The Elphinstone Story
Dale Elphinstone began modifying Caterpillar equipment to suit underground hard rock mining applications out of his Fathers shed on their Mooreville Road, Burnie (Tasmania) farm in 1975. The Elphinstone name was destined to become synonymous with underground mining.
Head office was founded at 4 Hopkinson Street Burnie, Tasmania. Development of the first modified Caterpillar machines for underground started.
Sale of the first Elphinstone 79C underground mining truck, which was a modified Caterpillar 769C truck.
Development of the first Elphinstone underground support vehicles, the 920 Scaler and 925 Work Basket using a Caterpillar 920 wheel loader.
Development of the first Elphinstone underground grader from a Caterpillar 12G
Development of the first Elphinstone 79C underground ejector truck, which was a modified Caterpillar 769C truck.
Development and sale of the first Elphinstone underground mining loaders, which were modified Caterpillar 980B and 925B wheel loaders.
Design, manufacture and testing of the first purpose built Elphinstone underground mining dump truck.
Elphinstone manufactured and sold the very first purpose built underground mining trucks, the AD13 (13-tonne capacity) and AD17 (17-tonne capacity) articulated dump trucks.
Sale of the first Elphinstone 80C underground loader modified from a Caterpillar 980C wheel loader.
Sale of first fully designed and manufactured, purpose built R1500 Load Haul Dump (LHD). Machine no.1 is still operational and has returned to Burnie to be part of Dale Elphinstone’s collection.
Sale of first fully designed and manufactured, purpose built R2800 Load Haul Dump (LHD). Machine no.1 was delivered to a customer in Australia and painted white. The machine is still operational and has returned to Burnie to be part of Dale Elphinstone’s collection.
First R1700 LHD designed manufactured and delivered. The AD40 Dump Truck was designed and developed to compliment the larger LHDs.
First R2900 LHD designed and developed. By the end of 1994 Elphinstone had delivered more than 200 LHDs, 100 of these were the R2800 model.
Elphinstone Pty Ltd sells the remaining 50% share of the Joint Venture to Caterpillar Inc. which started the Caterpillar Hard Rock Vehicle (HRV) product range. At this time more than 700 machines had been manufactured and sold.
The Elphinstone Group invested in Haulmax who manufactured an 80tonne capacity extended distance haul truck. The Haulmax business was relocated from Brisbane to Tasmania.
The Haulmax 3900 series extended distance haul truck was released following significant design, testing and field follow.
The Railmax RMT14D hi-rail excavator was released which transformed the rail maintenance industry allowing work to be performed safely under live powerlines and on live parallel tracks transforming the rail maintenance industry.
The Elphinstone Group purchases the remaining shareholding in Haulmax to become the outright owner.
The Elphinstone Group purchases Service Vehicle Solutions (SVS) and Southern Prospect and combines these with Haulmax to for Elphinstone Pty Ltd. Elphinstone Pty Ltd takes back the Burnie manufacturing facilities and the “Elphinstone” brand from Caterpillar. Development of a new range of specialized underground hard rock support vehicles starts and the manufacturing facilities are repurposed to build these.
The Elphinstone RMT15F Railmax was released with significant control system upgrades to the previous RMT14D version, increasing the machines capability, safety and productivity.
Elphinstone introduces the WR820 Agitator at Minexpo 2016 and the first sales followed.
Elphinstone develops and introduces the WR820 Water Cannon with remote operation as a solution for recovery of ore fines, unblocking of hang-up and dust suppression.
Elphinstone upgrades and introduces the UG20K and UG20M graders which results in a very successful road maintenance solution for customers around the world.
Elphinstone expands the Agitator range by developing the WR820 10m3 Agitator which maximizes productivity of concrete delivery underground by increasing volume, speed and braking performance.
Elphinstone introduces the WR820 Water Tank, specifically designed for dust suppression with a capacity of 16,000L – 19,000L (dependent on configuration).
Elphinstone develops the highly configurable WR810 underground service vehicle platform. The first machines developed were a 6m3 Agitator, Scissor Lift, Fuel & Lube and Water Cannon.
The Elphinstone WR810 was further developed to include a Tier 4 engine option plus additional models were added including a Delivery (with crane), Flat Bed and Cab Chassis that provides flexibility for specific customer solutions.
A Tier 4 WR810 Delivery with crane was the 100th Elphinstone underground support vehicle delivered.
Elphinstone announced the sale of the 50th underground motor grader designed and manufactured in Burnie, Tasmania.
Elphinstone commences the development of a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) solution for the WR810 10-Tonne Platform.
Elphinstone commemorated the sale of the 100th Underground Mining 20 Tonne Platform, a WR820 10m3 Agitator designed and manufactured at the company’s world-class facilities in Burnie, Tasmania.
In March 2023 Elphinstone announced the acquisition of MED Pty Ltd, the owner and manufacturer of the underground Mine Extraction Device (MED) developed by the founder of Beltor Engineering, Aldo Beletich back in the 1980s. Also known as the “Beltor Puller”, Elphinstone now owns the intellectual property and is not the sole owner and manufacturer of the original mine extraction device.
Elphinstone unveiled its WR810 low-profile front cab was launched in March at the Underground Operators Conference in Brisbane, showcasing the latest in its underground application portfolio.
The first Elphinstone Railmax rail maintenance excavator, the RMT14D was released in 2011. It transformed the rail maintenance industry allowing work to be performed safely under live powerlines and on live parallel tracks. In 2017 the Railmax RMT15F was released, featuring significant control system upgrades to the previous RMT14D version, increasing the machine’s capability, safety and productivity. Signifying the end of an era for Elphinstone Railmax Rail Maintenance Solutions, the last Railmax RMT15F excavator was shipped to BHP at Port Hedland, Western Australia on May 23, 2023.
The WR810 model number was phased out in January 2024 and replaced with the E10 model number. The ‘E’ represents the Elphinstone name and the ’10’ indicates the nominal capacity in metric tonnes (depending on configuration). The Elphinstone E10 series of underground support vehicles continues to feature a high level of interchangeability of parts and components between machines.
In January 2024, Elphinstone released the new E15 15-tonne base platform. The first machine to be released was the E15 Agitator 7m³ (pictured). Future models in the range include an E15 Delivery (nominal 15-tonne capacity and 8.8tm crane), E15 Flat Deck (nominal 16-tonne capacity), E15 Water Tank (nominal 13,000L capacity), and E15 Fuel & Lube (Diesel, Lubricants, Grease, Coolant, DEF, Water & Air).
Elphinstone dispatched the first E15 Agitators to Evolution Mining’s Ernest Henry Mine north of Cloncurry in Queensland. A standout feature on both machines were the pink and blue 7m3 agitator bowls with breast and prostate cancer awareness decals signifying Evolution Mining’s investment in cancer research.
Elphinstone commemorated the 50th Elphinstone UG20K Underground Grader built at the company’s Burnie facility in Tasmania. The grader was one of two (2) dispatched to DCR Minería y Construcción through Ferreyros in Peru. Elphinstone celebrated the occasion with employees, founders Dale and Cheryl Elphinstone and Non-Executive Director, Kelly Elphinstone.
Released in June 2024, The new E15 Delivery is the second model in the series, adding another application to the existing range of Elphinstone E10 Underground Hard Rock Support Vehicles (formerly WR810) and rapidly expanding E15 underground support fleet.
Elphinstone travelled to Las Vegas Nevada to participate in its first MINExpo exhibition since 2016. Our team included Santiago Guillermo, Mal Watkinson, Alistair Young, Nick Furmage, Tim Mitchell, and Warren Young. The booth displayed the new E15 Delivery and MED210 mine extraction device.
Elphinstone’s first MED210 (210-tonne pulling capacity) was sold and dispatched to Centamin’s Sukari Gold Mine in July 2024.
Dale Elphinstone became the first person outside of the US to be inducted into the prestigious National Mining Hall of Fame in Denver Colorado on Saturday, November 2, 2024. Dale and wife Cheryl were joined by children, Kelly and Adam, and family friends to celebrate the amazing achievement.
