The NRFC has made a $40 million investment in RME to support the expansion of its Australian manufacturing operations and pursue value-adding opportunities.
The NRFC’s investment will help to ensure that RME continues to manufacture its world-leading machinery in Australia and will enable the company to scale up its operations at its Toowoomba manufacturing facility, strengthening job security and economic opportunity for the regional centre.
About Russell Mineral Equipment
Russell Mineral Equipment (RME) is a world-leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of mill relining technologies for the mining and minerals processing industry.
Based in the regional city of Toowoomba, Queensland, RME’s Mill Relining System enables mine operators to quickly and safely reline their semi-autogenous grinding (SAG) and ball mills, minimising downtime and accelerating a return to production.
Traditionally, mill relining has been one of the most dangerous and time-consuming jobs on a mine site, with workers required to work in confined spaces to manually remove and replace a mill’s sacrificial liners, which can weigh in excess of 8 tonnes.
RME’s machinery dramatically increases the speed and safety of the mill relining process by reducing the manual labour required, thus improving worker safety and reducing mill downtime. RME’s latest innovation is a world-first autonomous mill relining solution that relocates workers out of the hazardous confined space, significantly improving worker safety and mill relining efficiency.
RME also offers ‘turn-key’ packages, providing a wide range of asset support and services solutions, including reline attendance, equipment inspections and servicing, spare parts and accessories, and mill relining optimisation and performance benchmarking.
Investment impact
Commercialising Australian innovation
RME is renowned as the leading OEM and provider of mill relining equipment to hard-rock mines around the world. It has a strong R&D pedigree, which has resulted in the company registering numerous patents and boasting a world-leading product suite.
RME’s latest development –The RME Advanced Technology Mill Relining System – is an autonomous mill relining solution that significantly enhances safety and mill relining efficiency. This revolutionary technology enables the resources industry to boost speed, efficiency and safety through automation of an essential maintenance activity.
The NRFC’s investment in RME will enable the company to expand its operations to meet the significant global demand for its world-leading machinery. RME’s autonomous mill relining technology also represents a considerable step forward in safer and faster mill relining methods for the industry, offering strong business growth opportunities for the company.
Supply chain resilience
The NRFC’s investment in RME secures its future operations and expansion in Australia. Through maintaining RME’s operations in Australia, RME will continue to be a key local supplier of advanced mill relining equipment for the Australian resources sector.
This domestic retention of advanced mill relining equipment provides direct benefit to the Australian mining and minerals processing industry through reduced equipment delivery times, improved safety and productivity, and access to local technical support services.
Regional development
RME is headquartered in Toowoomba, Queensland, with most of the company’s 450 employees working in the regional centre. This makes RME a significant local employer and contributor to the local economy. Our investment helps strengthen RME as a significant employer in Toowoomba.