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ACE: Fast. Safe. Unstoppable. Australia’s most trusted bulk spring water supplier 20 years of excellence 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 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.