THIESS SECRETS TO 90 SUCCESSFUL YEARS

In 1934, the Thiess brothers founded a farming and roadworks firm in Toowoomba, Queensland, which grew into global mining services provider Thiess. Now, 90 years later and 700 kilometres away in New South Wales, the brothers’ legacy continues to drive record-breaking performance at the world class Mount Pleasant Operation in the Hunter Valley.

Thiess has always had a deep-rooted connection to the Hunter Valley, a region where the company has been a key player for over 80 years. Thiess’ involvement in the area began in 1944 with the Muswellbrook open-cut coal mine. Today, the company operates across four sites in the region, including Mt Arthur South, Mount Pleasant Operation, Muswellbrook Coal Mine rehabilitation works and the Mount Thorley Depot.

The Mount Pleasant Operation site team recently shared insights into how mining giant Thiess has left an enduring mark on infrastructure and mining across Australia.

The combination of a skilled, committed workforce and top-tier machinery has been a cornerstone of Thiess' success over the past 90 years. The Mount Pleasant Operation is no exception, embodying the same forward-thinking approach. Recently, Awesome Earthmovers visited the Hunter Valley site to uncover the secrets behind this global mining leader’s achievements and get a first-hand look at their newest equipment. This latest addition exemplifies the ongoing commitment to progress that has defined Thiess since its inception.

BEST-IN-CLASS MACHINERY

Mount Pleasant Operation is located 2.5km from Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales and will eventually yield approximately 474 million tonnes of high-quality coal. Opened in 2017, for client MACH Energy, Thiess developed site systems and processes, mobilised plant and equipment from across four states and recruited and trained key personnel before the mining operations commenced. Most of the staff at Mount Pleasant Operation have been recruited locally, ensuring the communities surrounding the site benefit massively from the project.

High-performance machinery is essential to maintaining an annual mining production of 10.5 million ROM tonnes. As Ryan Fox, Thiess’ Group Performance Manager explains, ‘The performance we get out of our machines is exceptional. We have a shift record of 40,000 bulk cubic metres with our Liebherr R9600 coupled with Komatsu 930E trucks. This figure smashed the previous record of 33,000 cubic metres. These numbers are unheard of out of this class of machine, both around the Hunter Valley and globally.’

The Mount Pleasant Operation fleet is a powerful mix of dozers, diggers, and trucks, designed for efficiency and scale. A combination of high-speed, high-payload trucks, including Komatsu 930s and Caterpillar 793s, handles the movement of materials across the site with precision and speed. To meet the varied demands of the operation, the site is equipped with Liebherr mining excavators, ranging from 300 to 600 tonnes, alongside the impressive 700-tonne Komatsu PC7000, ready to tackle the toughest tasks.

For loading and dumping operations, the robust 100-tonne class Komatsu D475A and Cat D11 dozers are the team’s go-to machines. These workhorses ensure smooth, reliable performance in critical areas, providing the power and versatility needed to maintain peak operational efficiency across the mine.

Part of the team since the site opened, Excavator Operator Chloe Collison has been operating excavators and dozers on the site for the last five years. With 12 years of mining experience, she’s especially impressed by the high performance of the Liebherr R9600. She explains, ‘I’ve been operating them since they arrived here 12 months ago. They’re in a class of their own.

The breakout power, speed and comfort of these machines are second to none.’

“It’s good to prove the doubters wrong and work hand-in-hand with our site operators and the OEMs to see what these machines are truly capable of delivering.”

‘The cycle times loading the trucks is immaculate. If we’re set up right, we exceed the targets and expectations of these diggers’ month in and month out. We can move about 1.3 million cubic metres per month which is amazing. Being able to exceed expectations is what I love most about operating these machines.’

This upgrade from the previous model ensures that Chloe can operate seamlessly, even during extended shifts, maintaining high performance without compromising reliability. ‘Fuel economy is 40% better than the R996,” she explains. ‘The room in the engine bay is very much improved too. It's a lot safer, the walkways are bigger which is great for serviceability. Breakdown time is a lot less which makes my job a lot easier.’

PRIORITISING PEOPLE

Having the right machinery is just one factor behind Thiess’ success. ‘For me, there are a few key ingredients to maximising our machines' potential,’ explains Ryan.

‘First and foremost, are the people that operate these machines. Without those guys and girls out there, we simply can’t deliver the volume. So, it’s important they’re motivated, passionate about what they do and maximise the time spent on the machines.’

A positive and inclusive culture is a core focus for the entire Thiess organisation. It's also what motivates Chloe and her colleagues to rise each morning. As she puts it, ’I work with a great bunch of very talented individuals.

We spend 46% of our time at work so knowing they’re in my team makes it easier getting up and coming to work. When I started here five years ago, we had a very small pit. Now we’re getting larger, we haven’t lost that small pit mentality, which is like one big family.’

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

Wherever the Thiess team operates, whether in Mongolia, Indonesia, or Australia, their drive to outperform and exceed customer and industry expectations has been a cornerstone of their success. Ryan emphasises that setting ambitious goals for the team is crucial, but so is the constant pursuit of improvement.

‘As good as the machines are running now, we’re still in the discovery phase of what their potential is,’ he insists. ‘We know if we put the hours on the machine in the right setup they’ll deliver the volume, but we’ve got to be able to do that consistently. It’s good to be able to hit shift and 24-hour records, but it means nothing if we can’t do that every time.’

‘As a contract mining business, Thiess aims to be the best not only at Mount Pleasant Operation but also beyond. We consistently set ambitious goals for both our current output and the performance of our machinery, striving for excellence now and in the future.’