Duratray History
Duratray International has been operating in Australia since 2001 when it was acquired by Conyment International Group, yet its dump bodies have a much longer history.
The Duratray dump bodies were first developed by Swedish manufacturer Skega and promoted in Europe and the United States, mainly in quarries and hard rock mines. Skega eventually sold its equipment to Pacific Dunlop, who developed it further in Australia and launched it in Canada. However, in 2001 Dunlop Pacific began selling off some of its portfolio, including the Suspended Dump Body division, which was purchased by Chilean holding Conyment International Group.
At the time, Conymet was a well-established mining equipment manufacturer and service provider based in Antofagasta, Chile, with a trajectory of more than 35 years in the Chilean mining market. In 1985 Conymet built the first dump body in Chile - the 170ton tray was commissioned at Chuquicamata, the largest open-pit copper mine in the world at the time, which still belongs to the Chilean Government’s Codelco.
Also, in 1995 Conymet, in collaboration with BHP Chile, implemented the first light weight tray in the mining industry in Chile, which became the international standard for dump bodies.
At the time of Duratray’s acquisition, Conymet was led by its founder Manuel Medel Lepe, but he retired soon after and the responsibility of the newly acquired company fell in his sons.
The journey of Duratray in Australia has been challenging, but at the same time very successful. Since its inception, the company has grown its international footprint to more than 30 countries and established offices and manufacturing facilities in a number of locations, including South Africa, Russia and the United States.
Duratray has been recognised in several occasions by the Australian Government, receiving the Governor of Victoria Export Award for Minerals, Energy and Related Services in 2019, the First Large-Scale Chilean Investment in Australia Award in 2017, the Governor of Victoria Export Award for Minerals and Energy in 2010 and it entered the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame for Manufacturing Excellence in 2015.
The company has also been awarded Australian Government grants for business, innovation and technology expansion, including an award from Invest Victoria to onshore all manufacturing in Melbourne in a state-of-the-art facility.
As a Latin American company operating in Australia, Duratray has been a key member and collaborator of the Australia-Latin America Business Council (ALABC) for a number of years and its COO, Steve Hall, is one of ALABC Directors. In 2019 Duratray received the ALABC Recognition Award for 18 years of Business Expansion from Australia.
Not long after establishing in Australia, Duratray also became member of Austmine, the leading not-for-profit industry association for the Australian Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector. As members, the company has exhibited at the biannual Austmine Mining Conference and Exhibition on numerous occasions.
Currently, Duratray International in Australia takes pride in employing great professionals from eight different nationalities who work in the Brisbane and Perth branches and the headquarters in Melbourne, led by Managing Director Marcelo Medel.