When Peter White founded Orange-based Specialised Crusher Services (SCS) in 2013, he did so on the back of deep industry experience, strong personal networks, and big ambitions.
Peter had been in the mining industry for many years, mainly in copper and gold operations across NSW, SA, and QLD. He saw a gap in the market for a specialist crusher maintenance provider that could forge genuine partnerships across the industry.
From an initial two-person crew, SCS has grown to around 30 full-time employees, supported by subcontractors and casual tradespeople when needed in peak periods.
For SCS, that growth has never been just about capability. It’s also been about connection.
“The mining industry is a massive industry, but it’s a very small circle of people,” General Manager, Kevin Fruin said. “Network and reputation are extremely important. You are only as good as your last job.”
SCS started as a field service specialist, focused on crushers and critical fixed plant. Over the past decade, it has steadily built out its capability to include:
- field service and shutdowns
- workshop services
- structural and platework fabrication
- mechanical overhauls
- support services such as blasting and painting
- brownfield construction upgrade works on operating plants
- selected greenfield construction packages.
- Crusher parts supply - Joint Venture
- Wear products supply – Joint Venture
- Maintenance strategy consultation
While the company’s head office remains in Orange, it has expanded into South Australia, with a branch in state and a firm strategy to grow and employ local trades and engineers in that region.
Its clients are a mix of tier one mining companies, including Oz Minerals (now part of mining giant BHP), Newmont Corporation, Evolution Mining, Rio Tinto, Glencore, and smaller regional operators such as Kingston Resources, Aurelia Metals, Vertex Minerals and Alkane Resources.
More recently, SCS has diversified beyond mining into aggregates, quarries, and fabrication, and is using networks, such as ICN, to help it expand into these new markets.
Kevin first connected with ICN NSW’s Regional Manager – Central West David Norris at a business event in Orange.
“We also hosted David at our facility and took him for a walk through, looking at what we do, what our capabilities are, and he was sort of impressed,” he said.
SCS had already been an ICN Gateway subscriber for about four or five years, monitoring expressions of interest nationally. But Kevin admits they were only scratching the surface of what ICN could offer.
Since meeting with Kevin and visiting the facility, David has introduced SCS to mining companies and invited company representatives to broader industry events, none of which would have happened without Kevin taking that first step.
“Having the local relationship with the ICN representative allows us to get access to stuff that we wouldn’t normally be looking for,” he said. “For example, this evening we’re attending a session focused on energy. If it wasn’t for that connection with David, we probably wouldn’t even know about that.”
As for David, he says SCS is a great example of how to best use Gateway and ICN to search for opportunities.
Kevin is clear that SCS will continue to use ICN for core business development, not just another listing site.
“The objective to get some visibility, to tell the world that, in addition to our core business, we have developing manufacturing capability, and we want to be involved in manufacturing projects,” Kevin said.
For other regional small and medium businesses weighing up ICN or similar networks, Kevin’s advice is to not underestimate the power of a well-curated network.
“I think the power of network is typically overlooked until you experience that power through the exposure that it delivers,” he said.
“For us to go and knock on the door of some mine in the middle of nowhere … it’s a really, really hard entry,” he said.
“You can send as much information as you like, but without somebody on the other side of the door who’s prepared to have that conversation with you, it makes it very hard. I do see ICN as playing a big role, particularly through the relationships around that’s facilitating the introductions and the relationships.”
For SCS, those relationships – with clients, with partners, and now ICN – are central to the company’s growth strategy in helping a regional specialist grow, diversify, and stay visible in a competitive national market.
Go to the company website for more information about Specialised Crusher Services.