Pilbara Rail Maintenance wins operational excellence award at Rio Tinto supplier gala

Staff Writer | April 15, 2025 | 5:07 pm Suppliers & Equipment

Pictured (L-R) Richard Cohen (MD Port, Rail & Core Services – Iron Ore, Rio Tinto) with the representatives of Pilbara Rail Maintenance at the Rio Tinto Supplier Recognition Gala, Chris Prior (Managing Director), Chelsea Herman (General Counsel) and Damien Casson (Business Manager). Credit: Rio Tinto,

Pilbara Rail Maintenance (PRM) has been awarded the Operational Excellence Award at the 2025 Rio Tinto Supplier Recognition Gala, held in Perth.

PRM was selected as one of 18 finalists from a pool of more than 200 nominations, ultimately winning the operational excellence category.

The awards recognize businesses that go above and beyond to tackle obstacles, deliver results safely, enhance productivity for Rio Tinto and set the benchmark for leading industry practices and performance.

Based in Karratha, PRM has been named an industry leader in rail construction and maintenance for the mining sector, adopting innovative technology across Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore operations.

Among PRM’s innovations is its Smart Track Laying System, a custom-engineered sleeper laying attachment integrated with a hi-rail excavator and GPS machine-controlled guidance system. This system allows a single operator to lift and place steel sleepers precisely, removing the need for ground staff to work near potentially hazardous machinery. The result is faster project delivery, enhanced safety outcomes and significantly reduced manual handling.

PRM has also invested in a Vacuum Panel Lifter System; first taking a standard VacuWorx vacuum system and customizing it for rail works, in an Australian first.

This wirelessly operated lifting equipment is mounted to a hi-rail excavator, eliminating the need for traditional hooks, slings, chains and – most importantly – prevents personnel from having to perform manual tasks in the exclusion zone.

This system has seen PRM achieve both increased operational efficiencies and the mitigation of numerous safety risks.