Quarry February 2025

FEBRUARY 2025

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF QUARRYING AUSTRALIA

FEBRUARY 2025

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED ODE Materials’s dedication has seen the company rise to extraordinary heights.

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www.quarrymagazine.com

COMET HAS GLOBAL GOALS Comet Equipment’s Adam Doyle reveals how the company plans to deliver on its global ambitions.

FAMILY TIES PWE Quarry Services has a new name while expanding its focus on technology to help its quarry customers.

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IN THIS ISSUE FEBRUARY 2025

VOLUME 34, ISSUE 2

FEATURES 28 Packed with performance

Kobelco’s latest innovations in new short-radius heavy excavators.

30 Comet reaches for the stars

Comet Equipment reveals its global ambitions.

32 Reputable global network

Hardox Wearparts has built a global network for its wear parts.

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SECURE A SPACE AT PNG EXPO

Exhibitors are securing their spot at the upcoming show.

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INNOVATION EXCELLENCE

Why Adrian Bull won the award for Excellence in Innovation.

34 Sealing solves spillage sorrows

Kinder Australia’s clever engineering is helping save quarries from spillage.

38 New name, same cuttingedge

PWE Quarry Services is operating under a new name but is maintaining its focus.

40 Caterpillar’s creativity with technology Find out how the industry and Caterpillar are positioned for 2025.

42 The three keys of screen troubleshooting Tips on how to troubleshoot a vibrating screen to solve common issues.

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CRITICAL MINERALS IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A new list has revealed the key critical minerals for the UK.

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NET-ZERO’S NEXT FRONTIER

Decarbonising facilities could be key in pursuing net-zero.

44 Big enough to deliver but small enough to care

Striker Crushing and Screening has kept things simple, rugged and operator-focused.

FEBRUARY 2025

48 Understanding Volvo excavators OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE INSTITUTE OF QUARRYING AUSTRALIA

FEBRUARY 2025

EVERY MONTH

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED ODE Materials’s dedication has seen the company rise to extraordinary heights.

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QUARRY

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www.quarrymagazine.com

COMET HAS GLOBAL GOALS Comet Equipment’s Adam Doyle reveals how the company plans to deliver on its global ambitions.

FAMILY TIES PWE Quarry Services has a new name while expanding its focus on technology to help its quarry customers.

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED ODE Materials has been on an extensive journey within the quarrying industry to become a supplier of high-quality sand.

Volvo’s mid-range lineup of excavators blend advanced technology with practical design features.

04 FROM THE EDITOR

12 INDUSTRY NEWS

06 FROM THE PRESIDENT

50 GEOLOGY TALK

08 IQA NEWS

Quarry February 2025 3

EDITORIAL

A YEAR OF INNOVATION

I

nnovation is often thrown around as a buzzword to describe all manner of things.

And, cliché though it might be, I believe innovation will be central to the year ahead.

There are many things set to play out this year within the industry, not least of which will be seeing if several key Australian markets pick up this year.

While many noted a slowdown in Victoria and in parts of New South Wales last year, Queensland has emerged as a key market within Australia, particularly as it gathers pace ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

The construction material providers around the country will be watching to see what outcomes the upcoming federal election and project announcements by state governments will do to demand within the industry.

Construction materials providers, whether it is quarries or asphalt plants or smaller contractors, are at the heart of the industry. They approach challenges with a sense of innovation and determination.

A great example of that as you’ll read in this edition of Quarry is the story of ODE Materials in NSW, which is run by Simone and Brendan O’Dowd.

Together, the pair has built a sand-producing company that

supplies thousands of tonnes a year into the Sydney market from what was originally just some left over excavated sand from the previous owner. Despite facing several hurdles over the years, their innovation and determination has seen their company thrive.

Innovation is not just limited to the construction materials providers though. Innovation is constantly being shown by our original equipment manufacturers both in Australia and abroad.

A great example is in this edition with Striker Crushing and Screening, which is a family business based in Western Australia, supplying the local and several international markets.

The company’s focus on its core values has been a resounding success over nearly three decades of operation.

Across the other side of the country, another family business is showcasing their own innovations through technology. Victorian-based PWE Quarry Services shared how they are embarking on a new era as Bryce Wade takes over from his father Phil, who started the well-known Phil Wade Earthmoving.

Happy reading.

William Arnott Editor

Published by:

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS PROVIDERS, WHETHER IT IS QUARRIES OR ASPHALT PLANTS OR SMALLER CONTRACTORS, ARE AT THE HEART OF THE INDUSTRY. THEY APPROACH CHALLENGES WITH A SENSE OF INNOVATION AND DETERMINATION.

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Quarry February 2025

NOT A MEMBER? JOIN THE IQA TODAY! EDUCATION Member access to IQA Education Hub & Learning Management System (LMS) Discounted fees for ALL courses Over 100 courses, workshops, tours and events offered annually

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IQA MEMBER BENEFITS

Professional connections

Contribute to the industry

Opportunity to join branch committees

Engagement with quarrying professionals nationally & globally

NETWORKING

Scan to Join:

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION Use of IQA digital member badge Recognition membership status through post-nominals IQA Award Nominations Acknowledgement of industry contributions

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Incentives for Young Members Initiatives and support for Women in Quarrying A range of site tours and workshops, events & conferences

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

BUILDING CONNECTIONS AND CAPABILITY IN 2025

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he start of 2025 brings exciting developments as we strengthen our commitment to serving the quarrying sector and our members.

Our focus remains on creating meaningful connections, enhancing professional development, and driving innovation across the sector.

Digital transformation Digital innovation is at the forefront of our strategy this year. Work is well underway on our new website and member app, designed to create a more connected IQA community.

These platforms will revolutionise how members interact, share knowledge, and access resources.

The member app, in particular, will facilitate real-time networking, event updates, and professional discussions, bringing our community closer together regardless of location.

Safety and health focus Safety remains a core priority and this year we are expanding our commitment through comprehensive state-wide Safety and Health Conferences.

These essential events will be held across key regions: • Townsville (4 June) • Brisbane (17 June) • Hunter Valley (30 July) • Melbourne (28 August) Each conference will provide valuable insights, facilitate knowledge sharing, and promote best practices in quarrying safety and health.

Education and training Our education and training offerings are evolving to meet sector needs. The 2025 program features an expanded range of

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Quarry February 2025

The Institute of Quarrying Australia

opportunities, from specialised technical workshops to leadership development programs. We’re particularly excited about our new corporate training solutions, which can be tailored to specific company requirements.

IQA Ambassadors Our network of 26 IQA Ambassadors is here to help you make the most of your membership.

These experienced quarrying professionals can: •C onnect you with mentoring opportunities • Guide you through our educational programmes • Help expand your professional network • Ensure you’re accessing all available member benefits Whether you’re new to the sector or an experienced professional, your local Ambassador can help advance your career development.

Find your local Ambassador’s profile and contact details at quarry.com.au.

Looking ahead Keep an eye out for the detailed 2025 event calendars coming out shortly for: • Local branch events • Professional development opportunities • Education and training programs •W omen in Quarrying (WIQ) and Young Members Network (YMN) events and initiatives Michael Close President Institute of Quarrying Australia

Educating and connecting our extractive industry

www.quarry.com.au

Join our LinkedIn community: The Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA)

The IQA’s Strategic Plan 2023 to 2026 embodies the following vision, values and strategic priorities:

EDUCATION REMAINS CENTRAL TO OUR MISSION, WITH 57 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES DELIVERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR.

Vision: Thriving communities supported by a sustainable industry Operational Priorities: • Deepen industry participation • Sustainable revenue streams • Highly capable team

• Technological innovation • Effective engagement • Great governance

Strategic Priorities: • Support industry participants with compliance and regulation

• Build a diverse and skilled industry workforce

• Foster strong industry connectivity

IQA Contacts:

Phone: 02 9484 0577 Email: admin@quarry.com.au Chief Executive Officer Jane Schmitt President Michael Close

Company Secretary David Cowie

For all education, member and branch enquires please email: admin@quarry.com.au.

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IQA NEWS

The Institute of Quarrying Australia

Image: IQA

OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE IQA Queensland members rev up for 2025 at Motor Museum event

The Brisbane Motor Museum roared to life as members of the Queensland branch and Central Queensland sub-branch came together for their end of year dinner meeting.

Attendees kicked off the evening with a nostalgic journey through automotive history, exploring a stunning collection of iconic cars from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, before gathering for animated conversations over drinks.

The sold-out event featured two compelling presentations. Resources Safety and Health Queensland senior inspector Lionel Smith captivated the audience with his regulatory insights, while Boggo Road Station area manager Laura West unveiled fascinating developments on the Brisbane Cross River Rail project.

Adding to the evening’s highlights, Tamara Undy from event sponsor Australian Quarry Solutions shared her dynamic perspectives.

The vintage cars provided a striking backdrop to this celebration of industry excellence. Building on the event’s success, the Queensland and Central Queensland sub-branches have lined up an exciting calendar of events for 2025, promising

The Tas branch tour began at the Bridport Pier ruins.

more opportunities for learning, networking, and growth in the region.

IQA Tasmania technical weekend

The IQA Tasmania branch hosted another successful technical weekend in Bridport, marking what is believed to be the 31st iteration of this cherished event. The gathering attracted 30 participants, including interstate visitors from Queensland and NSW. The weekend kicked off with a social evening at the local Bunker Club, before Saturday’s comprehensive tour program. Special thanks to the bus sponsors, Stopford Drilling and Forze Explosives, and to Ron “Buggie” Bugg and Doug Hagan for sharing their expertise on local geology and history.

The tour began at the historic Bridport Pier ruins, where participants learned about the area’s fascinating geological formation from

380 million years ago. The group then visited Bridestowe Lavender Farm, home to 650,000 lavender plants across 250 acres. Participants toured the processing facility, learning how 250kg batches of lavender seeds are distilled to produce just 2.5L of precious oil.

Lunch was enjoyed at the 50-year-old Pipers Brook Vineyard’s Nadines Restaurant, accompanied by wine tasting of their cool climate varieties. The afternoon was spent exploring the historic gold mining town of Lefroy, which produced 190,000 ounces of gold between 1870 and 1941. The tour examined well-preserved mine shafts, including the New Chum and Volunteer mines, and visited the historic cemetery. The day concluded at Little Rivers Brewery in Scottsdale for refreshments.

The weekend wrapped up with dinner at Bridport Bay Inn, followed by golf and a barbecue at Ian and Suzie Smith’s residence •

UPCOMING COURSES AND EVENTS Event

Date

Time

Location

Introduction to quarrying virtual workshop

4 February

1:00pm – 5:00pm (AEDT)

Online

Hazard identification webinar

6 February

10:00am – 11:00am (AEST)

Online

Quarry roads and onsite vehicle safety webinar

11 February

9:00am – 10:30pm (AEDT)

Online

North Queensland dinner meeting

12 February

6:00pm – 9:00pm (AEST)

North Queensland Club | 241 Flinders St, Townsville, Qld

Learning from disasters workshop

13 February

8:30am – 4:30pm (AEDT)

Southern NSW

Emergency management webinar

18 February

1:00pm – 2:00pm (AEST)

Online

Victorian sub-branch networking dinner

20 February

6:00pm – 9:30pm (AEDT)

Grovedale Hotel | 236–258 Torquay Road, Grovedale, Vic

Intro safety and health management systems

25 February

1:00pm – 2:00pm (AEST)

Online

Queensland branch site tour and networking barbecue

27 February

11:30am – 3:00pm (AEST)

Currumbin Minerals | 20 Wheeler Cres, Currumbin Waters, Qld

4 March

1:00pm – 2:00pm (AEST)

Online

Introduction to quarrying virtual workshop

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Quarry February 2025

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IQA NEWS

The Institute of Quarrying Australia

MEET THE AMBASSADORS The Institute of Quarrying Australia has launched its ambassador program for 2025 to help grow and support the quarrying sector.

T

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BE PART OF THE IQA AMBASSADOR PROGRAM? As I thought it was a great initiative, it was an easy decision for me to take it on.

In a way, I’ve been an ambassador for the IQA for years, especially when I was travelling across Queensland and New South Wales for my work.

I have always talked to quarry professionals about the benefits of the IQA, encouraging them to consider becoming a member.

These quarry professionals include quarry owners, managers, supervisors, operators and those in support and contracted roles such as administration, maintenance, material haulage, safety and environmental professionals. They all contribute to a successful quarry site and sector.

I joined the program to continue to grow the IQA membership base and help these professionals learn, grow and develop.

WHY DID YOU JOIN THE IQA, AND WHY HAVE YOU REMAINED INVOLVED? I initially joined the IQA to be involved in an organisation where I could learn as much as I could from the knowledge and experience of others.

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Quarry February 2025

Scheme (QMCS) was first developed, I was fortunate to be one of the first quarry managers to participate. I believed that it was a positive initiative for the sector’s employers and employees alike and now look at its relevance in the sector, especially in New South Wales and Queensland.

The IQA provides individuals with many professional development opportunities, many of which accrue CPD points.

Image: Jason Egan

he Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) has launched one of its key initiatives in 2025 in the IQA Ambassador Program.

The program features 26 of the sector’s most respected leaders to champion its mission and growth in 2025.

Together, the ambassadors will help support the IQA’s mission of strengthening the engagement of IQA members.

One of the IQA Ambassadors for this year is Jason Egan, FIQ. Egan is an experienced professional in the quarrying sector who has worked in various capacities for close to 30 years. He is the product development manager at Lantrak, which specialises in material and plant hire solutions.

Outside the sector, he is also a volunteer speaker for Beyond Blue at workplaces, conferences and community organisations, sharing his journey and experience of taking care of his mental health and wellbeing and how to help others who may be struggling.

Jason Egan has been a member of the IQA for nearly 30 years.

While the IQA offers excellent education programs, there is a wealth of knowledge and experience available to individuals through the networks that you can build over time.

I’ve been a member of the IQA for close to 30 years, and much of my learning has come from my network; liaising and collaborating with all sorts of quarry professionals, helping me and my career in the quarrying sector.

I have also gained many friendships along the way.

I am extremely grateful for the network I have and it continues to grow. Your network allows you to reach out when you have a problem or you are looking for a solution or to gain new insight.

If someone in the sector is doing something different, why not ask them?

When the Quarry Managers Certification

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO IS THINKING OF BECOMING AN IQA MEMBER? The first thing I would say is don’t just wait for your employer to pay for it. While many employers do, don’t let that necessarily delay your decision to join, as the benefits can be immediate.

Treat it as an investment in yourself and your career, and should your employer reimburse you, well, that’s them investing in you and your career.

Becoming a member is one thing, but I encourage each existing and new member to actively participate in all of the offerings, including the dinner meetings, technical seminars, site tours, golf days, conferences and education offerings (faceto-face and online).

Perhaps even consider joining your committee, and if you do, please be an active committee member. Your ideas and suggestions are invaluable.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE AS AN IQA AMBASSADOR? I would like to see more existing members actively participate in the IQA, and those who join also become active members.

Ideally, I would like to see more quarry professionals at the IQA networking events, engaging with each other encouraging and supporting their “up and coming” staff to the events. While our desire is to increase the number of members, it is also essential that we increase the number of active members who engage in the organisation and the wonderful network within it.• For more information, visit quarry.com.au

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NEWS

Image: Boral

BORAL NAMED MAJOR SUPPLIER FOR BLACK ROCK MOTOR RESORT “AT BORAL, WE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS. THIS EXTENDS TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPLY OF OUR INNOVATIVE AND LOWER-CARBON MATERIALS.” VIK BANSAL

Render of the Black Rock Motor Resort.

Boral has been confirmed as the major construction materials supplier for the groundbreaking Black Rock Motor Resort project at NSW’s Lake Macquarie.

The project will see a multi-milliondollar driving circuit and luxury resort built on a rehabilitated and repurposed former coal mine at Wakefield. The Black Rock Motor Resort will include a high-speed 5.4km driving circuit, driver training academy, electric go-karts and luxury accommodation, dining and leisure facilities.

“We are proud to be pioneering the reuse of a former coal mine into a world-class facility and tourism destination, now extending our

circularity approach to the materials we will use in our construction,” said Tony Palmer, chief executive officer and founder of Black Rock Motor Resort.

“We were impressed by Boral’s range of sustainable lower carbon and recycled materials, and as such, welcomed them as our major supplier on this project.”

Under the terms of the agreement, Boral will exclusively supply circa 15,000m3-plus of its lower carbon concrete; circa 150,000 tonnes-plus of natural and recycled aggregates made from deposits of sand, gravel, rock or demolition concrete; and Boral asphalt. Boral’s lower-carbon concrete

will reduce embodied carbon by up to 50 per cent compared to conventional concrete. Boral has already started supplying quarry materials to the project.

“We’re extremely pleased to be the major supplier of materials to Black Rock Motor Resort, an exciting new development and attraction set to drive local jobs and tourism, but more specifically, has a positive circularity story – being built on the former Rhonda Colliery coal mine,” said Vik Bansal, chief executive officer of Boral.

“When we were tapped for our sustainable and lower carbon construction material offering, we knew this is a project we wanted to partner with based on an aligned sustainability approach and the circular story of a rehabilitated mine. We, too, look at ways to rehabilitate and repurpose our quarries at the end of their life.

“At Boral, we are committed to being a sustainable business. This extends to the development and supply of our innovative and lower-carbon materials.

With the building and construction industry traditionally being carbon intensive, a circularity approach is always encouraged and plays an important role. We look forward to a future where a repurposed approach takes centre stage.”

The Black Rock Motor Resort is expected to be operational by mid-2026 subject to works being completed.•

A NSW quarry is playing a key role in transforming local sporting fields in Orange.

Orange City Council has revealed how work is progressing on its Forest Road Sports Precinct. The project’s next stage will see the eight sports fields, including three cricket fields, covered with a layer of 200mm of sand under the grass to improve drainage.

A quarry in Eugowra will supply 28,000 tonnes of sand via 20 to 25 trucks per day in January to support the sporting field project.

“Local footballers know that many sporting fields in Orange struggle

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Quarry February 2025

after heavy rain,” Orange City Council mayor Tony Mileto said.

“For the first time we’re installing a high-quality drainage system topped with 200mm of sand that becomes the growing medium for the hard-wearing couch grass.”

“Currently, we have to shut fields if we have too much rain.

“The plan is that these new fields at the sports precinct will be playable much sooner after rain.

“Once the sand is rolled and the 16 kilometres of installed drainage pipes and irrigation lines are complete, the turf can be laid. Weather permitting, the grass fields

Image: Orange City Council

QUARRY PLAYS KEY ROLE IN SPORTING FIELD TRANSFORMATION

Sand is being stockpiled at the Sports Precinct site.

will be established while the weather’s warm and be the new fields will be playable for cricket by the end of next year.”•

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NEWS

Image: Yingyaipumi/stock.adobe.com

CEMENT AUSTRALIA ACQUIRES DIVISION OF BGC

Cement Australia will acquire a state-of-the-art cement grinding unit.

Cement Australia has expanded its presence in Australia after announcing the acquisition of BGC Cementitious, a division of the Buckeridge Group of Companies (BGC).

Cement Australia, a joint venture between Heidelberg Materials and Holcim, will acquire a state-of-the-art cement grinding unit with significant

capacities through the transaction.

A transport fleet and a nationally accredited innovation centre are also included in the transaction.

“The acquisition of this division of family-owned BGC will reinforce Holcim’s footprint in the attractive market of Australia. With its stateof-the-art facilities, the acquisition will advance Holcim’s leadership in

A TRANSPORT FLEET AND A NATIONALLY ACCREDITED INNOVATION CENTRE ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE TRANSACTION.

sustainable and innovative building solutions,” said Martin Kriegner, Holcim’s region head of Asia, the Middle East and Africa, and chairman of Cement Australia.

BGC was established in 1959 by architect Len Buckeridge and eventually became a construction and manufacturing company specialising in Western Australia.

The cementitious division, which Cement Australia will acquire, includes cement, concrete, quarry and asphalt assets and a materials technology innovation centre.

“The acquisition of BGC complements and expands our growing business in Australia, marking an important strategic step to further strengthen our existing footprint in this attractive core market,” said Dr Dominik von Achten, chairman of the managing board of Heidelberg Materials.

René Aldach, member of the managing board of Heidelberg Materials and responsible for Australia, added: “The know-how around innovative products in combination with the newly-added operations from this iconic Western Australian business will also contribute to enhancing our offering of sustainable solutions to our customers.”

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals.•

APPROVALS COORDINATOR SET TO BE EXTENDED IN VICTORIA The Victorian Government appears set to extend the Resources Victoria Approval Coordinator (RVAC) to support the state’s construction materials industry.

The RVAC was established in 2023 and, according to the state government, has helped facilitate access to 93 million tonnes of quarry materials.

The Victorian Government’s recently released Economic Growth Statement listed extending the RVAC as a key initiative.

“We’re making sure that success continues, extending the RVAC until 2027, bringing to market more concrete and other materials used in housing and vital infrastructure,” the document read.

“We’ll also support new critical minerals

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Quarry February 2025

projects – including developing maps that identify areas that have the highest likelihood of developing successful critical minerals operations and providing dedicated support to facilitate engagement with community and Traditional Owners.”

The RVAC model will also be used to create what the Victorian Government calls an “Investment Coordinator-General”.

The new coordinator, set to begin in early 2025, aims to ensure all agencies, regulators, and statutory authorities meet required approval deadlines for projects of state significance.

The RVAC model has received praise from some within the quarrying industry and external stakeholders, including Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia

(CCAA) and Infrastructure Australia in its Market Capacity Report 2023.

Earlier this year, the RVAC was praised by those at Boral for its role in extending the company’s Montrose Quarry.

“Our Montrose Quarry has provided the foundations for development and growth across the greater Melbourne area for decades, with its materials enabling many of Melbourne’s iconic buildings and infrastructure,” Matthew Mckenzie, executive general manager of Boral Concrete and Quarries South, said previously.

“We welcome the government’s support in enabling our Montrose operations to continue to play a critical role in building Melbourne.”•

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NEWS

Image: Aptella

APTELLA ANNOUNCES NEW CEO APPOINTMENT “IT IS A GREAT HONOUR TO LEAD THIS BUSINESS AND ITS PEOPLE, WHO I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH OVER MANY YEARS.” GREG MACKLIN

Greg Macklin will be Aptella’s new chief executive officer.

Aptella has confirmed Greg Macklin will succeed Martin Nix as the company’s chief executive officer.

Macklin will take over the top job from April 1 after Nix transitions to a non-executive director position on the board of directors.

Macklin went through a rigorous recruitment process, which attracted international candidates. Macklin has served as chief operating officer at Aptella and has experience in sales, business management and executive leadership.

“We were fortunate to have a choice of very talented and experienced

people show interest in this role,” said Ian Petherbridge, chairman of Aptella.

“After careful consideration, the board was unanimous in its support of Greg as the best candidate to lead the business.”

“His leadership acumen, customercentric approach, and strong rapport with Aptella’s executive team and employees make him the ideal fit to continue Aptella’s growth and deliver its strategy.”

Macklin added: “It is a great honour to lead this business and its people, who I’ve had the privilege to work with over many years.

My congratulations to Martin for how he has shaped Aptella into the company it is today. I am committed to its ongoing success and support of our customers into this next chapter.”

Aptella specialises in providing automation and positioning technology to customers in the civil construction, mining, building, and geospatial sectors. The company employs more than 400 people throughout Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia and is majorityowned by international trading organisation Mitsui & Co. Nix joined Aptella in 2010, when it was known as Position Partners and had just been formed as a national company. During his tenure, Nix achieved many milestones with the company, including expanding to Southeast Asia and New Zealand, rebranding to Aptella, and transitioning to Mitsui as majority shareholder.

“I have every confidence in Greg to take the baton from me and lead Aptella through its next phase of growth,” Nix said.

“His care for, and knowledge of, our team and our customers runs deep, and I look forward to seeing him succeed with the full support of his executive team and our board.”

Heidelberg Materials North America has confirmed its subsidiar, SEFA has become part of the company’s brand.

Heidelberg Materials North America acquired SEFA in 2023, intending to boost its usage of recycled coal ash in concrete and provide more sustainable products.

Under the new arrangement, the SEFA name will be “associated with beneficiation technologies and solutions”; it will now have the Heidelberg Materials brand.

“Two years ago, we unified our many legacy brands under the Heidelberg Materials name to better reflect our expertise in heavy building materials

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while also conveying our commitment to becoming the industry leader in sustainability and digital solutions,” Heidelberg Materials North America president and chief executive officer Chris Ward said.

“The rebranding of our SEFA business to Heidelberg Materials further reinforces this commitment and aligns perfectly with our vision to build a more sustainable, circular, and resilient future.”

SEFA developed its reputation in supplying technology for coal ash and has more than 5 years of experience designing and operating beneficiation facilities. Its main business is processing and marketing fly ash for use in concrete.•

Image: Heidelberg Materials North America

SEFA REBRANDED TO HEIDELBERG MATERIALS

SEFA will carry the Heidelberg Materials brand from now on.

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COVER STORY

DRIVEN TO SUCCEED ODE Materials has been on an extensive journey within the quarrying industry to become a supplier of high-quality sand. Simone and Brendan O’Dowd share their story with Quarry.

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ow do you take a thought and develop it into a thriving business?

It is hard to know exactly how much of a business’s success lies in tangible factors like a well-structured plan, location or the right equipment and how much lies in the intangible.

Simone O’Dowd had a simple idea as she looked around her development site in 2012 in New South Wales.

More than two decades prior, the previous site owner had excavated about 20,000 tonnes of sand onto the site when trying to build a marina basin.

There was a quality resource sitting there, albeit one that needed screening and cleaning. Simone had an inkling that the sand could be sold into the construction market and to concrete producers.

Her initial research had shown that commissioning a contractor to process this sand would be too expensive to make it a worthwhile venture.

The company’s sand has been used in tunnel projects as well as roads and buildings.

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As she told Quarry, she would not let a simple thing like that stop her.

“I was convinced that it wasn’t rocket science. I refuse to believe anything in the world is rocket science except rocket science,” she said.

“In my whole career, I’ve always worked on a project that has required research and a lot of courage to step into places I hadn’t been before. It wasn’t new for me to do it again, except it was in sand mining this time.

“I decided if they could do it, I could do it.”

Driven by her internal belief and support from her business partner, Simone took her first steps on an extensive journey that would eventually grow into ODE Materials.

Simone visited four or five different sand processing plants to witness how they processed their material. Instead of potential competitors closing ranks, Simone found, for the most part, they were willing to support her as she began her journey in the construction materials industry.

Her best lessons came from the on-theground operators.

With what she learned from this research trip around Australia’s east coast, Simone and her business partner began to realise the potential for this company to flourish.

“If you show an interest in somebody’s job, they are generally very keen to talk to you about it. It doesn’t take much for me to get enthusiastic; I thrive on challenges enjoy learning new things,” she said.

“I think there was a sense from them that ‘well, she’s incredibly unlikely to get this up, we’re not really at risk’ because the chances of success were so minor.

“But I think that is a great testament to the Australian culture; we do give it a go, and we support each other.”

In December 2012, they decided to bite the bullet and invest $20,000 to hire a triple-deck screen from Finlay, a loader and another operator. Starting a new business is a substantial task for anyone, let alone

Images: ODE Materials The company started producing sand in small batches before upscaling over the years.

someone who is also learning how to operate the screening equipment and the loader.

The initial 4000-tonne stockpile generated interest from Australian concrete producers but as a newcomer to the sector, they needed to see proof of the material quality and evidence it could be produced consistently.

Despite being a small start-up, Simone refused to be deterred and believed she had been presented with a great opportunity.

“Another person might have said, ‘this is too hard, they keep moving the goalposts,’ but I am not like that,” she said.

“No matter how small you start, if you get it right at the start that is half the battle won.”

The initial results of the sand encouraged her business partner to maintain their investment, while the likes of Heidelberg Materials Australia (Hanson at the time) and Holcim Australia were left impressed with the quality of the resource. Seemingly, they may have struck gold from the beginning, and sand production looked easy.

Until newly purchased second-hand equipment arrived, which proved to be the wrong equipment and an expensive mistake.

Like many small-to-medium businesses, it was not flush with cash to spend on equipment without revenue coming back in.

Quick thinking on Simone’s behalf saw them rent the incorrect trommel out to a local council and use those funds to hire the correct equipment. It was not an ideal set-up by any measure. Still, it allowed the business to operate for a year and prove it could consistently supply sand, which secured its first two clients, a significant milestone for the business.

“I was about as low as I can get,” she said.

“But at this point, I had sand on the ground continuously and two customers, which wasn’t a lot, but it was continuous.”

Sometimes, when a person is going through a significant life event, it is only in hindsight that they can reflect on the enormity of their achievements. It is no different in business; specific years often feature ‘sliding doors’ moments that make or break the company.

Now, nearly a decade later, Simone has highlighted 2016 as the critical year the business shifted gears.

The original 20,000 tonnes of sand started to run out due to customer demand at the end of 2015, and while they had approval to make the marina basin bigger, they would need a dredge to do it. It was more effective than using an excavator to increase the basin’s size but also more expensive.

It was a conundrum that sent Simone to the drawing board. She set out to visit six dredge operators to find a contractor to support the business. Importantly, she also wanted to reconfigure the existing screening setup to achieve a better de-watering process for the sand material.

Brendan O’Dowd, the local track and manufacturing industry’s go-to for difficult jobs, helped modify their ancient mobile screen which had been recently purchased.

The modification featured a boiler box at the top of the shaker box instead of rinse bars along the length of the screening deck and a box at the bottom of screen to the catch the now heavily-diluted slurry and transfer it to a second-hand Terex SC60 for dewatering.

“Brendan did the two modifications, and then we hooked it up, and it worked in the sense that I was dry-feeding the mobile screen, bombing it with water before it then dropped into the vibrating box and then transferring it to the SC60,” Simone said.

“But I was dumping a lot of water from the basin, not just sprinkling or rewatering it but pounding it with water and sending it through a cyclone and a dewatering screen.

“Not only had we built this system with all this old gear, but we’d modified it, and now we were making really nice sand. We had very rudimentary equipment, but we had no issues. Despite the fact it was rudimentary, we were meticulous in applying principles and the right parameters.”

The new system, built chiefly by Brendan, helped them process around 50,000 tonnes of sand over the next six months. Brendan’s work impressed Simone and her business partner to such an extent that they decide to sub-contract Brendan for one day a week, which in hindsight, was an important moment for both Simone and Brendan.

Together, they set out to master every function within their plant to produce the best in-spec sand possible. It sounds simple, but given they had created a continuous process from the dredge to the on-shore system, the reality was much harder.

The system itself featured a lot of secondhand equipment, some of which had to be re-built, and needed to function together as one unit. Brendan led the initiative to modify parts of the equipment so it could all function within the same parameters, which boosted their on-site production.

“Brendan absolutely nailed it,” Simone said.

“I regard 2016 as the year we developed significant expertise on what we call the operating parameters for every function in the plant.

“We were learning on the ground as we went. We began to understand the operating parameters for every bit of gear to the finest detail. Understanding those parameters is critical. If you don’t understand your parameters, you’re losing money.”

But, as with any business, while it was continuing to grow, they still had more things to figure out as Simone and Brendan continued to learn as sand producers.

Quarry February 2025 19

COVER STORY

The costs of commissioning a dredge and contractor were proving expensive and limiting to the business. The conventional cutter head extraction method was creating issues as the extraction area featured a clay seam running through it. The cutter head was unable to get through it, which presented a problem for the business.

They could either stop and pack up the business due to the clay seam or drastically re-think how they dredged their material.

The answer came in the unlikely form of a Victorian dredge operator in Darwin.

Lex Nankervis from Slurry Systems Marine said he had a new method that would counteract the issues Simone and Brendan had encountered with the clay seam. It could even take the business to new heights.

“We knew the sand extended three to four times beyond the clay, but we were told there was nothing that we could do,” Simone said.

“I don’t like taking no for an answer, especially when I know it isn’t rocket science.

When we saw this new dredge technology, we were like, ‘wow’, and we thought it could work.”

Not only did Lex’s setup work, but it also voided the use of the excavator, which had been on its last legs after being purchased second-hand several years earlier. Lex developed a system that put his dredged material through a screen to take out oversized material before the slurry was pumped in equal distribution to three cyclones on three-legged stands.

Simone and Brendan agreed the set-up looked like something out of the postapocalyptic novel The Day of the Triffids, but it was effective regardless of its looks. Within its parameters, each cyclone performed optimally for its function.

“We were watching and observing at the time but not really understanding how critical

it was what we were seeing,” Simone said.

“We saw on occasions when one cyclone wasn’t getting enough material or the right pressure, we saw that the material it produced was inferior compared to the others.

“It was still as sloppy as heck, but we ran like that for 12 months, and it killed the loader, which was still having to move this wet material to the stockpile area.”

After their initial success with the new system, Simone wanted to bring the dredging in-house. She thought that getting it in-house would give them greater control and avoid a “stock out”, which could occur if they were waiting on external contractors.

After some research, travelling up to Queensland and working with nine separate parties to find and modify the equipment , the company had built a new electric dredge.

All of this was packed into a timeframe from November 2017 to June 2018. Brendan took long service leave from his other job to help Simone manage the project. They constantly refined their design, overseeing the manufacturing of the pontoon and consulting with electrical engineers as they tweaked and altered the newly created dredge and shorebased processing plant.

Simone said “it was like the Christmas of all Christmases,” as they watched each semitrailer roll through in February and March 2018 with the bits of gear which was assembled by Brendan. While still supplying and loading out sand, Brendan and Simone were putting their plant together under the curious and at times disbelieving eyes of their existing multinational customers. And within two days of final testing, they were approached to supply 8000 tonnes a month of sand. There were only two issues: the old second-hand Terex SC60 was nearly exhausted after years of operation and was being held together with conveyor belt rubber and Sikaflex. They had also reached

ODE Materials has become a supplier of high-quality sand to the Sydney market and surrounding areas.

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the maximum size of the dredging pool and needed to shift the plant on-site to produce more sand while still making sure they had enough stockpiled material to supply.

But, as they had for the previous few years, Simone and Brendan refused to get knocked down by the enormity of what confronted them.

“We pushed this plant as hard as it would go to build this massive stockpile, which we could use while we broke down the plant and moved it,” Brendan said.

“We relocated the entire plant but took the opportunity to improve and refine it.”

Once again, Brendan led the re-design of the plant, which repositioned equipment, added more dewatering screens and reduced the plant’s footprint. With the new dredge and plant working together, in Simone’s words, they were “supplying sand Only two operators are used across the site, one on the loader and one on the dredge.

at a rate we never would have considered 12 months before.”

It was a significant achievement in the face of another major undertaking; the pair received bad news from a poor material test result. Instead of letting it break them, Simone and Brendan used it as a catalyst.

“We designed and built a secondary process into the plant by which we could remove chemical impurities without upsetting the critical parameters and the balance between each sub-process in the continuous process,” Brendan said. “That was the pinnacle of design in our plant.”

The new system scaled the business to new heights by enabling it to supply B80 specification material used in bridges, tunnels and high-rise buildings around Sydney. The pair estimates ODE Materials was selling a minimum of 10,000 tonnes of

sand a month into Sydney alone, with the whole operation controlled by two people, one on the dredge and one on the loader.

“We believe there are plenty of other resources out there that are sterilised or abandoned, and a lot of those people may have derelict equipment they think is past its use-by date,” Brendan said. “Those problems can be addressed with what we do.”

“It’s not just that our plant is a continuous process that means each grain of sand is only handled once when the loader operator fills the truck bins or the fact the whole operation can be run by one operator if the truck drivers can load themselves,” Simone said.

“It’s also because our dredge is not a cutter suction but delivers much higher cutting and agitation of material at the pick-up point and significantly greater dredge depth.”

Simone and Brendan are now sharing their expertise with the Australian quarrying sector under the banner of ODE Materials.

“Our starting point was the end-game – to consistently supply top-quality in-spec sand with zero double-handling and much greater capacity. We reverse-engineered everything from that objective, which is why we ended up with a completely different take on our dredge and processing equipment,” Simone said. “It helped that we were coming from nothing and only had blank pages in front of us and were not locked into traditional thinking. And just because our gear was ‘traditional’ it did not stop Brendan from being able to modify it and build it into our design. We want to help other resource-owners realise their capabilities.” • For more information, call Brendan on 0414 506 430

Quarry February 2025 21

EVENTS

SECURE YOUR SPACE AT PNG EXPO Major exhibitors are securing their spot at the upcoming Papua New Guinea Industrial and Mining Resources Exhibition and Conference.

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Images: Prime Creative Media

ey players in the Australasian resources sector will converge in Port Moresby to attend the PNG Industrial and Mining Resources Exhibition and Conference (PNG Expo).

The premier event aims to connect the who’s who of Australian and PNG quarrying and mining in Port Moresby from 2-3 July 2025.

Key exhibitors like Metso, Blackwoods, Sandvik, Dreager, Lincom, and Putzmeister have already locked in their floor space, following the successful event in 2024.

Situated in Port Moresby’s commercial and governmental hub, the 2025 event will take place at the Stanley Hotel. The venue is conveniently located close to the airport and prioritises the welfare of its guests, offering a safe and secure stay.

Key exhibitors have locked in their floor space for 2025.

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Marketing manager of mining events at Prime Creative Media Rebecca Todesco said the focus for the 2025 event is allowing delegates and attendees to maximise face time and networking opportunities.

“Holding the event at a luxury business location like the Stanley Hotel means our delegates can spend more time building lasting industry connections and less time travelling between locations,” she said.

From the welcome drinks to the exhibition floor, the speaker conference and the gala dinner – all sideline events will be held within walking distance on Stanley Hotel property.

“Locating everything in the one place not only means more contact between our buyers and suppliers but also means we can prioritise the welfare of our attendees.

“Our delegates can make the most of their time knowing that once they arrive, we will bring the industry to them,” Todesco said.

Industry leaders will showcase their innovative technology at the show, highlighting how they can benefit the PNG resources industry. Across the two-day event, experts from the resources sector will address crucial topics in the curated speaker conference. Safety will be a particular focus at the PNG Expo, as the conference aims to highlight ways businesses can drive positive change and keep everyone safe.

Experts from the resources sector will address crucial topics in keynote presentations.

It will provide an opportunity for delegates to hear from experts from across landowners, government, mining, energy, petroleum, infrastructure sharing insight on productivity, safety, sustainability, and innovation in technology and equipment.

While major organisations have already secured their spot at the event, there is still time to get involved.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for organisations that are interesting in showing their commitment to supporting the growing PNG sector. • For more information, visit pngexpo.com

The PNG Expo aims to connect the who’s who of Australian and PNG industries.

Image credit: Eltirus

INNOVATION

All Mawsons sites now use drone surveys, digital stockpile management and geospatial controls.

INNOVATION

EXCELLENCE

Find out why Mawsons quarry development manager Adrian Bull won the 2024 IQA Excellence in Innovation and Community Engagement award.

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very year, the IQA recognises an individual’s contribution to excellence and innovation in the quarry industry, including outcomes in community engagement and consultation.

The award, sponsored by Eltirus, can be for innovation in design, production, operations, automation, plant design, maintenance or processes as a single event or for a longerterm contribution to improvement over a period of time.

A key requirement is that the innovation should show measurable outcomes and the winners must be able to demonstrate engagement with peers, the industry and/or the community.

Quarry looks at how Mawsons quarry development manager Adrian Bull won the award.

became the quarry manager at Glenrowan quarry where he was also responsible for mobile crushing. In 2002, he moved to Lake Cooper quarry as quarry manager until 2014 when he became the area manager for Central Victoria. More recently, in 2022, he took on a new role as drill and blast and pit development manager.

A long time IQA member, Bull started going to IQA meetings when studying at Box Hill.

In 2003, he was involved in setting up the IQA Victorian sub-branch and ran it for some years. He has been involved in all facets of sub-branch activities and has been active in promoting the IQA “Involvement in the IQA has been an important part of my development in the industry, as a manager and in making broad industry contacts,” he told Quarry.

OVERVIEW Bull has been with Mawsons since 1996, after a career in heavy engineering and spending time in the mining industry.

Starting at Lake Boga quarry as a fitter, he commended studies at Box Hill. In 1999 he

INNOVATION Mawsons general manager of quarries Dave Brown nominated Bull for the award.

He told Quarry that Bull has been at the forefront of innovation for Mawsons over several years.

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“Together with Cement and Aggregate Consulting (now Eltirus), he introduced the use whole of site drone survey, 3D loading tool guidance, GPS blasthole guidance and digital quarry development planning at Lake Cooper,” Brown said.

“These initiatives are now used across all quarries in Mawsons and are a standard part of how we manage this part of our business.

It was this successful series of developments that saw us create a new role in the business - drill and blast and pit development manager, which is the role Adrian now occupies.”

“He has been instrumental in bringing Mawsons’ drill and blast, pit development, geospatial controls and stockpile management into the 21st century. This has included training dozens of employees, presenting at management meetings, establishing systems and reporting protocols that our external auditors consider first-class, covering a large geographic area in doing so.”

DRILL AND BLAST Bull is also the central figure in Mawsons’ internal blast crew. The company decided

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Three of Mawsons blasthole drills now use GPS guidance and automation.

that it could not afford to lose the capability to load and fire shots itself, so it recruited two supervisors to manage the drilling program and take on shot-firing where it was impractical to use Orica or if they were not available.

This gave the company a great deal of flexibility and helped the quarry managers to get far more involved in their own blasting results.

Brown said Bull has also taken on the management of its in-house surveyor, linking geospatial work, stockpile

management, and drill and blast needs together.

“He works closely with operations, our resource development team, and also provides services to other departments in Mawsons as needed,” he said.

“I strongly believe that the approach Adrian and Mawsons is taking, not just in keeping up with modern technology, but also transferring traditional quarrying skills and knowledge to our newer managers, is critical in terms of future-proofing the business.

These days, with so much focus required

on compliance, reporting, training and other more administrative parts of managers’ roles, the traditional path of development for quarry managers has changed.

“It is important, however, not to lose the value of having skills in key areas such as drill and blast and pit development in-house, and the work Adrian is doing in his role – as well as delivering drill and blast outcomes to the business – is assisting Mawsons in maintaining this knowledge and capability.

“I believe this kind of approach is crucial across the industry, to ensure we don’t

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INNOVATION

lose skills and experience, as the older generations retire.”

As well as preserving and passing on skills and experience, Bull is also ensuring Mawsons keeps up with technological and compliance developments, keeping us at the forefront of the industry.

He has championed developing the company’s new blast management system, which provides cloud-based blast management plans for each site. This method of record-keeping and reporting makes it very easy for quarry managers to manage their own site safety and compliance needs, when it comes to blasting. This makes it easy for anyone to come into a new quarry manager role, and quickly see where all relevant information is stored.

Bull was the central figure in driving this development, in liaison with Mawsons’ workplace health and safety team.

Brown said his dedication, enthusiasm, and attention to detail, that have made all the difference.

“In addition to all this, Adrian has, together with his two supervisors, provided shot-firing services internally to our Mawsons sites,” he said. “This has sometimes been done to fill gaps when Orica could not be available in the required timing, and sometimes to carry out more tricky or difficult shots that we wanted to treat in a very specific way. The added benefit of this is keeping shotfiring skills, qualifications and experience inhouse, and getting quarry managers directly involved in their own blasting outcomes.

“He has also been instrumental in working with Orica to improve the standard of rock

on ground services being provided to Mawsons sites.”

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Bull has been Mawsons’ primary contact for community engagement for its new greenfield quarry site in central Victoria, a high-profile site with many interested local parties.

He has become the primary contact for community groups, and is highly regarded and trusted by them, so much so that when he changed roles and no longer had accountability for the development, he volunteered to maintain the community contact part of it.

Brown said this was crucial, as Mawsons recognises the importance of maintaining trust and openness with the community.

MENTORSHIP Bull’s role covers all of Mawsons, including all NSW and Victoria quarries, which amounts to thirty-four different sites. He is also heavily involved in major capital projects. A key part of his work is in upskilling the company’s quarry managers, training new drillers, and engaging with service providers.

Brown said consultation was one of Bull’s strengths.

“He can talk to people at any level, has huge industry knowledge and very detailed and broad technical skills. He has provided mentoring to quarry managers on how to develop their pits, how to prepare for new blasts, how to manage their stockpiles, and how to use the new technology we have for all this,” he said.

Bull has been instrumental in working with Orica to align its rock on ground services with Mawson requirements.

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“He engages with our suppliers and service providers too, providing feedback, ideas, and direction for Mawsons’ business needs. He consults with management, provides support in multiple areas outside his role, and is a key member of Mawsons quarry management team.

“His energy and curiosity, combined with his skills and experience, make him the ideal person to be at the forefront of innovation and community engagement in Mawsons.

He loves celebrating others’ success. He takes pride in passing on knowledge, and enjoys seeing our younger managers learn new skills, and have increased confidence in managing their sites. He keeps nothing to himself and passes on all these new developments to others. To me, this is a key factor in making these developments transferable - the drive, humility and communication skills of the person taking accountability for the transfer of knowledge.”

All Mawsons sites now use drone surveys, digital stockpile management and geospatial controls. This has a huge benefit in terms of compliance, reporting, accuracy, safety and productivity.

Three of Mawsons blasthole drills now use GPS guidance and automation, greatly increasing drilling accuracy and productivity.

Mawsons has fully compliant blast management plans across all sites, using a cloud-hosted database for record-keeping.

This makes drill and blast compliance for quarry managers very easy, and the system has been given the green light by the NSW regulator.

The company also now has internal blast crew, ensuring that it has maximum flexibility and can deliver blasts to meet most timeframes, especially when Orica are not available. This ensures that we keep the core quarrying skill of drill and blast in-house within Mawsons.

Brown said a key part of Mawsons branding is “premium value”.

“That means that we offer our customers more than just quarry products. We offer products and services that are at the forefront of quarrying technology, with high quality, consistent outcomes, flexible solutions, and a strong focus on customer support,” he said.

“Adrian embodies all that premium value stands for, in his approach to his work. He has been the central figure in many different initiatives that are driving innovation at Mawsons and is an inspiring member of our team.” •

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EXCAVATORS

PACKED WITH PERFORMANCE Quarry looks at the latest innovations in the new short-radius heavy excavator range from Kobelco.

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Image: Kobelco

obelco launched an exciting range of new short radius heavy excavators last year with the introduction of the new SK380SRLC-7, SK225SR-7, and SK235SR-7 models in Australia.

Instantly recognisable from the striking blue Kobelco blue colour scheme, the new additions add to its comprehensive shortradius range, which the company began manufacturing in 1996.

Kobelco introduced the short-radius concept more than two decades ago in response to demand for machine’s that

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The new SK225SR-7 and SK235SR-7 follow Kobelco’s Performance x Design concept.

The company has one of the largest shortradius excavator ranges on the market.

Quarry February 2025

could handle work on tight access urban and residential sites. The short radius range has proven popular for contractors specialising in roadworks and utility maintenance.

The SK380SRLC-7 was described upon release by Kobelco as its “heaviest and most capable short-radius excavator to date”, delivering high-level performance in a compact design.

The SK380SRLC-7, part of Kobelco’s Series 7 range, features a reimagined operator station and delivers a 5 per cent increase in engine output compared to previous models. The SK380SRLC-7 can handle heavy-duty tasks up close with only 305mm of tail overhang.

Able to operate safely in a single road lane, it’s perfect for highway projects and applications requiring a larger machine in a restricted work area.

“Increased requirements for urban infrastructure, utilities, and roadbuilding mean an increased demand for compact machinery,” Kobelco Australia’s general manager of product and distribution, Mark Johnson, said.

“The SK380SRLC-7 provides the same powerful performance and lifting capacity as our large conventional machines but with a smaller working footprint. The newly redesigned Series 7 cabin is also something that operators will certainly appreciate.”

The SK380SRLC-7 is equipped with a powerful Isuzu Tier IV Final-compliant engine,

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which provides 210kW of output and 6 per cent higher torque than previous models for more efficient performance, all while minimising fuel consumption.

The SK380SRLC-7 can manage digging depths of up to 6.9m due to its swing torque and swift swing speeds, enabling short cycle times and improved on-site productivity. The bucket cylinder has been reinforced, and the rod-side pin diameter has been increased

from 80–95mm, adding to the machine’s controllability.

When extra lift capacity is required, a heavylift mode can be activated, while power boost mode provides an instant 10 per cent power increase for enhanced digging capability with no time restrictions, delivering an impressive 208kN bucket digging force and 139kN arm crowding force.

The SK380SRLC-7 also benefits from an enhanced cabin design, ergonomics, and safety features derived from Kobelco’s Performance x Design concept.

The cabin is outfitted with the Kobelcobranded Grammer heated and air-cushioned suspension seat and hydraulic controls to create an optimal working environment for the operator.

Kobelco’s intelligent total control system allows for pre-setting of attachment work modes from the cabin, with pre-sets to select multiple saved tools and operability adjustments that automatically provide optimal controllability for the specific attachment type.

DOUBLE DELIGHT Kobelco followed up its release of the SK380SRLC-7 with two more additions to its short-radius category.

The new SK225SR-7 and SK235SR-7 were launched in the Australian market in mid2024, with the company noting that the new models excel at precise operation.

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“Increased requirements for urban infrastructure, utilities, and roadbuilding mean an increased demand for compact machinery,” Johnson said.

“The new SK225SR-7 and SK235SR-7 provide the same powerful performance and lifting capacity as our mid-weight conventional machines but with a smaller working footprint of just 4.05m (SK225SR-7) and 3.68m (SK235SR-7).”

Weighing in at 23.3 tonnes (SK225SR-7) and 25 tonnes (SK235SR-7), the new machines deliver exact operation through excellent controllability and smooth hydraulics.

The optional heavy counterweights and balanced chassis layout provide exceptional lifting capacity, ideal for heavier tools and attachments. The new SR Series-7 machine arms and bucket cylinders have been reinforced, providing more digging power and durability. The plate thickness of the arm has been increased by 25 per cent (1.25 times stronger than the previous generation model).

The bucket cylinder has been reinforced by enlarging the flange and increasing the rodside pin diameter from 80–85mm.

“The two new SR-7 models build on the legacy of the legendary -2 machines with upgraded performance, productivity and comfort, while maintaining the Tier 3 engine without DPF or AdBlue, meaning lower operational and maintenance costs,” Johnson said. • For more information, visit kobelco.com.au.

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EQUIPMENT

COMET REACHES

FOR THE STARS

Comet Equipment president of sales Adam Doyle spoke to Quarry about the company’s global ambitions.

A

Doyle said Comet’s high quality is what sets its equipment apart.

“Originally designed for internal use, our products are crafted with durability and longevity in mind,” he said.

“We deliver what we say we will, when we say we will. With a direct connection to our manufacturer, we ensure unmatched quality control and supply chain security for our customers.”

Comet Equipment specialises in three product types: stackers, tanks, and concrete pumps.

Each stacker is built to meet the high demands of the quarrying industry, providing a safe and efficient material handling solution. They are designed to withstand continuous use in demanding environments and effectively handle abrasive materials With variable speeds and adjustable heights, the stackers seamlessly integrate with crushers and screeners, providing versatility and efficiency for quarries.

Comet Equipment president of global sales Adam Doyle.

Comet’s water tanks are similarly designed for harsh environments to ensure they remain reliable and functional for years in the field.

Engineered to seamlessly integrate with existing machines, the tank can support a wide range of operational needs and can be transported between sites without expensive wide-load permits.

The company’s range of concrete pumps is also designed for ease of transport, towable by vehicles with a three-tonne towing capacity.

Pump sizes range from 24m3 to 120m3 per hour, meaning there is an option suitable for quarry projects, infrastructure works, and residential construction companies.

Doyle said that safety is a top priority for the Images: Comet Equipment

round 22 years ago, Maas Group started with just one Bobcat and a tipper truck.

Now Maas Group operates 44 quarries with over 550 machines and 2000 employees.

Comet Equipment president of global sales Adam Doyle highlighted the company’s rapid growth despite competing with global giants.

“We’re one of Australia’s largest aggregate suppliers,” Doyle said. “While Australia’s market is exciting, it’s a small country of 25 million. We aim to export to markets with billions of people worldwide.”

That growth is what led to the creation of Comet Equipment. Initially, the company was formed to manufacture purposeoriented, functional equipment for use in Maas Group’s quarries, the company soon expanded its focus.

Comet Equipment now offers its purposedriven solutions to both the Australian market and global customers through its extensive network of dealers.

sour 100% i qua

makes emiss conc

Each Comet stacker is built to meet the high demands of the quarrying industry.

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company, with all products manufactured to meet or exceed Australian Standards.

“Safety is our number one concern, full stop,” Doyle said. “Our machines are built in a triple ISO-certified facility to meet stringent safety standards. This has become a key selling point, especially in markets where safety regulations are less rigorous than Australia’s.

“This commitment, paired with our product quality, ensures our machines deliver longterm performance for your business.”

Doyle also highlighted Comet Equipment’s unwavering focus on customer support, describing it as a “religious adherence.”

Unlike competitors who offer merely adequate support, Comet strives to set the industry standard by prioritising speed and responsiveness.

“For instance, if a client needs a spare part, we’ll move mountains to get it on a plane as quickly as possible,” Doyle said.

Doyle said that given Comet’s parent company is also a contractor, Comet understands the critical importance of minimising downtime for customers.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Doyle said.

“We know machines can break down, but what sets us apart is how we respond to customer needs. Time is money, and we fully understand how downtime impacts a business’s bottom line.”

Comet’s engineering team, comprising 19 engineers – including two with PhDs – is equipped to tackle complex challenges.

Comet’s water tanks are designed for harsh environments.

The company’s range of concrete pumps is also designed for ease of transport.

While Comet has a long-standing history of supporting the local quarrying industry, it is also strategically expanding into international markets. Rather than entering new territories randomly, Comet carefully selects countries where it can deliver its products without compromising its core values of quality and customer service. Ultimately, Comet aims to become a globally recognised brand synonymous with exceptional quality.

“We’re excited about the future,” Doyle said. “2024 has been a year of unprecedented growth, and we’ve built a robust international dealer network. None of this would have been possible without our customers—they are at the heart of everything we do at Comet Equipment.” • For more information, visit cometequipment.com

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WEAR PARTS

Images: SSAB

Hardox Wearparts members have access to one of the world’s largest industry knowledge bases.

REPUTABLE

GLOBAL NETWORK

Service networks play a key role in the quarrying industry. This is why Hardox Wearparts has built a global network for its wear parts.

H

ardox Wearparts has been a recognised name in heavy industries like quarrying since it opened its doors in Europe in 2000.

Since it was established, the company has developed a global network of wear service centres. It features more than 500 full-service centres in 100 countries and regions, including Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia, with more than 20 of Hardox Wearparts’ service centres support the quarrying, construction, road-building and recycling industries in those countries.

While some Hardox Wearparts centres are owned by SSAB Swedish Steel, a specialised

steel company, about 80 per cent are privately owned, such as Real Steel New Zealand.

“We’ve been a member of the Hardox Wearparts network for several years. It buys us credibility with our customers,” Real Steel New Zealand managing director Luke Mathieson said.

“Flying the colours of Hardox Wearparts is a sign of quality, reliability and excellence.”

The service centres provide the company’s customers with wear solutions that help to lower operating expenditure by extending service life, reducing personnel costs, and minimising downtime.

Despite Hardox Wearparts’ significant global expansion since 2000, its values of providing customers with high productivity, flexibility and performance have remained central to its international operations.

This is supported by SSAB’s international organisation, a network of dedicated experts who can provide marketing and technical support to Hardox Wearparts centres using state-of-the-art SSAB-certified techniques and processes.

SSAB manufactures various products, such as the Hardox wear plate, Duroxite overlay products, Strenx performance steel, and Toolox engineering tool steel.

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These steel products and many others are also available for purchase at a Hardox Wearparts centre.

“It was important for Hardox Wearparts centres to maintain a local focus, as this allows them to address specific customer needs more efficiently, and all wear business is local,” SSAB said.

“By partnering with local companies that supply wear services, we can provide our end customers with local and rapid access to quality wear parts and technical support.”

Hardox Wearparts members have access to one of the largest industry knowledge bases in the world.

This means customers in the Australian quarrying industry can achieve best practices by using the experiences shared by other centres and SSAB wear specialists. This shared knowledge can help Australian customers during their equipment and installation processes.

It’s no secret that working in Australian quarrying occurs in taxing conditions, especially for equipment.

Hardox Wearparts supplies reliable parts for quarry operations to help companies operate successfully in these challenging environments.

“Quarry operations rely on the performance of wear-resistant lining for loading buckets, trucks, and stationary and mobile conveyors.

Hardox Wearparts protects the mills, chutes, hydro cyclones and sorters from the particular stress conditions they are

Hardox Wearparts experts help quarry companies find the best solution for their applications.

exposed to in each production process,” SSAB said. “While equipment can come in all shapes and sizes, all can benefit from Hardox wear steel.

“Buckets made with Hardox last longer and keep their original shape thanks to the steel’s combination of high strength, extreme hardness, and excellent toughness.”

Selecting the proper wear parts is critical to maximising uptime and finding the best-performing solution at the right cost for businesses.

“When you’re doing business with a Hardox Wearparts centre, you should have high expectations. Every centre prioritises high staff skill standards, ensuring quality, performance and safety of the centre’s parts and services. By growing the network of Hardox Wearparts centres, as well as growing the range of products and services they provide, we are continuously improving our service capacity.” • For more information, visit ssab.com

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DUST

SEALING SOLVES

SPILLAGE SORROWS

Kinder Australia’s clever engineering is helping save quarries from excess dust and spillage.

W

Joshua Kay, a field applications engineer at Kinder, said the company does not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, its team prefers to visit the site and find the issue’s root cause.

“Kinder is a solutions-based engineering business. We don’t want to just offer a product guide; we are here to help solve problems,” he told Quarry.

“Whenever a customer has an issue, one of our field application engineers will inspect the site and speak to the staff about the issues they are facing. If we can offer solutions while in the field, we will, but usually, we will work with our internal engineering team to find the best tool for the job.”

THE SOLUTION Kinder has developed a specific fix to tackle dust emissions, made up of several products working in tandem – the Essential Air Seal dust containment solution.

The solution, made up of the AirScrape, TailScrape, K-Sure belt support system and K-Containment seal, provides optimal skirting and sealing. At the centre of this system is DustScrape, which uses a filter box to trap dust while allowing clean air to circulate.

Images: Kinder Australia

hen dust escapes from a plant at a quarry site, it can create all kinds of headaches.

Not only does it pose a danger to workers and the nearby environment, but it can also add significant maintenance costs.

This is doubly so with spillage, as material is wasted and piles up on site. This can lead to health and safety issues, like tripping hazards, and must be cleaned up.

Quarry workers are busy people, so having them spend time on cleanup duty instead of improving production leads to less money in the long run.

This was the problem facing a quarry in Central Queensland. The company, which specialises in producing material for fire prevention applications in underground coal mines, had an issue in its screening process.

No wear liner was used inside the chute, and 150mm rubber strips served as the chute’s only form of sealing. This resulted in unpleasant, disruptive, and costly material spillage. One full-time permanent maintenance staff member was recruited to shovel the spillage away.

Staff at the site knew something needed to be done and reached out to Kinder Australia for a solution.

TailScrape fully integrates with AirScrape to deliver outstanding sealing at the rear area.

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“The DustScrape box contains cloth-like filter material that captures dust particles while ensuring proper airflow,” Kay said.

The system protects workers and enhances operational efficiency by suppressing dust where it forms. However, to further reduce emissions the company combines it with AirScrape, a unique skirting system.

“The AirScrape sits off the belt and creates a Venturi effect, sucking air into the impact zone and keeping dust contained,” he said.

The contact-free system acts as a side seal, suspended over the conveyor belt. With its unique diagonal arrangement of hardened lamellae, air is led from the outside into the middle of the belt, creating powerful air suction.

The material movement together with the moving belt support increases the suction effect enabling fine dust particles to remain in the conveyor section.

“The AirScrape is maintenance-free and doesn’t touch the conveyor belt, meaning there’s no wear and tear on the belt itself. Companies save money on reduced maintenance and longer belt life,” Kay said.

Kinder also provides TailScrape, which fully integrates with AirScrape to deliver outstanding sealing at the rear area, resulting in dust and material spillage reductions, and significant cost savings and resources.

TailScrape proprietary blade structure on the underside ensures a negative pressure environment within the conveying area. This prevents dust and other material spillage from escaping through the millimetrethick gap.

While Kinder’s solutions can be used independently, the greatest benefit comes from using them together.

“The perfect solution for dust mitigation involves using the AirScrape, TailScrape, and DustScrape in tandem,” Kay said.

This combination ensures that dust is handled within the impact zone and doesn’t escape into the environment.”

ELIMINATING DUST IN QUARRIES Historically, the central Queensland quarry had used a K-Sure belt support system for more than a decade.

Because the site was familiar with the performance and credibility of Kinder’s equipment, it saw fit to install the entire range of dust containment solutions.

Following a comprehensive site inspection at the quarry, Kinder’s area field technical representative identified a 4m drop from the chute to the transfer point, followed by thorough screening at 15mm, 5mm and then 4mm intervals.

They also noted insufficient belt support at the critical impact zone, and further down, belt sagging between the rollers was evident.

Seeing the benefits of the combined system, the site chose to install AirScrape, DustScrape, TailScrape, K-Sure belt support system, and Containment seals.

After installing Kinder’s dust containment system, the site reported maintenance

time and resources devoted to removing ten tonnes of spillage were no longer required. That meant labour and product loss reduction targets could soon be achieved.

The transfer point that had been previously causing so much trouble for the quarry had been optimised thanks to the skirting and sealing solution.

As a result, the plant sees ongoing maintenance-free operation. The maintenance team is also very confident the plant will realise significant cost savings now and well into the future.

Kay said that reducing downtime and maintenance is vital for quarries.

“By reducing change-outs, less downtime is needed. Nobody wants to be changing out a belt every shutdown,” he said.

“Time is money, so when you’re spending time on things like maintenance, you’re not spending it on things that could be making more profit.” • For more information, visit kinder.com.au

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INTERNATIONAL FEATURE

Image: Phawat/Shutterstock.com

Copper was not included as a critical mineral by the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre.

CRITICAL MINERALS

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

A new list has revealed the key critical minerals for the UK to highlight their importance to the region’s economy.

T

he UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre (CMIC) has revealed its latest list of critical minerals to help support future policy around the UK economy.

The latest assessment was commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) as part of CMIC’s programme for 2024.

CMIC is led by the British Geological Society (BGS) and released a criticality assessment in 2021, but the 2024 one was larger in scale.

“This assessment confirms that the growing diversification of the UK economy — alongside the expanding reliance on global trade — brings an increasing vulnerability in terms of disruption to the supply of critical minerals,” CMIC director Dr Gavin Mudd said.

“There are similarities to other criticality assessment lists across the world, but the demands and challenges facing the UK economy are dynamic, and we need to match the demand for minerals with sustainable and reliable supply.

“In particular, as the UK continues its efforts in decarbonisation of its economy, we are seeing significant shifts in numerous minerals as coal-fired power has now been closed and new technologies are being used.

This brings both benefits and risks to the UK.” The new assessment is expected to have some influence on policy in the years to come. Sarah Jones, who is responsible for

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the industry portfolio in the UK, welcomed the findings. “[It] which shows a sustainable supply of critical minerals will be more vital than ever,” she said.

“That’s why next year we’ll launch a new Critical Minerals Strategy to help secure our supply chains for the long term and drive forward the green industries of the future.”

In 2021, the assessment looked at 26 candidate materials, with 18 listed as critical, compared to 34 minerals out of 82 candidate materials this year. Compared to the 2021 assessment, 17 of the 18 critical materials have remained on the 2024 assessment, with only palladium dropping out.

The assessment used data from various sources and also considered diplomatic efforts to secure trade relationships for the material, investment in exploration, mining and processing and the pursuit of alternative materials.

CMIC’s criticality assessment lists the ten most critical materials out of the 34: Niobium, Cobalt, Rare earth elements, Germanium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Ruthenium, Tungsten, Gallium and Rhodium.

Other materials within the criticality threshold include lithium, platinum, tin, nickel and iron. Others, including silica industrial sand, kaolin clay and copper, have been listed

under the criticality threshold. Nickel, iron, germanium, aluminium and chromium are notable additions to the 2024 list after not featuring in 2021.

Being listed as a critical mineral, as opposed to essential or important, is designed to highlight the risk of supply disruption for the materials, which could create a headache for the UK economy. For example, if the next criticality assessment were shorter than the 2024 iteration, it would highlight that the UK has mediated several concerns around the supply risk for some critical minerals.

According to the report, the UK relies on international supply for most of the 82 materials assessed, with 49 of those provided primarily through importing.

These materials are used in many of the emerging technologies of the future. Cobalt plays a key role in the manufacturing process for rechargeable batteries, which are used in hybrid and electric vehicles. Germanium is used to create optical fibres, infrared optics and solidstate electronics.

Others, including tungsten and niobium, are used to create tools and equipment. Due to its properties, tungsten is used in cutting tools for drill bits, defence equipment, and superalloys. Niobium is also used to create

In s

Image: IM Imagery/Shutterstock.com Cobalt is used in the manufacturing process for electric car battery packs.

“This assessment is intended to stimulate discussion and allow us as a country to continue to plan effectively for the future of our economy and its place within an increasingly sophisticated and interconnected global supply chain,” he said.

“That discussion should be vigorous and impassioned; disagreement is an inevitable outcome. I look forward to taking part in such conversations.” •

Image: Masmikha/Shutterstick.com

superalloys, which produce high-strength steel used in vehicle body manufacturing.

Certain materials, namely lithium, are expected to be subject to significant growth in global demand. Recent data, including the criticality survey, expect the mineral to increase more than tenfold by 2050 In his discussion of the findings from the 2024 assessment, Mudd believed the noninclusion of copper in the list would be the “focus of much attention”.

“In similar lists focused on economies across the EU, Japan, India, China, Canada and now the USA, copper is identified as critical. Under the methodology within our report, the material did not meet the necessary threshold, as with Australia’s latest assessment,” he said.

“Based on the scientific data used in our report, copper is not critical. Through available data, projections of refined copper production can be judged likely to meet copper demand for the relevant policies and announced pledges scenarios.

“This assessment recognises that concerns around the capacity to increase global copper mine supply may lead to an increased global supply risk and, in turn, result in copper becoming critical in the future. When the data shows this point is reached, such assessments will reflect it.”

Mudd said he hoped the release of the new criticality assessment would help support policymaking in the future.

Global demand for lithium and other critical minerals is expected to rise.

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TECHNOLOGY

NEW NAME,

SAME CUTTING-EDGE PWE Quarry Services is operating under a new name while expanding its focus on technology.

P

Bryce’s journey to following in his father’s footsteps at PWE Quarry Services did not occur immediately, as he spent a few years studying video game development and animation at university.

While quarrying and video games share very little overlap, Bryce has been able to translate his passion for technology into building apps that support PWE Quarry Services and one of Australia’s biggest construction materials providers in Boral.

It all started after a manager at Boral’s Deer Park site wanted an app to track its truck movements, and Phil Wade knew the perfect person to do it.

“I am a bit of a nerd at heart. I build racing drones and computers and all that sort of stuff, so it lined up well,” Bryce said.

“The earlier version of it would just track what material was being moved around the site and the operators would input that information.

“When it was complete, I sat back and realised that with further development the app had the potential to track a lot more than just loads.

PWE Quarry Services is the new name for Phil Wade Earthmoving.

“I built something up for ourselves at PWE and it just grew and grew and grew and now it covers pretty much every aspect of the business.”

The app PWE Quarry Services uses is incredibly extensive for a contractor.

The Melbourne-based company can use it to track the number of hours worked by a machine and operator, the maintenance and service history of the machines, and data for invoices and finances.

Bryce has extended the technology to include live spreadsheets, which calculate fuel burn and equipment utilisation rates, so clients can see how productive PWE Quarry Services is on the job.

Clair Handley, executive assistant at PWE Quarry Services, remembered being blown away by the app when she first started at the company.

Images: PWE Quarry Services

hil Wade worked hard to build a legacy and a name for his business, Phil Wade Earthmoving.

Bryce Wade, his son, told Quarry, the company was Phil’s pride and joy, but after 30 years there has been a changing of the guard – and a changing of the name.

Bryce now leads the business called PWE Quarry Services. While he has only been in the general manager role for just over a year, he has a lifetime of experience in and around the quarrying industry.

Bryce remembers spending time travelling with his dad to watch him perform maintenance at quarries in Victoria, even washing dump trucks for pocket money.

“I started as a dump truck driver and worked my way up through the ranks, becoming general manager in 2023,” he said.

“This provided me with the understanding of each role and its impact on the overall production of the business.

Bryce Wade has taken over as general manager of the company.

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Quarry February 2025

PWE Quarry Services offers a wide range of services to the quarrying industry.

Now she could not imagine the business operating without it.

“It is a really big difference from how Phil was doing it compared to how we’re doing it,” she said. “The great thing about this app is not one minute of the guys’ time or one minute of machine usage is missed so we know what they’re doing.

“That is really important for revenue and how we track and capture the revenue.

We can track it daily so that we know today whether we made money yesterday.

“It allows for so much transparency between the client and supplier. It works from both sides as it helps us and helps them.”

PWE Quarry Services offers an extensive range of skills to its clients in the quarrying industry including bulk earthworks and overburden removal, drone surveying, wet and dry plant hire, load and haul, site rehabilitation, mobile crushing and screening and labour hire.

Its usage of its internal app enables the company to accurately track key measures for itself and its clients to ensure the campaign is carried out as efficiently as possible.

With a year as the newly named PWE Quarry Services, Bryce is confident the business has a bright future as it looks to expand its services across Victoria.

“Almost all of our work is preformed within

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quarries, and we wanted the name change to reflect that,” Bryce said “That’s not to say we can’t assist outside of the quarrying space.

“We want to help anyone that wants to use our equipment and our staff and what we have to offer.

“Our technology focus is our competitive edge against the market. It keeps us at the cutting-edge with some contractors still running a pen and paper set-up, and we’re light years ahead of them.

“The more you embrace the technology, the more you can use it.” • For more information, visit pwequarryservices.com

INDUSTRY INSIGHTS

Caterpillar is a recognised name across the quarrying industry.

CATERPILLAR’S

CREATIVITY WITH TECHNOLOGY Greg Mumford, Caterpillar’s head of sales, service and marketing for the ANZP region, shares his thoughts on how the industry and Caterpillar are positioned for 2025.

W

hile change may take time within the quarrying industry, it certainly never stands still.

Caterpillar is right amongst this change as one of the most recognisable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for Australia’s heavy industries. Its excavators and wheeled loaders are popular in Australia’s heavy industries, but they have constantly had to evolve as customer demands have changed.

The emergence of new technology and a stringent focus on safety within the sector have, in their ways, influenced the equipment and machines that are a key part of the quarry.

Few industry figures are as exposed to these changes in the Australia, New Zealand, and Pacific region as Greg Mumford, who heads up Caterpillar’s sales, service, and marketing in the area.

According to Mumford, technology-driven machinery features have been among the most consistent requests from Caterpillar’s customer base in recent years.

“A trend that has developed over several years that is accelerating is the demand for a stronger link with our quarry customers digitally. Increasingly, customers have this relationship with Caterpillar through digital platforms. A very good example of that is the development of our VisionLink platform,” he told Quarry.

“Through this platform we greatly expand our relationship by providing services such as maintenance planning, reviewing productivity of machines and identifying areas to improve,

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Greg Mumford is Caterpillar’s head of sales, service and marketing for the ANZP region.

remotely diagnosing machine problems, uploading new software on machines and many other features. We will continue to develop our support in this area because of this trend.”

Caterpillar has been honing its VisionLink offering to the quarry market over the past couple of years to ensure it meets the needs of quarry managers and operators.

The cloud-based system is designed to help improve productivity by allowing quarry managers and operators to see critical information in one place. By comparing machine data, including production levels, fuel burn, and idle time, quarry managers can make informed decisions to support their businesses.

From businesses operating multiple quarries or larger fleets to smaller businesses, they can drill into this data while getting an accurate high-level overview of their operation.

VisionLink goes beyond machine analytics and can be used for various tasks, including building competitive bids and assessing projects. Using real-time data, project managers and administrators can input valuable data into their daily tasks to make more informed judgements.

But technology extends beyond just a productivity tool within the quarrying industry, as quarries work with more stringent expectations around safety in recent years. OEMs are designing technologydriven features to help enhance safety around the quarry.

“The industry will continue to transform to ensure it is increasing productivity, so that it offsets the impacts of inflation,” Mumford said.

“The industry will continue to search for and implement new technologies that increase productivity, train its people so they have the necessary skills and modify operations to get those productivity gains.”

Caterpillar has invested a lot of research and development into its Cat Smart Camera System for quarries to enhance safety.

“Keeping workers safe is the biggest challenge. In most industries, ensuring workers return home safely every day is the most important issue, and it is no different in the quarry industry,” Mumford said.

BP120

Images: Caterpillar

“Caterpillar understands how important safety is for quarry customers, which is particularly challenging when taking into consideration the increase in productivity, owning and operating costs and onboarding new people into the industry.

“We are creating safer quarry operations through new technology like our new Cat smart camera system which detects when a person is behind a moving machine and alerts the operator to protect workers on the ground.”

Technology is also being employed by OEMs like Caterpillar to help tackle one of the industry’s emerging pain points: attracting new workers.

“Many quarry customers that we talk to have difficulty attracting and keeping people in our industry. I think that the new world class machines we are providing customers are giving operators a much better experience than in the years past,” he said.

“A good example of that is our full range of Next Generation Medium Wheel Loaders.

The new operator cab is ergonomically designed and has new technology such as our new Cat Payload Assist system to help operators work productively and in comfort.

“We are honoured to be part of such an important industry and customers that provide such important products for Australia’s development and growth. We invest in our products and services so that we can better serve it in 2025 and beyond.” • For more information, visit cat.com

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SCREENS

THE THREE KEYS

OF SCREEN TROUBLESHOOTING

W

hen a vibrating screen is causing issues in the quarry pit, how do you go about troubleshooting it?

While no operator or quarry business wants to spend significant time troubleshooting these pain points, it is a reality that all equipment, including vibrating screens, will eventually break down.

When that happens, workers need to know what to look for and how to troubleshoot the problems to return the equipment to operation and negate downtime on site.

Ed Sauser, vibratory product manager for Superior Industries, shared his industry insights into the best ways to troubleshoot common issues on the vibrating screen.

SCREEN TROUBLESHOOTING – STOP, LOOK, AND LISTEN When it comes to the first rule of troubleshooting, Sauser has one golden rule for all operators. Stop a second – and just observe.

“What do you see, hear, or smell when taking an up-close look at a vibrating screen?

Images: Superior Industries

Ed Sauser from Superior Industries gives his tips on how to troubleshoot a vibrating screen and address common pain points.

Many plant operators are keenly aware of the sights, sounds, and smells that signal proper screen operation, or a potential need for maintenance,” he said.

However, whether the operator is an industry veteran or a new trainee, Sauser said it is important to develop observation skills when troubleshooting equipment.

He shared what to look and listen for when the screen is running – and a few things to observe and note when inspecting the equipment during shut down.

LOOK FOR A SYMMETRICAL OPERATION When the screen is running, look for even operation from side to side.

It is important to note whether one side of the screen is moving identically to the opposite side. Screen operation must be symmetrical. If not, screening efficiency is immediately affected, while costly damage to the machine is likely over the long term.

While operations may use the latest electronic sensors or gauges to measure the stroke (motion) of the machine, a manual

Ed Sauser is the vibratory product manager for Superior Industries.

“tracing” exercise has commonly been used over past decades.

Sauser recommended taking a pencil and holding it firmly against the sidewall of the screen to see what kind of a “stroke pattern” it creates when the machine is operating.

A pattern that is even from side to side indicates that the angle of the stroke is also even from side to side.

CHECK SPRING LENGTHS Even if a screen seems to be running correctly, it’s always best to measure the length of the springs on each side of the screen.

On bigger screens, an eighth-inch difference between the two isn’t a concern, but when it gets beyond a quarter-inch difference, it is time to level up the machine.

“Spring length does not need to be the same from the feed end to the discharge end, as one end of the machine is usually a little heavier – but when the spring lengths vary from side to side that’s an issue,” Sauser said.

“A quarter-inch difference side-to-side may not sound like much, but if the opposing corner on the other end of the screen measures the same quarter-inch difference, this indicates a half-inch twist in the support structure – which is a huge problem. Always check for diagonal differences.”

Vibrating screens play a key role within the quarry sector.

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Sauser also recommended listening to other crew members and operators.

“How do each of them think the machine is operating? Is it doing the job on each shift? Has anything in its operation changed recently? Having additional pairs of eyes and ears is always a good idea,” he said.

Maintaining screening equipment can reduce downtime.

LISTEN TO THE MACHINE AND ITS OPERATORS When it comes to understanding a fault in any equipment, especially screens, the best information can often come from the machine itself and its operators. Sauser said listening to the machine may sound simple, but it can provide valuable information.

“The presence of banging, clanging, or hammering noises are all obvious signs of machine distress.

“Smells are essential too, especially if hot oil or rubber is present,” he said.

For example, the smell of hot rubber may indicate that the belts are slipping and require attention.

ONGOING OBSERVATION For the best results, ongoing observation of the equipment is critical to maximising up-time, which has flow-on effects on productivity and efficiency on the site.

“When you think you’ve seen enough, look again – perhaps, at the product stockpiles.

If you’re seeing an abundance of oversized material, there might be a hole in the screen media. During shutdown, take a look at the wear patterns on the side walls of the machine,” Sauser said.

“Are they similar on each side? Does it look like there’s been an even material depth and flow running down both sides of the machine? Also, look for material buildup on the feed or discharge end that could be adding more weight to one part of the screen over another.

“No matter where you look, there’s always something more to see, learn, and improve.

When combined with solid scheduled maintenance practices, ongoing observation leads to optimum processing efficiency.” • For more information, visit superior-ind.com

BUSINESS

BIG ENOUGH TO DELIVER

BUT SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE

Craig Pedley, founder and CEO of Striker Crushing and Screening, shares how keeping things simple, rugged and operator-focused has set the Australian business apart from the competition.

W

hen Craig Pedley started Striker Crushing and Screening in 1998, he did not have a corporate roadmap or a boardroom of advisors.

What he did have was a passion for designing machines that made life easier for the operator.

“From day one, our philosophy has been simple. Build machines that are easy to operate, easy to maintain, and tough enough to handle remote Australia,” Craig said. “We’ve always designed equipment with the operator in mind and built it to last in remote Australia.”

KEEPING IT REAL: DESIGNED FOR THE OPERATOR Striker’s no-nonsense approach has earned it a loyal customer base both in Australia and worldwide.

Craig said being focused on designing machines that are tough, practical, and focused on the operator helped set Striker apart. These core values have shaped the business for over 25 years.

Striker’s equipment is built for ease of operation, ensuring operators can hit the ground running, and ease of maintenance, with simplicity that means less downtime.

The commonality of parts keeps spare parts inventory and costs low for the customer.

A focus from day one was to design equipment with interchangeable components.

This was important to the Striker team to help operators reduce spare parts inventory, lower costs, and streamline maintenance. Whether it’s jaw crushers, impact crushers, cone crushers, or screens, having parts that work seamlessly across the range means fewer headaches on-site and faster turnaround when maintenance is needed. This thoughtful approach simplifies operations and ensures greater up-time, keeping projects running efficiently and cost-effectively. It’s a practical solution built for real-world operators needing reliability without unnecessary complexity.

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Striker Crushing and Screening is a family-owned-and-operated business.

“On site, simplicity and reliability are hands down the most important things to our clients,” Craig said.

THE NEXT GENERATION Today, Craig’s daughter, Jordan Pedley, is leading the charge as the next generation of Striker. Energetic, driven, and proudly carrying on the family legacy, Jordan combines a fresh vision with the same hands-on, customer-first mindset that built the business.

“I grew up watching Dad build Striker from the ground up,” Jordan said. “One thing that’s always stuck with me is that listening to our customers drives a lot of what we do. While our innovation and design teams are amazing, the customer is the real expert.”

Jordan credits Striker’s agility and personal approach as key to its success.

“We’re big enough to deliver but small enough to care. Whether it’s our service team helping operators or the production team walking through the machine build

in the factory with the customers, we’re responsive and hands-on. That’s something our customers value,” she said.

Alongside Jordan, Nicole Talbot, Striker’s chief operating officer, plays an integral role in driving the business forward. Over her 16 years with Striker, Nicole has grown into her role with the support of her colleagues and mentors.

“When I first started with Striker, I knew nothing about this type of equipment,” Nicole said.

“I spent a lot of time learning from some really influential people within this business.

People like Ken Baudinette, Adam Quad, and Mark Mackey who are not only a wealth of knowledge on our equipment but on machinery across the board.”

A GREENER FUTURE Striker is paving the way for a greener future with its E-Trac range, a line of electric mobile crushing and screening equipment designed

Image credit: Striker Crushing Striker Crushing and Screening has been established for more than 25 years.

to help customers meet sustainability goals without sacrificing performance.

“At Striker, innovation is at the heart of what we do,” Jordan said. “E-Trac was designed to reduce diesel consumption, lower emissions, and improve safety. All while maintaining the power and reliability Striker machines are known for. On top of that, our remote monitoring systems provide customers with real-time data on machine performance, empowering them to make more informed strategic decisions efficiently.”

GROWING CAPABILITIES, STRONGER SUPPORT Striker has invested heavily in its manufacturing capabilities, leading to a 150 per cent increase in capacity in Australia. This expansion ensures faster delivery, reduced lead times, and stronger customer support.

“Our goal for 2025 is to roll out more Australian-made tracked machines than we have in years,” Jordan said. “We’re also expanding spare parts manufacturing right here at home. That means less downtime and quicker solutions for our Aussie customers when they need it most.”

BUILT ON TRUST At its heart, Striker is a business built on trust.

Trust in the machines, trust in relationships, and trust in the team that makes it all happen.

“You can’t build a company on your own,” Craig said.

“It’s about the people, our team, our customers, and our suppliers. We’ve worked

Striker Crushing and Screening’s equipment is sold in Australia and international markets.

with some incredible people over the years, and every one of them has helped shape Striker into what it is today.”

For Jordan, stepping into the role comes with big shoes to fill, those of her father, Craig Pedley, whose passion and vision built Striker from the ground up. Her focus now is on balancing innovation and growth while staying true to the values that have defined Striker from the start.

“We’re here to make life easier for operators and businesses,” she said. “That’s what we’ve always done, and that’s what we’ll keep doing.

There’s nothing better than hearing from a customer that one of our machines made

their job easier, faster, or more cost-effective.

That’s what keeps us going.”

As the founder of the business, Craig is looking forward to watching the business continue to grow.

“We’ve got a lot of knowledge that we can draw on in terms of how to do it right. It is something that I am pretty excited about, that there are people within our organisation who want to take this to the next step and put their own stamp on it.

“I look forward to watching it progress as they take the business to the next step.”

For more information, visit strikercrushing.com.

Quarry February 2025 45

AUSTRALIA

NET-ZERO’S

NEXT FRONTIER

While much of the focus in heavy industries is on decarbonising equipment, site facilities could be the next key area in pursuing net-zero.

D

As companies pursue their net-zero ambitions, many may wonder what other avenues can be explored to reduce carbon emissions.

An example of the next frontier for emissions reduction for the quarrying industry lies in Berrima, New South Wales. Once a major town, Berrima is now a historic village that sits between Sydney and Canberra.

For those in Australia’s heavy industries and construction sector in NSW, the Berrima Cement Works, owned and operated by Boral,

would be a recognisable name. According to the Australian construction materials producer, Berrima supplies up to 40 per cent of the cement in NSW and the Australian Capital Territory.

The long-standing facility was opened in 1929 after two years of construction and helped create New Berrima in 1928 for the cement workers to live in. It currently employs 115 people in operational and administrative roles and contributes to a further 350 roles across integrated sites in the Southern Image credit: Paul Robbins

ecarbonisation has become a key facet of many quarrying operations within Australia.

Whether the quarries themselves or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and those working in advocating for the industry, the pursuit of net-zero goals has become increasingly important across the sector.

A central part of achieving net-zero targets has been how machinery can be transitioned to electric drives or alternative fuels.

The Berrima Cement Works has been upgraded.

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Highlands. This, along with its indirect contribution to other jobs and industries, makes it one of the largest employers in the local government area of Wingecarribee.

Despite its long, almost-100-year history, one of its most significant chapters occurred when Boral unveiled a series of upgrades at Berrima Cement Works at the end of 2024.

The upgrades were supported by funding from the Federal and NSW governments.

Federal Minister for Energy and Climate Change Chris Bowen attended the ceremony of the upgraded site alongside Boral chief executive officer Vik Bansal before the pair engaged in a site tour to showcase the size and scope of the cement facility.

Bansal, who has led Boral since 2022, said the company is earnestly taking its responsibilities under the Safeguard Mechanism and its net-zero target.

“We all understand that though cement is vital to construction and building our nation, it is carbon intensive. Boral takes its responsibility to decarbonise our operations and comply with the Safeguard Mechanism obligations seriously,” he said.

The cornerstone of the upgrades is a chlorine bypass facility, which will the buildup of chlorides and other alternative fuel by-products during production.

According to Boral, this facility will enable to site to increase its alternative fuel usage to around 60 per cent over the next three years and transition from fossil fuels, which will help reduce carbon emissions.

The company has estimated this will reduce the emissions by 150,000 tonnes per year.

“The chlorine bypass facility reaffirms this commitment and moves our vital cement manufacturing infrastructure and Southern Highlands operations into a new era – one with less impact on the planet,” Bansal said.

“I think we’re a fan of the safeguard mechanism, I think it is needed in this country, in my opinion. What it also does is provide certainty of policy. With certainty of policy, I think companies like Boral can’t invest in the future.

“Ultimately, I believe companies can do carbon reduction if there is certainty of policy; when you have uncertainty, that is where the issues are. This is a great example of a good policy and a good funding policy and business getting on and investing.”

While the transition of equipment has been a significant focus for many within these sectors, it stands to reason that the facilities themselves will undergo a level of

Federal MP Chris Bowen (right) inspected the Berrima Cement Works.

Boral chief executive officer Vik Bansal (left) with Federal MP Chris Bowen.

transformation to support these net-zero ambitions.

In his press conference at the unveiling, Bowen pointed to Cement Australia’s facility at Railton in Tasmania as another example of how cement industry companies are changing their sites to support decarbonisation.

Bowen said he believed the upgraded facility would provide a bright future for Boral and the wider region.

“Cement is very important to our industrial future. It’s very important to our transformation. There’s more cement in a wind farm than there is steel and I want to see that cement being Australian made. And here at Berrima they’ve been making cement for 100 years almost,” he said.

“And this investment means that they can continue to make cement and they can

be showing their consumers, their investors, their insurers, their staff that they have a serious plan – Boral has a serious plan to reduce emissions and that’s what the market will increasingly demand. So, that makes this facility secure into the future.

“This is about working together, business and industry. Our safeguard reforms were designed and have sent a clear signal to industry about expectations for carbon abatement and provided a secure, certain, sensible policy environment so that companies like Boral can make investments like this.

“So, I very much welcome this investment. I congratulate Vik [Bansal] and the Boral team for this investment. It’s a good day which will see emissions come down and in due course, jobs come up because this facility will be viable for the next hundred years as well.” •

Quarry February 2025 47

EXCAVATORS

The Volvo Active Control system streamlines processes by automating boom and bucket movements

UNDERSTANDING VOLVO EXCAVATORS

V

olvo’s E-Series line-up of mid-range excavators have been designed to meet specific operational requirements to help quarries meet deadlines and minimise costs.

The E-Series range, made up of the ECR145E (14t), ECR235E (23t), and ECR355E (35t) models, features a narrow body and centrally positioned boom, providing high levels of precision in tight spaces.

This allows quarry operators to tackle tasks ranging from precise trenching to heavy duty excavation, with no drop in performance.

The excavators can work at full power and lift capacity, even in tight spaces.

Powering these machines is Volvo’s latest D8 engine, which delivers up to 10 per cent lower fuel consumption than previous generations.

Fuel represents the one of the largest operational costs for quarries, often exceeding labour, maintenance, and insurance expenses. By implementing Volvo’s advanced fuel management system, operators can reduce idle time to around 25 per cent.

Volvo’s excavators are also engineered with maintenance efficiency in mind, with grouped filtration and greasing points near ground level, wide-opening compartment doors for easy access, and built-in service interval display for monitoring critical components.

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ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY The Volvo Active Control system, included in the E-Series excavators, streamlines processes by automating boom and bucket movements. Password protection lets operators store settings for up to 20 different attachments.

Operators can also adjust hydraulic flow and pressure right from the cab.

Dig Assist and CareTrack telematics provide immediate monitoring and automated controls that make daily operations easier.

Volvo Smart View provides an immediate, 360° overhead view of the machine, with side and rear cameras displayed on a colour monitor.

OPERATOR SAFETY AND COMFORT A machine can only be as productive as the person operating it, which is why Volvo has highlighted operator wellbeing in the design of the E-Series excavators.

The Volvo Care Cab has been designed to minimise noise levels, vibration, and provide excellent visibility through large glass panels and slim cab pillars. It also includes an advanced circulation system with 14 vents, multi-adjustable seats with up to 12 different positions, ergonomic armrests and joystick console mounted on the same suspension to absorb shocks better, and customisable control patterns and joystick responsiveness.

The excavators can work at full power and lift capacity, even in tight spaces.

Safety is also a vital part of operator comfort, which is why the cab structure meets roll over protective structure certification standards – keeping operators safe in challenging conditions.

For more information, visit cjd.com.au

Image credit: CJD Equipment

The right excavator can make or break a project’s success, which is why Volvo’s mid-range line-up of excavators blend advanced technology with practical design features.

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RECYCLED MATERIAL FUELLING NOU VISION

The Camp Nou redevelopment project uses recycled aggregates.

FC Barcelona’s remodelling of the historic Camp Nou venue is being supported by a unique commitment to recycled aggregates.

F

rom Lionel Messi to Ronaldinho to Johan Cruyff, the Camp Nou has been graced by some of the greatest names in world football.

Football fans around the world will recognise the famous stadium, which has been the backdrop to several famous games, including UEFA Champions League finals and the World Cup in 1982.

The stadium has been home to FC Barcelona since 1957, when the club moved from its old ground, Les Corts, to Camp Nou. Les Corts’ 48,000-capacity had been outgrown as Hungarian star Ladislao Kubala and his teammates turned Barcelona’s matches into appointment viewing during the early 1950s.

Francesc Mitjans Miró and Josep Soteras Maur, alongside Lorenzo García Barbón, designed the stadium that was built over two years from 1955 to 1957. Following its opening, fans began to refer to the ground as Camp Nou, translating to ‘new ground’, despite it originally meant to be known as ‘Estadi del

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FC Barcelona’. The fans officially approved the now-recognised Camp Nou name via a postal vote during the 2000–01 season.

Now, almost 70 years after it was first built, FC Barcelona is in the midst of completing Camp Nou’s redevelopment, which will make it one of the largest football stadiums in Europe when finished, with a capacity of over 100,000.

International construction materials company Molins has used more than 100,000 tonnes of demolition waste from the old Camp Nou during the construction of the redevelopment. The recycled material has been used for infills, layers of granular pavement, and lower-carbon concrete, with more stockpiled for the ongoing construction phase.

The company has installed a waste recovery plant on site, processing the materials to be ready for a second life in the redeveloped stadium. It also supplies Susterra concrete which it creates using recycled aggregates for a lower-carbon solution.

“[The] waste recovery plant inside the stadium facilities will allow 100,000 tonnes of demolition waste from its reconstruction to be given a second life as raw materials in the construction of the new stadium,” Molins corporate sustainability manager Carla Fos said.

At the time of writing, the construction phase is still ongoing, but FC Barcelona has told fans it is confident the redeveloped Camp Nou will be ready by the end of 2024 after construction began in June 2023.

“The dream is coming true,” FC Barcelona vice president Elena Fort told fans at the general ordinary assembly in October 2024. “[ I want to recognise] the courage of the president and the board to redevelop the stadium during a very complex situation, as it will serve as the foundation for FC Barcelona’s future.

“This is exciting, and we must realise that we are witnessing a historic milestone for our club.” •

B&F Consolidated Group

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