Fenner Conveyors officially opened its K-MIX Materials Innovation Hub at Kwinana, Western Australia on Thursday 19th March, celebrating their latest investment in the Australian manufacture of conveyor belts. The Minister for the Environment, the Honourable Matthew Swinbourn MLC, joined company representatives, clients and industry stakeholders to showcase the facility and launch the company’s first recycled content conveyor belt as part of the partnership between Fenner and Tyrecycle.  

Central to the official proceedings was the launch of Fenner Conveyor’s INFINITY SERIES, the inaugural conveyor belt made from recycled content as part of their partnership with Tyrecycle. This strategic partnership is focused on transforming end-of-life conveyor belts into new solutions – bringing innovation to the industry that decarbonises mining operations and supports long-term sustainability of operations. This enables full life-cycle management of belting onshore – from production to in-field use, recycling, and re-manufacturing.  

The INFINITY SERIES contains locally recycled materials from partner Tyrecycle and the Kwinana Belt Plant, providing maximised environmental benefit without compromising performance. INFINITY SERIES compounds have been developed by Fenner’s in-house industrial compounding experts and processed at the K-MIX site.   

The $40 million K-MIX project was announced in 2023 to house a new rubber mixing plant at the same site as Fenner’s steel cord conveyor belt manufacturing facility. The investment has created local jobs, boosted manufacturing capability, streamlined supply chains, and supported Fenner’s goal of decarbonising manufacturing.  

The rubber mixing plant is aligned to Fenner Conveyors’ all-sustainable vision as part of the Michelin Group, which aims to reduce environmental impact and enhance social responsibility. A key feature of the facility is the K-MIX Reconciliation Mural. Stretching over 900m2 and rising more than 30 metres high, the mural is a vibrant and engaging piece of public art. This artwork is a cultural landmark – educational, inclusive, and connected to Noongar culture.  

Fenner Conveyors Managing Director, Jen Green, said of the event: “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.” 

On the topic of the partnership with Tyrecycle, she went on to say: “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 INFINITY SERIES range of recycled content conveyor belts, demonstrating circular innovation in action. We look forward to expanding this series in partnership with our customers.”  

The Minister for the Environment, the Honourable Matthew Swinbourn MLC, said in his address “This investment shows how Western Australia can grow a strong, diversified economy while protecting and restoring our environment for future generations. 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.”