Since the start of the year, nearly 15 mining equipment, technology and services companies conducted initial public offerings and successfully listed on the local bourse.
Over the 2020 financial year, Australia's mining industry was the largest economic contributor with A$202 billion in domestic gross product.
This calendar year is shaping up to be one of the biggest in mining since 2014. Record iron ore prices, a strong gold price and increasing demand for lithium, nickel and copper buoyed the economy even as it reckoned with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throw in a global energy crisis, in which prices jumped, and the mining industry was indeed booming.
This has lessened somewhat since iron ore prices readjusted to around US$100 per tonne.
Given this year's strong performance from miners, it is little wonder so many companies listed, chasing investment for major projects and expansions of services.
Perhaps one of the most notable METS listings for the year was DDH1, which smashed its prospectus forecasts when joining the ASX in March.
Through capital raised via its listing, DDH1 has managed it expand its fleet dramatically and acquired Swick Mining Services to create a "world leading mineral driller."
Group revenue was just shy of $300 million, reflecting a 17.9% increase on the previous year.
This, according to DDH1 managing director Sy Van Dyk, has presented the company with an opportunity to embark on serious growth.
It is still enjoying a strong market performance and now boasts a market cap of $374 million.
Similarly, MLG Oz enjoyed a strong year, although its share price has fallen since listing from as high as $1.35 per share to 0.85cps.
MLG offers haulage, site services, civil works, crushing and screening, and provides export logistics to miners across WA.
It used its proceeds from IPO to strengthen its balance sheet and pay off debt.
At the end of the year, the company posted record revenue of $254 million, and increased earnings of $42.7 million.
It won contracts from gold miners Northern Star Resources and Ramelius Resources in the WA Goldfields, and Pilbara iron ore miner Roy Hill,
The company remains bullish about winning additional contracts over the next year.
MLG expects a "materially stronger" second half going into next year and is focusing on expanding its service offering and fleet. Notably, it is also seeking to push into other markets across the eastern states.
Other companies that listed this year included recruitment services provider Hiremii, manufacturer 3D Metalforge, cloud technology provider Nexion Group, mining equipment and construction material supplier Maas Group, technology developer Aquirian, and engineering firm Aerison.
Hiremii listed in the midst of significant worker shortages due to lockdowns.
Mining companies struggled to fill positions, which led to delays across projects in WA and Queensland.
Over 2021 Hiremii's jumped more than 10% and acquired fellow labour hire and recruitment business Inverse Group in November.
While it made a loss of $3.8 million for the year, Hiremii said the recruitment and contractor industry was a $15 billion market "poised for disruption" and was focusing on diversifying its offerings in the mining and resources sector.
Three-dimensional printing specialist 3D Metalforge listed in March and finally entered the mining sector in December.
It partnered with Intercast Australia to provide additive manufacturing mining equipment parts, capitalising on closed borders and delayed shipping.
3D Metalforge now boasts tier one mining clients through its Intercast partnership. While its early days, the company has seen a 12% jump in revenue over the last quarter alone.
Over the past 12 months as more geologists and engineers worked from home, cloud-based technology use rocketed, which was good news for Nexion Group.
Nexion floated in February and in its first fourth months as a listed company acquired Blue Sky Telecom for a humble $2 million, giving it access to satellite communications services and content distribution to remote mining operations.
Listing was a long time coming for Maas Group. The 19 year old company only joined the ASX 12 months ago.
It was already a leading construction materials, equipment and services provider in the mining quarry sector and enjoyed a 12.7% growth in its manufacturing and sales arm thanks to the sector.
Engineering firm Aerison had a strong 2021 and is heading into a successful 2022 with an order book of $180 million secured so far.
In December it started mobilising for a $25 million iron ore contract in the Pilbara.
Aerison expects to secure about $2 billion worth of opportunities over the next 12 months.
Its share price has fallen since listing, from highs of 27.5 cents to just 18c.
By comparison, mining services provider Aquirian enjoyed significant share price growth jumping from 17.1cps to 22cps.
Aquirian subsidiary TBS Mining Solutions partnered with MACA towards the end of the year to develop and commercialise blasthole collar systems.
The company's underground equipment fleet increased to 13 units, all of which are active.
It also boasted increased domestic mining product sales and deliverie on its promise to make a profit, albeit a modest one at $623,358, largely attributed to its acquisition of explosives business Maglok.
All in all, it was a successful 12 months for all of the mining services providers listing on the ASX, as mining operations rocketed with high commodity prices.
There is an expectation this good run will continue, too, as the world embarks on ambitious targets to decarbonise, which will bolster base metal demand and critical minerals.
