An introduction to the driving forces behind eXcellerate 

Entrepreneurship is about turning a vision into a reality, but it takes more than just an idea to build a company.

It requires a driving passion, a relentless work ethic, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. These are the values that have guided the founders of eXcellerate, Eduard Haegel and David O’Rourke, as they seek to help mining operations around the world significantly improve their operational productivity using their cutting-edge technology, iXcede, while supported by a team with serious mining experience.

In September 2022, Eduard (Eddy) Haegel, former Asset President of BHP’s born-again Nickel West, and David O'Rourke, founder of OIP Pty Ltd, founded eXcellerate. With each of them having over three decades of experience in mining, they bring unparalleled expertise to the table. It was David's remarkable involvement in leading a transformative improvement program for shovel and excavator operators in one of the world's top 10 copper mines owned by Anglo American that inspired the formation of the company and the creation of the groundbreaking iXcede technology.

After those 30 years, David still values the reason he was initially drawn to mining – the people.

“I am a strong believer in people. People are the most adaptable creatures. When given the correct information, you would be surprised at what they can accomplish”.

Having witnessed the transformative effects of providing highly credible ‘like for like’ performance data to mining operators first-hand, David describes their behaviours as a moment of relief and revelation - a feeling of “finally”. Empowered by the knowledge of their own capabilities, these operators become fiercely competitive, leaving no stone unturned in their personal quest for peak performance.

The impact of iXcede goes far beyond individual performance improvements.

Over two decades of deployment, it has proven to be a catalyst for substantial business growth, converting new data and improved performance into tangible financial gains for companies in a matter of months.

But it doesn't stop there. What truly sets iXcede apart is its ability to promote sustainability while maintaining high performance. By optimizing resource usage—be it fuel, roadwork, or costs—the technology paves the way for a brighter, more environmentally conscious future.

David and Eddy's journey as the driving forces behind eXcellerate has been anything but easy. They faced the typical hurdles of any startup—chasing clients, investing their own hard-earned money, and developing the iXcede product to adapt seamlessly across diverse sites and customers. Looking ahead, they anticipate new challenges, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence. But these obstacles only fuel their excitement for what lies ahead. Their vision for iXcede is to complete the development of modules for every part of the mining operation supply chain including underground and opencut mines. And eXcellerate itself will expand its horizons, establishing offices in Perth, Western Australia and in Santiago, Chile this year.

Are you ready for real operational improvement? Contact us to find better ways to improve the productivity and value of your operation.

Feeling inspired? Become part of the eXcellerate team by getting in touch or view our open roles here.