An interview with Eddie de Rivera, Brian Forrester, Steven Cohen, and Garry McGrechan
5 minute read
Introduction: Australia’s iron ore engine - opportunity and scale
Australia is the world’s largest exporter of iron ore, accounting for more than half of global supply. In 2023, the industry shipped over 900 million tonnes, with much of it destined for Asia’s steelmakers. The Pilbara region in Western Australia underpins this output, home to some of the largest and most sophisticated mining operations on the planet – including those run by Rio Tinto, BHP, and Fortescue.
These operations rely on finely tuned infrastructure; conveyor networks spanning hundreds of kilometres, autonomous haulage fleets and vast beneficiation plants that must run around the clock. Behind that scale sits an intricate control and automation ecosystem. If just one subsystem fails – say a drive controller on a transfer station or a logic fault in a reclaimer – the production losses can be enormous.
For Mipac, the iron ore sector has long represented a strategic growth opportunity. In 2024, we made a deliberate move to strengthen our position by acquiring Paradigm Engineers, a respected WA-based firm with deep experience in materials handling, PLC/SCADA systems, and turnkey project delivery for Tier 1 miners. Now, as the dust settles and the teams come together, our Communications Specialist Lina Cronin sat down with four leaders to unpack what this means for our clients and the future of automation in the iron ore industry.
Interview: Mipac’s expanded iron ore capabilities
Lina Cronin: Why did Mipac acquire Paradigm Engineers?
Eddie de Rivera – Managing Director, Mipac: We saw a strong strategic fit. Paradigm Engineers brought deep project experience in iron ore, particularly in materials handling, functional safety and control systems, and they had already proven themselves with clients like BHP and Rio Tinto. For Mipac, this was about accelerating our growth in Western Australia, expanding our presence with Tier 1 miners, and gaining a highly capable team that shares our culture of client focus, delivery quality and technical rigour.
Lina Cronin: What new capabilities has this brought into Mipac’s portfolio?
Brian Forrester – Operations Manager, Mipac: Paradigm Engineers strengthened our ability to deliver end-to-end projects in bulk materials handling, especially in SCADA design, PLC programming and conveyor control systems; as well as mobile machinery (e.g. stacker reclaimers) and port automation (e.g. ship loaders). Their team is particularly strong at delivering brownfield upgrades – those challenging projects where you must integrate with existing plant systems without disrupting operations.
We’ve also gained local boots-on-the-ground in WA, which gives us more responsiveness for rapid mobilisation. That’s a big win for project delivery and client relationships.
Lina Cronin: What makes working in iron ore (and iron ore automation) different from other commodities?
Garry McGrechan – GM Western Australia (Mipac and Paradigm Engineers): It’s the scale – and the expectations. Plants run 24/7 with massive throughput and razor-thin tolerances. Your systems need to be rock solid. Downtime costs are high, so every control decision has to be reliable, robust and easy to support.
We also work in some of the most remote parts of the country, where logistics, communication and local support all become critical. That shapes how you design your systems. The operators on site need something intuitive. And the standards – particularly with Rio and BHP – are some of the strictest you’ll find.
Lina Cronin: How does this open the door for Tier 1 miner relationships?
Steven Cohen – Sales and Marketing Manager, Mipac: Paradigm had already built a strong track record with Tier 1 clients, and that trust carries weight. Now, combined with Mipac’s reputation for technical excellence and our broader service offering – from advanced control to digital dashboards – we’re able to go after bigger, more complex scopes.
We’re better positioned to become long-term automation partners, not just project vendors. That matters in a market where clients want delivery certainty and future-ready systems.
Lina Cronin: Can you give an example of how combining skills from the teams will help project delivery?
Brian Forrester: For specific projects, it will make sense to integrate the diverse skill sets across regions. This not only strengthens problem-solving and design but also opens up opportunities for innovation. By leveraging the unique strengths and efficiencies of different groups, we achieve better project outcomes while building stronger cross-business relationships. That collaboration makes future projects smoother and more effective. Ultimately, the real value comes from combining the best of both worlds to deliver results to the client.
Lina Cronin: What types of iron ore projects are we now better positioned to deliver?
Eddie de Rivera: We’re now in a stronger position to deliver a broad range of iron ore projects, from mid-life control system upgrades in established plants to greenfield infrastructure implementation. We’re also taking on more complex integration scopes, bringing together SCADA, PLC and digital systems into cohesive solutions. Where we’re particularly well equipped is in short-turnaround brownfield work, where plant disruption needs to be minimal and planning is everything.
Steven Cohen: And we’re delivering those scopes end-to-end, from concept and design through to site commissioning and ongoing support. Our ability to add performance monitoring tools and diagnostic dashboards also gives us a differentiator. That’s what our clients are asking for, systems that are smarter and more connected.
Lina Cronin: What can existing iron ore clients expect going forward?
Steven Cohen: Some things won’t change, of course: our client focus, and our commitment to quality work and outcomes. But our existing iron ore clients can also expect greater capability, faster delivery and more long-term value going forward.
That’s greater capability particularly in bulk materials handling, conveyor logic and support for remote operations. Faster delivery thanks to a stronger presence in Western Australia and a fully integrated team. And long-term value through our growing suite of digital tools, lifecycle support and performance insights. We’re not just delivering control systems; we’re helping clients extract more value from the infrastructure they already have.
Lina Cronin: What excites you most about this next chapter?
Eddie: We’ve got the people, the systems and now the footprint to do bigger things.
Brian: I’m excited about how the teams are lifting each other.
Garry: Seeing the long-time Paradigm clients benefit from Mipac’s broader capability.
Steven: Sharing a clearer story with clients that reflects our expanded capability, proven delivery and commitment to long-term performance.
Final thoughts
Combining our two businesses wasn’t just about increasing our footprint. It marked a step change in Mipac’s ability to serve the iron ore sector across Australia. With deeper capability, local presence and strong Tier 1 experience, the team is primed to deliver high-quality automation and control systems at scale.
For site leaders, engineering managers, and operations executives across WA, the message is clear: Mipac is ready to partner with you – on the ground, in the plant, and across the full lifecycle of your control infrastructure.
Iron ore automation: the latest expanded capability from Mipac.
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