Rulmeca has a proud history in bulk handling. ABHR learns about the company’s offerings in Australia.
What began as a small operation in Bergamo’s local mining industry has become an international operation serving some of the world’s biggest bulk-handling companies.
Rulmeca has maintained its proud history as a leading manufacturer of conveyor components for all applications, with a particular focus on bulk materials handling.
The company’s extensive range of conveyor components, rollers, idlers, structures, pulleys, and motorised pulleys have been utilised worldwide.
ABHR sat down with Rulmeca executive vice president and managing director Carsten Spanggaard and Rulmeca Melco Australia’s general manager James Nicholson to chart the family owned company’s journey from a mainly Italian and European based business to a worldwide operation with global manufacturing and clients in 85 countries.
Global ambitions
Rulmeca has a strong presence in many global sectors, including mining, aggregates, import and export terminals, and unique markets like sugar and salt.
The company, founded 62 years ago, has experienced significant growth, especially in the past two decades.
Rulmeca has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Europe, China, South Africa and Thailand, providing comprehensive support for its conveyor components worldwide.
“We do (research and development), design, manufacturing, sales and service 100 per cent ourselves,” Spanggard said.
“If you manufacture with (multiple) global locations, it is easy to work with the same companies across borders, which I think has been a big part of our successes.
“The fact that we’ve also built-up sales and service companies like in Australia to be able to give local service from an engineering and a product specification point of view is one of the reasons (as well).”
Australian applications
Rulmeca has been in Australia since 2011 and recently relocated its headquarters to Perth. This relocation allows the company to provide localised service to key players in the WA mining sector and throughout the country.
“We went there predominantly because we are a supplier to most of the leading mining companies globally, and most of them are also in the Australian market,” Spanggaard said.
While the company offers a wide range of products for Australia’s bulk materials handling sector, its roller range has been particularly successful.
Rulmeca’s range of steel, composite, and HDPE rollers have been used in some of the country’s most significant mining operations. Rulmeca’s products have also impressed customers in high-corrosion applications.
“Australia is a little bit different in the way they are utilising much more composite and HDPE roller technology compared to the rest of the world due to the weight of the product,” he said.
“We have expanded our manufacturing capability and (research and development) of that product line to take into the Australian market.”
Nicholson leads the Rulmeca’s Australian operation. In the past decade, it has developed a strong reputation for delivering on project work, including engineering, procurement, and construction contracts (EPC).
Rulmeca Australia has successfully delivered conveyor idlers, industrial pulleys, conveyor covers, belt cleaners and motorised pulleys to bulk handling companies and project contractors across Australia and New Zealand.
Rulmeca’s Perth headquarters is set up to support clients, with further service offered through its distributor networks. The combined expertise ensures customers receive customised advice.
“Because of our global manufacturing, we can tailor the offering to the EPC depending on the specification and operational conditions and we can select different manufacturers based on what’s required,” Nicholson said.
“We’re focused on manufacturing high-quality rollers to a very select standard. We’ve got the full range for their component requirements. If you need rollers and components, it is all but guaranteed we’ll have the rollers and components you’ll need.”
Rulmeca also offers a digital tool designed to assist Australian customers, the RCS calculator. This calculator helps clients identify the optimal solution for their specific applications by analysing factors such as weight, speed, and other parameters.
Through the online portal and Rulmeca’s extensive digital catalog, Australian customers can easily access and utilise Rulmeca’s products.
“Customers can either do that themselves or have us do it with the information they provide. (It enables the process) to be as autonomous as you like,” Nicholson said.
Spanggaard said the company looked forward to engaging with more Australian customers to design the ideal solution for their conveyor requirements.
“We have the products, and we have the expertise and the calculation program to select the right product for their application. It is not just a roller or an idler; it is (a solution) specifically for their application,” he said.
“It will give them the lowest total cost of ownership, which is really what we base our business on. We spend a bit more time with the customer in the beginning to ensure they get the best product.
“You mix that with the fact that we’re able to cover a large part of the product range which the customer requires.
“The deeper we can get involved in the customer’s application, the better service we can provide them.”