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Austin keeps on truckin’

ustin Engineering Ltd commemo- and logistics industries that are part of The Hub recently underwent a $6.5 mil-
Arated a long history of successful the mining industry and resources sector lion investment for improved quality and
business with a special celebratory, cus- here in WA. You’re all a very important production capacity.
tomised dump truck body; unveiled at a part of that. The manufacturing is high Such innovation was given its own nod
ceremony in Perth in November. quality, it’s very technologically capable at the truck body celebration in Kewdale.
The services and manufacturing com- and highly skilled. “What matters today to our state, to Rio
pany splashed the dump truck body in “[Throughout the pandemic], the min- Tinto, and to Austin, is how we develop in
a unique coat of bright blue, marking ing industry hasn’t missed a beat, and the future,” Singleton said in November.
the 1,000th truck body the company the manufacturing sector attached to it “The objectives are clear from Rio
has supplied to Rio Tinto Ltd. After the didn’t stop. Supply industries didn’t stop. Tinto around decarbonisation, produc-
curtain raised at the Kewdale facility to Everything proceeded as normal here in tion efficiency and safety. The objectives
reveal the significant high-performance WA and that was because people were from the State Government are clear,
ULTIMA body, speeches were made by prepared to do difficult things during dif- backing apprentice skills development,
those in attendance includ- developing our industries and
ing Austin managing direc- getting more out of the valu-
tor David Singleton, Rio Tin- able resources for people in
to Iron Ore chief executive our state.
Simon Trott and Premier “That’s why Austin is invest-
of Western Australia Mark ing in innovation, in advanced
McGowan. manufacturing capabilities
“Our association with Rio that will be implemented in
Tinto started 34 years ago,” this facility from the early
Singleton said. “We built part of [2022] and with more
our first original truck body efficient products so that our
for Rio 21 years ago and partnership with Rio Tinto and
our first fully customised our contribution to this state
body for them 14 years ago. lasts for another 33 years.”
It’s an association that has This pledge to innovation
grown and developed over was backed with the expan-
time. sion of six Austin locations
“Importantly, it has been a across Australia and New
partnership that has created Zealand in December.
a strong WA business that New Austin locations for
has employed thousands Austin Engineering and Rio Tinto workers with the celebratory 1,000th the assembling and building
of locals over the years and truck body. WA Premier Mark McGowan, Austin managing director David of truck bodies were estab-
now takes WA products to Singleton and Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott were among lished across Queensland,
the rest of the world.” the high profile guests in attendance New South Wales and New
Both Trott and McGowan Zealand. The company ex-
echoed Singleton’s sentiment with ado- ficult times. That goes for each and every pects the expansions to implore new
ration for WA’s strong mining sector, par- one of you.” customer orders and increased revenue
ticularly throughout the global pandemic, The celebration, which included a in the Asia Pacific.
that has contributed to financial success- serving of cake featuring an image of “In this new phase of Austin – Austin
es for both the state and country. the truck body, followed by a swarming 2.0 – we are looking at the world’s major
“If I take my Rio hat off, as a West Aus- of appreciators taking selfies around mining regions to see how we better ser-
tralian, I’m incredibly proud of the work McGowan, preceded a $300 million five- vice our customers with market leading
that happens here, feeding a global in- year business contract signed between products and enhanced customer sup-
dustry,” Trott said as Rio and Austin the two companies. port at commercially competitive rates,”
workers stood in attendance. Austin will continue to supply its trays Singleton said.
“My congratulations to each of you and and truck bodies, heavy machinery and In November and December of 2021
the role you have all played in delivering other fabricated products to Rio Tinto. alone, Austin inked more than $60 million
1,000 truck bodies. I look forward to the The contract will also see Austin repair in orders as part of a 19% year-on-year
delivery of the next 1,000.” and service both its own supplied ma- increase in the order books.
McGowan put extra emphasis on chinery and third-party hardware at Rio “It is natural that we are now focusing
thanking the workers for their efforts Tinto sites. on one of the largest truck fleets in the
throughout the pandemic. Austin will use resources and workers world, right on our doorstep in eastern
“A lot of people, particularly those in from its facilities across Australia, Indo- Australia and New Zealand,” Singleton
other states, don’t realise that we have a nesia, North America and South Amer- said.
manufacturing industry here in WA,” he ica.
said. “They all think it’s just a mining in- Austin’s recently established “Innova- – Fraser Palamara
dustry where we dig up things and send tion and Technology Hub” will support
them elsewhere. ongoing product development for meet-
“The reality is that we have a whole ing Rio Tinto’s needs in safety, lifecycle
range of manufacturing, supply, design and productivity in heavy machinery.

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