b'PROJECT STORIESInnovation in actionFrom 1994 to 2022, Thiess journey at the Mt Owen Mine in the Hunter Valley was markedby persistence, advancement and environmental care.It all began with the construction of the mine complex.Class R996 600-tonne class hydraulic excavatorsnot yet For nearly three decades, Thiess took on the full scope oftested in the field. These large excavators, among the biggestoperations, overseeing everything from mine planning andin the world, allowed for more efficient overburden removal drilling to blasting, overburden removal and site rehabilitation. and coal extraction. Mt Owen quickly became a hub of technological advancement.One of the biggest challenges at Mt Owen was the coal seams, which were thin and steeply dipping up to 45 degrees. But theLiebherr engineers from France would visit the site a fewThiess team wasnt deterred, and with great skill they extractedtimes a year to see how we were modifying their excavatorsup to 7.8 million tonnes of coal per year from the mines North Pit. improving safety, serviceability and availability, recalls Steve Howell, Field Maintenance Planner. More often than not, they Throughout its time at Mt Owen, Thiess pushed the were impressed and eventually implemented many of our boundaries of what was possible. It introduced tools like changes onto future excavators.the Dump Planner software, which ensured that materialwas moved efficiently, reducing truck hours and maintaining But Mt Owen wasnt just about mining. Thiess made an efficient mass balance of materials. environmental stewardship a core priority. It conducted detailed studies to protect local wildlife, including the Thiess developed technical solutions to enable the safe endangered spotted-tail quoll, demonstrating that mining and efficient blasting of the complex geology at Mt Owen.could coexist with ecological responsibility.Thiess ability to harness the technology of the Drill Strata Recognition system and innovate its own in-house blast We strived to show that mining didnt have to followdesign software enabled it to successfully conductthe same blueprint everywherethis wasnt just another through-seam blasting activities decades before anycoal mine, Steve reflects. Our reputation for doing things off-the-shelf software was available. differently, thinking out of the box, and being proactivewith passion for the job is what Im most proud of.In 1996, Thiess made another bold move that would set a new standard for the industry. It introduced Liebherrs newUltra 69'