Rio Tinto has given a $300 million, five-year contract for the supply of dump bodies, lightweight trays for ore trucks, heavy machinery buckets, water bodies and other fabricated products to a global leader in mining equipment, design and manufacture.
Austin Engineering won the contract, which also covers the provision of off-site repairs and other associated services for both Austin-supplied equipment and other original equipment manufacturers (OEM) supplied heavy machinery.
Austin has supplied Rio Tinto Iron Ore (RTIO) operations with its heavy machinery consumable equipment, offsite repairs and other equipment for 33 years, with the companies reaching the milestone of 1000 truck bodies supplied to RTIO just last week.
“This contract extends our very successful and productive involvement with Rio Tinto for another five years,” Austin chief executive officer and managing director David Singleton said.
“Rio Tinto is a key customer for Austin’s products and services, and I would like to thank the company for its support in helping to build a strong local manufacturing industry in Australia, and a leading business in this industry globally.”
The contract includes pre-agreed pricing for mining buckets and haul trays matching Rio Tinto’s global fleet, enabling rapid purchasing and order fulfilment.
This collaboration will be effective from 16 December 2021 and is an umbrella type agreement that allows the supply of equipment and services to multiple Rio Tinto operations around the world through individual purchase orders.
“Shareholders will appreciate the importance of this contract,” Singleton said.
“It provides long-term support for our business through the mining cycles from one of the world’s leading miners, assisted by our close proximity to Rio Tinto operations and longstanding engagement between the two companies.”