Entries considered for the Engineering Excellence Awards are those that show originality and ingenuity while continuing to use sound engineering practices and principles, prove sustainable, and provide benefits to the community.

The MUP is truly an example of engineering excellence; a unique and innovative solution for one of RCR’s major clients, delivered on time and with a spotless safety record. The award recognises the hard work, team effort and excellent engineering of RCR, and the MUP will now be entered in the upcoming national awards to be held in Sydney in December 2009.

About the Project

In 2007, RCR Engineering presented an innovative concept for the MUP for major client, mineral sands miner, Iluka Resources Limited.  Incorporating several of RCR Engineering’s existing products, the concept provides a complete mining solution. RCR designed, manufactured, installed and commissioned the MUP for in the Northern Murray Basin Stage 2 Project, Victoria.

The mobile mining unit plant was developed as a fully integrated and mobile ore recovery, screening and primary processing facility, designed to fit the unique mining techniques required for a mineral sands ore body which is predominantly long and narrow. If the traditional approach was adopted the ore would have been transported by diesel powered earth moving equipment, which is both costly and environmentally damaging.

The unique MUP concept offers a fully integrated mobile solution, and supports the Iluka “green” mining philosophy with the plant operating in a small mining window as well as allowing short term re-instatement of the top soil.

From initial concept to hand over, the project took 21 months to complete, with dry commissioning completed in June 2009. RCR is at the mobilisation to site stage for a second unit for the Jacinth Ambrosia Alliance for another new ore body in South Australia.

Please click on this link to view the submission poster for more information (4MB)