RME in 2025: Partnerships, progress, and innovation in mill relining safety

2025 was a defining year for RME—and for the Customers driving progress with us. Together, we advanced mill relining safety and performance across the industry and entered a new chapter of growth. We honoured our legacy, welcomed new investment, strengthened our ability to deliver advanced technology, and expanded our capacity to serve—all guided by the same mission—and flag on the hill—we’ve upheld for over 40 years.

 A new chapter, same mission, grounded in purpose 

This year marked a major evolution in RME’s ownership transition that honours our history while unlocking new investment and capability. With support from Resource Capital Funds (RCF) and the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC), we’re focused on enhancing the impact and value of our solutions for Customers, including accelerating access to the RME Advanced Technology Mill Relining System.

We welcomed Andrew Jessett and Lyle Bruce to our Board, joining Dr John Russell, Cherylyn Russell, and Dr Peter Rubie. The combined experience of our expanded board and their shared commitment to our Customers ensure that RME’s future remains grounded in good stewardship, technical integrity, and trusted partnerships.

We also strengthened engineering leadership with Simon Thompson’s succession to Chief Engineer and Chief Executive Team. Stepping into a role shaped over four decades, Simon brings deep field experience, and a passion for delivering progressive solutions to mill operators worldwide.

A defining milestone that belongs our Customers

This year, we delivered the 600th RUSSELL Mill Relining Machine—a milestone that reflects the trust placed in us by mill operators around the world. Destined for one of the world’s most remote gold mine sites in Alaska operated by Northern Star Resources, this machine represents decades of collaboration, exceptional engineering, and manufacturing quality. 

We also delivered RUSSELL Mill Relining Systems to new regions in Colombia and Ethiopia, backed by in-region Asset Support and Services Teams who will work alongside site crews to improve mill availability and safety. 

Most recently, our new Chairperson and CET visited customers across North and South America and South Africa—having important conversations with the people who use our systems every day, conversations that continue to shape how we engineer, automate, and support mill operators and crews globally.

Automation that moves the industry forward 

RME’s automation technologies saw increased uptake this year, including a major deployment destined for a greenfield expansion in the Americas—supporting some of the world’s largest AG mills. This system marks a new era of flexible deployment: modular crane-portable, and scalable across multiple mills.

At GRX25, Simon Thompson previewed the THUNDERBOLT Torquer module for SKYWAY and SKYPORT—automating liner bolt fastener handling and removing even more repetitive manual tasks. He also cited research showing greater throughput with lighter, performance-designed liners and more frequent relining.

This transformation has deep roots in RME’s legacy of innovation. In 1990, the first RUSSELL Mill Relining Machine—commissioned for Mount Isa Mines—halved the site’s reline times while improving safety. That moment changed the mineral processing industry. The introduction of the RUSSELL 7 liner placement machine soon followed, enabling SAG mill manufacturers to scale up mill sizes with confidence—knowing RME’s machines could lift larger liners safely and efficiently. 

Today, we stand on the cusp of the next shift: INSIDEOUT relining. It’s a breakthrough that moves crews away from the line of fire—delivering a step-change in safety, relining speed, and mill availability. 

Collaboration delivering safer outcomes, back by data 

RME has partnered with mine sites and industry leaders for many years to improve relining safety. In 2025, we published validated case studies on some of our Advanced Technologies that demonstrate the impact of this collaboration: 

Indonesia (copper–gold mine): RME INSIDEOUT™ Technology eliminated fatal risks in worn liner removal and enabled direct removal from the mill, achieving an 85% reduction in risk exposure and 16% faster removal times.

Chile (Minera Escondida): The RUSSELL Claw™ cut person‑hour risk exposure by 72% and removal time by 27% during the muck‑out phase. 

Looking Ahead—Together 

The momentum of 2025 is already shaping RME’s next chapter—welcoming new investment, unlocking capability, advancing automation, and upholding the culture and technical integrity that define us. 

As we move into 2026, our focus remains unchanged: partnering with you to solve mill relining challenges and optimise system performance. 

As the world transitions to carbon neutrality, we’re proud to support our Customers so they can meet growing demand for metals and minerals, all while protecting the people who make it possible. 

To every customer, partner, and crew member who’s trusted us across 40 years and 600 RUSSELL Mill Relining Machines: thank you. Your belief in what we’re building continues to shape RME’s future. 

We are RME—and we’re proud to serve you. Let’s keep raising the standard—together, strengthening our industry and improving the human condition through responsible access to metals at lower cost.