Valves supplier and manufacturer AR Controls is positioning itself during the lull of the prevailing commodity slump, to ride out the downturn and take advantage of the next mining surpercycle, predicted by the company to start in 2018.
AR Controls MD Julien van Niekerk says the company is undergoing a period of internal and external restructuring, which includes moving to larger headquarters in Vanderbijlpark, south of Johannesburg.
The restructuring, which started in 2016, should be completed by the end of 2018.
“Human resources [is] one key area that we are investing in heavily. During 2017, we have projected personnel growth of 60% in our sales department, 50% in our engineering department, 33% in the finance and administrative departments, and at least 50% in our drafting office,” he says.
The copper, gold and uranium industries are of particular interest to AR Controls because of the corrosive slurry that is produced by the mining of these ores, says Van Niekerk, pointing out that Africa, as well as Australia and South America, are rich in these minerals.
“The main goal is to get our company structure to a place where we can effectively take advantage of the upturn in commodity prices in these territories. This type of structure follows strategy, which follows planning, and thus requires time,” Van Niekerk explains.
However, the company is aware that time is of the essence when supplying valves to clients and subsequently keeps a “super stockholding” of valves, actuators and controls to facilitate short delivery times.
Van Niekerk says AR Controls houses one of the largest knife gate valves and quarter turn valve stockholdings on the African continent.
Bu hikaye Mining Weekly dergisinin Mining Weekly 10 March 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Mining Weekly dergisinin Mining Weekly 10 March 2017 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Supply Cliff?
Commodities supply shortfall looming following years of underinvestment
Strikes Threaten Coal Sector
If an agreement cannot be reached on the future structure and form of wage nego­tiations in the coal sector, unions have threatened to strike, says Solidarity mining industry deputy general secretary Connie Prinsloo.
Continued Focus On Downstream Development
Continued Focus On Downstream Development
Unrelenting Scourge
Mining fatalities in South Africa rise for first time in decade
Plea For Open Discussion
Diamonds body calls for ‘productive dialogue’ on Kimberley Process reform
Deep Potential
Stillwater deal seen positioning Sibanye as globally competitive mining champion.
Explosive Advantage
Explosives reloading system helping Gold One to reduce mining costs.
Critical Juncture
South Africa’s mining sector at a crossroads, collaborative effort required.
Consulting Engineering's Viability Proportional to Mining's Growth
The consulting engineer-ing industry’s sustain-ability and growth are largely dependent on and proportional to the mining industry’s sustainability and growth respectively, says industry body Consulting Engineers South Africa (Cesa).
Greater Emphasis On Ensuring Sustainability
Engineering expertise can be used to generate socio-economic gains for mining companies, particularly in jurisdictions that are dependent on the finite business of mineral extraction, states global engineering and infrastructure advisory firm Aurecon, an adviser to the African mining sector.
