Schlam, a leading Australian mining truck body manufacturer, is entering a new phase of growth as it expands into the North American market. The company is in the process of shipping ten bodies to Rio Tinto Borates as well as additional bodies to other large global miners in the region, marking a significant milestone in its international journey.
Schlam’s first US delivery on its way to Rio Tinto Borates
Known for its rapid growth in the Australian market, Schlam has now set its sights on the United States, targeting the hard rock mining sector. This move builds on its decade-long journey to becoming a top truck body supplier in Australia and says it reflects its commitment to continued growth and innovation.
A strong foundation
Schlam’s journey began in 1996 when founder Barry Schlam saw an opportunity in Western Australia’s southwest region for high-quality welding and fabrication services. Initially catering to the mining and agricultural sectors, the company quickly built a reputation for excellence.
In 2010, Barry’s son, Ryan Schlam, took the reins, steering the company into maintenance and equipment refurbishment services for major mining operations in the region, including Newmont. That same year, the company launched its first fabrication facility in Waroona, marking a significant milestone for the rural-based firm.
The turning point came in 2015, when Schlam acquired DT HiLoad and introduced its revolutionary Hercules dump bodies. This enabled Schlam to engineer an improved design to meet the growing demand for innovative, efficient truck bodies in the mining sector. Since 2015, Schlam has grown production from just 80 units annually to over 300.
In 2023, Schlam further solidified its global presence by establishing Schlam Americas in Tucson, Arizona, to serve the US hard rock mining sector.
By April 2024, the company had celebrated the production of its 2,000th mining truck body, and attributes its rapid growth to its dedicated commitment to customer partnering and continual refinement and improvement of product designs.
Customer-centric approach
Sudhanshu Singh, President of Schlam Americas and former head of Caterpillar’s large mining truck division, attributes much of the company’s success to its customer-focused ethos. Singh told IM Editorial Director Paul Moore: “Schlam has always prioritised safety, quality, and customer service. From field maintenance to truck body design, we work closely with our clients to ensure that our products meet our customers’ most demanding requirements.”
This partnership-driven approach, alongside a relentless focus on innovation and product refinement, Schlam says, has made it a go-to supplier for top-tier mining companies, both in Australia and beyond.
Innovation at the core: performance meets durability
Schlam adds that its truck bodies are designed to thrive in the toughest mining environments. Their lightweight, curved designs optimise payload capacity without compromising structural integrity, a key factor in their appeal to miners.
Schlam bodies also boast impressive longevity. The company told IM that while truck bodies in regions like Chile typically last around 12,000 hours, Schlam bodies in Australia’s challenging hard rock conditions have a lifespan exceeding 20,000 hours.
By reducing weight in non-wearing areas and using lighter, yet strong, materials for structural components, Schlam says it has solved a long-standing dilemma in the mining industry: balancing payload capacity with durability. Singh stated: “Miners no longer have to choose between a lighter body with a greater payload but shorter lifespan, or a heavier body that lasts longer but limits payload. Schlam’s designs offer the best of both worlds.”
Expanding manufacturing and global reach
Schlam has aggressively expanded its manufacturing capabilities to support growing demand. The company recently expanded its main facility in Western Australia by 50% and introduced advanced manufacturing technologies, including robotics.
Schlam’s global expansion has also seen the establishment of new production hubs to support demand within major mining regions worldwide. It says this allows it to supply bodies to the exacting engineering standards it is held in high regard for, in a timely and cost-efficient manner.
North American expansion
Schlam’s strong position in the Australian market, where it supplies truck bodies to major mining companies such as BHP, Rio Tinto, Newmont, Fortescue, and Glencore, has laid the groundwork for its North American entry. Singh explained that Schlam’s customers in Australia were so impressed with the performance of its truck bodies that they actively requested the introduction of the product into their North American operations.
A Schlam dump truck body designed to accommodate an automated haulage system
To meet this demand, Schlam is manufacturing its truck bodies locally in Monterrey, Mexico, rather than importing them from Australia. As stated, the first bodies have already been built and shipped to Rio Tinto Borates, representing the first significant step in Schlam’s expansion into the region.
Customised solutions for every mine
Schlam maintains that what sets it apart in the competitive truck body market is its ability to tailor solutions to the specific needs of each mining operation. “We take everything into account,” said Singh, “from the type of shovels used to the nature of the haul roads and materials being loaded. This ensures that every truck body we deliver is optimised for the unique conditions of each mine.”
Schlam’s engineering team conducts detailed site studies to design truck bodies tailored to each client’s requirements. Advanced software-driven simulations streamline the design process, enabling Schlam to deliver custom-engineered solutions in weeks rather than months. This ability to respond quickly, it says, has been key to its success and sets it apart from its competitors.
Future-proofing for a changing industry
As the mining industry moves toward hybrid, hydrogen-powered, and battery-electric trucks, Schlam told IM that it is already adapting its products for these new technologies. The company’s truck bodies are currently in use on Liebherr T 264 battery-electric trucks at Fortescue’s operations in Australia and on Fortescue’s first hydrogen powered haul truck.
Schlam body designed for Fortescue’s hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype
According to Singh, these electric trucks present new design challenges, such as ensuring the body canopy is clear of trolley pantographs and key sensors used for autonomous operation.
Schlam’s commitment to innovation and its ability to evolve alongside industry trends make it well-positioned for continued success as it expands into North America and beyond. “We are always working to make things better,” Singh emphasised. “Our focus on engineering excellence ensures that our products deliver maximum productivity and performance for every application.”
With its first major North American order underway, and with others in the pipeline, Schlam believes it is poised to make a lasting impact on the mining industry in the North American region. Singh concludes: “Our proven track record of innovation, customer-centric solutions, and adaptability ensures that we will continue to be a leader in mining truck body design for years to come.”