FLS is advancing its vertical media regrind mills, with Global Product Line Manager Peter Wulff emphasising attrition-based grinding that delivers finer particle sizes at lower specific energy than conventional ball mills. The latest designs integrate high-efficiency drives and advanced process control to cut CO₂ emissions per tonne milled, targeting operations dealing with lower head grades and higher hardness ores. For plant designers, this points to smaller footprint regrind circuits, reduced steel media consumption and improved liberation for downstream flotation.

Queensland is investing $500,000 to move women into higher‑skilled operator and technician roles in the state’s resources sector, targeting positions such as autonomous haul truck operators, process plant technicians and mine control room specialists. Funding will support accredited training and upskilling programmes aligned with existing operations in coal, critical minerals and gas fields across regional Queensland. For mine operators, the initiative signals potential access to a broader pool of trained candidates for control systems, high‑precision equipment and maintenance roles where skills shortages are persistent.

Liebherr-Australia’s Adelaide fabrication team completed its 50th mining excavator bucket for 2025 on 10 December, setting a new annual production record for the facility. The milestone run included 18 m³ heavy-duty rock buckets for R 9400 excavators, built with full joint preheating and high-strength wear packages tailored to hard-rock conditions. For mine operators, the increased local capacity for large backhoe and face shovel buckets shortens lead times for replacements and custom designs, reducing reliance on imported ground-engaging equipment.