Editions

Contents

Safety, Strength and Shotcrete: The Incycle Advantage EPCA advancing mining electrification Building skills, building communities Industry-leading dust suppression systems get an upgrade Clean solutions for cleaner air Psychosocial wellbeing to have the biggest impact on Australia’s resources workforce First-of-its-kind automated lab technology at Onslow Iron Queensland company wins Australia’s top safety innovation award Conveyor idler failure got you (shut) down? Australia unlikely to embrace deep-sea mining Aquila mine named innovation award finalist Sandvik launches surface drilling training simulator High-performance polyurethane lined pipe: Built for durability Turnkey dredging systems for Australia’s mining sector Powering forward Port of Brisbane delivers strong trade for FY25 Wind turbines begin 1000km journey to St Ives All Civil makes the switch to Komatsu Pilbara Ports unveils climate action plan BHP greenlights $1.4b Port Hedland investment Understanding motor reliability From aging to agile: Getting sustaining capital right Westrac inspires next generation at RTS Built for strength: ITM Mining’s solutions for hydraulic mining excavators The first intelligent oil-water separator Securing operational technology in mining Specialised engineering for complex mining challenges Mining Matters Cancer researchers unlock ‘DNA code’ of critical minerals The missions making asteroid mining a reality Fosterville expansion gets the green light VHM lays the building blocks for Goschen project CTTW2025 highlights innovation and global partnerships Turning battery waste into a local resource E-Plas champions mining’s quiet achievers Keep your crew cool Tough enough to thrive in the harshest of environments Steuler expands your horizons Think change. Think Breight All-electric forklift. Mine-ready. Built for heavy loads Gold, gold, gold WT Hydraulics and Festo Join Forces to Revolutionise Mining and Industrial Automation Closing the loop: How Acu-Tech supports mining with ESG in action Tecweigh: The Future of Heavy-Duty Bulk Material Weighing Your partner in strategic asset management Driving the future of the mining industry MLT New Generation Super-Screw® FRAS/Oil Resistant Oli Group: Driving innovation and reliability in mining & quarrying Titeline Drilling: Automating the future Billions of Litres, Zero Compromise: Inside Banlaw’s Fuel Management Revolution Lighting Up the Underground Engineering innovation at scale: How Innovative Mining Services is redefining safety, productivity and reliability in materials handling How DTN APAC’s inversion and blast dispersion forecasting help the mining industry Emtivac Engineering: The vacuum powerhouse behind Australian industry A simple solution to a complex problem Powering progress through innovation Leader in Manufacturing Innovation Powering Mining with Practical Solutions Eagle Forklifts: Powering Australia’s mining logistics with smarter, safer machinery The cable management specialists Australia’s spare parts distribution centre Securing global supply chains at CMC2025 The reality of Australia’s EV uptake The world’s first carbon-neutral lithium product Aussie mine boss – a true Australian success story Practical project support from strategy to delivery Improve worker wellbeing with a new toolkit from Edith Cowan University Liontown’s lithium liftoff Has Australian lithium been left in the lurch? A rocky reporting season for Australia’s resources sector ACE: Fast. Safe. Unstoppable. ADT Commercial Security Drill, Baby, Drill! Caman Engineering Australian Floating Decks Professional Services Maximise Your Productivity Bruce Avery Transport The updated 2024 Isuzu D-MAX Introducing the ARB multi-purpose jack base for safer vehicle lifting The updated 2025 Isuzu MU-X Eastern Guruma integrated services Australia’s original lockout tagout manufacturer since 1992 Australia’s most trusted bulk spring water supplier 20 years of excellence Beltscan Systems and Belt Guard VMS Engineering | Precision. Power. Performance. Your Workforce. Skilled, Certified and Site-Ready Varnish removal made easy Johnson Screens: Screening solutions for Australian mining Vytas makes green hydrogen a reality Geotab and Google Cloud partner for data-driven success MATO Australia’s new generation conveyor belt cleaners MLT New Generation Super-Screw® FRAS/Oil Resistant Mineplast Pro: The superior belt solution Power Control Products: Delivering Safe-T-Products’ conveyor safety innovations to the mining industry Conveyor Idler Failure got you (Shut)down? Dredge pumps in Australia’s mining industry TOMRA’s transformative ore sorting technology Broons’ Graderoll just keeps rolling out the door Weir’s new backfill technology From fabrication to full-scale construction, Murchison Mining Services delivers exceptional results Exactly what you need when you need it Bringing you our world of expertise Quest Maritime Services delivering confidence at sea Dy-Mark mine marking toluene free Oli Group: Driving innovation and reliability in mining & quarrying Transmission repairs and replacements made easy Industrial and marine solutions hire fleet with purpose-built winches and power units How DTN APAC’s inversion and blast dispersion forecasting help the mining industry Steuler expands your horizons Gold, gold, gold Donaldson powers up mining filtration with new dust extraction and air solutions For the next generation of mining The industry leader in OTR and LME tyre management ISUZU FX range squares-up for heavy-duty battle Aerial solutions for mining and exploration The value of experience Driving drilling innovation for more than 40 years Leading Australia’s seismic future with eVibe innovation Supporting smarter mining decisions New technology for near surface exploration Precision drilling Australia’s latest rig rebuild PDR05 Driving excellence in exploration and mine site geoscience Innovators in geophysical exploration Innovative high-tech modular plants Bringing home the medal Protoblast – Take control of your blasting process Coral Sea Resort – Real Rewards for Real Work Titanium prospects Building an empire The titanium titan How can investment grow amidst supply chain woes? TechConnect Coal Comfort Turning waste into wealth ASPEC Engineering and the Amrun Project Australia’s specialised electrical experts The creative construction company World-class material handling solutions Cape-ital gains Australasia’s premier geoscience event AusIMM’s parallel conference debut Digitalisation in mining explored Uranium miner looks to produce with ‘invisible mining’ method For the next generation of mining The Australian Mining Review September 2025 Edition

ASPEC Engineering and the Amrun Project

A benchmark in materials handling Innovation

ASPEC Engineering and the Amrun Project

ASPEC Engineering is a specialist consultancy with a strong reputation in the design, assessment and delivery of materials handling systems across Australia’s mining and port sectors.

With decades of experience, ASPEC has built a unique expertise in mobile, rail-mounted materials handling machines, including stackers, reclaimers and shiploaders. Its work spans from early-stage concept and feasibility studies to detailed design audits and on-site commissioning support, ensuring practical and innovative engineering solutions for complex industrial environments.

A standout example of this expertise is ASPEC’s long-standing involvement in Rio Tinto’s (ASX: RIO) Amrun project, located on the Cape York Peninsula in far north Queensland. Developed to replace and expand the capacity of the East Weipa and Andoom bauxite mines, the Amrun project included the construction of the award-winning Chith export facility and a new bauxite mine. The port now boasts a nameplate capacity of 22.8mtpa and has become a flagship facility in Rio Tinto’s global operations.

ASPEC began supporting the project in 2013 during the feasibility phase, initially assisting with trade-off studies, materials handling layouts and development of technical specifications.

Recognising its proven capabilities, Rio Tinto later appointed ASPEC as the independent design auditor for the project’s three critical rail-mounted machines: a 12,500tph bucketwheel reclaimer, a 12,500tph shiploader, and a large stacker. These were supplied by FLSmidth (formerly Sandvik), with ASPEC working closely with both Rio Tinto and the OEM to manage technical risks and support machine delivery.

The engineering challenges at Amrun were significant. The machines had to process abrasive bauxite at high throughput rates, operate reliably in a remote environment and meet strict safety, automation and environmental performance requirements.

ASPEC’s role was key in ensuring robust design outcomes, with the project achieving several industry firsts:

  • Delivery of the world’s highest capacity bauxite shiploader, with enhanced automation and safety features.
  • One of the largest fully automated bucketwheel reclaimers globally, with a 13m bucketwheel and over 60m boom.
  • Modular construction and heavy lift transport of machines to site, minimising site assembly risks.
  • Fabrication in Australia and extensive trial fitment before delivery, streamlining installation.

ASPEC is proud to have contributed to the success of the Amrun Project, which commenced its first shipment in December 2018 — six weeks ahead of schedule.