One Weir: Meet the Exec Leading ESCO’s Global Growth

As mining operators face growing pressure to reduce energy consumption, boost safety and limit downtime, Weir’s ESCO division provides wear gear ground-engaging tools (GETs) engineered to support sustainable, efficient production.

Acquired by Weir in 2018 following a US$1.28m deal, ESCO forms a key part of the Scottish mining technology company’s portfolio of mission critical solutions. 

Customer engagement is the watchword of the division’s growth strategy as it targets expansion in Australia and Chile – the world’s largest lithium and copper markets respectively.

To guide its growth, Brian Doffing will join Weir ESCO as the division’s President, following the departure of Sean Fitzgerald.

With more than 25 years of executive experience, including eight years in various positions across Epiroc, Brian previously served as Group Vice President of Excavators and Vacuum Trucks at US-based agricultural equipment manufacturer Alamo. 

“I am delighted to welcome Brian to Weir,” says Andrew Neilson, Weir’s CEO.  

“He brings deep experience in mining, industrial technology and aftermarket-led businesses, together with a proven record of building global teams and delivering growth.”

As Weir mounts its brand growth under its guiding “One Weir” mission – to cross-sell across its entire portfolio, offering an integrated service to its mining clients – Brian will lead ESCO as it leverages its customer relationships to anchor its global presence.

Investing in aftermarket leadership 

A major growth goal for ESCO is to digitally optimise and globally scale its heavy equipment product pipeline in direct accordance with customer needs.

“The next step is to accelerate growth,” says Andrew, commenting on LinkedIn. “It's about building on what we've already achieved, continuing to innovate and bringing the best of Weir together to create even greater value for our customers.” 

The company will invest into researching, developing and differentiating its existing assets and aftermarket options, aiming to climb the value chain in critical minerals hubs like Chile and Australia. 

The strategy already has a demonstrated success:

• Seeking to tap into the demand for surface-mining buckets in Australia, the company collaborated with customers to analyse frequently-occurring challenges in existing buckets
• Results pointed to capacity limits, inability to manage load and disruptions to workflow through slow maintenance cycles
• Using MOTION METRICS, ESCO’s AI-powered optical sensory system, the company developed their Production Master in direct response to customer feedback 
• The software produced a 10% increase in load capacity and a doubling of maintenance cycle speed
• As a result, its Australian bucket sales increased sevenfold: moving ESCO up the Australian GET value chain and cementing its presence in the hub’s mining market. 

Brian’s background at Epiroc aligns with this mission. As Global Vice President of its OreBody Solutions, he oversaw the development and marketing of data-collection digital technology, sitting at the intersection of physical mining equipment and customer productivity.

His experience as President of Epiroc’s Surface and Exploration Drilling Division – an similarly aftermarket-led domain – will support ESCO as it expands the reach and impact of its mechanical and digital offerings. 

One Weir: Building ESCO’s network worldwide

As ESCO looks to geographically expand, a pillar of its plan is to go direct: through direct customer engagement, it can leverage its commercial relationships to anchor its sales presence across the globe.

In March 2026, Weir acquired the remaining 50% ESCO Elecmetal Fundicion Limitada (ESEL) in Chile, cementing its manufacturing footprint in the key territory and setting the stage to build further links with its Chilean supply network. 

With previous appointments spanning Europe, South America and Australasia, Brian’s existing network of industrial clients offers great potential for ESCO to continue expanding its userbase. 

The variety and multinational spread of Brian’s expertise will support Weir’s overall growth strategy: to provide consumers with an integrated, feedback-led portfolio of mining technology.

“[We have built} momentum across the business,” says Jon Staton, Executive Officer and former CEO of Weir, reviewing the company’s 2026 half-year results on LinkedIn. “We saw 8% growth in orders during the first half, market share gains in our core business and growing adoption of new technologies that help customers improve productivity and sustainability.”

ESCO

Part of Weir, ESCO is a global provider of ground engaging tools (GET), buckets and attachments for the mining and infrastructure sectors. Its technology is focused on improving equipment performance, extending wear life and reducing total cost of ownership. With an increasingly digital portfolio, ESCO combines engineering expertise, aftermarket support and data-driven solutions to improve productivity and reliability.

Epiroc

Epiroc is a global mining and infrastructure technology company providing equipment, tools, digital solutions and services across the mining lifecycle. Its portfolio spans drilling, rock excavation, automation and aftermarket solutions, supporting customers in improving productivity, safety and sustainability. With operations across major mining markets, Epiroc combines equipment expertise with digital technologies and close customer partnerships.

Alamo Group

Alamo Group is a US-based manufacturer of high-quality equipment for infrastructure maintenance, agriculture and industrial applications. Its portfolio includes excavators, vacuum trucks, vegetation management equipment and specialised machinery. The company operates through a network of manufacturing and distribution businesses, serving customers across North America, Europe, Australia and other international markets with equipment designed for demanding operating environments.