Austin Engineering celebrates export of first Dipper Bucket outside of Australia
Austin Engineering Limited is marking a significant milestone with the successful export of its cutting-edge Armadillo dipper bucket to a major copper miner in the United States.
This marks the company’s first international shipment of the high-performance bucket since acquiring Australian bucket specialist Mainetec in 2022. The move is a clear testament to Austin’s ambitious global expansion, particularly in the North and South American markets.
The Armadillo Advantage
The Armadillo dipper bucket isn’t just any standard piece of equipment. Weighing between 80 and 90 tonnes, it stands apart from its predecessors due to its innovative design that reduces the amount of steel used in fabrication. This makes it significantly lighter than comparable OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) units, resulting in improved payload performance and higher fill rates.
But weight reduction is just one part of the equation. What really sets the Armadillo apart is its enhanced efficiency. According to Austin, the bucket is engineered to deliver higher returns on investment through increased throughput and decreased maintenance costs. A key feature contributing to this is Austin’s proprietary iTrip door latching and control system. After several years of rigorous testing, iTrip has proven its ability to extend the mean time between maintenance intervals, thus reducing the overall cost of ownership for operators.
Milestone International Shipment to the US
The shipment to the US copper mine signals not only Austin’s growing influence in global markets but also the demand for advanced, durable, and efficient mining equipment. The bucket will undergo trials on-site, with the potential for more orders if it meets performance expectations—a scenario that Austin is optimistic about. Considering the high value of dipper buckets, priced between US$1.5 million and US$2.5 million (A$2.2 million to A$3.7 million), the stakes are high, but the opportunity for growth is equally substantial.
David Singleton, Austin’s CEO and Managing Director, expressed his enthusiasm, saying: “We are very pleased to have marked the first international shipment of an Austin dipper bucket. North and South America provide a large opportunity for further dipper bucket sales, and we are well set up to build market share in these regions.”
Austin’s Global Market Ambitions
One of the most significant opportunities that arose from Austin’s acquisition of Mainetec was the ability to offer the Armadillo dipper bucket to a broader, global audience—especially in regions like North and South America, where demand for heavy-duty mining equipment is robust. According to Austin’s internal data, there are approximately 430 rope shovels in operation across these areas, presenting a lucrative market for the company’s expanding product line.
The Americas are key markets for Austin, and this first shipment of the Armadillo bucket to the US could pave the way for future orders and increased market penetration. Beyond the US, Austin’s Chilean operation is also playing a critical role in manufacturing and rebuilding dipper buckets, further solidifying the company’s presence in South America.
Growth in APAC and Latin America
Austin’s reach doesn’t stop with North America. In the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, the company has seen a 51% increase in sales in Western Australia, contributing $53.6 million to the group’s overall revenue. This success is partly attributed to the redeployment of Australia’s tray manufacturing to Austin’s expanded Batam facility in Indonesia, which has freed up capacity for bucket builds and rebuild services in Australia.
Latin America, particularly Chile, is another booming market for Austin. The Chilean team has been busy this year, manufacturing an 86-tonne full Cat 7495 dipper bucket for a local customer and rebuilding a total of 18 buckets. This increase in activity reflects the region’s growing demand for heavy mining equipment, and Austin’s ability to cater to it with its globally integrated operations.
Mainetec Acquisition
Austin’s acquisition of Mainetec in 2022 is proving to be a pivotal move for the company. By integrating Mainetec’s specialised bucket design expertise with Austin’s global manufacturing and sales capabilities, the company has positioned itself to offer a wider range of high-performance products to the mining industry. This has been especially evident in the rapid rise of dipper bucket sales, which have increased 17% year-on-year in FY24 and by an impressive 130% over the last two financial years.
Singleton elaborated on the strategic importance of this acquisition: “The Armadillo bucket was designed in Australia, manufactured at our Batam facility in Indonesia, and is en route to a large US copper mine, supported by our Casper operations, which demonstrates the full integration and global capabilities of the Austin business model.”
What Lies Ahead for Austin?
With global demand for mining equipment continuing to rise, Austin is well-positioned to capitalise on market opportunities in both North and South America. The successful international export of the Armadillo dipper bucket could be the first of many, as the company continues to expand its global reach.
Looking ahead, Austin’s strategy to integrate its operations across different regions while maintaining its focus on innovation and product quality will be key to its continued success. As Singleton pointed out: “We are well set up to build market share in these markets,” and the numbers seem to back this up. With bucket sales growing year-on-year and expansion in key markets such as the Americas and APAC, Austin is in an enviable position in the competitive world of mining equipment manufacturing.
Paving the Way for Future Success
Austin Engineering’s foray into international markets with its advanced Armadillo dipper bucket is a bold step in the right direction. The combination of innovative technology, global integration, and a focus on customer needs has set the company on a path toward greater success.
As Austin continues to expand and innovate, its ability to meet the demands of a growing global market seems more assured than ever.
