Manufacturing capability in Western Australia has been bolstered following the official opening of a new materials innovation hub by Fenner Conveyors, alongside the launch of a recycled-content conveyor belt developed in partnership with Tyrecycle.
The K-MIX Materials Innovation Hub, located in Kwinana, was formally opened on 19 March, marking the company’s latest investment in Australian conveyor belt manufacturing.
The event was attended by Matthew Swinbourn, along with company representatives, clients and industry stakeholders.
Central to the opening was the launch of Fenner Conveyors’ InfinitySeries, described as the company’s first conveyor belt made with recycled content.
According to Fenner Conveyors, the product forms part of a broader partnership with Tyrecycle aimed at transforming end-of-life conveyor belts into new materials, supporting efforts to decarbonise mining operations and improve sustainability outcomes.
Fenner Conveyors stated that the initiative enables full life-cycle management of conveyor belting within Australia, covering production, use, recycling and re-manufacturing.
The InfinitySeries incorporates locally recycled materials sourced through Tyrecycle and the Kwinana Belt Plant, with compounds developed by the company’s in-house specialists and processed at the K-MIX facility.
The K-MIX project, valued at $40 million and first announced in 2023, includes a new rubber mixing plant co-located with Fenner’s existing steel cord conveyor belt manufacturing operations.
The company said the investment has contributed to local job creation, strengthened manufacturing capability and streamlined supply chains, while supporting its decarbonisation objectives.
Fenner Conveyors Managing Director Jen Green said the facility represents a continued commitment to domestic manufacturing.
“We’re proud to officially open our K-MIX facility, marking our latest investment in Australian conveyor belt manufacturing. The capabilities of K-MIX will provide long-term value to our customers and our people, driving product innovation, manufacturing excellence, and performance-driven quality,” she said.
Commenting on the partnership with Tyrecycle, Green added: “Our strategic partnership with Tyrecycle has established the first-of-its-kind closed-loop recycling ecosystem for conveyor belt in Australia.
We’re proud to now launch the first of our InfinitySeries range of recycled content conveyor belts, demonstrating circular innovation in action.”
In his address, Swinbourn said the development highlights the role of manufacturing in supporting environmental and economic outcomes.
“This investment shows how Western Australia can grow a strong, diversified economy while protecting and restoring our environment for future generations,” he said.
“By recovering and remanufacturing complex industrial materials here in WA, Fenner and Tyrecycle are helping drive the transition to a more circular economy, with more local jobs, more local manufacturing, and less waste.”
