An Interview with Sonja Volhejn, Managing Director of WAGBA’s newest Silver Member, HOSCH International

For June’s edition of InTouch, WAGBA is delighted to present HOSCH International (Australia) as our newest Silver Member. HOSCH is represented by their Managing Director, Sonja Volhejn, who has graciously spared some time to complete a quick profile interview with us.

Before we start, I’m curious—how did you first hear about WAGBA, and what made you decide to join?

"I think it was about two years ago when I received an email about a WAGBA event—possibly through a client. It was held at a Yacht Club toward the end of the year, and that’s when I first heard about the organisation. At the time, we were focused on other priorities in the business, so I didn’t engage right away, but I immediately thought it was a great opportunity to connect with other German companies.

As a company built on German engineering values, with our roots in the heart of Germany, it really appealed to me. Being based in Australia, it’s valuable to find like-minded businesses that share a commitment to quality, family ownership, and long-term thinking."

I’ve noticed a lot of WAGBA member companies are family owned. Is that typical in Germany?

"I think it was about two years ago when I received an email about a WAGBA event—possibly through a client. It was held at a Yacht Club toward the end of the year, and that’s when I first heard about the organisation. At the time, we were focused on other priorities in the business, so I didn’t engage right away, but I immediately thought it was a great opportunity to connect with other German companies.

As a company built on German engineering values, with our roots in the heart of Germany, it really appealed to me. Being based in Australia, it’s valuable to find like-minded businesses that share a commitment to quality, family ownership, and long-term thinking."

Could you give our readers a quick introduction to HOSCH?

"HOSCH is a family-owned company and a global expert in a niche market: conveyor belt scrapers. It’s a very specific piece of equipment that removes carryback—the leftover material from conveyor belts in mining and bulk handling operations.

When I first joined, even as a mechanical engineer, I didn’t know much about scrapers. But it’s a fascinating field—our products operate in incredibly harsh environments and need to perform reliably every time. A failure can mean massive downtime and financial loss for the operator.

We’ve specialised in this technology for decades, and while our competitors offer similar-looking products, HOSCH stands out in terms of efficiency, reliability, and long-term performance. We even run live efficiency tests during installations to show our customers how well the product performs, and they love that.

We are on the premium side, price-wise—but when you consider the reduced downtime, longer service life, and better performance, our customers see the value."

How long have you been with HOSCH?

"I’ve been with HOSCH for 12 years now—my first job after moving to Australia. I actually started my career as a machinist, became a mechanical engineer, and worked in England and Canada before settling here. I first visited Australia as a backpacker when I was 19 and fell in love with the country. After my studies in Germany, I decided to come back permanently."

How has the company evolved since you joined?

"The product was always strong, but there wasn’t a lot of growth for a while. After becoming Managing Director, the key shift we made was doubling down on service. A great product needs great service. We focused on building a highly reliable, expert-led service offering—and in the past five years, we’ve doubled the size of the business in Australia.

We’ve also expanded into smart technologies. For example, we’ve developed sensors that monitor scraper and conveyor performance, and we’re now incorporating AI in partnership with another company to map and analyse conveyor systems in more detail. It’s an exciting space to be in."

And you’re also about to launch a new Conveyor System Training Centre?

"Yes! We’ve accumulated a lot of technical knowledge over the years—not just about scrapers, but about conveyor belt systems as a whole. Our equipment interacts with every part of the conveyor, so we need to understand things like tracking systems, splices, drive systems, and wear liners.

Initially, we built the training centre to upskill our own team. But increasingly, clients want to service equipment themselves, or they need help onboarding new staff due to high turnover on mine sites. So we saw an opportunity to offer something bigger: structured, hands-on training on conveyor fundamentals."

What will the training cover?

"We're calling it "Conveyor 101." It's designed for people new to mining—engineers, technicians, or anyone looking to understand conveyor systems. It’s a three-day course that covers the full system: how it works, common issues, best practices, and how to avoid typical mistakes.

We also include hands-on components—damaged parts, dummy chutes, a working test conveyor—so participants can explore and learn by doing. There’s really nothing like it in WA at the moment, and we’ve partnered with other companies to bring in their products and knowledge too. It’s not a sales pitch—it’s a genuine learning opportunity.We're calling it "Conveyor 101." It's designed for people new to mining—engineers, technicians, or anyone looking to understand conveyor systems. It’s a three-day course that covers the full system: how it works, common issues, best practices, and how to avoid typical mistakes.

We also include hands-on components—damaged parts, dummy chutes, a working test conveyor—so participants can explore and learn by doing. There’s really nothing like it in WA at the moment, and we’ve partnered with other companies to bring in their products and knowledge too. It’s not a sales pitch—it’s a genuine learning opportunity."

Has the training started yet?

"Not yet. The official launch will be at our grand opening on July 11. The space is about 70% complete now and will be ready to show by then. We’re building the website and finalising the course schedule. We’ll also continue using the centre for internal and client training on HOSCH scrapers."

What industries does HOSCH primarily work with?

"By far, our biggest market is mining—especially iron ore in WA. We work with FMG, BHP, and SETEC, but we’re also active in gold, lithium, copper, and nickel. In Queensland, we’ve moved into coal and power generation.

Outside of mining, we also service ports, salt operations, concrete, gravel, and recycling. Anywhere with bulk material and conveyor belts—we're there."

What are some of the key opportunities and challenges you see in WA?

"WA is incredibly advanced—especially in mining technology and safety. The expectations for efficiency and excellence are high, and that drives innovation.

We’ve seen some of the world’s best safety practices here. It’s impressive when you think about how dangerous the environment is, yet incident rates are lower than many construction sites.: that speaks volumes.

At the same time, we also work with smaller clients who have different needs, and that requires flexibility and listening. You have to tailor your service—not every mine operates the same way."

And finally, what does joining WAGBA mean to you and HOSCH?

"For us, this is the beginning of a new chapter. We’ve just completed our new building, expanded our operations, and launched the training centre. It’s a great time to connect more actively with like-minded companies—especially those who share our German heritage and commitment to quality.

We’re still focused on our niche, but we’re also looking to partner with other companies and support our clients more broadly—with not just products, but trusted advice. WAGBA is a great platform to build those connections and share knowledge that benefits everyone."