CRC ORE
CRC ORE is an Australian cooperative research centre (2010–June 2021) that developed mineral processing optimisation technologies — Grade Engineering® and the Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) — for major mining companies and METS providers, funded by the Australian Government and industry participants.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersPullen Vale, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What CRC ORE does
CRC ORE (Cooperative Research Centre for Optimising Resource Extraction) is an Australian not-for-profit research organisation established in 2010 to reverse the market trend of declining mine productivity by improving operational value, commercial return, and environmental outcomes across the minerals sector. It develops mining and mineral processing technologies organised around five research programs (Define, Separate, Extract, Control, and Operate), producing three headline outputs: Grade Engineering® — a preconcentration methodology claimed to reduce mining water and energy use, and CO2 emissions, by up to 20%; the Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) — a digital simulation platform for mineral processing optimisation; and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub — an on-site testing facility now operating under Curtin University. The organisation's primary customers are large mining companies (including BHP, Anglo American, Glencore, Newcrest, AngloGold Ashanti, Sumitomo, and Teck) alongside Mining Equipment, Technology and Services providers and research institutions, all participating as Essential Participants.
The business model is structured as a cooperative research centre jointly funded by the Australian Government and cash contributions from Essential Participants, rather than through commercial product sales. Technology is developed in-house and then transferred to commercial or academic partners for industry deployment: IES to Orica for global commercialisation, Grade Engineering consulting services to Hatch, and the Kalgoorlie Hub to Curtin University's Western Australian School of Mines. Following the June 2021 end of its government-funded term, CRC ORE retains a limited operating footprint, with continued research conducted through a Future Research Program with CSIRO, while its commercialisable IP is now stewarded by Orica and Hatch.
CRC ORE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CRC ORE
- Legal name
- CRC ORE: Optimising Resource Extraction
- Website
- https://crcore.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CRC ORE is an Australian cooperative research centre (2010–June 2021) that developed mineral processing optimisation technologies — Grade Engineering® and the Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) — for major mining companies and METS providers, funded by the Australian Government and industry participants.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CRC ORE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mining Technology and Mineral Processing Optimization
- NAICS
- Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131), Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114), Mining (except Oil and Gas) (212)
- SIC
- Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Plant Operations, Control & Optimization (Metallurgical Accounting, APC, Digital Twins) (IMAKALAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Crushing, Screening & Mineral Sizing Equipment (IMAKANAD)
Keywords
Where CRC ORE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pullen Vale
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
CRC ORE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Government Funding: CRC ORE was jointly funded by the Australian Government as a Cooperative Research Centre, with its government-funded term running from 2010 until June 2021.
- Participant Contributions: Cash contributions from Essential Participants including mining companies, METS (Mining Equipment, Technology and Services) companies, and research organisations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
CRC ORE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CRC ORE develops and deploys mineral processing and mining optimisation technologies through five research programs (Define, Separate, Extract, Control, Operate). Its core offerings are Grade Engineering® (a proprietary methodology that improves feed quality and reduces water, energy, and CO2 emissions by up to 20%), the Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) simulation software platform for mineral processing optimisation, and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub for on-site testing and implementation of mining technology.
Product overview
CRC ORE offered a portfolio of three headline solutions developed to optimise minerals extraction: Grade Engineering® (a methodology to improve feed quality and reduce energy/water use by up to 20%), the Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) simulation software platform for mineral processing optimization, and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub for on-site testing and implementation. These solutions were delivered through five research programs (Define, Separate, Extract, Control, Operate) spanning the entire mining value chain from feed quality improvement through to mine site implementation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Grade Engineering® A registered proprietary methodology for mining that improves ore feed quality through preconcentration and selective processing, reducing water and energy consumption, and CO2 emissions, by up to 20%. It is delivered to mining customers globally via commercial partner Hatch.
- Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) An Australian-developed simulation software platform that uses digital modelling to improve the efficiency of mineral processing operations. It is now commercialised globally by Orica.
- Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub A dedicated mining technology facility that supports on-site testing, validation, and implementation of mining innovations. It now operates under Curtin University's governance.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 20% reduction in mining water and energy use, and CO2 emissions
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CRC ORE
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CRC ORE technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
CRC ORE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CSIROcoreCRC ORE and Australia's national science agency formed a Future Research Program to take CRC ORE's most promising fields of research into new areas to broaden the impact on the Australian mining industry and economy. Paul Revell serves as Research Program Manager – Mineral Processing at CSIRO.
- OricacoreOrica took over the Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) digital technology - an Australian-developed simulation software platform for improving the efficiency of mineral processing operations, set to expand globally. Contacts: Nick Beaton and Peter Leckie.
- HatchcoreHatch commercialises Grade Engineering - improving the productivity of mining operations and creating positive change for mines and communities. Contact: Hugh Sherman, Process Engineer, Mining and Minerals Processing at Hatch.
- Curtin UniversitycoreThe Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub is now operational under the governance of Curtin University's Western Australian School of Mines. Contact: Dr Laurence Dyer.
- Anglo AmericanminorMining participant implementing CRC ORE technologies at mine sites as part of the consortium.
- BHPminorMining participant implementing CRC ORE technologies at mine sites as part of the consortium.
- GlencoreminorMining participant implementing CRC ORE technologies at mine sites as part of the consortium.
- NewcrestminorMining participant implementing CRC ORE technologies at mine sites as part of the consortium.
- AngloGold AshantiminorMining participant implementing CRC ORE technologies at mine sites as part of the consortium.
- SumitomominorMining participant implementing CRC ORE technologies at mine sites as part of the consortium.
- TeckminorMining participant implementing CRC ORE technologies at mine sites as part of the consortium.
- AMIRA InternationalminorResearch participant in CRC ORE consortium focused on improving minerals industry performance through collaborative research.
- Mining3minorResearch participant - global mining research organisation collaborating with CRC ORE.
- MRIWAminorMinerals Research Institute of Western Australia - research participant in CRC ORE consortium.
- National Research Council CanadaminorInternational research participant - Canada's national research organization.
- IMDEXminorMETS participant delivering mining technology solutions.
- JKTechminorMETS participant - JKTech delivers innovative solutions to the global mining industry.
- Metso OutotecminorMETS participant - global mining equipment and technology provider.
- SodernminorMETS participant - technology provider for mining operations.
- Curtin UniversityminorResearch participant - host of Western Australian School of Mines and Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub.
- QUTminorQueensland University of Technology - research participant in CRC ORE consortium.
- The University of QueenslandminorResearch participant -UQ is a key Australian university contributing to mining research.
- The University of AdelaideminorResearch participant - University of Adelaide contributing to mining and minerals research.
- UTASminorUniversity of Tasmania - research participant in CRC ORE consortium.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
CRC ORE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hatch: Hatch is a global engineering and project delivery firm with deep mining and minerals processing expertise and is CRC ORE's commercialization partner for Grade Engineering consulting services. Comparable because Hatch both competes with and complements CRC ORE in delivering process optimization and mine productivity solutions to major miners worldwide.
- Orica: Orica is a global mining services and technology company that took over CRC ORE's Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) for worldwide commercialization. Comparable as both a partner and an adjacent mineral-processing technology provider targeting the same mining customers.
- Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Sandvik provides mining equipment, tools, and digital solutions for surface and underground mining, including crushing and screening systems. Comparable as a broader incumbent in mining equipment and digital process optimization that overlaps with CRC ORE's areas of focus.
- The Weir Group: Weir is a global mining technology company specializing in comminution (crushing, grinding, screening), pumps, and digital solutions. Comparable as a broader incumbent serving the same mining customers with overlapping productivity-and-energy optimization offerings.
Direct peers
- Metso (formerly Metso Outotec): Metso is a leading global supplier of equipment, services, and digital solutions for the aggregates, minerals processing, and metals refining industries, and is a CRC ORE METS participant. Directly comparable as it sells comminution, crushing, screening and process optimization technologies into the same mining customers CRC ORE serves.
- FLSmidth: FLSmidth supplies engineered mineral processing equipment and digital process optimization solutions to the global mining industry. Comparable to CRC ORE because both target productivity and energy efficiency gains in comminution and mineral beneficiation at mine sites.
- JKTech: JKTech is an Australian mining technology and consulting company delivering digital and process optimization solutions to the global mining industry, and is a CRC ORE METS participant. Directly comparable as both operate in mineral processing optimization for similar mining customers.
Others
- CSIRO: CSIRO is Australia's national science agency and CRC ORE's post-2021 Future Research Program partner. Comparable as an adjacent research and development organization collaborating on mining process and sustainability research rather than competing commercially.
- Mining3: Mining3 is a global mining research organization developing transformative technologies for the mining industry, and is a CRC ORE research participant. Comparable as an adjacent R&D consortium serving overlapping mining research and industry collaboration themes.
Regional players
- IMDEX / REFLEX: IMDEX is an Australian-headquartered global mining technology company providing drilling fluids, down-hole survey, and digital orebody knowledge solutions, and is a CRC ORE METS participant. Comparable as an adjacent METS technology provider serving the same mining customer base in Australia and globally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CRC ORE social profiles
Digital presenceCRC ORE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CRC ORE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
CRC ORE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CRC ORE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CRC ORE
What does CRC ORE do?
CRC ORE develops and deploys mineral processing and mining optimisation technologies through five research programs (Define, Separate, Extract, Control, Operate). Its core offerings are Grade Engineering® (a proprietary methodology that improves feed quality and reduces water, energy, and CO2 emissions by up to 20%), the Integrated Extraction Simulator (IES) simulation software platform for mineral processing optimisation, and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Mining Innovation Hub for on-site testing and implementation of mining technology.
Is CRC ORE a public or private company?
CRC ORE is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CRC ORE founded?
CRC ORE was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CRC ORE based?
CRC ORE is headquartered in Pullen Vale, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does CRC ORE make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are participant Contributions.
Who are CRC ORE's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hatch, Orica, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and The Weir Group. Direct peers are Metso (formerly Metso Outotec), FLSmidth and JKTech. Others are CSIRO and Mining3. IMDEX / REFLEX is listed as a regional player.
Does CRC ORE have an API?
No public API is recorded for CRC ORE.
What industry is CRC ORE in?
CRC ORE's product category is Mining Technology and Mineral Processing Optimization. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKALAJ, Plant Operations, Control & Optimization (Metallurgical Accounting, APC, Digital Twins), with a secondary code of IMAKANAD, Crushing, Screening & Mineral Sizing Equipment. Its NAICS code is 333131 and its SIC code is 3532.