AUSTRALIAN METS
The golden goose
Australia ’ s diverse and dedicated mining equipment , technology and services sector continues to flourish , Dan Gleeson reports
“ Australia would not be the country it is today , wouldn ’ t have the living standards Australians enjoy today , without mining ,” BHP CEO , Mike Henry , told delegates at the recent World Mining Congress , in Brisbane .
“ In the 2021 financial year , the minerals sector
alone contributed almost 10 % of Australia ’ s GDP and almost 30 % of corporate taxes at the federal level . Last year , royalties from resources accounted for approximately 40 % and over 20 % of the non-GST revenue of Western Australia and Queensland , respectively . “ It is truly the national golden goose .” This ‘ golden goose ’ has a long list of mining technology ‘ champions ’ to call on , meaning the likes of BHP , Rio Tinto , Fortescue and other leading mining companies can rely on domestic innovators to help achieve their productivity and sustainability goals .
Schlam WAIO milestone
Western Australia-based mining product and services supplier , Schlam is one such innovator , with a reputation for delivering innovative haul truck bodies / trays and custom buckets for customers looking to squeeze every tonne possible out of their equipment fleets .
The company recently commemorated the delivery of the 300 th Hercules mining dump body to BHP Western Australia Iron Ore , some five years after the operation received its first one .
A formalised supply agreement was inked back in November 2018 and , today , nearly all the mining trucks across WAIO ’ s fleet are fitted with a Hercules dump body , according to Schlam .
The 300 Hercules dump bodies have been 100 % designed and manufactured in Western
Australia , creating additional employment opportunities .
Being lighter , the Hercules body provides miners with a significant increase in payload , increasing operational efficiency , Schlam says . The innovative curved body design and targeted material selection have resulted in a significant service life increase .
Hendrik Mueller , Managing Director , Schlam Payload Solutions , said : “ Each Hercules body is custom engineered and built to suit the unique operational requirements of the mine site it operates in . Working collaboratively with the BHP team , we have been able to identify the key performance criteria needed to deliver on safety , productivity and cost goals .”
He added : “ We work closely with BHP , at many levels , especially on site , with their input having contributed to the ongoing development of some of our products . The Hercules EXO is one example , with the product now being the dump body of choice among iron ore miners in Western Australia , and beyond .”
The Hercules EXO is a 240-t-class iron ore specific dump body that is 20 % lighter than the company ’ s existing Hercules dump body . The decreased weight gives miners a greater payload potential , while a complete redesign and new material selection have resulted in a significant increase in service life , according to the company .
Austin ’ s HPT in demand
Speaking of new truck tray developments , Austin
Engineering has recently come out with an ultralightweight High Performance Tray ( HPT ) – the lightest tray the company has ever produced . The HPT can , according to Austin , deliver
Schlam recently commemorated the delivery of the 300th Hercules mining dump body to BHP Western Australia Iron Ore , some five years after the operation received its first one
significant additional ore per year due to its lighter weight and increased volume efficiency . In an early application , the truck body design delivered an additional 45,000 t / y of ore per tray compared with previous comparable Austindeveloped truck trays .
The key features of Austin ’ s HPT design have improved the overall strength of the tray , weight , stability and efficiency of the product with more payload and less carry back , it says . These have been achieved through adjustments and reconfigurations to the floor styling , load height , ground clearance , side support , and tray side and front walls .
On payload advantages , Austin estimates 10- 15 % mass savings over comparable Austin designs , significantly improving productivity , and potentially fuel usage , for the end user . The HPT can be adapted to suit any mine-specific application and OEM make or model , according to the company . Interchangeability also exists in regard to standard OEM componentry and machine attachment .
The market uptake for the new solution has already been significant , with orders for around 120 units received in the December 2022 to January 2023 period , according to the company .
Austin says it expects the market interest in the HPT to continue due to its attractive design and operational benefits . It has received several proposals to tailor the design for different geographies , suggesting it will become a mainstay in the company ’ s global product
12 International Mining | AUGUST 2023