Walking the talk, together: interview with Bradken

There’s no doubt that the foundry sector is going through some testing times at the moment. Skills shortages. Rising quality expectations. Cost pressures. Decarbonisation… these were just some of the common concerns many visitors raised at GIFA 2023. And while specific solutions abounded on the stands of exhibitors, for one Australian foundry operator, the true value of the tradeshow lay in the potential for strategic partnership.

Bradken is a global producer and supplier of wear-resistant products, primarily mill liners and crawler systems for the mining and minerals processing industry. Founded in 1922, the company has grown over the past century and now operates a global network of foundries with locations in Australia, Canada, China, India, Malaysia, and the US. These cast a range of alloys, including nickel-chromium-molybdenum and chromium-molybdenum irons, white iron, manganese steel, and mild steels.

“We pride ourselves on our customer-centric approach, working with our customers to deliver solutions that meet their needs,” explained Stephen Hall, Global Head of Procurement at Bradken, speaking at the Foseco stand at GIFA. “At the same time, we have a desire to work with suppliers who embody the same values as us.”

The quest for partnership

It is this search for partners that brought Hall and his team to Düsseldorf and the largest global gathering for the foundry industry. “Here at GIFA, we are focused on building strategic partnerships with suppliers that have a global footprint and can provide global solutions to address the key issues facing us today,” said Hall. “This means looking at raw materials, equipment, consumables, and processes that deliver a total cost of ownership (TCO) benefit in terms of cost, quality, and sustainability.”

The ultimate aim is to work “more closely with fewer suppliers to deliver the solutions we need,” Hall continued, noting the company currently had more than a hundred suppliers to its sites around the world. Foseco – with its focus on innovation, partnership, and sustainability, as well as its global network of manufacturing facilities – was very much in view. “We’ve had some really constructive conversations here at the Foseco stand at GIFA, and I think there’s a really good opportunity for us to work together on a global stage.”

Partnership was not just on the Bradken team’s mind; it was also one of the key themes of the Foseco stand. “To navigate a way forward, we believe a collaborative approach is needed, with suppliers and foundries working together to find tailored solutions” said Rob Welland, Vice President of Marketing & Technology at Foseco. “It’s great to find a like-minded partner, such as Bradken, and we’re excited about the possibilities for future co-operation on a global scale.”