governments, to actually take a step forward on how we can get some compensation for zero emissions vehicles.”
So, what’s next for Janus Electric?
Forsyth says CHL has already confirmed some orders for purchasing several trucks and Holcim is looking at how it can integrate an electric truck into its fleet. And there’s much more ahead.
“We’re about to release one of the heaviest trucks in the world,” Forsyth said at time of going to press.
“[This] demonstrates the actual strength of our technology and where we’re going as a business, and being able to deliver varying applications from metropolitan to mining to quarries to long distance transport.”
IT’S LIKE PUTTING YOUR CO2 IN A ROCK TUMBLER AND WATCHING IT GET TRAPPED
In a recent annual report on community funding for 2022, Peninsula Quarries Victoria revealed support for the wider community in grants for local sporting clubs, schools and community areas.
The business allocated $7,000 in grants through its 2022 community grants program, with the grants program delivered through the Peninsula Quarries Community Engagement Group (PQCEG) and funds made available for not-for-profit organisations and groups within the Somerville, Tyabb and Mornington regions.
Peninsula Quarries Victoria provides services to the development and civil infrastructure industry in the southeast region, with a wide range of quarry material and products.
The Somerville Eagles Soccer Club received $2,400 for the purchase and
installation of a defibrillator at its clubrooms, Somerville Rise Primary School received $1,900 towards the installation of flagpoles and the Mornington Community Garden received $1,400 for a battery-powered wheelbarrow to assist its members.
Smaller grants were provided to the Tyabb Junior Football Netball Club for kitchen equipment and Balnarring Junior Football Club for the purchase of footballs.
Speaking on the ways in which these grants can improve local communities, PQCEG chair Rob Gerrand said that ‘outstanding’ grant applications were received from a wide variety of organisations in 2022.
“We are pleased to be able to offer local community groups an opportunity to seek funding for
The Victorian Earth Resources Regulator has announced resources that have been directed into Victorian Quarries to assist with necessary road repairs caused by recent flood activity.
According to a statement by the Victorian Earth Resources Regulator temporary measures have been recently introduced to “enable eligible quarry operators to produce additional resources by extending their operating hours or increasing production outputs. These short-term changes are supporting the state’s flood recovery program.”
Six quarry operators – located close to flood-affected areas – have been granted permission to temporarily vary work hours or production, in order to supply requisite materials for use in flood recovery efforts.
Other applications are currently under consideration.
The temporary measures are expected to deliver the 1.7 million tonnes of quarry materials required for the Victorian government’s $165 million flood emergency road repair package and will also offset the increase in demand resulting from flood response activities.
projects that directly benefit our communities,” Gerrand said.
“We were particularly impressed with the quality of applications received this year. So much so, that funding was increased from $5,000 to $7,000 to allow us to allocate grants to more organisations than we would otherwise have been able to.”
Peninsula Quarries Victoria acts as an important supplier for infrastructure projects such as road building, commercial and domestic development and water retention projects.
The PQCEG was established by Peninsula Quarries Victoria in 2018 to engage with the local community, part of the engagement fulfilled through the community grants program.
The funding is a part of the $351 million Victorian state government package, announced soon after the major weather event in 2022.
The funds have been used to fix and upkeep roads, particularly in the hardest hit areas of western Victoria, Loddon Mallee and Hume.
Major Roads Projects Victoria is working with contractors that have offered to join in a coordinated effort with Regional Roads Victoria to repair roads impacted by the weather event, which include local material suppliers.
WE ARE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO OFFER LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEEK FUNDING FOR PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITIES
Rob GerrandPeninsula Quarries Victoria has supported a number of local groups and organisations with grants.
A mobile processing unit – designed to manufacture and blend Class 1 explosive material – has been found to have created a potential fire hazard due to a missing rubber seal.
The unit, fitted with a dual fuel system, was fitted with a faulty fuel cap. The fuel cap in question was missing the rubber seal, which created a potential fire hazard as the seal is critical to maintaining fuel tank pressurisation during the fast fuel process.
According the Resources Safety and Health Queensland (RSHQ) an oversight failed to identify the fuel cap for the gravity feed refuelling system was missing the rubber seal.
The RSHQ states that when the rubber seal is missing from the gravity feed fuel cap, increased pressure from the fast fuel process may cause fuel to
spill from the gravity feed fuel cap. This has relevance for quarry operators as a previous incident resulted in a spill of diesel fuel from a defective gravity feed fuel cap onto hot engine parts, causing a fire and full loss of the charge up vehicle.
RSHQ recommends that operators of plant and equipment fitted with fast fuel systems should:
• review hazard and risk registers to determine if hazards associated with fast fuel systems have been identified and controls put in place
• conduct inspections on all vehicles fitted with fast fuel receivers to ensure that the gravity feed fuel cap is fitted with the correct seal
• ensure that an effective preventative maintenance system includes regular inspections on vehicles
The Victorian government, the proud host of the 2026 Commonwealth Games, has opened the Expression of Interest (EOI) process to the construction sector for civil works to deliver the Games villages across regional Victoria.
Victoria will be highlighting its worldclass infrastructure and facilities and will create some 7,500 jobs through construction and civil works.
The major international multi-sport event attracts athletes from over 70 countries and territories.
“This is a unique opportunity for local businesses and contractors to partner with us in creating modern, accessible and energy efficient villages to host the best athletes in Commonwealth,” Minister for Commonwealth Games Delivery Jacinta Allan said.
RSHQ STATES THAT WHEN THE RUBBER SEAL IS MISSING FROM THE GRAVITY FEED FUEL CAP, INCREASED PRESSURE FROM THE FAST FUEL PROCESS MAY CAUSE FUEL TO SPILL FROM THE GRAVITY FEED FUEL CAP.
fitted with fast fuel receivers to ensure that the gravity feed cap is fitted with the correct seal
• ensure that workers who operate, refuel and maintain equipment fitted with fast fuel receivers have appropriate training in their function, operation, use and inspection, including the role of the seal on the fuel cap
• ensure AFFF fire suppression systems for mobile equipment have been designed and engineered in accordance with relevant standards.
RSHQ issues safety notices to draw attention to the occurrence of a serious incident, raise awareness of risks and prompt assessment of existing controls used within the extractive resources industry.
About 7,000 athletes and officials are expected to live in the four villages to be located in Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Morwell when the Games get underway in March 2026.
Each Games village has specific requirements and the civil works across the sites could include bulk earthworks, installation of new drains and sewers, the relocation of power, gas and water, roads construction, general demolition, remediation and clearing works.
The emphasis on local suppliers is a win-win for both Victoria’s economy and the environment. By using locally sourced materials, the government can create jobs and support local businesses, while also reducing the environmental impact of transportation and shipping.
“We’re looking for businesses of all
sizes to get involved in delivering the Commonwealth Games, from major construction firms to local suppliers and small businesses,” Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events Martin Pakula said.
Early works at each location are expected to begin later this year, with village designs for each site under development.
It is estimated the Commonwealth Games will contribute $3 billion to Victoria’s economy, creating more than 600 full-time equivalent jobs before they start, 3,900 jobs during the Games and a further 3,000 jobs after the Closing Ceremony.
The Games will also help reinforce Victoria’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Xylem Field Smart Technology (FST) offered from Xylem is an advanced telemetry and cloud-based system that allows for the monitoring and control of diesel pump sets anywhere in the world.
Flexible subscriptions and 24/7 customer support from the Xylem team are available, prioritising customer care and needs of each individual operation.
The functionality built into the FST includes the monitoring of key engine and pump parameters, managing received alarms and notifications from the pumps and a remote start, stop and speed change service.
Through service and maintenance diagnostics, in addition to geo-location tracking, the FST enables operators to have a greater insight into the details of pump conditions.
FST has a high level of usability in critical quarrying and dewatering applications, where unplanned downtime is not an option. For more information, visit www.xylem.com
It’s common knowledge in the aggregates industry that mistakes or complications in the processing stream can delay production and to this day, busy managers and supervisors are expected to travel around sites to find and fix costly problems.
With InsightHQ by Loadrite, it is now possible to see all your operations data in one place, in real time, from anywhere.
InsightHQ is a quarry reporting portal that gives visibility of your production processes as they happen.
Using InsightHQ takes the guesswork out of the process and gives you accurate data from excavators, wheel loaders, haul trucks and conveyors.
InsightHQ collects the data from machinery and equipment fitted with Loadrite scales in near real time in a single dashboard while applying context to the data, focused on the areas of your operation you want to see.
InsightHQ sends notifications and alerts when things go off track, with limits set by the user and personalised to specific operations. For more information, visit goloadrite.com
Tricon Equipment had the opportunity to join the MDS team in March for the launch of the revamped M515 trommel at ConExpo in Las Vegas.
The M515 heavy duty trommel is ideal for creating riprap, in addition to recovering rocks that are mixed with clay and other sticky material, providing a high quality end product to operators.
The new model of the M515 heavy duty trommel features an enhanced engine, which now has a swing-out platform for easy access. The fines and mid-product conveyors have also been lengthened in order to provide increased stockpile heights.
Tricon Equipment has this new model on the ground in Australia and is ready to deliver!
For more information, visit triconequipment.com.au
Designed and engineered for hazardous underground coal mining, the Truflo Pumps’ Explosion Proof Submersible Pump series is now available for immediate delivery.
There are six pumps in the series, with applications including swilly and general transfer right though to high-flow high-head multi-purpose big lifting. The pumps have superior performance across the board when compared to competing products, Truflo Pumps says.
Importantly, each pump is officially IECEx certified with SIMTARS accreditation. This certification is proof of compliance with industry safety standards adherence and that mining personnel are protected.
Build quality of each pump is extremely robust for the most challenging of underground environments, with casings pressure tested to guarantee flame paths.
Depending on the configuration, pumps have double mechanical seals, buffering oil chambers and L10 bearings packed with lithium grease. The pumps feature fast change-out of worn impellers (which in some cases can be done underground).
For more information, visit truflopumps.com.au
This large site having an approximate area of 670.201 hectare site has been operational since the mid 1990’s, and contains one of highest quality and significant sandstone deposits within the Beaudesert shire.
This mine captures one of regional Queensland’s largest land offerings and has an extraction approval of 350,000 tonnes per annum, with an approval time frame granted in April 2008 & valid via approved extension until April 2032. The site has a remaing resource volume of 3.722 million tonnes, consisting of medium course sand, screened bedding sand, brickies loam & other sand blended products and additionally includes recently upgraded equipment operational onsite.
Sale via expressions of interest close Thursday 18 May, 2023 at 4PM (AEST), for more information contact exclusive agents Frank Knight & Colliers International.
Kobelco XD series excavators have found a place in the hands of AusCrush, where the machinery is put to the test.
Regardless of where quarrying gets done in Australia, crushing and screening remains vital to the process. Given all operations are different – each with its own challenges that change over time – the value of mobile crushing and screening services that can deliver plant to all sites, regardless of location, cannot be understated.
And it’s here that AusCrush stands out.
An Australian family-owned and operated company, AusCrush specialises in mobile crushing and screening services. The company has a vision to provide a sustainable solutions to the quarrying and mining industries.
AusCrush is a company that values providing state-of-the-art equipment that delivers customers the best results. Managing director Morgan Taylor spoke to Quarry about the improvement of these services that has come from relying on Kobelco equipment.
“We’ve always had a strong affinity with the power and performance that is inherent with Kobelco equipment,” Taylor said.
“They perform so well when it comes to power they are delivering in our operation. There really is no competition in our mind when it comes to purchasing equipment.”
Sporting two Kobelco SK5000XDLC units in its fleet, AusCrush has first-hand experience with the fuel efficiency (without compromising on power) that is delivered by these Kobelco machines.
“It’s extremely apparent that the SK5000XDLCs are delivering competitive levels of productivity, while using around 20 per cent less fuel,” Taylor said.
When it came to deciding on the excavators in which to invest, flexibility in operation was a key concern for AusCrush. It was also important to take into account the variety of conditions across Australia the fleet is expected to work in and around.
Currently supplying on-site mobile crushing services at an operation in Kanmantoo, South Australia, the SK500XDLC has been able to demonstrate that it has been “built for extreme durability and engineered to operate in the harshest conditions across the nation,” according to Taylor.
This makes it uniquely suited for a variety of applications in Australia, including quarry excavation, subdivision work, underground utility installation and heavy infrastructure.
“For what you get with the SK500XDLC, they are second-to-none on the market at this point in time,” Taylor said.
The SK500XDLC is a purpose-built machine for quarry and heavy civil applications. Its rugged body is built for wear and includes additional reinforcements to all key areas of stress across the boom, arm, underbody and undercarriage.
The extreme duty boom and arm set is built to last in the harshest of applications and includes additional factory-fitted hardened steel on all key structural sections. A specially designed full-length rock guard is also installed on the inside of the dipper arm, on top of additional steel plating.
These reinforcements work to support the standard extreme duty 7m boom and 3.45m reaching a 7.81m digging depth with a rated safe working load over 6000kg.
This next-level strength and durability has resulted in a machine that can stand up to the most extreme work sites and offer competitive results in earthmoving capabilities.
Alongside the impressive durability of the build of the machine, Kobelco has also found space to include an advanced hydraulic system within the SK500XDLC.
Delivering high levels of power and efficiency, the hydraulic system has been engineered for uncompromising performance and productivity.
“Our operations are reliant on all processes keeping up with each other in the production line,” Taylor said.
“The benefits from the hydraulic system of the SK500XDLC allow our operators to easily keep pace with the productivity of our crushing fleet, delivering even greater outcomes and increased outputs to our customers.”
Boasting a bucket breakout force of 293kN and powerful slew torque of 183kN, the SK500XDLC produces fast digging cycle times, delivering a new level of productivity to its end users.
A high tractive force is also present on the SK500XDLC, giving a large amount of drawbar pull to climb steep stockpiles, as well as high speeds when transiting, climbing slopes or negotiating rough terrain.
“The manoeuvrability on sites is a must, especially when all sites we work at are different,” Taylor said.
“We need the flexibility to work around and over stockpiles in some instances, and being able to do so easily not only makes the operation more effective, but also reduces fuel costs.”
Delivering an average fuel consumption of under 27 L per hour in typical Australian heavy-digging conditions, the decrease in fuel usage comes in part from the new boom to arm
regeneration system.
More efficiently controlling hydraulic fluid flow and delivering a significant reduction of in-line resistance and pressure loss, the boom to arm regeneration system reduces the need for fluid to be moved from the pump, lowering the engine and hydraulic workload and resulting in increased fuel savings.
Operators can select from heavy-duty and standard work options, as well as an ECO mode that automatically optimises digging efficiency and delivers a 13 per cent decrease in fuel consumption.
Investing in a 52-tonne piece of machinery is not done lightly. Thankfully, the Northeast Auto Group – the local SA supplier for Kobelco – worked with AusCrush to supply
two units with strong after-market support.
“One our biggest concerns for AusCrush is the warranties on our machines,” Taylor said.
“How long the machines last and the level of support we can look for are something we look for in any supplier and we have been looked after really well both by the Northeast Auto Group and Kobelco.”
Kobelco offers an extended major component warranty of four years or 6000 hours. This is included with all new XD Series machines and allows further peace of mind for businesses that choose to invest in Kobelco equipment.
The Kobelco Geoscan telematics system is also provided free of charge for five years, allowing remote access to a comprehensive set of machine operational and maintenance data from any web-enabled device.
AusCrush has 17 crushers and screens in the mobile fleet, in addition to eight pieces of heavy machinery that can be transported to any operation nationwide.
“We’re happy to go anywhere across Australia,” Taylor said. “We are a national company and even if we’re not in your state at the moment, we’re happy to move the work to wherever you are.” •
To learn more, visit kobelco.com.au
Boral and Adbri recently released their annual 2022 reports and both suppliers – the largest in the Australian quarry industry – have recorded strong results.
While both companies have faced challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other market factors, they have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, safety and growth.
Vik Bansal has taken the helm as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Boral, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of building and construction materials.
With a wealth of experience in the construction materials industry, Bansal has set his sights on improving the company’s performance in a challenging environment. Bansal was happy to report an improvement in key metrics despite inflationary and operational challenges the company faced.
“In my first set of financial and operational results for Boral, I am pleased to report a half-on-half improved performance on key metrics amidst [the] challenging environment,” he said.
Boral’s 2022 statutory net profit after tax (NPAT) was reported at $961 million, including a post-tax significant gain of $811 million, in comparison to $389 million in financial year (FY) 2021.
Its underlying NPAT was reported at $150 million, down from $251 million in FY21.
The company reported an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 13.6 cents per share, a decrease from FY21’s 20.6 cents.
Bansal believes Boral can achieve even
better results going forward, outlining a “flatter and broader” organisational structure that will make the company even more customer-focused and “closer to the frontline”.
At the core of Bansal’s strategy for Boral is the company’s commitment to safety.
Bansal reiterated the company’s “zeroharm” goal, saying employees’ wellbeing is Boral’s highest priority and the company is working on a significant program to improve safety performance.
“Safety is our highest priority, and our safety performance remains a key performance indicator for executives. Zero harm remains our goal, and a significant work program is underway to improve safety performance at Boral,” he said.
Boral is also committed to sustainability, with a focus on reducing carbon emissions. The company was the first in the global cement sector to set 2030 targets aligned with a 1.5°C pathway for Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions.
With strong year-end reports and new executives on board, Boral and Adbri have plenty to celebrate.Boral and Adbri both recorded strong wins in 2022.
Boral continues to make steady progress toward carbon emissions reduction targets, with its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions down eight per cent in FY22 compared to FY19. The company is working towards an interim FY25 goal of an 18 per cent reduction compared to FY19.
Boral expects to complete the chlorine bypass at the Berrima Cement Plant in NSW in the fourth quarter of FY23, which will enable higher use of alternative fuels from around 15 per cent in FY22 to 30 per cent by the end of FY23, and thereafter targeting 60 per cent by FY25.
“I believe that recarbonisation of concrete is not discussed enough and we intend to bring it to the table as part of the Boral decarbonisation journey,” Bansal said.
“We also continue to assess opportunities to transition to renewable electricity sources, with Boral entering into a renewable power purchase agreement during 1H [first half] FY23 and remain focused in accelerating penetration of our market leading lower carbon concretes.
“Further, we have expanded our circular materials management offering, which is already achieving positive results, and we are exploring further opportunities to grow our recycling business.”
Last year saw Adbri celebrate the 140th anniversary since its inception as Brighton Cement Works in South Australia in 1882. Today, it is a leading manufacturer of cement, lime, concrete, aggregates, masonry products and industrial materials, serving customers in the construction, infrastructure, mining and retail sectors.
Adbri’s statutory NPAT was $102.6 million in 2022, down from $116.7 million in FY21. This drop was driven by higher operating costs as a result of inflation, particularly energy costs, and wet weather events.
The company’s underlying NPAT decreased 0.9 per cent to $118 million, down from $119.1 million in FY21. Excluding profits from property sales, however, meant the underlying NPAT was $77.7 million, down from $113 million in FY21, in line with the guidance range provided in October 2022.
“Adbri’s revenue grew 8.4 per cent yearon-year; however, our full-year financial performance was impacted by challenging macroeconomic factors including supply chain constraints, labour shortages, input cost inflation and rain events across the eastern seaboard of Australia that impacted our customers,” the chair of Adbri’s safety, health, environment and sustainability committee Michael Wright said.
Adbri’s focus on safety is paramount, with injury severity rates significantly reduced. Chairman Raymond Barro and new CEO Mark Irwin aim to instil a culture of ‘work safe, home safe’ throughout the group.
“At every level of the organisation, Adbri acknowledges [that] we still have more to do in delivering safety improvements across the business,” Barro and Irwin said in a statement.
“We are investing in engineering solutions and are focused on leadership behaviours, including visible leadership walks, critical control verifications, training across our workforce and contractor partners, and workplace inspections.
“We approach 2023 with a clear mandate to ensure our operations are safe, efficient and profitable, and our
processes are simple, consistent and efficient,” they said.
“We are committed to our sustainability improvement journey and will continue to focus to meet our future goals, with belief that our drive for simplicity and effectiveness will power both our financial and sustainability performance.”
In line with its goals of improving sustainability, Adbri has released a net-zero emissions roadmap.
Adbri’s short-term emissions reductions target is a seven per cent absolute reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by FY24 compared to FY19. Since FY19, it has achieved a four per cent overall reduction and in FY21 achieved a two per cent reduction.
In FY22, Adbri’s total operational Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions reduced by eight per cent against its FY21 performance. The company also has mediumterm targets outlined for cement, lime and electricity, which the company says are its main sources of emissions.
Cement has the goal of a 20 per cent reduction in Scope 1 emissions intensity by FY30.
In the 2022 sustainability report for the company, a five per cent emissions intensity reduction in cement product was achieved largely by increased refuse derived fuel usage at its Birkenhead operation in South Australia.
Lime has the goal of a 10 per cent reduction in Scope 1 emissions intensity by FY30, and electricity supply has the goal of 100 per cent zero emissions by FY30.
It’s these kinds of targets that helping drive the quarrying industry on its path to decarbonisation. •
Eltirus founder Steve Franklin was on hand at the recent CONEXPO 2023 in Las Vegas.
For those who haven’t heard of it, CONEXPO is the largest construction materials show held in the US.
Every three years, industry people descend on Las Vegas – 139,000 this year alone – to be a part of the show. It’s big, with some 2,400 manufacturers and suppliers in attendance and 28 hectares of exhibits.
This was also the year that alternative energy and autonomous equipment came to the fore.
There were several electric machines and technology solutions from Caterpillar, including a 950 GC wheel loader and 320 excavator, while Komatsu showed a PC210E electric excavator.
The Caterpillar machines looked
Cat also showed a number of charging solutions for their machines, all similarly impressive.
The impression I was left with was that electric equipment will play a big part in decarbonisation of our industry, but that we need to be planning for this now. Why? Because, if you have to potentially double the amount of electricity supply to your site, it’s going to take some planning (and capital) to achieve this.
Likewise, we’ll need some very smart thinking about how and where we charge equipment on-site. Is it in the operating quarry area? How do you manage the peak loads that will result from charging?
People who have been around coal mining (and the early days of quarrying) will note that electricity supply into operating areas
one of the manufacturers was talking about a charging system that could charge a truck in approximately five minutes. The problem, however, was the power capacity needed to undertake such charging, but he also noted that with the sheer amount of electricity being delivered into the machine in such a short time frame, it wasn’t safe for the operator to be in the machine while it was being charged.
I had written off hydrogen as an alternative energy source, but by the time I left CONEXPO I realised that I was wrong.
When I thought of hydrogen, I immediately thought of fuel cells generating electricity as a power source, and this is a valid approach. By way of example, Volvo had its HX-04 fuel cellpowered articulated hauler on display.
But what I hadn’t appreciated was that you can also run an internal combustion engine on hydrogen – a point not missed by the majority of the major engine manufacturers.
Cummins took this a step further by showing a 15L engine that could run on diesel, green diesel, natural gas and hydrogen. Depending on the application, a different head and inlet/ exhaust arrangement is used, but the engine below the head stays the same.
Cummins this year launched a green energy offshoot called Accelera to provide battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell power sources for heavy industry. I think this development, more than any other, made me realise that change really was coming.
When a company as large as Cummins takes a deliberate step on this path, it is evident that it is not a passing fad.
A big disappointment was the lack of autonomous machines on display.
After Caterpillar’s announcement of its partnership with Luck Stone to bring autonomous 777s to Bull Run quarry in Virginia earlier in the year, I was hoping to see one at CONEXPO. Alas, no such luck.
I was also expecting Volvo to bring its TA15 autonomous electric truck to the show. Volvo
has several trial projects around the world, with the Holcim Siggenthal quarry trial probably the best known. While the TA15 was not on show, Volvo did have its very futuristic LX03 autonomous, electric wheel loader on display.
Interestingly, the company that not only brought autonomous machines to the show but demonstrated them for real was Develon (formerly Doosan), which showed an autonomous electric excavator and small dozer.
While these machines are not particularly relevant to the quarry industry (at this time), it was particularly interesting to see an
excavator that could dig autonomously.
It’s early days for the technology, but it is increasingly gaining maturity. Hats off to the Develon team – it was quite a show.
CONEXPO 2023 was a big success by all measures and a very strong comeback from 2020 when it was cut short by COVID (last time I made it back into Australia just a few hours before the border closed).
The clear message was that sustainability, digitalisation and autonomy are becoming increasingly more common and that the technology that we are going to need to decarbonise our industry is starting to come into play.
Of note, however, was that the innovation focus has changed away from autonomy and more towards decarbonisation – trying to do both at the same time has been a little too much for most manufacturers and producers. Given the clear need to decarbonise, this seems to make a lot of sense going forward.
We are clearly in a time of significant change – well done to all the Australian and New Zealand producers who are working to make these changes a reality whether it be through renewable energy projects, electric truck trials, carbon capture and a myriad of other projects.
Together, we all make a difference. •
Cummins 15L multi-fuel engine. Develon was one of the few companies with autonomous gear on display.John Deere is bolstering its wheel loader lineup with the 904 P-tier wheel loader.
The new 904 P-Tier is a two-pass loader solution that the company says provides the durability and reliability to take on processed aggregate stockpiles and more efficiently load trucks or rail cars all day long.
No one ever said safety second.
Based on proven components and designs, the new 904 P-tier offers obstacle intelligence features such as an advanced vision system – an industry-first for loaders. This system allows increased visibility to sides of the machine by integrating two digital cameras on the rearview mirror platform and combining views into a dedicated single display in the cab.
The 904 P-Tier also offers an improved rear object detection system. This feature overlays the projected vehicle reversal path within the same dedicated monitor, enhancing the operator’s experience and situational awareness.
It also provides an audible alert for objects behind the machine that increases in
intensity as objects get closer. By combining cameras, radar and machine learning, obstacle intelligence gives operators eyes in the back of their head. These features, coupled with premium cab comfort options, help to ensure operators remain productive throughout the day.
Designed to do the heavy lifting, the rugged 904 P-Tier comes equipped with 7.5m³ and 7.1m³ material-handling buckets with integrated spill guards and curved side cutters and seat-mounted hydraulic controls for easier and more intuitive operation. High-capacity, heavy-duty axles with standard axle cooling filtration deliver durability in difficult conditions compared to previous models.
With its large tilt cylinders and impressive hydraulic pressures, engine power and torque, the 904 P-Tier provides the muscle for operators to work comfortably. With advantages such as fuel-efficient engines, lockup torque converters and a dedicated steering pump, operators can do more while burning less fuel.
“The 904 P-Tier is built off the success of the 844L aggregate handler,” John Deere Construction and Forestry solutions marketing manager for loaders and aggregates Luke Gribble said.
“It’s equipped with key features like increased horsepower, breakout force, hydraulic pressures and bucket offerings.
“The 904 P-Tier is purpose-built for the rugged demands of the aggregates industry and the new model identity supports this approach.
“We wanted to advance our machines’ technology offerings by adding features that improve the experience of those who operate these machines.”
The 904 P-Tier is also JDLink-compatible, providing real-time machine data and alerts and leveraging a suite of dealer and factory tools to deliver increased productivity and uptime, as well as lower daily operating costs.
JDLink is now available without a subscription and at no cost. •
Tolearnmore,visitdeere.com.au/en/wheelloaders/904-p-wheel-loader
Komatsu’s iSite fleet management solution provides site managers with real-time machine data essential for optimising operations.
There are a lot of moving pieces when it comes to a quarry operation, so it’s essential for site managers to have the right tools to keep track of what’s going on.
Komatsu’s iSite technology is a fleet management solution (FMS) designed to help site managers monitor the location and status of their fleets. iSite is brand-agnostic, meaning it’s compatible across a mixed fleet of machinery like trucks, excavators and dozers, regardless of manufacturer.
Fundamentally, the technology helps a site optimise operations by allowing site managers to see every movement of their machines in real-time and provides critical information about volumes and tonnages being hauled and loaded, as well as other parameters.
This exposes potential bottlenecks on site, or areas in need of extra resources.
All of this information can be viewed in realtime on-site or remotely via cloud storage. An iSite dashboard can monitor the operating parameters of up to 50 machines at a time.
iSite also monitors fuel burn and can warn operators of a pre-start check failure, as well as overspeed and overload events. It sends a visual warning to the operator via the iSite in-cab dashboard.
iSite allows a site manager to see when a machine is idling. They can then direct an operator to switch off the engine while waiting, to conserve fuel.
Features also include auto-reporting capabilities for machine faults, automatic service meter readings, automatic machine utilisation measuring and access through the myKomatsu online customer parts portal for parts and service kits, as well as oil analysis kits and reports.
This key performance data not only helps to keep operators safe, but also serves to extend the lifespan of machinery.
And, now, the iSite FMS is being base built into some of Komatsu’s most popular quarrying workhorses. The Komatsu HD4058 dump truck is a 514-horsepower machine
with a 40-tonne capacity. Its advanced transmission and braking systems ensure optimum traction. The truck now comes installed with iSite.
The HD605-8 dump truck also features iSite. With a 60-tonne capacity, this dump truck is purpose-built for quarry, construction and small-scale mining operations.
One of the benefits of iSite is that it can evolve without the need for new hardware. The system has seen a number of updates since its launch.
“We’ve added an ESG component, which essentially measures the emissions per tonne that each machine is moving,” Komatsu Smart Construction general manager James Muir told Quarry
“As well as setting production targets, a site can now also set emissions targets.”
Keeping track of emissions is more relevant than ever, as government bodies strengthen regulations around carbon emissions in the quarry industries.
“If you can bring the idling time down, you can reduce your emissions count,” Muir said. “And, just generally, an improvement to production itself is going to reduce emissions again.
“Another thing iSite can do now is produce heat maps showing emissions clouds. So, if there’s a concentration in machines operating in a particular area, then they’re obviously going to produce more emissions in that spot than where they’re travelling between destinations.
“You can visualise that now, which is particularly important when you’re working out of quarries close to urban areas. You can report that information.”
But iSite isn’t a simple “set and forget” solution; it’s a tailored experience.
“First we do a site investigation,” Muir said.
“We start by interviewing the site supervisors of the quarry – understanding what they’re trying to achieve. Then we start to build that into the system.
So, we customise iSite’s parameters for each customer.
“It’s the same with safety in terms of the electronic pre-start checks. The checks are tailored to each machine because certain machines will have different safety functions and start-up requirements – fire suppression, for example.
“We use the site investigation to identify the individualised requirements that the system will need to account for.”
After a recent update, iSite is also able to differentiate between material types being loaded and transported by machines.
When it comes to updates to the iSite solution, Komatsu lets its customers drive innovation. The changes the company makes
“Differentiating material types helps our customers better manage their KPIs,” Muir said. “It can help sort what’s waste from what’s material, and therefore identify different locations or courses for loading and dumping.
“Another aspect is that a lot of quarries look at blending. So they’ll want a certain amount of material A blended with material B, and so on. iSite’s customisation can help keep track of that.”
With its intelligent iSite fleet management solution, Komatsu is helping the quarrying industry get the most out of its machines, keep operators safe and optimise operations. •
To learn more, visit komatsu.com.au
Viva Energy is one of Australia’s leading energy companies, with over 1,350 Shell-branded service stations and 55 fuel import terminals and depots across the country.
It also has a strong retail convenience offering, with the recent purchase of more than 700 Coles Express service stations and the sole right to use the Shell brand in Australia for the sale of retail fuels.
The company is also a macro distributor for Shell-branded lubricants and maintains a strategic relationship with Vitol for the supply of crude oil and imported products, and
Additionally, the company’s Shell Fuel Card service is accepted at 1,350 service stations across the country.
“We’re proud to be Australian, proud of our 120-year history and extremely proud of our achievements,” Viva Energy sales and marketing manager for lubricants Renee Reilly said.
“We help Australians reach their destinations by making, importing and delivering the fuels, lubricants, chemicals and bitumen they need to get there.
“We play a major role in getting people
Shell has a history of innovation in lubricants and was the first supplier to market cleaner, purer lubricants made from natural gas.
Significant investment in research and development has led to advanced products that are reliable in the toughest Australian conditions, and across all industries such as quarrying, mining and construction.
“Shell invests significantly in technical collaboration and has over 350 product application specialists that work closely with OEMs [original equipment manufacturers] and customers to develop innovative lubricant solutions,” Viva Energy technical expert Silvana Farrugia said.
“Our lubricants products can deliver value but also improve business outcomes.”
With local expertise backed by a global brand, Viva Energy’s lubricant sales and technical team members are well placed to identify and implement leading lubrication solutions for their customers.
“Our customer benefits include lower maintenance costs, longer equipment life and reduced energy consumption – these are some of the reasons that Shell has recently celebrated 16 consecutive years as numberone global lubricants supplier,” Reilly said.
The company, according to Farrugia, can deliver wherever it’s necessary for customers.
“Online, on-site or over the phone, we are always available to resolve your lubrication
A locally operated Australian energy, retail and industrial company, Viva Energy is committed to providing dynamic and adaptable service.Investment in research and development has led to advanced products in industries such as quarrying, mining and construction. Viva experts are available online, on-site or over the phone to help customers.
questions, so you will know the right oil for any application, fast,” she said.
There are a number of helpful and convenient tools customers can utilise to assist on every aspect of product selection and lubrication management to help unlock total cost of ownership savings:
• Lubricants online store – this recentlylaunched offering means customers can more easily view the Shell and Viva Energy product range, technical specs, make an enquiry or purchase online
• Viva Energy technical help desk – the highly trained Australian-based technical helpdesk staff members can provide answers to all lubricants and application questions via phone or email
ubeMatch – this free selfhelp website features an interactive vehicle and equipment database that allows access to expert lubrication recommendations at any time.
Given lubricants, greases and coolants are critical machine components, Shell works with leading equipment manufacturers to make sure its products meet the requirements of its equipment and the tough working environments in which
The Shell range of lubricants carries a wide range of industry and OEM approvals to meet and exceed the requirements of equipment manufacturers.
“At a local level, Viva Energy technical staff have a technical relationship with all key OEMs,” Reilly said.
“This technical relationship enables consistent information flow between all parties, enabling us to work with customers to get the most out of their equipment.”
Viva Energy also has extensive, proven experience of reliable delivery in demanding supply chains in all environments for a range of customers across Australia. The company’s supply chain is one of the industry’s most flexible and adaptable and includes local fuels refining and global sourcing.
Viva Energy owns, leases and operates a portfolio of established infrastructure assets complemented by third-party warehouse providers throughout
Australia, providing a cost-efficient supply chain.
“We have the experience and capability to manage product supply to some of the most remote parts of Australia,” Reilly said.
Viva Energy maintains goals that look towards a sustainable future.
“Beyond refining and lubricants, we are also looking ahead to the future and aim to establish new energy projects which will transform the Geelong refinery site into a modern energy hub and meet the changing energy needs of all Australians,” Reilly said
“Our vision for the Geelong energy hub is focused on exploring opportunities in transition fuels such as LNG, alternative fuels such as biofuels and hydrogen, and renewable energy and emission reduction projects such as a solar energy farm at our Geelong refinery.
“We know that it is critical for the sustainability of our business, but also our customers businesses, that we understand the opportunities and risks associated with climate change and incorporate these into our business strategy.
“All of these initiatives help our customers to also reach their goals, and allow us to be a true business partner for all of their energy requirements.” •
Tolearnmore,visitvivaenergy.com.au/shoplubricants
• Total Area: 227.9 Hectares
• All Extractive Industry Approvals in Place
Crushing & Screening Approval Over 1,000,000 TPA (unlimited)
Resource:
Volcaniclastic Siltstone & Sandstone of the Doonside Volcanics
• All necessary infrastructure in place:
• 2 x Weighbridges • Workshop • Offices & Associated Equipment
• Extensive Mobile Crushing & Screening Plant • Hercules Trommel
• Excavators • Loaders • Dump Trucks • Water Truck • Generators
Butlers Yarwun Quarries Pty Ltd
Yarwun, Queensland 4694
180,000,000 TONNE RESOURCE
GRAHAM MESSER INDUSTRIAL AUCTIONEERS & VALUERS
KEY RESOURCE AREA
A proven quarry resource plus approval for a Readymix Concrete Batching Plant & Asphalt Manufacturing Plant, the Yarwun Quarry is ideally positioned to supply material for the following upcoming projects:
APPROVED ONE BILLION $$$ FITZROY TO GLADSTONE PIPELINE FUTURE GAS & COAL PROJECTS • GLADSTONE PORT UPGRADES
• ROCKHAMPTON RING ROAD
• FUTURE SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
OFFSITE CRUSHING & SCREENING CONTRACT OFFSITE CRUSHING & SCREENING CONTRACT
Ongoing Crushing & Screening activities for Haul Road and Environmental Reclamation.
Consisting of:
• KOMATSU PC350LC8 EXCAVATOR
• KLEEMANN SCALPER MOBISCREEN
• KOMATSU WA500 LOADER
(KRA 119) OVER 400,000 TPA
• KLEEMANN MSS802 MOBISCREEN
• TWO OPERATOR CREWS IN PLACE
Detailed Information Memorandum is available from the marketing agents:
Graham Messer Industrial Auctioneers & Valuers Pty Ltd
Graham Messer: Mobile 0417 771 642
Email: graham@grahammesser.com.au
Mobile 0439 175 999
Email: morganbennettmachinery@gmail.com
For further information and photographs visit www.grahammesser.com.au
The National Transport Research Organisation has taken another step to secure the sector’s future through the provision of quarry certification.
The National Transport Road Organisation (NTRO) has a long history with private and public projects across Australia.
Formerly known as the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), the NTRO is a not-for-profit organisation that deals with research and innovation for roads, rail, ports and airports, allowing businesses to make evidence-based decisions when it comes to materials and resource usage.
Furthering that relationship with the transport industry naturally led the NTRO towards the quarrying industry, given its central role as a supplier of aggregates and other construction materials used in major roads and transport infrastructure projects.
Taking the time to explain the focus on quarry certifications and why the organisation is best suited to this type of work, NTRO chief operating officer Dr Richard Yeo spoke to Quarry about the benefits it brings to the wider industry.
“We have simply seen an opportunity and an area where we can add value to the market through certification of products, services and processes,” Yeo said.
In 2022, NTRO partnered with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) to transition the DTP laboratory and field-testing services into the NTRO national services. This included laboratory materials researching testing and conducting laboratory source rock assessments in conjunction with DTP geologists who conduct the Victorian quarry accreditation process.
“It just came naturally, as we were already interested in the certification of products, services and processes, and quarry products fell into that,” Yeo said.
“We felt we could add value there and, as
such, we took over the laboratory service and we look to improve on what was being done.
“The NTRO has always been involved in setting specifications for the road and transport industry, and showing that governmental and environmental requirements are meaningful and drive outcomes that are beneficial for asset owners.”
NTRO has an already established history with quarry materials assesment and certification, having worked with DTP and wider transport agencies, in testing samples from quarries and assessing the expected use of materials. Currently operating through DTP, Victorian quarries are now being informed that the testing will be conducted at the NTRO laboratory.
As requirements change across the board, NTRO has identified a number of key challenges the industry faces when it comes to certification.
Part of these challenges stem from the fact quarries do not have a set of national requirements by which to abide, instead operating under jurisdictional requirements that Yeo describes as lacking “consistency and harmonisation between states”.
Other challenges fall under the realms of changing requirements for carbon emissions generated from operations, specific decarbonisation requirements and general mandates for reduced energy usage.
Most of the research and testing NTRO conducts when it comes to quarry certification is centred around the fit-forpurpose use of materials.
“We’ve been very involved over many years in the identification of fit-for-purpose use of
materials,” Yeo said.
“Best fit-for-purpose doesn’t necessarily mean the best quality materials being used everywhere, but rather finding where marginal materials can find a use and including use of marginal materials where they’re known to perform or where we can modify them to ensure that they have the performance outcomes desired by the structure they are a part of.”
To facilitate this aspect of certification and share the information with the rest of the industry, NTRO has developed a range of performance testing and long-term monitoring solutions.
“Our laboratories are state-of-the-art and lend themselves to conducting performance tests which might take decades in real-time to carry out to be done in a much-reduced timeframe,” Yeo said.
“We have a full-scale accelerated loading facility in Melbourne where we can test a full-scale road pavement under heavy loading on, built out of whatever materials we need to see tested, and then we closely observe how it performs in a very short time.
“So we can simulate 20 years of life in just a few months and beyond that, we have long-term pavement performance monitoring studies that then follow through and see how the solutions work in a real-world setting.”
In an ideal world, all infrastructure would be built using the highest-grade materials for every single project. However, that isn’t feasible and can often lend itself to quarries depreciating in value if there is a misaligned use of high-grade products for projects that do not require them.
NTRO has confirmed that these types of
heavily trafficked motorway,” Yeo said. Aligning the industry with the market and services it supplies to through certifying quarries with not just high-grade but also
emissions reduction and resilience of the end product – are significant challenges that NTRO aims to support quarries in overcoming by undertaking
blended materials, we will be able to help the quarrying industry prosper.” •
To learn more, visit arrb.com.au
A new, mobile, all-terrain maintenance pod from BOA Hydraulics is helping quarries maintain vital hydraulic hoses.
For more than three generations, BOA Hydraulics has been one of the nation’s leading hydraulic repair services.
Neville Boakes formed the company in 1963, originally as an auto-electrical business. Following several evolutions in the sector and a handful of name changes, the business is now a hydraulic hose fitting and repair service.
What is a hydraulic hose?
A hydraulic hose is a specialist type of hose, typically constructed from flexible rubber or wire and feature a series of layers to give the hose its strength and durability.
Hydraulic hoses have three layers: an inner tube, a reinforced layer and an outer layer; and the hose has the purpose of allowing fluid (typically hydraulic fluid) to flow from one component to another.
The hose layer ensures that fluid can travel unimpeded and is essential for hydraulics systems to keep moving.
If it fails or becomes faulty, it could bring entire production lines to a standstill and take vital machinery offline until the hose can be replaced. This is where BOA Hydraulics comes in.
BOA Hydraulics marketing executive Jorge Boakes and director Greg Boakes spoke to
Quarry about the importance for operators and other staff to have the ability to repair and replace hoses themselves, as opposed to external contractors.
“There’s a big push for [BOA Hydraulics] at this point in time, especially with the quarry industry, where servicing is done and the essential parts of machines are regularly looked over,” Jorge Boakes said.
“Hoses are not traditionally checked. We’ve seen this time and time again lead to scenarios where the hoses could have been replaced as part of the regular service, but they weren’t.
“As such, more money and time is spent as the machine is then due to be serviced for a second time.”
Greg Boakes said planned scheduled service work contracts for machinery is essential for sites to function efficiently.
“There’s a real problem when [hydraulic hoses] breakdown, as there’s time and resources that need to be allocated to repair the vehicle, and often these sites are quite large,” he said.
The company has introduced the BOApod, which enables companies and operators to assemble hydraulic hoses safely and efficiently on-site, as well as replace them when necessary.
The mobile hose repair and maintenance facility is suited for all weather and terrain and includes European precision crimping and cutting machinery.
The primary purpose of the BOApod is to reduce downtime waiting on hydraulic hose repairs and to replace hydraulic hoses in machinery before the hoses stop working, thus preventing unnecessary costs and time wasted.
Greg Boakes added that the BOApod will eliminate breakdowns on the field.
“What we’ve found from studies and our own research is that 37 per cent of unplanned breakdowns on machines, which causes them to stop, is due to a blown hose,” he said. “That’s a big number and a big issue and a big cost.
“What happens in a quarry situation is
We’re providing to the quarry operators a solution they can manage themselves and work to reduce costs on-site
BOApod enables companies and operators to assemble hydraulic hoses safely and efficiently on-site.
you’ve got a whole supply chain. If something stops working due to a blown hose, there’s not just the cost of the downtime on a machine, but also on people standing around who can’t work since, down the line, production has stalled.
“Other parts of the process often have to stop, which can start costing some big dollars.”
Jorge Boakes said the BOApod gives users the ability perform preventative maintenance then and there when something has broken down.
“It gives peace of mind, knowing that when it goes out in the field and goes back into digging it’s got new hoses and they last longer and until the next planned shutdown,” he said.
The company provides a training program on how to get the most out of the BOApod and its features, for example ensuring the hose reel is kept neat and above the ground if it is electrical.
BOA Hydraulics has all the hose parts labelled so they can easily be scanned from the BOA hub app to reorder replacements.
“We hear from a lot of people that, before, hydraulic hoses was a headache. Now, with this, it’s just so easy,” Jorge Boakes said.
“That’s where we sit apart from our competitors and the wider industry, as we’re providing to the quarry operators a solution they can manage themselves and work to reduce costs on-site, as opposed to other businesses that are just selling repairs and hoses once the machines are already broken down.”
The BOApod is user-friendly, delivered to site, fully stocked and a turn-key solution available in Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. •
Tolearnmore,visitboahydraulics.com/home-aus
Moving material from point A to Point B is an over-simplification of many elements of the quarrying process, but it remains crucial to high levels of efficiency down the supply chain.
Whether it’s unplanned downtime, fuel prices or wear and tear from operating equipment for extended periods of time, quarrying equipment can come with hidden costs.
Managing these costs can be a contributor to the success of an operation, which
ONTRAC Group for excavator buckets. As part of a growingpartnership, Milbrae Quarries has recently acquired one of the powerful XMOR® buckets, manufactured in Australia.
Mounted on a 48-tonne Volvo excavator, the XMOR bucket has exceeded expectations,
manager for mining and mobile services Tyson Afford.
“We’re very distinctly seeing shorter cycle times from the equipment using the XMOR bucket,” he said.
The bucket has seen over 500 working hours of operation and the benefits of the design have been “obvious on a lot of different fronts”, Afford said.
The excavator now uses less fuel when using the XMOR, for the amount of rock it moves in regular operation.
Afford said the lighter bucket and its ability to dig more easily, enabling the excavator to have a fuller bucket, contributes to fewer cycle times with fewer overall cycles.
“With all that combined, it would make sense that things are being done more quickly while burning much less fuel,” he said.
The highly abrasive conditions the XMOR buckets face are made workable with replaceable wear parts.
The bucket can be maintained in the field, thanks to the mechanically connected heel segments and wing shrouds. This eliminates the need to weld, making the replacement of these parts faster and safer for maintenance teams.
“When it is due for maintenance it is going to be quite simple,” Afford said. “ONTRAC has already made sure we have the replacement plates in our hands and the repairs can be done onsite, due to the design of the XMOR.
“Plus, the way that the plates are built into the bucket itself mean that it’s not going to be out of action for long when the time comes that it does have to be maintained.”
The primary use for the XMOR bucket at Milbrae Quarries is in production digging –feeding crushers with blasted rock.
Operating primarily at the working face, Afford is confident that the strength of the XMOR bucket means it will stand the test of time.
“Everything the XMOR has moved to date has just been blasted rock,” Afford said, “which you can appreciate is not an easy material for any equipment to deal with.
“And it has done that with no issues, handling whatever we throw at it at the face of our operation with no issue.”
Being built from high-strength steel and with a unique patented shape that enables the bucket to be lighter while also moving more material in a single pass, there are different variations of the bucket for different applications.
These differences are represented in the distinct BHB and BHC bucket types.
The XMOR BHB is the bucket more commonly used for bulk excavation, due to its superior volume versus weight ratio. The BHC bucket is designed for more aggressive applications and is fitted with a flat cutting
edge and head beam, which helps with robustness in extreme applications.
Both buckets are made and designed with the Strenx® Performance steel and Hardox® Wear steel.
“Unlike traditional buckets, we haven’t yet come across an issue of teeth coming loose and falling off, as they would previously,” Afford said.
“We’re saving time we would otherwise be losing and it’s these benefits of the XMOR which have really shone for us, in terms of performance and limiting the amount of unplanned downtime we experience.”
Milbrae Quarries has a long history as a family-owned business, with both a mining and quarry division in addition to a concrete creation business for local projects.
The company helps local council hard rock quarries extract and crush concrete aggregates, road base and ballast.
“We, as all quarries do, turn big rocks into little rocks,” Afford said.
“But there is also a whole concrete division of Millbrae, with concrete plants around the Riverina.
“The relationship we’ve had with the ONTRAC team has been a really positive one, as they’ve always gone above and beyond for anything we’ve ever needed,” Afford said.
“It can be difficult working with manufacturers, especially if you are a remote operation, but with ONTRAC, it’s been easy to get on top of any issues that we’ve had.” •
To learn more, visit ontracgroup.com.au
When Epiroc released its 2022 annual and sustainability report, the strong results were a reflection of the company’s success and ongoing commitment innovation.
Epiroc’s report highlighted the company’s financial performance and progress in reducing its environmental footprint and outlined its commitment to sustainability and safety. The annual and sustainability report also detailed Epiroc’s many large equipment orders in 2022, which increased by a record 17 per cent – and strong development in its aftermarket sales.
In addition, the report highlighted the company’s financial performance over the past year. It reported strong sales growth and profitability, with a revenue increase of 25 per cent compared to the previous year.
“The organisation made great strides in delivering according to the strategy and we delivered record results and profitable growth,” Epiroc president and chief executive officer Helena Hedblom said.
“Many groundbreaking innovations were launched and we maintained a high acquisition pace.”
Epiroc announced nine acquisitions in 2022, including Remote Control Technologies (RCT), Mernok, Radlink, Geoscan, JTMEC, AARD Mining Equipment, RNP México, WainRoy and CR.
“Acquisitions are a way for us to accelerate growth and to build leadership positions in critical niches,” Hedblom said.
“Upon completion, [the acquisitions] will add approximately five per cent to our revenues.
“The acquired companies broaden our offering of solutions for automation, digitalisation and electrification, as well as extending our equipment and aftermarket offering.”
Hedblom also touted a number of the company’s innovations.
“Our vision to dare to think new led to many groundbreaking innovations in 2022,” she said.
These innovations include SmartROC T35, the first ever battery-electric surface drill rig; Boltec ABR, a fully mechanised bolt reloading system that increases safety; Mobius for Drills, a platform that improves the implementation of automation and connectivity; V-cutter, a cutter Epiroc said revolutionises trenching and reduces energy by 40 per cent; and Powerbit X, a drill bit with diamond-protected buttons that prolong the replacement intervals.
Elsewhere in the company, Epiroc is striving to improve in a number of operational areas.
“Operational excellence is about doing the right things and continuously working to make them better,” Hedblom said.
“Every improvement counts and it includes all aspects of the business, from products to the organisation. It is also about the ability to execute.
“We have an organisation with decentralised responsibility. This means that our employees have authority to swiftly develop and adjust the business in response to any market development.”
In 2022, Epiroc was able to:
• enhance focus on digitalisation, creating a dedicated, customer-focused division for its digital solutions and appointing a chief technology officer
• split its parts and services organisation into three regions to enhance the service focus and build stronger customer relations
• bolster its workshop efficiency and increase the number of certified service technicians by almost 2,000.
• contribute to high availability of spare parts and consumables through its supply-chain improvement program
• establish regional centres of excellence to simplify and align administration processes.
Epiroc is a truly global company, with 17,000 employees and customers in some 150 countries.
It launched many innovations in 2022, such as the first-ever battery-electric surface drill
rig, a milestone for zero-emission drilling in surface mines and quarries.
As a leading manufacturer of mining and construction equipment, Epiroc is investing heavily in the development of electric and hybrid-powered equipment as part of its focus on electrification. The company is also working to increase the circularity of its operations to reduce waste and promote the reuse of materials.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the decision to cease deliveries to the Russian market due to the war in Ukraine, Epiroc reported strong sales growth and profitability in 2022.
“In the third quarter, we removed the order book in Russia completely,” Hedblom said.
“As Russia was previously our fourthlargest market, we needed to redirect and find other customers for our solutions, which the organisation handled well.
“The COVID-19 pandemic [also] brought challenges to our business and customers, but our strong performance in 2021 shows the resilience of our operations and the dedication of our employees.”
Epiroc’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its progress towards achieving its sustainability goals.
In particular, the company said it is looking to make a positive environmental impact via its equipment.
“We aim to offer a complete range of emissions-free equipment by 2030. Underground, we aim even higher – as soon as in 2025,” Epiroc said in its report.
Epiroc is also committed to working to develop new technologies and processes to increase the efficiency and sustainability of its operations.
“We believe that by operating in a sustainable manner, we can create long-term value for all our stakeholders,” Hedblom said. •
Tolearnmore,visitepiroc.com/en-au
Precisionscreen’s SM1290 and SM12120 wheeled conveyors are helping to optimise quarry operations.
You’ll find Precisionscreen machinery all over the globe, hard at work in 15 different countries across four continents.
A screening and crushing solutions supplier, Precisionscreen specialises in conveyors, pugmills, crushers, screens and washing.
The company designs and manufactures specialised mobile equipment for the quarry, mining, extractive, material handling and recycling industries.
Precisionscreen’s machines are designed and built in Australia to handle harsh conditions. There isn’t much the company’s range can’t handle, from the jungles of Papua New Guinea to the frigid cold of the Italian Alps.
Precisionscreen brings together three decades of experience with a constantly evolving design process to create a line of efficient and intelligent mobile crushers.
Among them is the Precisionscreen SM1290 wheeled conveyor, a 100ft – or 30m – monster with a 900mm belt.
Manual radial wheels, aided by a tow bar and ground pivot, make the conveyor mobile and adjustable, unlike fixed conveyor alternatives. The SM1290 can do its job, pack up, and move on to the next stockpile without the hassle or expense of fixed infrastructure.
The SM1290 features a fully galvanised conveyor, buttressing the belt against abrasions and wear. The aluminium slide bed also fully covers the rollers, which helps protect the machine and increase its operating life.
Heavy-duty channel sides and a generous feedboot help keep aggregate and other material from spilling. The feedboot, in particular, combats belt sag at the critical loading point, keeping the conveyor turning
smoothly with its poly rollers. The drive pulley is hydraulically powered, with fittings at the tail drum. But the drive head also comes in an electric option to help site operators lower emissions and hit environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets.
Triple seal bearings help keep out dust and water, which means less maintenance and downtime and a longer service life.
Additional optional features include a power radial wheel, precoat attachment kit and feedboot options with liners.
The precoat chute attachment, which is also optional, features strategically placed high-velocity nozzles to ensure sufficient coverage of bituminous liquid.
Another mobile choice is the Precisionscreen SM12120 wheeled conveyor. With a belt width of 1,200mm, one can think of it as the SM1290’s big brother.
The 30m conveyor is built sturdy, with similar bells and whistles to the SM1290, such as manual radial wheels, generous feedboot and triple seal bearings.
A variable discharge height of up to 12.3m makes the SM12120 suited to a range of sites and stockpiles.
This conveyor comes with the same optional features as the SM1290, including electric drive.
Conveyors typically run for hours in quarrying operations. Heavy use for months on end can truly test a machine. Fortunately, Precisionscreen also happens to be one of
the industry’s largest providers of spare parts in the country.
Its Brisbane-based workshop allows Precisionscreen to manufacture in-house, while also leveraging a global supplier network to ensure fast delivery times and competitive pricing for its spare parts.
Precisionstock conveyor components include rollers, scrapers, skirting systems, bearings, belts, and many more.
The company also stocks a vast range of machine components to suit mobile screening, washing and crushing plants.
Precisionscreen’s SM1290 and SM12120 wheeled conveyors are sturdy, efficient and customisable solutions for the quarry industry. The heavy-duty build means reduced maintenance and downtime, while the electric option means better ESG results.
But the star of the show is the SM1290 and SM12120’s inherent mobility. They can operate where they’re needed, when they’re needed, without the capital investment in supporting infrastructure. •
To learn more, visit precisionscreen.com.au
InSitu Real Estate helps the extractive industry meet its real estate needs by providing a tailored and specialised approach.
Like any industry, the extractive sector needs to purchase real estate in order to keep operations going.
Todd Clark is the director and licensee in charge of InSitu Real Estate and, with his 15 years of experience, he knows a thing or two about helping the industry out with its real estate needs.
“I started my career as an intern at a national property valuation firm in 2008, working across a number of property sectors for approximately 10 years,” Clark told Quarry “I then moved into various property roles in advisory and corporate real estate with a specialisation in extractive industry, waste and resource management and industrial markets.”
Clark has an in-depth understanding of a broad range of markets and a drive to provide tailored property solutions to his clients.
This has resulted in Clark becoming a market leader in this specialist real estate sector.
InSitu takes pride in its deep industry knowledge and ability to provide a tailored, professional service.
The company has an extensive understanding of its clients’ needs and provides an innovative approach to achieve an outcome.
Clark has spent eight years in specialised markets, predominately the extractive industry, and enjoys helping his clients find the right solution for their needs.
“InSitu Real Estate is a boutique agency providing real estate services to the extractive industry, mining, concrete and asphalt, waste and resource management, industrial and infrastructure markets,” Clark said.
“Our experienced team provide complete real estate transactional services across the country, priding ourselves on our deep industry knowledge and an understanding of our client’s needs.
“We provide a full range of real estate services, including sales, leasing and royalty negotiation, transactional management and occupier advisory.”
With the extractive industry having enjoyed a buoyant past three years, demand for real estate has only increased.
“Continued federal and state governmentbacked infrastructure spending has seen the industry thrive,” Clark said.
Specifically, Clark cited the ARTC Inland Rail, the New South Wales Newell Highway and Western Sydney Airport projects as the catalysts for much of this success.
The ARTC rail route spans from Melbourne all the way up to Brisbane.
“These projects have spiked demand for housing and development both regionally and in the major cities,” Clark said.
“[But] some headwinds are being seen off the back of recent changes to the cost of borrowing, inflationary pressures on
energy and fuel costs and the shortage of skilled labour.”
InSitu Real Estate understands that no two quarries are the same, and recommends looking at the needs of each through a different lens.
“Whether we’re looking at a single operation or an integrated ‘walk-in-walk-out’ portfolio, each have their own complexities and must be treated on their merits,” Clark said.
“When appointing an agent to assist you with the transaction, ensure they have a deep industry knowledge and an understanding of your needs.
“More importantly, it’s imperative you’re partnering with someone you can trust and that can tailor a strategy to ‘drive value’ on your terms.”
In order to drive more benefits for the extractive industry, InSitu Real Estate works with its sister company InSitu Advisory. InSitu Advisory can provide complete property advice to private and corporate clients, financial institutions and funds and government sectors. •
Equipment from Epiroc meets the highest engineering standards in order to be productive in the toughest working environments. But without proactive maintenance, as your equipment ages there is a risk of unplanned repairs, early replacement and costly downtime. So let us back up your equipment with solutions that deliver safety, high productivity and peace of mind.
One of the largest quarries in central Queensland, the Butlers Yarwun Quarry, has been placed on the market for the first time in its 38 years of operation.
Located 15km north-west of Gladstone and encompassing 227.9 hectares of freehold land, the quarry is in a prime position to supply materials to the surrounding region, including current and future state infrastructure projects.
The quarry has previously supplied resources for the Curtis Island liquid natural gas project, where it provided more than three million tonnes of quarry products in one year at the peak of construction.
Graham Messer Industrial Auctioneers & Valuers and Morgan Bennett Machinery have been appointed joint marketing agents to sell the quarrying operation.
Graham Messer, chief executive officer and owner of Graham Messer Industrial Auctioneers & Valuers, told Quarry the opportunity was one not to be missed.
“Operations of this scale are rare, especially those with the guarantee of supply from the resource into the next century,” he said.
“Gladstone will be the preferred location when it comes to delivering landmark Queensland energy and infrastructure projects.
“The quarry has had a number of substantial contracts over the years and,
due to its location, continues to act as a key supplier to these projects.”
The primary quarried rock and product of the site is hornfels volcaniclastic siltstoneformed through doonside volcanics, which functions as a hard strong stone with low abrasive qualities.
The products are in demand and used extensively in a variety of ways within the construction materials industry, with additional use found in asphalt and concrete products.
Upcoming projects that the quarry has the potential to supply critical resources to include the:
• approved billion-dollar Fitzroy to Gladstone pipeline
• Fortescue Future Industries hydrogen electrolyser manufacturing facility
• Mitsubishi Gas Proposal for hydrogen to green methanol plant
• Stanwell/Iwatani central Queensland hydrogen project
• Orica and H2U’s proposed green ammonia plant
• Rio Tinto’s and Sumitomo’s proposed hydrogen plant.
Messer said the quarry comes equipped with all neccessary infrastructure, including mobile plant and crushing equipment, as well as an existing management structure making the site suitable for all types of investors.
“The Butlers Yarwun Quarry is a massive resource,” Messer said.
“It’s estimated to be around 180 million tonnes of extractable material on-site.
“The Department of Environment and Resource Management extraction approval is more than one million tonnes per annum for the site, and the separate state government approval is more than one million tonnes per annum.
“Given the current extraction approvals, the size of the resource and future infrastructure projects, it’s clear that the quarry will be able to continue operations for many generations to come.”
The Butlers Yarwun Quarry is recorded as a key resource area – KRA 119 – protecting the site from being made inaccessible by potential urban expansion.
Infrastructure and equipment, which includes two separate weighbridges, is planned to be left in place and is included in the sale of the quarry.
Included in the sale is all site infrastructure and a comprehensive range of late-model mobile crushing and screening equipment.
The equipment has been well maintained and upgraded regularly, according to Morgan Bennet, owner operator of Morgan Bennett Machinery.
“The site comes with various track mounted crushers, Kleemann mobile screeners and
a fleet of Komatsu excavators and wheel loaders,” Bennet said.
“One of the unique pieces of equipment is the Hercules Rock Trommel which allows the quarry to easily produce a variety of large rock products including Gabion, Rip Rap and Armour rock with minimal handling and wear to equipment.
“Everything necessary to continue operations is already in place.”
The Butler family have owned the property since the early 1900s, with the quarry in operation through the family business since 1985.
The current owners’ vision of the quarry is to support the growth and development of the region by being a leading supplier of high-quality quarry products to the Gladstone region.
“Part of the great success seen in the
Butlers Yarwun Quarry comes directly from the Butler family and the culture they have set up on site,” Messer said.
“All staff and management aspire to a workplace culture of respect, co-operation, inclusion, support and strong ethical and moral values.
“The quarry has had a strong involvement within the community with high levels of support to local organisations.”
Since its inception, the quarry has grown into a major operation which will undoubtedly continue producing high grade quarry products.
“The sale of this operating quarry will not only be an attractive business investment, but also a long-term resource investment for the astute buyer,” Messer said. •
Dust build-up can have disastrous effects for quarries, which is why Kinder Australia has developed a solution. Dust is created in almost all quarry and dry bulk material processing activities. If dust suppression systems aren’t implemented properly, the consequences can be major.
Dust build-up can result in potential in potential clogs, jams, corrosion and burial of important operating components. This is on top of the risks of respiratory illness to staff nearby.
Cleaning this build-up can take hours and sites may even be shut down, causing unplanned downtime, which negatively impacts on the bottom line of businesses.
Tracey Wall is the communications support officer at Kinder Australia and spoke to Quarry about legal ramifications for employers who do not comply with dust suppression regulations.
“A recent government announcement of health and safety legislation that ends [an] employer’s ability to take out insurance against workers’ lung-injury can mean big penalties for sites that do
independent suppliers and manufacturers for the bulk solids materials handling industry.
Kinder Australia recognises the flow- on effects of poor dust suppression and strongly encourages quarries to invest in ways of dealing with dust effectively.
Wall said a common method to reduce dust is known as a fogging system, which involves water being expelled via a network of hoses and nozzles, binding to the dust particles to form a clump, sinking the material back down to join the flow.
“Identifying the areas where dust is most likely to escape is the key to understanding how to contain it. High impact load zones and
Once the issues are identified, Kinder Australia’s field application engineers and specialists can take a proactive approach with potential solutions.
The Essential Air Seal was developed after the field application engineers recognised similar patterns in productivity issues that were repeated across the quarry industry.
The innovation consists of European technology as well as other Kinder products that have been designed in-house by engineers.
“The system’s design starts with the AirScrape, a contact-free conveyor skirting and sealing system that acts as a side seal suspended over the conveyor belt,” Kinder Australia told proprietary and intelligent blade structure, combines with a K-Containment seal and a K-Sure belt support system.”
“This, together with the movement of the material and belt, result in a suction effect. Rather than contacting the conveyor belt, the ability to suspend over the top with zero contact has meant that there is no skirt friction and damage to the conveyor belt.
Through this system, the service life of the belt and conveyor components can be dramatically extended.
Wall said dust remains a necessary byproduct of quarrying, but through proper leadership and planning, it can be managed and controlled effectively.
“Poor control of airborne dust is a personal, environmental and financial risk – a liability that can potentially bring a site to its knees,” Wall said. • To Learn more, visit kinder.com.au
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Concrete has a long history with humankind. The oldest known variant of concrete is approximately 12,000 years old and believed to come from the region we know today as Turkey.
It is a testament to humanity’s creativity and our desire to stay dry when it’s wet outside.
While ancient Romans used volcanic ash and other aggregate to create their concrete, today we use sand – a lot of it.
Roughly 40 per cent of a typical concrete mix is sand. Fifty billion tonnes of it is mined every year to meet concrete, glass and construction demand – that’s about 17kg of sand per person. It’s taken off the beach and
In fact, sand is the world’s most widely used building material and our most used natural resource behind air and water. But it’s a finite resource and we’re running out of it.
The situation is so grave, the United Nations warned us of a global sand crisis in 2022.
So if there is a sand shortage, why aren’t we taking it from the desert?
Concrete sand needs to be of a certain coarseness to hold its shape. Smooth sand doesn’t bond well. This means, desert sand, worn completely round by the wind, is effectively useless for construction.
Luckily, there is a solution: manufactured sand.
And it is exactly what it sounds like.
or crusher dust, purposely made into a sand substitute for use in concrete, roading and a variety of other construction needs. It’s a high-volume, low-value product transformed into highly valued product.
The manufacturing process also happens to be more sustainable, environmentally friendly and economical than traditional sand mining. For example, dredging for river sand –perceived to be the best sand for concrete – went mostly unchecked and unregulated until the 1980s, when the practice’s damning ecological consequences became apparent.
The downstream flow of sediment in rivers to fill holes caused by dredging hasn’t been able to keep pace with the rate of sand removal. This has led to riverbank and coastal erosion, and salinisation of sea water.
There is a growing concern about the impact on biodiversity of our waterways and the risk to populations living close to them, and this is making it harder and more expensive to get consents for future dredging operations.
Sand on the beach and from the ocean is much the same story. These are also affected by rising sea-levels, warming oceans and supporting an infinitely complex system of coastal and marine wildlife.
Realistically, mining sand straight from nature cannot support the growth in demand from the construction industry. Nor is it sustainable in the long term.
Luckily, manufactured sand fills this void, working just as well. In in some instances, it’s actually better and more reliable than the real thing.
Manufactured sand is the economical and environmentally friendly substitute for the natural kind.The complexity of underwater life means the ocean floor is not an endless supply of sand. Concrete uses over 800kg of sand per cubic metre.
A well manufactured sand is the right shape and size, and free from salt, clay, silt, dust and other natural impurities ordinarily found in natural sand. It is of a better consistency and increased workability and doesn’t suffer from honeycombing or voids when used to make concrete.
In fact, it makes stronger, more consistent concrete with fewer defects because it doesn’t contain any of the organic and soluble compounds that affect setting time and cement property.
In a report on the use of recycled aggregates in construction, Cement Concrete and Aggregates Australia investigated the efficacy of using manufactured sand as an alternative to natural sand.
“Manufactured sand can be used to replace a major proportion of natural sand with no significant loss of performance in cementbased products,” the report stated.
“Blending 50 per cent fine sand with manufactured sand produced more workable and generally superior concretes to those
composed of fine and coarse natural sands.”
Even when in a mix, that’s still 50 per cent less sand being taken from the environment. This is encouraging higher proportions of manufactured sand in concrete mixes over time, with 70–100 per cent now being reached in some cases. The goal is to consistently reach 100 per cent.
And the best part? It’s much more economical and better for the environment than sourcing natural sand.
Setting up operations in some remote part of a riverbed or beach is costly and technically challenging. And the cost of
transportation can often outweigh the value of the sand itself. Conversely, manufactured sand is available anywhere there is a quarry. Manufactured sand is the way forward. An economical and environmentally friendly substitute for the natural kind, it’s the construction industry’s answer to the global sand shortage.
Water management is also extremely expensive for the quarry industry, particularly in a flood and drought-prone country like Australia •
To learn more, visit kayasand.com
years Precisionscreen has proved to be one of the largest spare parts suppliers to the mobile screening and crushing industry.
Screenmasters Australia is expanding its reach with a new partnership with Shaorui Heavy Industry.
From its humble beginnings working out of a shed, Screenmasters Australia (SMA) has grown to take on the world.
Approaching 30 years of operation, SMA has evolved into one of the country’s leading distributors of mobile crushing and screening equipment for top brands around the world.
The company was founded in 1994 by Mick Lagan and Michael McGinley, and originally operated out of a shared shed in Bathurst, in the NSW central west.
“The company started off selling a few machines in around metro Sydney, this soon grew beyond their initial expectation,” SMA general manager Andy Blythe told Quarry
“We now currently have 6 sites, stocked with machines and spares located throughout NSW, QLD & Victoria.”
Now in 2023, SMA is partnered with industry brands such as Keestrack, GIPO, CMS, Rockster and Convir. And its growth is only getting stronger with its new partnership with Shaorui Heavy Industry (SRH).
SRH was founded in 1992 and has been
compatible and affordable.
The company originates from China and is one of the high-end quality producers in its domestic market and the Asia Pacific.
With one of the globe’s renowned and leading manufactures behind them, SRH are proving themselves as a serious player in the mid-market crushing and screening equipment sector, offering cost-effective and reliable solutions to new and expanding markets that now includes Australia.
With SMA already having an extensive reach and range with mobile plant solutions, the partnership with SRH in Australia allows SMA to bring competitively priced and highquality fixed plant solutions to our market.
“This has been a strategic move on our part, allowing both SMA and SRH to branch into the fixed plant market, which previously we have not been able to service,” Blythe said.
“The partnership with SRH and the expansion of our business to include fixed plant options is one which enables us to now deliver both high-quality mobile or fixed plant solutions all across Australia.”
Blythe described SRH’s line of products as being able to address most sectors of the quarry and aggregates market.
“We offer the full SRH original range, which includes some Metso Outotec legacy products, including vertical shift impactors, jaws, cones and crushers,” Blythe said.
“[The partnership with SRH] is based on core elements: proven design and the manufacturing quality to be of the highest
standard, original equipment manufacturer [OEM] compatible and affordability.”
Blythe said SMA does not want to supply the industry with equipment that is not suitable for the challenging and harsh conditions within Australia.
“The range of equipment on offer from our new partnership allows for the easy replacement of older machines that are now considered a risk in terms of reliability and production capability. In many cases where there is direct compatibility, there is no need to modify or change pre-existing infrastructure around the original fixed plant.”
SMA seeks to provide a product to endusers which is easy to use, affordable to mainstream customers within the quarrying and aggregate sector and in many cases is OEM-compatible.
“Part of our decision to move forward with SRH was influenced by the proven design which their equipment clearly has.
“We know the high-quality build and componentry of these machines to be something we are happy to provide to the Australian market, due to our previous business relationship with Metso Outotec.” “SMA are excited to be moving into a new phase and a new era and SRH will help us to deliver on our plans and strategies” •
Screenmasters Australia has new stock set to arrive this month. To learn more, visit screenmasters.
AUSTRALIA’S FIRST EVER ONLINE PORTAL DEDICATED TO BUYING, SELLING AND HIRING QUARRY EQUIPMENT.
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Circular marketplaces can help to redistribute waste materials, benefiting the environment and the bottom line.
When the Federal Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) released the National Waste Report 2022, it showed that that Australia’s construction and demolition sector generated considerable waste.
Twenty-nine megatonnes (Mt) in fact, making up 38 per cent of the nation’s total waste generated.
This is a 24 per cent increase from the 23.4Mt of construction and demolition waste that was produced in 2016–17.
In the quarry industry, construction and demolition waste includes asphalt, bricks, concrete and cement. And if that waste is not properly managed, it can lead to environmental and human harm. But the news is definitely not all bad.
Ritchie Djamhur is the founder and owner of Superyard, a business that aims to drive sustainability in the construction industry and help companies thrive through innovation and the circular economy.
A circular economy refers to a model of production and consumption involving sharing, recycling and reusing existing materials and products for as long as possible.
Djamhur spoke to Quarry about construction and demolition waste and how these resources can be regenerated by quarries and various construction businesses to ensure sustainability is front of mind.
What is considered waste can be categorised based on the type of construction site, he explained.
“On civil construction sites, soil, rock, concrete and asphalt are commonly wasted. Steel and wood off-cuts can also be generated during drilling or cutting, and excess rebar is often discarded,” Djamhur said.
“For residential construction sites, framing and plasterboard materials like timber and insulation are often over-ordered or cut incorrectly, leading to excess waste. Glass, metal and plastic are also commonly discarded on both sites.”
The DCCEEW notes that building materials account for about half of materials used in construction, and half the solid waste generated worldwide.
This is especially the case for quarrying sites, as waste has an environmental impact at every step of the building process: extraction of raw materials, processing, manufacturing, transportation, construction and disposal at the end of a building’s useful life.
When it comes to disposing of this waste, it is in the best interest of sites and industries, legally and financially, to abide by all applicable laws.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria emphasis that, under section 27A(2) of the Environment Protection Act 1970, “any person (including a waste generator, transporter or receiver) who dumps or permits inappropriate disposal of industrial waste at a place that cannot lawfully accept that waste type faces a fine of more than $7500, or up to 5000 penalty units if prosecuted”.
“EPA can require the waste generator, transporter and receiver to clean up and pay for waste to be taken to a lawful place,” the EPA said.
While it is good for the reputation of a site or business to abide by environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements, Djamhur does not want to just ‘talk the talk’ but ‘walk the walk’.
This, he believes, means demonstrating a real commitment to sustainability through strong action, an area in which shareholders are taking an increasing interest.
“By implementing effective waste management practices, companies can show that they are not just talking about sustainability, but also taking action to reduce their environmental impact and promote social responsibility,” Djamhur said.
“This can help build trust with stakeholders and improve the company’s reputation in the long-term.”
In order to achieve a goal of reducing waste and disposing of it correctly, possible challenges must be considered. Djamhur said two of the biggest such challenges he has seen on quarry sites are shortage of construction materials and a shortage of skilled labour.
On the lack of construction materials, Djamhur said a shortage can cause prices to skyrocket, “making it tough for businesses to compete”.
“This often leads to companies hoarding materials, which can cause issues with inventory management and can hurt a business’s bottom line,” he said.
“[And] with fewer talented people in the industry, it can be harder to get things done right, which can lead to more waste and higher costs.”
That’s where Superyard, the business Djamhur founded, enters the scene.
Djamhur said that Superyard was built
to give businesses a platform to share their unused stock and track their inventory.
“By doing so, businesses can reduce waste, manage their inventory more effectively and increase their liquidity,” Djamhur said.
“It’s all about promoting sustainability and making sure that we’re using our resources in the smartest way possible.”
Superyard can be utilised to maximise the savings on material costs.
“Using circular marketplaces like Superyard to redistribute materials can be a huge help in reclaiming a portion of your costs,” Djamhur said.
“This can add to your margin and help sustain your business through difficult times.”
Djamhur encourages businesses to effectively plan by using modern construction software tools, which allow them to streamline workflow, reduce error and optimise operations.
A strategic approach to stock that includes only ordering necessary product will also reduce waste and costs.
“Finding ways to repurpose off-cuts and leftovers is another great way to save on material costs,” Djamhur said.
“For example, leftover wood from one project could be used for a different project, reducing the need to purchase new materials.”
So what practices can quarry sites introduce to reduce waste? Djamhur said introducing a circular economy approach would help quarries work with construction sites to create a closed-loop system for materials.
“This involves sending any excess or waste materials from construction sites back to mining quarries to be repurposed or recycled,” he said.
“This proposed practice reduces waste, conserves resources and promotes sustainability and social responsibility.”
The EPA also provides a number of suggestions as to how businesses and facilities can manage waste effectively and efficiently.
Operators should know the type of waste being generated throughout each stage of construction or demolition. If an estimate is low for waste management, managers should investigate the reason and rectify it.
Sites and projects can also make a habit of keeping accurate and detailed written records of managing waste. These records should include who transported the waste, details and type of waste, and the receipt of the waste delivery from the facility that took it. This means businesses can reference the records if something has gone wrong.
The biggest help to businesses is arguably implementing a waste management plan, which is written documentation that details the estimated amount of waste generation, as well as waste stream types. Having such a plan would benefit any site or facility, as it allows everyone to be on the same page.
If a business has a waste management plan, the EPA suggests it ensures the “detail in the plan should reflect the size and complexity of the project’s waste issues”.
“[Businesses should] regularly update the waste management plan to record how waste is managed and audit where waste is taken, provide adequate supervision to ensure waste management plans are implemented and complied with, and regularly audit everyone who manages waste,” the EPA said.
Djamhur hopes by incorporating numerous waste-reduction strategies, the quarrying sector can contribute positively to the environment.
“By incorporating [waste management] strategies, construction businesses can be more sustainable and cost-effective, while also contributing to the overall reduction of waste in the industry,” he said. •
On another beautiful Queensland day, members of the FNQ sub-branch gathered for a site tour of EQ Resources Mt Carbine quarry.
Prior to the tour commencing, EQ Resources’ chief executive officer Kevin MacNeill and quarry manager Miles Egan presented information on how the quarry responsibly and sustainably produces over 30 products, from roadbases and aggregates to armour rock, drainage stone and manufactured sand as by-products of the historic mining operations.
Attendees were treated to a unique opportunity to learn more about how the Mt Carbine quarry and mine supplement each other in the Mt Carbine tungsten project, and were able to get a first-hand look at the quarry operations.
The FNQ sub-branch would like to thank the event sponsor RPS Group for its support of this event.
The Victoria branch’s autumn technical breakfast was held at William Adams, Laverton, on Thursday March 9. The event included a presentation from Chris Barrett, Caterpillar construction technology application specialist.
Chris’ presentation, ‘Engineering for a brighter future’, highlighted the journey to lower emissions for a more sustainable future. The event also included a technical presentation by William Adams key account manager Adam Blackwood and honoured 50year IQA member Adrian Town. Attendees enjoyed a wonderful breakfast and ended the event with a tour of the William Adams facility.
The IQA’s Victorian su-branch networking dinner was held at the Bendigo Club on Thursday 23 February 2023. 60 guests enjoyed dinner and a presentation from deputy chief inspector, North, of the Earth Resources Regulation (ERR), Rebecca Carlton. Carlton’s presentation highlighted the key priority areas of the ERR and focus for 2023. Worksafe Victoria also presented, with spokesperson Ben Wright speaking on key legislation changes impacting the quarrying industry, as well as WorkSafe’s focus for 2023.
The
The WA branch held its 9th annual ‘bowling stone’ tournament on March 10, and it was another marvellous event for the WA quarrying community. The IQA would once again like to thank our sponsors WA Limestone and WA Premix. We appreciate your ongoing support.
Many familiar faces attended the event, alongside new ones to the industry. There was plenty of camaraderie between all teams, with a healthy level of competition keeping players on their toes. Activities brought some very positive feedback on the catering choices, consisting of pre-game platters, gourmet salads and a barbecue cooked and served by our very own IQA Committee member Scott Langford.
Thanks also to our committee chair Tinus Nagel, Damon Case and FIQ Mark Lawrence for their assistance in announcing the winners and helping to hand out some fabulous prizes at the end of the night.
Congratulations to our prize winners:
• First prize: Komatsu Australia
• Second prize: WesTrac Cat
• Third prize: Hanson Australia
• ‘Tried our best’ wooden spoon: 888 Crushing and Screening Equipment
Thank you to all who attended, we hope you enjoyed the night and look forward to seeing you all at the next IQA WA event.
In line with the release of the DIMIRS legislation changes, which require all quarry sites to have a MSMS in place, the IQA developed a webinar packed full of useful information to assist companies in updating its existing documents.
The initial webinar was held on March 1, with representatives from a range of industry and related businesses in attendance. Feedback from this course has been consistently positive, with more dates added to the calendar to ensure availability to all WA quarry managers and staff.
In March, the Queensland sub-branch hosted a dinner meeting in Rockhampton. The event was well attended, with guests receiving important information on the Practising Certificate Scheme (PCS) and learning more about soil testing and how variability can affect the results.
Prior to the dinner, the IQA held a face-to-face electrical awareness workshop, which provided attendees with an understanding of the basic electrical principles and how to manage risk relating to electrical installations.
Thank you to the event sponsor Coffey Testing for its support, and to Lionel Smith from Resources Safety and Health Queensland and Sam Hill from Coffey Testing for presenting at the dinner.
The Queensland branch came together for a site tour of the Humes Ipswich facility on March 23. Humes Ipswich has some of the most advanced pre-casting technologies in Australia. Attendees were provided with an inside look into this state-of-the-art facility, which is responsible for providing pipes and custom orders for major projects in south-east Queensland and northern NSW.
Following the tour, everyone gathered for an evening of networking at the Orion Hotel, where IQA committee member Alec Harries provided an update on IQA events and entertained guests with a game of heads and tails.
Thank you to Randall and the team at Humes Ipswich for taking us on tour of the facility and providing us with a great insight into their operations.
The NSW Central West sub-branch hosted a technical lunch and learn, and plant and equipment Verification of Competency (VoC) workshop at the Waratah Sports Club in Orange in March.
The event was attended by quarry managers, quarry supervisors, mine superintendents, production managers, plant operators and administration staff from around the region.
The VoC workshop provided a great opportunity for attendees to upskill, and included an engaging Q&A with Ron Dillon, senior mine safety officer with the NSW Resource Regulator.
The IQA education team also attended virtually to provide an overview of the Competency Framework, upcoming workshops, corporate training and the personal learning cloud that will be launched later this year.
Special thanks to our lunch sponsor, Komatsu.
The IQA delivered a quarry product materials and quality management workshop as a corporate training program for Wagners in Toowoomba.
The workshop was delivered to a group of Wagners employees with roles from across the business ranging from sales representatives and lab staff to quarry managers and supervisors.
Wagners nominated to have a corporate program to ensure attending staff members were given the same training at the same time. Specifically, Wagners wanted the workshop to cover a particular specification that related to a quarry output.
In addition, the corporate training provided attendees with the opportunity to have discussions on the workshop topic with other people in the business, and to hear their perspective.
Of key importance to Wagners was that attendees from different aspects of the business came away understanding what customers were asking for and the different properties of concrete in the market.
Thinking about corporate training? The IQA can deliver this workshop and others on-site or in training facilities. To book your corporate training, contact the IQA on 02 9484 0577 or via email at education@quarry.com.au
An Honorary Fellow of the IQA, David Hogan has been a stalwart of the quarrying industry for more than 40 years.
From hard rock quarrying to holding a shotfirer’s licence, David Hogan has seen and done a lot in the quarrying industry in Australia and overseas.
What are some of the highlights of your career in the quarrying industry?
Some of the highlights have been from my involvement in new quarry developments from the concept stage through to producing their first tonne of material. Those within the industry know this can be measured in the tens of years and I’ve had the opportunity to be involved with many.
Being involved in the development of the first hard rock quarry for Pioneer Concrete in Brisbane was a transformational time for the company, and the industry, by moving away from dredging the Brisbane River for concrete aggregates as our primary source of raw materials.
Being the first Pioneer employee in Queensland to attain a shotfirer’s licence also keeps me humbled and grounded. That is something I’ve carried in my wallet for
many years as a reminder of where I came from and how hard quarry work can be.
The relocation of the Herne Hill quarry to the current Red Hill quarry site in Perth, WA, was a major undertaking. Not only for the new quarry development and new fixed plant, but the most significant effort was to bring the local community along with us. This was the first time we had “opened our gates” to showcase to the community that we were, and could be, a good neighbour.
Leading the greenfield development of a new quarry and port facility producing seven million tonnes per year at the Hui Dong quarry in the Guangdong Province of mainland China also remains a highlight.
The quarry was an integrated and collaborative approach with our key 50 per cent joint venture partner in Hong Kong, K Wah Construction Materials, plus our technical teams from CCM in Heidelberg Cement along with many layers of government in mainland China. The site is now showcased by government departments and studied throughout
second to none.
Receiving the IOQ’s Caernarfon Award along with my co-authors David Pallet and Geoffrey Chan was also recognition of the forward-thinking work we were achieving in Hong Kong at the time.
How has your interaction and involvement with the IOQ and IQA benefitted you?
Being an IOQ/IQA member has allowed me to grow my career both nationally and internationally by building capability and knowledge and gaining a deep understanding of all the components that make up a quarry business.
I also benefitted greatly in my early years with the Pioneer Concrete graduate management program insofar as they were equally as good in terms of being a learning organisation across the entire scope and functionality of the business.
The benefit to me was being a classically trained ‘generalist’ with the confidence and skills to lead and manage any business, anywhere.
What essential role do the IOQ and IQA play within the quarrying industry?
They have played many important and fundamental roles within the quarrying
industry; however, the key role remains training and education – continuously improving our people through programs and initiates that drives the professionalism of our people in our industry and those organisations that support our industry.
The IOQ and the IQA are also such wellregarded and credible professional bodies in the jurisdictions in which they operate that we are often the go-to organisation for all levels of governments to interact with on strategy, policy and standards.
Along with the industry trade associations, the IQA has an important role to play to ensure we can coexist within our communities.
Combining these two key essential roles of the IQA has helped us shape the future of the industry. From where it is today to where it was when I first started, the IQA and its members can certainly be proud of its achievements.
Is there any advice you would give to those entering the industry?
Be patient, be proud and at all times defend what our industry does – don’t let anyone demonise what we do.
Remember that our industry provides all the raw materials used in building our roads, highways, freeways, houses, buildings, airports, ports and associated infrastructure that supports a developing or developed society.
Secondly, our industry is typically quite conservative and change takes longer. I recently came across an Eljay 54-inch cone crusher in Brisbane that Bronco Johnson and I worked with in some central Queensland mobile operations 30-plus years ago, but it’s nevertheless still going strong. The only change was that it had some new sensors attached.
The industry is also extremely capitalintensive and planning windows can be in the multiple decades. So getting progression and traction takes time.
Lastly, look beyond what we do tactically and try and consider all the stakeholders that have skin in the game. It’s likely your decisions will be different and more balanced.
What are some of the larger problems facing the industry?
Some of the larger issues remain getting access to privileged geological assets
close to markets that provide long-term raw material security to the industry and our end users. In most markets I’m associated with, replenishment cannot keep up with demand over the long term.
Being an industry working closer to builtup communities presents its own unique set of challenges. On the one hand, society needs our raw materials at the most basic level to progress, but at the same time society doesn’t want to be impacted by our activities.
The quarry industry is always faced with a perception – mostly not a positive one – that we are dirty, dusty and noisy. And historically we may have been guilty of fuelling this perception; however, that was a long time ago.
Since then, the quarry industry has come a long way to turn this around by working collaboratively and openly with our communities and seeking their contribution and ideas on what we can do better. I expect this to accelerate as companies such as Heidelberg Materials and other major players continue to drive their sustainability targets and obligations down to operational levels.
The last challenge I would make to our industry leaders is to look far beyond the lifecycle of the quarry itself. In the eyes of the communities we work in, the quarrying
component is only an interim process. The land formation left behind is the final component.
Be visionary and engineer the final land formation in mind before we start quarrying. In most cases, that final land formation can be more valuable to the company and the community once completed.
Is there anyone else you’d like to mention?
I’d like to add a note of thanks to my employers and the leaders I have had the privilege to work with over the years, namely Pioneer Concrete, Hanson Australia and Heidelberg Materials.
Some might say 43 years in the construction materials industry is too much, but from my first humble beginnings at Ferny Grove quarry in Brisbane I have lived and worked in most states of Australia. I have lived and worked in Hong Kong for 15 years and have worked extensively throughout mainland China. And, in the last seven years, my role has taken me to the US, Canada, Poland, Germany, the UK, Scandinavia, West Africa, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, to name a few.
The opportunity to shape the future of our business never gets tiring and when you wake up every day to something you enjoy doing immensely, then it’s not just work.
to the one in Bendigo. There’s a lot of potential.”
Bendigo is home to one of the largest gold zones in Victoria, dating back to the gold rush in the mid-1800s.
“We think Victoria has crossed a threshold of data and understanding Victoria’s geological framework through regional geoscientific investigations, particularly to enable the informed and responsible management of state-owned earth resources,” Cayley said.
Just a bit of background for any history buffs out there:
Gold was originally found in Australia in 1839 when explorer Paul de Strzelecki discovered it in the Victorian Alps. In 1850 William Campbell unearthed it on his brother’s sheep run in Clunes – about 36 kilometres north of Ballarat.
Those eager to strike it rich can look no further than new findings from the Geological Survey of Victoria, which reveal all that glitters in the state may indeed be gold.
The Victorian gold industry is experiencing a bit of a renaissance. Mineral exploration is at record levels in the state, which has produced more than 2,400 tonnes of gold since it was first discovered in 1851. That’s a whopping 32 per cent of all the gold mined in Australia’s history and almost two per cent of all the gold mined in the world – ever.
During 2021–22, state-wide mineral exploration expenditure totalled over $220 million, which is a 20 per cent rise on the previous record financial year.
“We think we’ve got a ‘new dawn’ for Victorian gold exploration,” Geological Survey of Victoria (GSV) senior geologist Ross Cayley said when speaking at the Victoria Gold Mining and Exploration Forum 2023.
“It’s really underpinned by data, technology, concepts and confidence.”
The 170-year-old GSV is responsible for studying and mapping the surface and sub-surface of the state, including its rich supply of resources such as gold, oil and gas, mineral sands, base metals and brown coal. The organisation has in-depth
knowledge of Victoria’s geological evolution over the past 500 million years.
GSV recently identified for the first time an extended fault system that could indicate the presence of minerals in areas that have not seen successful exploration to date. What is known as a mineralisation pathway may run from close to the surface to as far down as 35–40km.
GSV aims to provide the industry with sufficient confidence to start testing these ideas.
In presenting some of GSV’s recent findings, Cayley was excited to highlight some of the opportunities for further successful minerals exploration across the Melbourne geological zone.
“One of the important characteristics of the Cambrian igneous rocks that underlie the turbidites is that they are a credible source of lots of gold,” he said.
“On the same scale as the turbidites, the research suggests that they’ve got a capacity between about five and 50 times of turbidites in terms of volume to supply gold, mainly from interflow sediments.
“So the scale of these systems is similar
Campbell did not announce his discovery until July 1851 for fear of disrupting the local economies in surrounding settlements.
He later claimed he was the first to discover gold in Victoria.
Between 1851 and the late 1860s, during the state’s famous gold rush, Victoria was considered the world’s richest alluvial (as in, derived from alluvium) goldfield.
For several years its gold output was greater than anywhere else in the world outside of California.
The gold rush brought migrants from all over the world to Victoria. Over the course of a year, Bendigo – which had previously been a sheep station – was a lively town of 40,000 people.
The discovery of so much gold led to a period of extreme prosperity for the Australian colony, during which time Melbourne was dubbed ‘Marvellous Melbourne’, which drew comparisons to London and Paris because of its huge influx of migrants and wealth.
The mass migration – and its economic and cultural impact – shaped the future of Victoria.
Within a year of the gold rush around 90,000 people migrated to Victoria in search of riches.
Twenty years later, Australia’s population grew from 430,000 people to a whopping 1.7 million. •
