Founded in Mackay in 1979, CR Powered by Epiroc has been a long-trusted partner in the mining industry in Australia and globally.

Through innovation and unrivalled customer service, CR has disrupted the dragline industry by developing advanced “first-in-class” bucket designs, from the EarthEater in 1998 to the Hurricane 2.0 in 2016. With productivity gains
16% higher than conventional dragline buckets, it’s no surprise that nine out of ten draglines in Australia are fitted with CR buckets.

45 years on, CR is delivering its 300th dragline bucket (CQ300) to the South Walker Creek mine in Mackay. Marking this milestone, CR has joined forces with Bisalloy Steels and other major industry partners to support our local
communities. Together, the partners raised $60,000 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Health Services in Mackay — a local NFP organisation committed to providing holistic health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This milestone would not have been possible without CR’s strong industry partnerships.

Bisalloy Steels has been a trusted partner of CR for almost 30 years. Since the EarthEater in 1998, ‘BISPLATE 80’ has been used in the bucket build, eliminating the need for wear strips.

“The Q&T steel used in the Hurricane buckets not only withstands the intense pressures and abrasive environment of the mining operation, but it is also a testament to our commitment to quality and performance.”

“CR has chosen BISALLOY® Steel for our buckets due to its unparalleled durability and strength – crucial qualities for the demanding conditions our buckets face. The Q&T steel used in the Hurricane buckets not only withstands the intense pressures and abrasive environment of mining operation, but it is also a testament to our commitment to quality and performance”, says Eddie Hutcheon, CR’s Facility Manager.

This process significantly reduced the bucket’s overall weight and drag energy, resulting in less fuel being burned, which in turn reduces the energy consumption by generating fewer emissions. A Hurricane bucket delivers a 19% reduction in drag energy, saving an estimated 2,217 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

The BISALLOY® Steel range has enabled CR to innovate, further optimising bucket performance whilst increasing payload capacity. The CR team works with the technical team at Bisalloy Steels to ensure continual improvement in bucket efficiency, cycle times, energy consumption, and maintenance downtime.

Breakthroughs in design and material selection pave the way for a more efficient and sustainable future for the mining industry. Here’s to the next 300 buckets.