REDEFINING MINING BY CENTRALIZING SUCCESS
REDEFINING MINING BY CENTRALIZING SUCCESS Turner Mining Group’s Vice President of Operations, Tucker Jensen, delves into the company’s transformative vision to revolutionize the industry with a commitment to people-first values and innovative strategies while fostering strong client partnerships Writer: Rachel Carr | Project Manager: Scarlett Burke
I
n 2017, Keaton Turner identified a significant gap in the contract mining space and envisioned a fullservice, nationwide contractor that prioritizes relationships alongside competitive pricing. He founded Turner Mining Group (Turner) with a guiding principle: “Mining works better when people are treated like people”. This ethos continues to drive
2 | Mining Outlook Issue 16
the company’s operations today, consequently setting the stage for a new era in mining. Moreover, Turner’s straightforward belief is that mining is more effective when individuals are treated with respect rather than as mere numbers on a spreadsheet, and that teams perform better when valued, leaders are accountable, and partners are fully informed about what is happening on
their site each day. This principle guided the company’s first contract and remains a core value. At the time of Turner’s inception, the contract mining space was dominated by local and regional operators, and mine owners were stitching together multiple contractors site by site. “Keaton’s vision was to be a coastto-coast, full-service mining-focused
TURNER MINING GROUP NORTH AMERICA
contractor that could serve clients across all of their operations while still competing in terms of price with local operators,” Tucker Jensen, Vice President of Operations, opens energetically. “People come first – production follows. From that founding, Turner has grown into a truly national provider. As the company grew, it undoubtedly became evident we
weren’t only filling a service gap. We subsequently realized that the way we performed the services also differentiated us from our competitors.” Furthermore, Turner’s productionoriented operating philosophy and first-life asset strategy are deeply rooted in the company’s values: a heart for people, a mind for innovation, an eye for safety, and an
attitude for excellence. “Our clients noticed they were meeting production targets, improving safety metrics, and taking advantage of operational flexibility that local contractors couldn’t provide, whether adjusting equipment, renegotiating project scopes, or scaling production up or down as the mine plan evolves,” he continues.
Mining Outlook Issue 16 | 3
TRANSFORMING PARTNERSHIPS At its core, Turner’s comprehensive service offering is contract mining. Meanwhile, the company also provides drill and blast, pioneering and overburden stripping, large civil earthworks for mine construction and leach and tailings projects, rehandle support, and technical support for mine design, planning, scheduling, and budgeting. “We bring our mining-focused expertise to the full lifecycle of the mine, not just one slice,” urges Jensen. Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, with additional offices and resources supporting its operations across North America, Turner’s current and historical portfolio spans 4 | Mining Outlook Issue 16
100 completed mining projects in gold, platinum, coal, copper, aggregates, and industrial minerals. Currently, the company provides contract mining services in Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Vermont. It operates more than 350 assets across North America, centered around a primary mining fleet consisting of rigid-frame and articulated haul trucks in the 45 ton (t) to 100 t range, hydraulic shovels, large production wheel loaders, production excavators, and blasthole drills. “The fleet is predominantly new or low-hour, with most units in the 2022 - 2026 model range, and around 80 percent Turner-owned with strategic lease or rental purchase option (RPO) arrangements in place to flex capacity
where required. “A dedicated asset plan backs every project, and our standard is straightforward: equipment that works safely and efficiently, not sitting idle or in pieces in a boneyard,” informs Jensen. Additionally, to further enhance collaboration and success, Turner employs an innovative approach to its performance-partnership models. As a result, each model’s design aligns incentives for both the client and the contractor and deliberate strategies developed during the contracting stage influence both parties to drive results together. “To yield successful outcomes, we embed our technical staff with the client’s engineering and planning
TURNER MINING GROUP NORTH AMERICA
“ T H E M AT E R I A L S R E Q U I R E D T O B U I L D TOMORROW’S ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE, ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND NEW TECHNOLOGY ALL COME FROM THE GROUND. MINING I S A P R E R E Q U I S I T E , N O T T H E E N E M Y, O F PROGRESS” – T U C K E R J E N S E N , V I C E P R E S I D E N T O F O P E R AT I O N S , T U R N E R M I N I N G G R O U P
“Through shared dashboards, joint financial and production reviews, and active mine planning and design, we intend to become a department of your organization with the same goals – rather than a simple contractor focused on maximizing billables. In our preferred contract styles, when our client wins, we win,” Jensen details.
A DRIVE FOR UNSTOPPABLE GROWTH teams to equally understand the key drivers of their business. The commercial and operational teams then draft a contract based on this. “Common styles like alliance, gainshare/painshare target cost, and flat rate generally serve as the foundational structure, but the specifics of the problem being solved and the needs of the business drive
customizations that extract real value,” Jensen highlights. Unlike the more commonplace unit-rate, lump-sum, or timeand-materials contracts, Turner’s engagement with clients as a partner builds stronger relationships between the companies and results in better safety, production, and financial performance.
Certain strategies have contributed to Turner doubling in size year after year, a trajectory it plans to continue driven by a confluence of market forces and intentional internal strategies. “The US is experiencing a genuine shift in public support for responsible domestic mining, especially in critical minerals, which is driving new project development and extending the life of existing operations,” reveals Jensen.
CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH WINGSPIRE EQUIPMENT FINANCE? Tucker Jensen, Vice President of Operations: “Wingspire Equipment Finance (Wingspire) took the time to understand our business model. Contract mining is not a static operation – we win a contract, mobilize quickly, and need capital ready to move with us. “We established a structured financing facility with them of up to $150 million to support fleet acquisition and growth. The initial $20 million tranche is already deployed, funding the mobile mining fleet currently in operation at the Pan Mine in Nevada. “Additional draws are structured to come online as new projects ramp up, giving us the flexibility we need. As a new project comes together, we can put iron on the ground without delay. “Most financing is reactive, whereas this is proactive and reflects Wingspire’s understanding of where the industry is headed and their confidence in our platform and pipeline. “They structured something that grows with us rather than something we have to renegotiate every time the business scales. “For a company adding operations at our pace, that is not a small thing – confidence goes both ways.”
Mining Outlook Issue 16 | 5
CAPITAL SOLUTIONS BUILT TO MOBILIZE HEAVY EQUIPMENT FASTER Mining and heavy construction companies operate in environments where timing, equipment availability, and access to capital can directly impact project success. Wingspire Equipment Finance’s capital solutions enable companies to mobilize heavy construction equipment quickly after contract awards or site ramp-ups, providing the necessary flexibility without tying up liquidity or delaying deployment. Wingspire Equipment Finance empowers companies in capitalintensive industries to acquire, upgrade, and expand their heavy equipment fleets, offering flexible financing solutions from $5 million to $100 million+. Our tailored support covers acquisitions, fleet expansion, refinancing, progress payments, and scalable capital facilities, helping companies efficiently meet significant equipment needs. For companies with substantial equipment already in service, Wingspire Equipment Finance can also provide sale-leasebacks as a strategic source of working capital. By leveraging existing heavy equipment assets, businesses can unlock liquidity while continuing to use the equipment in daily operations. This can help support new project mobilization, broader growth initiatives, or working capital needs without disrupting field performance. Backed by funds managed by Blue Owl Capital (NYSE: OWL), a premier asset manager with over $315 billion in AUM, Wingspire Equipment Finance combines a strong lending capacity and a streamlined underwriting process to help mining and heavy construction companies access capital with greater certainty and speed.
WHEN CAPITAL IS RE CONTRACTS GET WON THE FUNDING BEHIND TURNER MINING GROUP’S NEXT STAGE OF GROWTH Turner Mining Group (Turner) needed a capital structure that could support the pace and scale of its growing project pipeline. When Turner Mining secured a new contract at the Pan Mine in Nevada, Wingspire Equipment Finance provided an initial $20 million tranche. The initial capital is part of a larger equipment financing facility expected to reach up to $150 million. The capital supported Turner’s mobile fleet needs, including haul trucks and excavators, helping the company ramp up operations quickly. Turner uses a flexible credit facility aligned with its project pipeline, ensuring capital is deployed efficiently as operational demands arise. For Turner Mining, the relationship provides more than equipment financing - it provides a scalable capital partner that understands the complexity, pace, and equipment demands of the mining industry. Wingspire Equipment Finance has cemented its position as a long-term capital partner, while Turner pursues an increasingly active project portfolio across the mining and natural resources sectors.
“We have the capital infrastructure already in place to move fast and ramp up our customers’ operations without delay. Wingspire Equipment Finance understands our business and has structured something that grows with us,” states Keaton Turner, President, Founder, and CEO of Turner.
FROM CONTRACT AWARD TO EQUIPMENT DEPLOYMENT For mining contractors, sitework companies, and heavy civil construction businesses, equipment availability can define how quickly a project moves from award to execution. Delays in financing can slow mobilization, limit fleet capacity, and place added pressure on working capital. Wingspire Equipment Finance bridges the gap between contract award and equipment deployment by structuring capital solutions that align with equipment needs, project schedules, and growth plans, enabling companies to pursue larger opportunities and keep projects moving. For capital-intensive businesses, that means greater flexibility to respond to new contracts, ramp up job sites, expand fleets, and invest in the equipment that drives revenue and growth.
EADY, N PARTNERING WITH THE RIGHT CAPITAL PROVIDER In mining and heavy construction, the right financing partner can make a meaningful difference in how quickly a company responds to opportunities and how effectively it supports long-term growth. Large equipment needs, projectdriven timelines, and complex fleet requirements call for a capital provider that understands how companies operate in the field. Wingspire Equipment Finance works closely with mining and heavy construction businesses to understand their equipment strategy, growth
objectives, and project pipeline, then delivers tailored capital solutions designed to support speed, flexibility, and execution. Whether financing new heavy equipment, leveraging existing assets for working capital, or building a scalable facility to support future equipment needs, Wingspire Equipment Finance provides capital solutions designed to help companies meet their growth objectives. For mining and heavy construction companies, Wingspire Equipment Finance provides the deep lending capacity and deal certainty needed to secure opportunities, mobilize equipment, and execute with confidence.
WINGSPIRE EQUIPMENT FINANCE AT A GLANCE
450+
UNIQUE OBLIGORS
1,000+
UNIQUE SCHEDULES
$3 BILLION+ FUNDED VOLUME
FLEXIBLE CAPITAL STRUCTURES Transactions: $5MM to $100MM+ Equipment loans and leases Credit facilities Sale-leasebacks Large fleet financing
TURNER MINING GROUP NORTH AMERICA
Ultimately, this trend works in tandem with mine owners’ increasing preference for the contract mining model. “By partnering with us, operators offload most of their management complexity, improve the likelihood of hitting project goals, and redeploy capital that would otherwise be tied up in equipment procurement, converting a large capital decision into a manageable operating expense. “Our strategy for growth is also laser-focused on specific clients and operations. We conduct deep research and engage in networking to identify the projects that best fit our core capabilities, and where two company cultures and philosophies are likely to result in a true operational partnership,” Jensen expands. Once Turner establishes alignment and secures an initial engagement with its clients, the results naturally lead to discussions about their other operations. “The mining industry is smaller than it looks, and establishing a reputation for safety, efficiency, and success produces opportunities.” Indeed, two internal capabilities enabled the company to scale posing a challenge for other contractors. “Our talent engine, through Turner, and Turner Staffing Group, handles over 45,000 applications annually from qualified candidates, enabling us to mobilize skilled crews efficiently. Combined with our advanced operator training program, we are committed to excelling in talent management. “We also have a fleet of over 350 assets and strong original equipment manufacturer (OEM) relationships, allowing us to deploy equipment quickly. We see positive trends ahead, as the commodity cycle, domestic supply chain priorities, and investment in critical minerals indicate industry growth, positioning our clients for organic expansion,” explains Jensen. 8 | Mining Outlook Issue 16
Enaex USA Inc., operating as Davey Bickford USA Inc., is part of Enaex’s global explosives and blasting solutions network, bringing more than a century of industry experience to the North American market. With operations across five continents and exports to more than 60 countries, Enaex has grown into one of the world’s leading explosives manufacturers and blasting services providers. The company works with some of the largest mining operations globally, delivering safe, reliable and highly customized solutions that support operational performance in complex environments. In the United States, Enaex continues to strengthen its regional footprint through strategic growth, local investment and partnerships with companies such as Turner Mining Group. These partnerships reflect Enaex’s ability to mobilize quickly, adapt to customer needs and deliver high-performing blasting solutions with a strong focus on safety, service quality and operational excellence. Enaex USA’s regional office is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, supported by a robust operational platform that includes an emulsion manufacturing facility, silo storage, ANFO bagging unit, non-electric assembly plant, heavy ANFO
trucks, distribution fleet and a large magazine site in Rush Valley, Utah. A second emulsion facility is also underway in the eastern United States, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to growth and customer proximity across the region. Globally, Enaex combines deep technical expertise with a forward-looking approach to innovation and automation. Its value proposition is centered on understanding each customer’s operation and delivering comprehensive, tailor-made solutions that improve safety, productivity and overall business performance. With annual revenues of approximately US$2 billion and more than 8,250 employees worldwide, Enaex brings the scale, expertise and operational discipline of a global leader to every market it serves. Guided by its purpose of Humanizing Mining and its commitment to building stronger bonds, the company continues to support safer, more efficient and more sustainable mining operations worldwide. For further information, please direct enquiries to: contact-usa@enaex.com
Regional Office: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA | contact-usa@enaex.com | www.enaex.com |
Enaex
TURNER MINING GROUP NORTH AMERICA
FROM CHALLENGES TO COLLABORATIONS As Turner nears its 10th anniversary, it has learned key lessons to continue its journey of success. “The most important lesson came early, and it was obvious from the work itself. Our first engagements were stripping, crushing, and overburden removal, which clarified that our partners didn’t need a contractor who simply completes tasks,” Jensen reflects. “They need an operator who understands how planning, production, equipment, and crews function as a single system. That realization shaped how we built the company.” As such, Turner’s experience grew alongside its scope – what started 10 | Mining Outlook Issue 16
as contract services expanded into comprehensive mining services. “As we expanded, our working methods evolved. We stopped operating on the edges of projects and started integrating ourselves within operations. “Today, our teams plan alongside site leadership, operate equipment alongside client crews, and carry shared responsibility for daily production,” Jensen divulges. In this way, Turner progressed from completing tasks to operating mines, embedding teams into operations, opening its planning and reporting to partners in full, and building relationships around reliability rather than contract cycles. “We continue to expand full-scope capabilities, developing the next
generation of leaders from within our own crews and integrating more deeply into the operations of the partners who trust us with their production,” he notes.
TRANSFORMING DATA INTO DECISIONS For Turner, the difference between a well-managed mine and a poorly managed one lies not in the equipment but in the quality of decisions made with the information available. Every shift produces data on machine performance, production rates, fuel consumption, and resource utilization, and most contractors let that data go unused. However, Turner’s technology investments are designed to close that gap.
5”
8.125”
UNSTOPPABLE STRENGTH
For 25 years, Heavy Metal Equipment & Rentals has built its reputation on integrity, professionalism, and performance. Our commitment to safety, strong partnerships, and reliable service is what sets us apart — delivering unmatched value to the industries and customers we proudly serve.
RENTALS | SALES | SERVICE inquiries@heavymetalequipment.ca
1.877.672.7946
TURNER MINING GROUP NORTH AMERICA
STREAMLINING AND STRUCTURING SUCCESS Managing projects of varying scales without sacrificing quality is one of the most important operational challenges in contract mining, and Turner has built deliberate systems to address it. The foundation is a tiered leadership model, engineered so every project gets the right organizational structure for its size and scope. “Large turnkey projects carry a full leadership team, while smaller projects are structured more leanly with specialized functions bolted on as required. This model allows us to scale without forcing a fixed overhead structure onto every engagement,” expresses Jensen. Consistency across project scales and scopes comes from Turner’s rover program. Before a project begins, its corporate team of safety, training, maintenance, and engineering rovers conduct a formal site assessment and a kick-off meeting with the client to align goals and expectations and establish communication and reporting pipelines. During execution, the rovers visit sites on scheduled intervals or based on site needs, driving consistency, managing performance, and implementing learnings from across the company. By keeping up with the details, no project drifts quietly without notice. When a project closes, the same team engages with the client to evaluate the project outcome against the goals established at kickoff, and to solicit feedback on what could have been improved. “Underpinning each of our operations is our standardized operating infrastructure. Common key performance indicator (KPI) frameworks, reporting standards, and training programs apply across every site. “When our operators go through the same training and every site reports on the same metrics, quality is built into the system,” Jensen ardently establishes.
“High-precision GPS and Fleet Management Systems (FMS) give us real-time visibility into machine location, utilization, and performance. “Building on the OEM and FMS toolsets, we developed a proprietary production-tracking platform that captures site data,” Jensen outlines. Furthermore, integrations with workforce management and financial resource planning tools give leadership access to Turner’s data through real-time dashboards and reporting, each calibrated to the right level of detail and frequency for each audience to drive data-driven decisions. “We have created a fielddeployable learning management system (LMS) that enhances training. Operators can access tablet-based instruction in both field and classroom settings, using drone and time-lapse footage for realistic scenarios. Built-in competency tracking connects to a career pathing framework, enabling proactive career development,” Jensen sets out. “Looking ahead, we’re actively exploring new offerings in machine control, coach-in-the-cab feedback tools, and autonomy. Philosophically, we prioritize optimizing the boring and impactful aspects of our work over silver-bullet technology implementations.”
MINING WITH PURPOSE The US mining industry is unified in its mandate to extract resources responsibly. As one of the more vocal and socially active contractors in the country, Turner is proud to demonstrate the right way to mine resources needed to support modern society. Mining and similar industries impact the environment and local communities, that concrete practices can help manage, minimize, and mitigate. 12 | Mining Outlook Issue 16
TURNER MINING GROUP NORTH AMERICA
Call Logan Carr for more information: Kenworth Sales Company: Truck Salesman - 208-220-2206 Lcarr@kwsco.com
SERVING CUSTOMERS SINCE 1945
Kenworth Sales Company is here to assist you with the buying, leasing, renting, financing, servicing, maintaining, licensing, and many other aspects of operating a truck. We are in business to serve the customer with the best line of heavy and medium duty trucks, the most complete inventory of parts, and the highest quality of service available. Our values revolve around quality, honest dealing, and friendship, which shows in our customer service.
The picture here shows a set of Kenworth C500s that are on mine site, pulling two 100-ton side dumps for Turner Mining Group. If you can dream it, we can build it.
www.modernmachinery.com
Mining Outlook Issue 16 | 13
“Our equipment strategy brings the latest in emissions-control and fuel-efficiency technologies to the entire fleet. Spill prevention planning and a culture of 100 percent incident reporting help us prevent and address adverse events,” Jensen prides. “Dust control and storm water management are core responsibilities at our operations to reduce or eliminate contamination, and our dust monitoring and hearing conservation programs support the health of our operators and provide insight into the health of the systems that control exposure to these hazards.” Beyond the physical environment, Turner prioritizes supporting local communities. “With an initial goal to secure a more than 70 percent local workforce, and achieving more than 90 percent in just the first year, we are providing careers and specialized training to members of the community. “Our supplies and consumables are sourced from local vendors where possible, and we encourage services that were once outsourced to be developed locally.” In addition, the company makes direct investments in the community 14 | Mining Outlook Issue 16
through donations and support for employee initiatives, including youth sports programs and fundraisers, educational outreach, and charitable sponsorships. “Turner is proud to support and reinvest in the places we work,” Jensen emphasizes.
NAVIGATING THE US LANDSCAPE With the North American mining industry at an inflection point, the challenges are as significant as the opportunities.
The most immediate structural challenge is permitting. The US sits atop world-class mineral resources, but decades of regulatory complexity and legal exposure have made it exceptionally difficult to bring new mines into operation or expand in a timely way. “Permitting timelines that stretch five to 10 years shift investment and production to other countries, often with lower environmental and labor standards,” Jensen affirms. “For Turner specifically, policy reform creates new project
TURNER MINING GROUP NORTH AMERICA
MINING EXCELLENCE Vertical Integrated Supply Chain
Advanced Blast Modeling
Reducing Total Cost of Ownership
Smart Bulk Explosives
Sustainable Innovation
Advanced Initiation Systems
Expert Field Services
Precision. Innovation. Sustainability. With decades of expertise in large-scale mining, we deliver tailored blasting solutions that maximize productivity. Combining technical mastery with a safety-first approach, we act as true collaborators in customer success. Our precision, innovation,and commitment to environmental stewardship set us apart.
austinpowder.com
“ W E C O N T I N U E T O E X PA N D F U L L- S C O P E C A PA B I L I T I E S , D E V E L O P I N G T H E N E X T G E N E R AT I O N O F L E A D E R S F R O M W I T H I N O U R O W N C R E W S A N D I N T E G R A T I N G M O R E D E E P LY I N T O T H E O P E R AT I O N S O F T H E PA R T N E R S W H O TRUST US WITH THEIR PRODUCTION” – T U C K E R J E N S E N , V I C E P R E S I D E N T O F O P E R AT I O N S , T U R N E R M I N I N G G R O U P
opportunities and extends the horizon on existing ones, and we are watching the discussions at the federal level closely and positioning accordingly.” The second challenge is public perception – a fundamental disconnect between what the mining industry does and how the public understands it remains. “The materials required to build tomorrow’s energy infrastructure,
electric vehicles, and new technology all come from the ground. Mining is a prerequisite, not the enemy, of progress,” he declares. “Turner has maintained an active voice on this matter through social media and partnerships with advocacy organizations because we believe the industry needs to earn its own social license.” The third challenge is the workforce
I N N OVAT I O N
THAT MAT TERS
– participation in the trade industries has declined over a generation. “The mining industry offers stable, high-paying jobs – yet young people often overlook a rewarding career full of impactful experiences due to the narrative that success requires college and white-collar work. “We aim to raise awareness about mining as a career option and provide training and development opportunities to help individuals enter the field.
Tel: 812-277-9077 info@turnermining.com
turnermining.com Mining Outlook Issue 16 | 15
Tel: 812-277-9077 info@turnermining.com turnermining.com
PRODUCED BY MINING OUTLOOK MAGAZINE