Four Herrenknecht HDD rigs in operation on an Australian mining project

Iluka Resources is pioneering a sustainable approach at the West Balranald mineral sands mine in New South Wales, Australia. For the first time, the company is using Herrenknecht HDD technology to extract minerals from around 60 metres underground—avoiding open-pit mining and significantly reducing environmental impact.

Instead of removing large volumes of soil and managing groundwater, Iluka drills directly into the deposit. To achieve this, the company relies on four HK500CM drilling rigs from Herrenknecht. Comprehensive preparation was key: at Herrenknecht’s headquarters in Schwanau, Iluka teams completed intensive training on machine assembly, hydraulics, maintenance, safety, and digital tools like HK.Connected, which optimizes machine performance. Practical exercises rounded off the programme. On-site in Australia, more than 80 team members received intensive hands-on training over four weeks to ensure safe and efficient operation of the drilling rigs. All four rigs are now fully operational and have successfully passed on-site acceptance. Particularly noteworthy is the excellent collaboration between the service teams from Germany and Australia, who jointly mastered the logistical challenges at this remote location.

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