Business

The past 50 years have involved several major events, including the 1970s oil crisis, recessions in the early 80s and 90s, wars, natural disasters and, more recently, a global pandemic. Despite some challenging times, Jord has enjoyed five decades of steady, consistent private ownership. The company’s long-serving staff believe it’s “can-do” attitude and nimble approach are behind its success.

Jord was one of the first Australian engineering companies to support the country’s resource boom from the 1970s. John Holden and Phil Blundell attracted and developed the expertise needed for their vision of serving the emerging petroleum, alumina, nickel and sugar industries. Drawing in engineers with ability, humility, curiosity and dedication, the team was guided by principles of innovation, value and reliability.

The company became known for solving unique problems with speed and personal service.

Pictured: Jord Co-Founder Phil Blundell inspecting Jord’s very first order, a rotary drum vacuum filter for the Queensland sugar industry.

Batting above its weight

“We were go-getters, and we weren’t afraid to roll up our sleeves and do whatever was needed to get the job done,” said Brad Robinson, who joined the company in the 1980s. “We took risks and we learned on the job, but we always delivered. We had a saying that you would ‘bite off more than you can chew and then chew like hell’.”

In the early days, every team member at Jord was tasked with finding and securing new orders and, once an individual landed a new deal, they became the project manager responsible for delivering the project as well. “There was a real sense of pride and ownership because we handled every project from start to finish ourselves,” said Brad.

The small, elite team worked tirelessly to overcome challenging site conditions, tight timelines, and developed world first solutions to solve industry problems. An example of the company’s reliability is the fact that the rotary drum vacuum filter Jord supplied to Queensland’s Farleigh sugar mill in 1976 is still in operation today. It is one of hundreds of custom-designed Jord filters, across various resource industries, with decades of continuous operation.

Pictured: Jord Co-Founder John Holden asleep at his desk in 1978 after working all night to get a key tender proposal out.

Organisational transformation

The introduction of ISO standards together with larger and more complex projects prompted an organisational restructure in the 1990s. Jord centralised operations, making the sales and project management functions autonomous. It was a new era for the company as it matured and was poised for further growth and diversification.

Ronnie Tan joined Jord in Singapore during the 1990s. “The office was oddly shaped, dark, cold and very damp. There was an imbalance of ying and yang, and considered by many of our Chinese friends as having a bad feng shui. But we knew our day would come. We knew we had solid backing,” he said.

To offer new technologies and to expand in new regions, Jord secured strategic licenses and formed manufacturing alliances in Asia and the Middle East. A joint venture with German-based Balcke Duerr provided wet cooling and air cooled condensers technology to complement Jord’s existing dry cooling expertise.

“Balcke Duerr were eager to extend their reach into South East Asia and Australia,” said Ronnie. “They needed our fleetness of foot and can-do spirit, and they had the technology and name for major projects.”

In the 2010s, Jord Oil and Gas Systems B.V. was formed in the Netherlands as an EPC contractor providing design and construction of topside modules and gas compression systems. So too Jord Energy Pty Ltd with a focus on gas turbine accessory modules for the power generation industry. More recently, Jord formed a joint venture with South Africa-based Proxa to provide crystallisation and evaporation plants for battery chemicals, and zero liquid discharge plants to eliminate the discharge of toxic effluents into the environment.

Keeping the culture and philosophy alive

Today, Jord continues to operate based on the same principles and philosophy it was founded on. The business attracts and retains people who thrive on problem-solving. The average length of employee service is over 10 years; well ahead of the industry average. Staff span 10 countries, 25 nationalities and 40 languages.

CEO Angus Holden says Jord is big enough to be trusted with large, complex projects, yet small enough to be innovative, nimble and caring. “We keep the can-do culture alive by developing elite teams, motivating people to innovate and offer new ideas, as well as cultivating healthy internal competition,” said Angus.

To remain nimble and at the forefront of emerging markets, Jord invests in research and development with a goal to commercialise new, sustainable technologies. “Our engineering ideas work because, though they are innovative, they come from a stable and effective base of people, partners, capital, performance and standards.”

In 2022, Jord celebrates 50 years of service. Thank you to all our staff (past and present), customers, vendors and suppliers who have been part of our story.

Jord International is proud to announce the successful completion of our new office extension in Baroda, India — a significant milestone that reflects our continued growth and long-term investment in the region.

Delivered on time and to plan, the fit-out stands as a testament to the dedication and collaboration of our local and global teams. The expanded space not only enhances our working environment but also positions us strongly for future growth in India’s dynamic market.

To mark this important moment, we were honoured to host an inauguration ceremony led by our Executive Chair, Angus Holden. The event celebrated the efforts behind the project and the bright future ahead for our Baroda team.

With upgraded facilities and room to grow, the new office underscores Jord’s confidence in the exceptional talent in India and our ongoing commitment to delivering value for clients across the globe.

By feeding creativity and pushing boundaries, Jord has expanded its technology offering over the past 50 years. Its current primary focus is to pioneer minerals beneficiation techniques that enhance recoveries whilst minimising energy and water consumption.

John Warner, Managing Director of JordProxa and Former Head of Technology at Jord, describes Jord’s approach as technically adventurous and financially conservative. “Jord maintains cash reserves and doesn’t have debt, which allows us to explore new ideas and take risks with a strong financial anchor,” said John.

“It’s important to recognise that technology is changing at a more rapid pace today than it ever has before. What that means is that knowledge is changing and, as a business, we need to manage the change of knowledge. It’s important to have people who are powerful thinkers,” said John. “Jord thrives because it has a deliberate combination of thinkers, fast movers and enablers, and strategic and disciplined people.”

Pictured: Staff drawing in the Sydney office during the early Jord days.

When John joined the firm in the mid-1990s, Jord was focused on heat exchangers, furnaces and solid-liquid separation. John was instrumental in moving beyond supplying individual pieces of process plant to developing in-house capabilities to deliver more complex turnkey systems

“At Jord, we’re good at bringing the next generation of knowledge into the company and embracing new ways of working,” said John. “In many companies, the older generation are possessive of their technical expertise, whereas Jord’s culture encourages experienced staff to set the direction and share their knowledge, leaving space for others to grow and enable change.”

Pictured: Jord lifts evaporation/crystallisation modules in the late 1990s.

A downturn in the mining industry during the late 1990s prompted Jord to move into modular plant deliveries. The aim was to limit the risks inherent when constructing large plants on site. It was a strategic decision that continues to guide its plant designs today. “We learned how to do modules through experience,” said John. “When you lift modules from horizontal to a vertical position, for example, the loads move sideways, and all the pipes and details need to be designed for that.”

Jord continued to establish and grow new business divisions throughout the 2000s. It recognised significant potential in the clean air market and secured an exclusive agreement for equilibrium coefficients data to deliver world class vent gas scrubbers. It also established an engineering hub in India, directly employing highly qualified staff.

Pictured: Jord secured equilibrium coefficients data to deliver world class vent gas scrubbers in the 2000s.

John believes that developing a global network of technical experts has been the key to Jord’s evolution. “We were pioneers of remote working because we knew the right people in like-minded small companies around the world who we needed to engage,” he said. “So, we had the idea of linking people across the world, but the hardware didn’t exist. The introduction of global data connectivity was a significant milestone. We built our own project execution software and have stayed at the forefront by allowing our globally spread people to work efficiently and effectively together.”

Jord Director of Sales Dean Reeves says many people are familiar with Jord’s longstanding expertise in dry cooling systems, but the team is always hungry for new challenges. “Joint ventures are one of the ways we’ve extended our expertise and entered emerging markets,” said Dean.

“For example, we’ve established a firm position in the market producing process modules for FPSO [Floating Production Storage Offloading] vessels, which we specifically target through our Netherlands-based joint venture group, called Jord Oil and Gas Systems B.V.,” said Dean.

“We have five decades of project references to leverage. I’m excited to see how we will continue to grow and diversify for years to come,” said Dean.

In 2022, Jord celebrates 50 years of service. Thank you to all our staff (past and present), customers, vendors and suppliers who have been part of our story.

As the world accelerates towards net zero, demand is increasing for low-emission technologies like electric vehicles, solar panels and rechargeable batteries. At the heart of these innovations are critical minerals – including lithium, nickel and copper – which are essential ingredients needed to manufacture the clean energy future.

However, extracting these minerals from ore comes with significant challenges. Maximising critical mineral recovery must be balanced with reducing water use and managing mine tailings, all while keeping costs down.

Jord International is developing a solution to these challenges.

Partnering with the University of Newcastle Chief Investigator, Dr Peter Robinson, and supported by Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE), Jord International has signed a $1.4 million R&D project to tailor their already successful ‘VIPER Dewatering Technology’ specifically to critical mineral recovery and waste mitigation.

From proven performance to scalable solution

This new TRaCE project is advancing Jord International’s existing VIPER technology, a system that was designed in collaboration with the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies. Led by Professor Craig Wheeler and Dr Peter Robinson, VIPER optimises the Horizontal Vacuum Belt Filter (HVBF) via the addition of vibration and compaction to the material. This system facilitates a cost-effective and scalable solution to dewatering fine and problematic mining materials. The VIPER system can be retrofitted or supplied new, offering a practical, low-cost pathway to cleaner, more efficient mineral processing.

With ‘VIPER 2.0 – Vibration Assisted Recovery of Critical Minerals’, Jord International will construct a bespoke pilot plant at the University of Newcastle’s Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER). Access to these facilities will enable the team to tailor the performance of their vibration and dewatering technology towards mineral recovery and optimise the technology across new applications for commercial deployment.

“This project aims to translate the significant benefits of the VIPER Dewatering Technology to the recovery of critical minerals and handling of mining waste products,” said Dr Peter Robinson. “Conventionally, mineral recovery utilises copious amounts of water. However, with the application of VIPER, we expect to see substantial savings in cost and water requirements.”

A core focus of the project will be to further develop the technology as a practical solution to the challenge of dewatering mining tailings. Traditionally, tailings (the residual waste left over after ore processing) are discarded in large storage dams which, if poorly managed, can pose a significant environmental and safety risk. By applying compression and vibration, the VIPER technology can be applied to the extraction of critical minerals from this waste while enhancing the dewatering process, yielding a drier waster material with the potential for dry disposal.

“The landscape of dewatering technologies has advanced significantly in recent years, driven in large part by Jord’s successful deployment of the VIPER technology,” said Sam Caldwell, VIPER Technology Manager.

“As a core element of our innovation strategy, we remain focused on the continued optimisation and enhancement of this platform to expand its applicability and amplify its operational impact. We are placing particular emphasis on addressing the evolving demands of the critical minerals industry, where efficient dewatering is essential to meeting production and sustainability goals.”

This technology has multiple benefits including:

• Supporting the reuse of water within the processing cycle.
• Reducing energy requirements and transport costs by producing a drier, safer material.
• Facilitating safer disposal methods of waste material in the form of dry stacking.
• Allowing for additional critical mineral recovery.

Ultimately, the VIPER 2.0 technology aims to increase critical mineral recovery by 5 per cent, reduce water usage by up to 10 per cent and lower the energy consumption of the entire process. This translates to gaining more value from existing resources and having less environmental impact, which is crucial for a circular economy.

Supporting a smarter minerals industry

As the demand for critical minerals grows, so too does the need for smarter ways to obtain them. With their VIPER technology, Jord International is forging ahead in developing innovative solutions to meet this demand responsibly. By improving the efficiency and sustainability of critical minerals recovery, this project offers a blueprint for a scalable solution to support global demand and reduce environmental impact.

“Our global mining clients increasingly seek innovative technologies that maximise value recovery across their operations, whether through the extraction of previously unrecovered materials, enhanced water reclamation or improved energy efficiency,” said Kevin Barber, Head of Resources Jord International. “At Jord, we remain committed to addressing these fundamental challenges by bridging academic best practices with practical, industrial solutions.”

“The end-users of our technology are the world’s leading mining operations, organisations at the forefront of the global energy transition. The adoption of advanced dewatering solutions plays a critical role in enabling sustainable mineral processing, ensuring the efficient use of water, energy, and resources necessary for a low-carbon future.”

TRaCE will support this project by providing essential funding and access to a network of industry experts and facilities. By leveraging TRaCE’s ecosystem, the project team will be able to optimise the VIPER technology across a broad range of applications. For more information on how you can get involved in the TRaCE program, visit www.trace.org.au or contact hello@trace.org.au

Jord Co-founder Phil Blundell says it doesn’t seem like 50 years since his business partner John Holden returned from the Racecourse Sugar Mill in Queensland with Jord’s very first order. “The order comprised a rotary drum vacuum filter for sugar cane mud filtering. We designated the order as J11 because we didn’t want people to realise it was our first order!” said Phil.

“The Order was handwritten by the mill manager, who simply said ‘I need a Jord filter, 14 ft diameter x 24 ft long, $55,000.’ There were no terms and conditions. No delivery date. Everybody just knew the filter had to be there for the start of the sugar crushing season, which was June.”

As soon as this first order was received, Phil and John contacted Peter Olsen, a draftsman with whom they had previously worked. “The filter was drawn up in my bedroom,” said Peter. “John and Phil used to come around to the unit in Kirribilli and see what I was doing. Which was old ink drawings done on counter-weight drawing boards.”

“It was totally different to now, because you would start with a big blank piece of paper. The saying used to be, if you don’t know what you’re doing, put in a centre line and work from there,” said Peter. “We had to cut the drawing sheets from a roll of drawing paper. You then had to have the right ink pens, with the right thickness depending on what type of lines you were doing.”

“Calculations were done on a slide rule. Then we got this wizz bang new innovative technology, the Hewlett Packard HP41 calculator. That sure made life a lot easier.”

Phil said contracts with the sugar industry in Queensland were very good because they wanted to help Jord get going in the industry. “On our very first job, they made sure we got payment ahead of schedule so we could use that money to buy all the components and get things made,” he said. “We didn’t have those financial problems that most people seem to have when they start a business.”

When reflecting on the last 50 years, Phil says a couple of projects stand out.

“One of my favourites was a major contract we got with Santos in Moomba, South Australia for a big gas expansion they were doing in the early 1980s. This was a major job for us, which was air cooled heat exchangers against worldwide competition. That really got us going in the global oil and gas industry” he said.

“The next year we received a very large order for 29 drum filters for an alumina plant in Western Australia. That was a major breakthrough. By world standards, that was a big installation. It cemented Jord on the map as a major supplier of process plant.”

Jord CEO Angus Holden was seven years old when his father started the company with Phil. “I’ve lived and breathed Jord, from since I was in shorts through to now,” said Angus. “A lot of the big brand names in our industry over the last 50 years have come and gone, while we’ve been able to perform through recessions, pandemics, and various other global crises. We’re still here, stronger than ever. That’s something everyone who has contributed to Jord’s success can be proud of.”

In 2022, Jord celebrates 50 years of service. Thank you to all our staff (past and present), customers, vendors and suppliers who have been part of our story.

Jord International (Jord) is proud to open its new office in Denver, Colorado. Building on the firm’s 50-year history serving the global energy and resource sectors, the new office extends Jord’s support for the sectors’ transition to reliable, affordable and sustainable energy.

General Manager – Americas, Oliver Whatnall says Jord’s permanent home in the U.S. will provide greater service and responsiveness to its customers throughout the Americas.

“Jord recognises the critical role the two American continents play in the global energy transition. We’re collaborating with a growing family of partners here to pioneer innovative technologies that drive down critical mineral production costs, efficiently and sustainably,” said Mr Whatnall.

Jord’s global collaborations have led to several innovative technologies, including Viper, XtractOre and NovaCell™. Viper revolutionises tailings filtration, offering a simple, scalable and cost-effective solution. XtractOre recovers valuable minerals currently lost in tailing streams. NovaCell™ is a step-change in flotation for broad-based critical minerals processing, recovering both coarse and fine particles in one device, using less water and substantially less energy than conventional approaches.

Jord looks forward to working with its partners through and beyond the energy transition.

Pictured: Oliver Whatnall, Jord General Manager – Americas

Contact Jord America:

Address: 250 Fillmore Street, Suite 150, Denver, CO 80206
Phone: +1 720 869 7610
Click here to email

About Jord International:

Jord Group designs, manufactures, commissions and services custom process plant and systems. From its Australian headquarters, Jord has delivered $5 billion of bespoke plant and systems to over 130 countries around the world, helping to make the energy and resource sectors ever more sustainable. Visit www.jord.com for more information.

Jord is delighted to confirm its participation in the Wakayama Gobo Biomass Power Plant, located 120 km south of Osaka, Japan. Jord’s role is to design and construct the air-cooled vacuum steam condensing system (ACC) as part of the overall plant being built by Toyo Engineering Corporation. The plant will use wood pellets and agricultural byproduct as feedstock, to generate 50MW of power. Enough power to cater to 110,000 Japanese households a year.
Japan is investing in ways to match a 4% year-on-year growth in energy demand with reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. In 2022, Japan’s renewable energy output increased by 11.7 percent, driven primarily by solar power and biomass generation.

Jord’s ACC condenses the steam exhaust of the power plant’s steam turbine.