SGS Opens New Facility in Port Hedland to Support Sustainable Mining Operations

SGS Opens New Facility in Port Hedland to Support Sustainable Mining Operations

(IN BRIEF) SGS has opened a new facility in Port Hedland, Pilbara, to provide geochemical analysis services closer to mining operations. The facility offers specialized sample preparation and, by 2025, will introduce field analytical services. This strategic move reduces transportation costs and time, supporting more sustainable and efficient testing. The facility is part of SGS’s broader approach to meet the minerals sector’s demands for faster data turnaround while addressing environmental and social governance (ESG) concerns. Additionally, SGS is investing in more sustainable methods and technologies to support clients’ sustainability goals.

(PRESS RELEASE) GENEVA, 6-Jan-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — SGS is proud to announce the opening of a new facility in Port Hedland, Pilbara, designed to bring its expert geochemical analysis services closer to the heart of mining operations. This strategic location reduces the need for long-distance sample transportation, allowing for quicker turnaround times, lowering costs, and supporting more sustainable testing processes that align with clients’ environmental goals.

To provide further insight into how this new facility will enhance mining operations in the Pilbara, we spoke with Katie Donnelly, SGS Laboratory Manager:

What services and capabilities will the Port Hedland facility offer?
The facility will specialize in sample preparation services, including sorting, drying, crushing, splitting, and pulverizing. Looking ahead to 2025, as demand grows, we plan to introduce field analytical services and testing (FAST). This will include pXRF, FTIR, and NIR to offer an added value screening service, ensuring that our clients have on-the-ground analytical support for every stage of the mining process.

How does this facility contribute to SGS’s broader services in Australia’s minerals sector?
The Port Hedland facility is a key part of SGS’s client-driven service approach within Australia’s minerals sector. Serving as a strategic feeder laboratory, it brings essential sample preparation closer to mining sites, allowing mining operations to access vital services right at their doorstep. By performing sample preparation on-site, only reduced sample weights need to be sent to commercial labs for analysis, speeding up the overall process and helping reduce environmental impact in line with our sustainability goals.

How has SGS adapted to the changing demands of the minerals sector?
The minerals sector has seen increasing demand for quicker data turnaround and more efficient logistics. At the same time, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns have grown in importance, creating pressure on the mining industry to better manage environmental impacts and assess emissions across the supply chain.

To meet these challenges, SGS has upgraded its technology and services, expanding our hub-and-spoke laboratory model. By establishing facilities closer to client operations, we can accelerate analysis and improve decision-making agility. This approach reduces the volume of sample shipments, minimizing transport emissions. Additionally, we are investing in more sustainable analytical methods, like PhotonAssay, and incorporating AI-driven safety solutions, hands-free wearable devices, and real-time reporting through QR code dashboards to further streamline the process.

Looking ahead, we aim to continue providing our clients with innovative, efficient, and sustainable analytical solutions that enhance their decision-making capabilities, no matter the challenges they face.

For more information about our Port Hedland exploration facility, please contact us.

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,700 laboratories and business facilities across 119 countries, supported by a team of 99,250 dedicated professionals. With over 145 years of service excellence, we combine the precision and accuracy that define Swiss companies to help organizations achieve the highest standards of quality, safety and compliance.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and sustainability, enabling businesses to thrive with confidence. We proudly deliver our expert services through the SGS name and trusted specialized brands, including Brightsight, Bluesign, Maine Pointe and Nutrasource.

SGS is publicly traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the ticker symbol SGSN (ISIN CH0002497458, Reuters SGSN.S, Bloomberg SGSN:SW).

Media Contacts:

Ariel Bauer
Head of Investor Relations, Communications & Sustainability
t: +41 79 863 49 23

Livia Baratta
Director, Investor Relations
t: +41 79 586 48 53
e: SGS.Investor.relations@sgs.com

SOURCE: SGS