Editions

Contents

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 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

Driving drilling innovation for more than 40 years

Driving drilling innovation for more than 40 years

Geotechnical data directly impacts the viability of your project — that’s why J&S Drilling has built a team of only the most committed and knowledgeable drillers.

Backed by generations of drilling experience, its team of highly skilled professionals integrate seamlessly with different operations and workflows while upholding the highest safety standards. The team coordinates closely with site investigation programs, foundation design schedules and reporting timelines.

With a strong operational footprint across Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, J&S delivers quality drilling services and accurate, high-quality samples wherever and whenever you need them.

Founded in 1982 by John and Sheryl McLellan, ADIA member J&S Drilling has grown from a small domestic operation into a renowned leader in the geotechnical, exploration, environmental and overwater drilling sectors across Australia.

The company has set itself apart by consistently delivering high-quality services, maintaining a strong commitment to safety and fostering long-term relationships with clients and employees alike.

J&S Drilling’s meticulous drilling techniques are designed to obtain high-quality in situ soil and rock samples. Its diamond coring and rotary mud drilling systems use environmentally approved fluids to maintain borehole stability while preventing sample contamination.

Sonic drilling technology provides advanced, high-frequency drilling technique that uses mechanical oscillations — typically in the range of 50–150 Hz — to reduce friction between the drill string and the subsurface materials. This vibration allows for faster penetration with minimal disturbance to the sample. The team is meticulous with technical reporting, providing detailed drilling logs, borehole completion records and geotechnical data to support AS 1726 standards. Its documentation directly supports foundation design, slope stability analysis and regulatory submissions.

Rig power

A key component of J&S Drilling’s success is its diverse and powerful fleet of rigs. Over the years, the company has invested heavily in our team and training, while providing well-maintained equipment to ensure they can meet the demands of any project, no matter how challenging.

J&S Drilling founder and director John McLellan says the company’s rigs are the backbone of its operations.“Each one is equipped to handle a variety of drilling techniques, which allows us to offer our clients a wide range of services without needing to mobilise multiple rigs.”

J&S Drilling’s fleet includes a selection of Fraste and Edson rigs, which are known for their versatility and reliability in the field. Among these are the Fraste XL Max and XL Duo Sonic rigs, which are particularly valued for their ability to perform in difficult terrains.

“The Fraste XL Max and XL Duo Sonic are workhorses in sensitive environments,” John said.

“They’re built tough and can handle everything from geotechnical drilling, water well drilling to mineral exploration drilling.”

The company also operates specialised rigs like the Fraste FS250, 300, 400 and Edson 3000, which are designed for precision work on larger scale projects.

“The XL Duo Sonic is one of our more specialised pieces of equipment,” John said.

“It’s perfect for projects where we need to minimise our environmental impact, such as tailing dam environments.

To support these rigs, J&S Drilling utilises a range of auxiliary equipment, including tracked support equipment and MAN and Hino 4WD support trucks.

The company’s commitment to maintaining its fleet is evident in its rigorous inspection and maintenance schedule.

“We don’t cut corners when it comes to maintenance,” John said.

“Our rigs undergo thorough inspections, typically on an annual basis, or as required by our clients. This ensures that they’re always in top condition and ready to perform at their best.”

Expanding services

J&S Drilling’s success in the domestic waterwell market laid a strong foundation for the company’s expansion into more complex and diverse sectors. Recognising the potential for growth in the geotechnical, environmental and exploration drilling markets, J&S Drilling broadened its services to include land-based oil and gas, mineral sands, coal and bauxite projects amongst others.

“We saw opportunities in these sectors that we couldn’t ignore. Expanding into these areas has been instrumental in our ability to weather industry downturns and maintain steady growth,” John said.

One of the company’s most notable projects involved an environmentally sensitive oil and gas drilling operation in the Northern Territory. To meet the project’s unique challenges, J&S Drilling purchased and customised a low-footprint, amphibious drilling platform that minimised environmental impact.

“The mangrove buggy project was a highlight for us,” John said.

“We had to design a solution that would allow us to work in a very delicate ecosystem without causing harm to the mangrove environment. It was a tough challenge, but the results spoke for themselves.”

In Western Australia and Queensland, J&S Drilling undertook complex overwater drilling projects, managing logistics, crew transfers, barge towing, and cyclone preparation. The projects delivered successful outcomes for marine infrastructure and dredging investigations.

Tackling tough environments

J&S Drilling has earned a reputation for successfully completing projects in some of Australia’s most challenging environments, including intertidal zones, salt lakes, mangroves and remote locations.

The company has developed specialised drilling platforms and equipment to navigate these difficult conditions, ensuring that projects are completed safely and efficiently.

In particular, the company’s experience with overwater drilling projects has proven invaluable. J&S Drilling has managed projects involving unknown seabed conditions, environmentally sensitive areas, and challenging logistics.

“Overwater drilling is a different beast altogether,” John said.

“You’re dealing with factors that are completely out of your control, like sea conditions and environmental regulations. But we’ve developed systems and processes that allow us to manage these risks effectively.”

Under the leadership of Brian Bawdon, along with a dedicated team of experienced professionals, J&S Drilling continues to set the standard for drilling services in Australia.

“Our success is very much a team effort,” Brian said.

“We’ve got a fantastic group of people who are all dedicated to delivering the best possible results for our clients. As long as we stay true to our values and keep pushing forward, I’m confident the future remains bright for J&S Drilling.”