Tag Archives: Hercules EXO

Schlam and BHP WAIO celebrate 300th Hercules mining dump body delivery

Western Australia-based mining product and services supplier, Schlam, is commemorating the delivery of the 300th Hercules mining dump body to one of its key customers, BHP Western Australia Iron Ore.

BHP WAIO received its first Hercules body in 2018 and formalised a supply agreement with Schlam in November of the same year. Today, nearly all the mining trucks across WAIO’s fleet are fitted with a Hercules dump body, Schlam says.

The 300 Hercules dump bodies have been 100% designed and manufactured in Western Australia, creating additional employment opportunities and averaging 56 full time jobs per year.

Being lighter, the Hercules body provides miners with a significant increase in payload, increasing operational efficiency, Schlam says. The innovative curved body design and targeted material selection have resulted in a service life increase of up to 100%.

Hendrik Mueller, Managing Director, Schlam Payload Solutions, said: “Each Hercules body is custom engineered and built to suit the unique operational requirements of the mine site it operates in. Working collaboratively with the BHP team we have been able to identify the key performance criteria needed to deliver on safety, productivity and cost goals.”

He added: “We work closely with BHP, at many levels, especially on-site, with their input having contributed to the ongoing development of some of our products. The Hercules EXO is one example, with the product now being the dump body of choice among iron ore miners in Western Australia, and beyond.”

A commemorative event is being held at Schlam’s head office in Welshpool today. The 300th dump body, with its commemorative livery incorporating the brand colours of both companies, was recently transported from the company’s Forrestfield plant to be proudly
displayed at the event in Welshpool.

Schlam to supply Fortescue with new Hercules EXO truck body

Schlam says it has been awarded a multi-million-dollar supply agreement with Fortescue Metals Group Limited for both its products (Schlam Payload Solutions) and services (Schlam People Solutions) divisions.

The contract will see Schlam Payload Solutions supply Fortescue with dump bodies and buckets – including the company’s newly-released Hercules EXO – while Schlam People Solutions will provide skilled on-site mechanical and fabrication services for a minimum of three years with options to extend, it said.

The agreement solidifies Schlam’s decade-long relationship with Fortescue, the company added.

Schlam Chief Executive Officer Matt Thomas said that he expected the agreement’s value to reach over A$90 million ($62.7 million).

“Fortescue will be one of the first operators to receive the Hercules EXO since its successful trial and market release,” Thomas said. “The Hercules EXO is a 240-t-class iron ore specific dump body that is 20% lighter than the company’s already class-leading Hercules. The decreased weight gives miners a greater payload potential, while a complete redesign and innovative material selection have resulted in a 100% increase in service life.”

Thomas added: “Like Schlam, Fortescue is a proud and innovative West Australian company. This relationship strengthened when we trialled a Hercules dump body suited to their fleet of 240-t-class trucks in 2018. At the time, it was the lightest 240-t body we had manufactured and, through working with innovative partners, like Fortescue, we’ve been able to develop the next generation of payload products, including the Hercules EXO.”

To date, Schlam has supplied almost 60 Hercules bodies to Fortescue’s fleet of mining trucks and will deliver a further 50 in the next financial year alone.

The agreement brings Schlam Payload Solutions and Schlam People Solutions under the same set of terms and conditions. The latter expands Schlam’s portfolio of Tier-1 clientele, for which it supplies heavy-duty mechanics, boilermakers, auto-electricians and other skilled labour.

“The agreement will underpin our journey to introduce the latest robotic technology to transform our manufacturing processes and develop a state-of-the-art advanced manufacturing facility right here in Western Australia,” Thomas said.