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Mine Site Technologies (MST) highlighted its market leading position in integrated mining communications with an excellent turn-out of customers and prospective customers at the MST stand at Aimex 2011 last week in Sydney. Featured were live demonstrations of the communications technologies which MST designs, manufactures and integrates to enhance productivity, safety and control in the environments of today’s modern mining industry. Check out the MST video from the Aimex show at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwwcNQKwugk.
Aimex Preparations in Full Swing
Join us at Aimex (Asia-Pacific’s International Mining Exhibition) stand #2516, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, September 6 – 9, 2011. See MST’s latest products on display and witness our newest technologies with live demos. Additional information, including online registration is available at www.aimex.com.au.
Underground Communications & Tracking: A Study in ImPact Technology
We have a new case study available titled, “Underground Communications & Tracking: A Study in ImPact Technology”. If you would like to receive a copy of this paper send an email with your request to solutions@minesite.us .
Mine Site Technologies offers export vision
Article in The Australian Journal of Mining — created online Aug 12, 2011
It only took 22 years for Mine Site Technologies to become an overnight success. The communications company that began as a one man band has just received the Austmine Craig Senger Top Exporter award ahead of a stellar field. Mike Foley spoke to the company’s Denis Kent.
Mine Site’s MinePhone and a laptop in use underground.
Business development manager Kent has been with Mine Site Technologies (MST) almost from the beginning. The Sydney-based company was formed in 1989 by Gary Zamel, with Kent joining him soon after.
“When I started there was the managing director Gary Zamel and a secretary, so there were three of us. At that time we were just beginning the development of our first product,” Kent said. This was the company’s PED System, an ultra-low frequency throughthe- earth communications system used for paging, control and remote blasting.
“We had some coal industry research support to develop the PED in the late 1980’s,” said Kent. “We sub-contracted the development out to specialists – the software and electronics. When it became a commercial product, we employed our first technical people to help us install and maintain systems in the field.
“We have always sub-contracted our manufacturing out. We don’t make circuit boards and things ourselves. We own the designs and sub-contract out the manufacture to a number of groups.
“But once we started selling equipment, we needed people who could deal with it. Both Gary and myself are mining engineers by background and we figured out what applications the mines needed. But when it comes down to soldering bits of wire and so on, we didn’t know s#*t from clay basically.
“[MST] was a one product company from about 1990 to 1994. The cash flow was inconsistent and it was a challenge at times.
“We thought if we are going to grow, even though the PED system does a good job, we needed additional technologies. Mines need two way communications, hence our development of our VDV Leaky Feeder system [for two way voice and basic data communications underground].”
In its early days, MST utilised government support. Kent said it took advantage of AusIndustry funding grants that matched the company’s investments in research and design dollar-for-dollar.
“[MST] had good research and design completed, that we knew would make good products and we could eventually sell,” he said.
More recently, MST has concentrated on digital technologies for mining, culminating in the ImPact Digital suite of products (for underground digital communications). Kent said the ImPact systems “have taken off for MST, so much so it is very challenging to match supply with demand.”
Besides its PED, VDV Leaky Feeder systems and ImPact suite, MST has developed several other product lines. These include: the Tracker tracking and tagging system; VIP vehicle intelligence platform for real-time vehicle diagnostics and payload data; BlastPED remote blast initiation system; and Wireless Mesh for high bandwidth mobile networks on the surface and underground.
MST began in underground mining on the East Coast and then moved to the hard rock sector in Western Australia. “We are now working on the mine sites of most of the major companies in some form,” Kent said.
“We have had to build up our remote offices in Australia … Kalgoorlie, Mackay, Mt Isa and Perth. They are basically staffed by technical and service people to back up and support equipment rather than the sales side of things.”
MST has developed strong overseas sales on the back of its local success, and now has offices around the world.
“Also growing rapidly is our international business, particularly in North America. We have five offices in the U.S as well as offices in Canada and Chile. ….
To read the rest of this article go to http://bit.ly/qSD8Tb
ICCL Cap Lamp Recognized For Its Fit-For-Purpose Design
Mine Site Technologies (MST) has been recognized by the prestigious Australian International Design Award organization for the fit-for-purpose design of its underground mining Cap Lamp. The Cap Lamp is a component of MST’s ICCL (Integrated Communications Cap Lamp) system. An ICCL provides every miner working underground with a complete single system solution for light generation, personnel tracking, and the receiving of emergency communications and alerts. The Cap Lamp design went up against formidable competition in the Business and Technology category and was judged by a panel of world renowned design and engineering experts. For additional information regarding the award go to www.designawards.com.au.
The MST Cap Lamp replaces the traditional incandescent bulb type lamp with a modern LED lighting and optics technology. The result is a “fit for purpose” product providing extensive improvements in battery life and lighting efficiency. The MST LED design essentially doubles the run-time battery life of the traditional incandescent lamps. In addition the ICCL Cap Lamp provides a clean beam of spectrally balanced white light.
A Cap Lamp is an essential piece of working equipment for underground miners. Many times it is an underground miner’s only light source in an oth
erwise pitch-dark working environment. Because of this it is an essential safety tool as well; arguably the most important piece of a miner’s PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). It must function flawlessly for 12 hours or more on a single charge. The MST Cap Lamp has been designed, thoroughly tested, and certified to the requirements of underground mining.
The design of the ICCL (Integrated Communications Cap Lamp) battery pack received this same prestigious award in 2005. The result is a system which provides an integrated solution (light, tracking, alerts) for improving the safety and efficiency of every underground miner. Mine Site Technologies has sold over 20,000 units.
Stuart McLean and Glen Jones of Mine Site Technologies attended the awards dinner in Melbourne, VIC, Australia on July 22 on behalf of Mine Site Technologies. Stuart noted, “It was a great night, and we are very proud to have received this recognition of the high level of design, fit-for-purpose, quality that we put into our products.”
New “fax” number for MST-USA
The North American headquarters for Mine Site Technologies in Golden, Colorado, USA has advised that they have issued a new facsimile number for their offices. That new “fax” number is +1 303.865.5443. Those that make use of fax for transferring information to MST-USA are asked to change their records accordingly.
Mine Site Technologies – New Facebook Page
Check us out on Facebook and “LIKE” our new page – http://on.fb.me/q3UX7T
Mine Site Technologies: 2011 Craig Senger award winner
SYDNEY-BASED Mine Site Technologies has been chosen from a stellar field as the 2011 Craig Senger Top Exporter at this year’s Austmine conference in Brisbane, Queensland. The depth of the entrants’ list led the judges to also name a Highly Commended award winner, MineARC Systems.
Awarded for the second time to mark the contribution of former Austrade trade commissioner Craig Senger – tragically killed in a terrorist attack on a hotel in Jakarta in July, 2009 – to the promotion of Australia’s mining technology and services export sector in international markets, the Top Exporter prize was contested by finalists Mine Site Technologies, MineARC, inaugural winner Micromine, Hedweld Engineering, Snowden, AMC Mining Consultants, Ludowici, Maptek and Sinclair Knight Merz.
“All these exceptional companies were judged on a range of performance criteria, but clearly the commitment to growing exports was a key focus,” Austmine director Elizabeth Lewis-Gray said at a function attended by Senger’s widow, Kate, and family.
“The judging committee was made up of Austmine directors Bob Calvert, Tom Hunter, Gavin Becker and Brett Morgan, and they all expressed to me how difficult it was to make a decision with such fantastic finalists.
“Craig Senger was … a fantastic supporter of Austmine and very passionate about what we were doing. At the time of his death he was attending a business meeting to promote Australia’s business interests in the mining sector.”
Mike Lincoln, general manager of MineARC, said the recognition was a fitting reward for the efforts of the company’s 60 or so employees in Australia, the USA and China. The 12-year-old company, based in Western Australia, has become the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of customised mine safety refuge chambers.
Mine Site Technologies, established in 1989, was one of the sector’s “20-year overnight success stories”, said general manager – international Mike Folletti, who has spent the past three years based in the US developing the mine communications technology specialist’s North American business.
“I’m really proud and honoured to receive this award,” said an emotional Folletti, who thanked Kate Senger for attending.
“I personally knew Craig and worked with him in South America, and he was a great ambassador for Austrade and the Australian mining industry, and for flying the flag for all of us, effectively.
“For us as a company [the award recognises] all the people who’ve worked for Mine Site Technologies for the last 20 years.
“I have to mention the founder of our company and major shareholder, Gary Zamel … if any of you know Gary I’m sure you’d agree he’s a truly unique character. But with that he brings commitment, support and an undying belief in Australian technology, the mining industry, and taking it to the world. Mine Site Technologies would not be here today if he didn’t support it through the hard times.” And there had been plenty of those, Folletti said.
“For any companies embarking on the export journey, just stick to it because it won’t be easy, but the rewards
are great,” he said.
“I often talk about Mine Site Technologies being an Australian company, but also a global operation, but I think this year was the first year I actually could say that Mine Site was a truly global company and operator because we got to a tipping point where we actually achieved more sales from an export perspective than we did within Australia.
“That doesn’t take away from the 18-20 years we’ve spent building up our name in Australia, and our support for the Australian mining industry, but it is a reflection of truly becoming a global operation.
“One of the rewards is being able to finally say that.”
This article is provided with the approval of HighGrade. HighGrade is Australasia’s weekly online mining magazine delivering to readers the high-grade cut of mining industry news from around the region, and the globe. www.highgrade.net
MST raises growth capital
Mine Site Technologies (“MST”), a market leader in mining communication networks and applications, has raised growth capital from Macquarie Capital (“Macquarie”) to further its significant expansion in the global mining and resources markets. As a result of the investment, Macquarie will become a material shareholder in MST.
MST is a market leader in digital wireless network services and applications for the global resources sector. MST’s intrinsically safe (IS) VOIP MinePhone which runs on the MST digital IMPACT network product range, enables two-way wireless VOIP communications, wireless miner tracking and has allowed mines to streamline and centralise numerous systems onto a single digital platform, revolutionising underground communications. The MST digital solution provides an enhanced level of safety for miners and strong productivity improvements. The devices are approved by regulators for use in underground coal mines in the USA, Australia, South Africa and China and underground hard rock and surface applications globally.
The investment will enable MST to further reinforce its customer service offering in its current core markets of Australia, the United States and Canada and enable further expansion into rapidly growing resources markets including Africa, South America and China. MST has experienced strong growth in recent years and the investment from Macquarie will support the next phase of MST’s continued international and product expansion.
“Macquarie’s investment in MST gives us great confidence in being able to truly position ourselves as the leading global OEM of network and communications infrastructure for the world’s largest mining organisations. It will enable us to continue to roll out our proven sales and service support infrastructure in key markets and expand our sales capabilities to current and new customers across the globe.” said Gary Zamel, Founder and Managing Director of MST.
MST will pursue an expansion strategy that incorporates both organic investment into its current core markets and potential acquisitions to build market presence, technology innovation and resource capabilities over the coming twelve to twenty four months.
MST was advised by KPMG Corporate Finance and Minter Ellison. Mallesons Stephen Jaques acted as legal advisor to Macquarie Capital on the transaction.
About Macquarie Capital
Macquarie Capital comprises Macquarie Group’s (ASX: MQG, ADR: MQBKY) corporate advisory, capital markets and principal investing capabilities which provides strategic capital to clients to enable them to pursue their growth initiatives. Macquarie Capital’s expertise spans a variety of industry sectors including energy and resources, telecommunications, media, entertainment and technology, financial institutions, industrials, real estate, infrastructure, utilities and renewables. Macquarie Group has more than 15,400 staff across 70 locations around the world.
ImPact Communication Appliance Consolidates Digital Systems Management
The ImPact Communications Appliance (ICA) consolidates the key user interface and network management tools into a single integrated hardware and software solution. The ICA monitors and delivers the information from Mine Site Technologies’ voice, tracking and data acquisition products to mine personnel.
The latest version of ICA expands system functionality and management tools to allow more customized searches and report generation to suit what mine production and maintenance personnel require. An more detailed overview of the ICA can be seen at: ICA Overview