Schlam expands global footprint

Backed by an expansion of its local and international facilities, Schlam is continuing its growth in Australia and beyond.

Schlam, a market-leading manufacturer and supplier of mining truck bodies in Australia, is entering a new phase of expansion.

The company is continuing to grow its customer base in Australia, North America and beyond, with a relentless commitment to customer service, in-field support and continued innovation.

With significant investment in its local and offshore manufacturing operations, Schlam is confidently meeting the growing demand for its products, both in Australia and other key mining markets.

Most recently, Schlam commemorated a significant milestone in its growth journey with the company now in the process of shipping 10 dump truck bodies to Rio Tinto’s borates mine in the US.

Additional bodies are also set to be delivered to other large global miners in the region.

Ensuring exceptional customer experience

Schlam Payload managing director Hendrik Mueller attributes much of the company’s success to its customer-focused ethos.

“With a partnership-driven approach, alongside a relentless focus on innovation and product refinement, Schlam has become a go-to supplier for top-tier mining companies, both in Australia and beyond,” Mueller said.

Schlam maintains that what sets it apart in the competitive truck body market is its ability to tailor solutions to the specific needs of each mining operation.

“We design and build bodies that are optimised for the unique conditions of each mine,” Mueller said. “We conduct site studies and use our experience and advanced software-driven simulations to quickly develop custom-engineered solutions.”

Performance meets durability

Schlam truck bodies are designed to thrive in the toughest mining environments.

Their lightweight, curved designs optimise payload capacity without compromising structural integrity, a key factor in their appeal to miners.

By reducing weight in non-wearing areas and using lighter, stronger materials for structural components, Schlam has solved a long-standing dilemma in the mining industry: balancing payload capacity with durability.

“Our customers no longer have to choose between a lighter body with a greater payload but shorter lifespan, or a heavier body that lasts longer but limits payload,” Mueller said.

“Schlam’s designs offer the best of both worlds.”

Investing in local manufacturing

With a reputation for excellence and performance, demand for Schlam’s dump bodies and mining attachments has grown significantly among both existing and new customers across the world.

Just like other Australian manufacturers, Schlam has faced many challenges, including labour and material shortages. But amid these challenges, Schlam has progressively expanded its manufacturing capabilities to support growing demand.

The company recently expanded its main facility in Western Australia by 50 per cent and has introduced advanced manufacturing technologies, including robotics.

“We did not ‘shut-up shop’ and move our manufacturing offshore, or even cap our production,” Mueller said. “We listened and found better ways.

“To better service our existing and new customers in Australia, we made a significant investment in improving our operational efficiencies by bringing our Australian manufacturing plants to world-leading standards.”

There’s also a social element to Schlam’s expansion.

“Our expansion in WA has also enabled us to make a strong contribution to the WA economy, and the communities we serve,” Mueller said.

“We’ve created more job opportunities and grown our team by 40 per cent, all the while driving our focus on safety.”

Expanding global manufacturing

Schlam’s global expansion has also seen the establishment of new production hubs in China and Mexico to support demand within major mining regions worldwide.

According to Mueller, this allows the company to supply bodies to the exact engineering standards it is esteemed for, in a timely and cost-efficient manner.

“We needed to be closer to our international markets, so we meticulously selected the right manufacturing partners to ensure our products are built to our exact quality standards,” he said. “Our manufacturing partners also uphold our core values, and the stringent safety standards we live by. Just like in our Australian operations, our values are proudly displayed in our manufacturing hubs.”

North American expansion

With its products operating at leading mine sites across the world, Schlam further solidified its global presence in 2023 by establishing Schlam Americas in Tucson, Arizona, to serve the US hard rock mining sector. 

Schlam’s strong position in the Australian market has laid the foundation for its North American entry.

The company’s Australian customers were so impressed with the performance of its truck bodies that they actively requested the introduction of the product into their North American operations.

Adapting to a future-ready mining landscape

As the mining industry embraces innovation with autonomous trucks and alternative fuel options, Schlam is evolving its design capabilities to stay ahead of these technological advancements.

Evidencing this is the fact that Schlam’s Hercules body is the preferred choice for autonomous dump truck fleets. The robust design is already in operation on Liebherr T 264 trucks at Fortescue’s Australian sites, and is also on Fortescue’s pioneering hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype.

Schlam’s commitment to innovation is evident in its forward-thinking approach to design, which includes integrating trolley pantographs and optimising truck bodies to accommodate the sensors necessary for autonomous operations.

“We have leveraged our extensive experience with Australian autonomous fleets, and we’re now expanding our expertise to support international customers, helping them boost payload productivity,” Mueller said.

By expanding its Australian and overseas manufacturing capabilities, and with its first major North American orders underway, Schlam believes it is poised to make a lasting impact on the mining industry across the globe.

With a proven track record of innovation, customer-centric solutions and adaptability, Schlam is committed to continue its leadership in mining truck body design for years to come.

This feature appeared in the February 2025 issue of Australian Mining.