Global Business Pursuit - December 2023

Global Business Pursuit

Groupe Tornatech

December 2023 www.business-pursuit.net

A Business of Firsts and Forward Thinking Page 10 16

ISS APAC Changing the Workplace Experience

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Meinhardt Group Solid Foundations For The Future

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Global Business Pursuit Published and Distributed by Business Industry Publishing Ltd For any enquires contact info@business-pursuit.net Production Donnie Rust Editor donnie@business-pursuit.net Charles Brown Business Development Manager charles@business-pursuit.net James Smith Operations Manager james@business-pursuit.net Harry Lewis Accounts Manager harry@business-pursuit.net Simon Poulton Project Manager Simon@business-pursuit.net Design Felix Baldwin Design Assistant felix@business-pursuit.net Harvey Tarlton Graphic Design harveytarlton.co.uk www.business-pursuit.net If you would like more information about ways in which Business Industry Publishing can promote your business please call +44 (0)20 32878 795 or email | charles@business-pursuit.net. Business Industry Publishing does not accept responsibility for omissions or errors. The points of view expressed in articles by attributing writers and/or in advertisements included in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publisher. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained within this magazine, no legal responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for loss arising from use of information published. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrievable system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher.

© Business Industry Publishing Ltd 2023

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Business Industry Publishing

December 2023 In this months edition, we delve deeper into the operations of some global powerhouses, we find out about how Meinhardt Group has solid foundations for the future. We also look at the operations of ISS APAC and how they are changing the workplace experience.

Other exciting features in this edition include Aztec Oils, Northern Offshore and Wide Open Agriculture to name a few.

One of our focuses this month is Business Risk and why taking risks to grow and scale your business can be a very good thing.

You and your team may be considering a variety of new business ideas and market opportunities, but not all of them are worth pursuing. It is important to narrow down your options and make sure you focus on the ones that have the highest potential for success.

Donnie Rust Global Business Pursuit – Editor

contents

Editor’s Note

News

04

06

Groupe Tornatech A Business of Firsts and Forward Thinking

10

ISS APAC Changing the Workplace Experience

16

Meinhardt Group Solid Foundations for the Future

22

Northern Offshore Challenging the status quo

28

Saam Towage Leaders often tow the competition

34

5

contents

Tek-Dry Systems

Tomini Shipping

Don’t patch, replace

Going For Gold

Trojan Safety Services

Universal Africa Lines

Industrial Safety Specialists

When experience and innovation collide

Wide Open Agriculture Australia

Anomatic Corporation

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52

Lupin ahead of the competition

64

58

Thinking big, working small

70

Aztec Oils

Cerno Management

76

82

Exceeding customer and competitor expectations

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46

Authenticity equals quality

contents

Compass Minerals UK

Federal Realty Investment Trust

A salt of the earth company

Comprehensive Financial Care In A Vacationer’s Paradise

Hazell Bros

IMI Critical Engineering

A hefty vehicle of change

Value In Valves

88

100

94

106

Hudson Group Walk in as a wanderer, leave as a friend.

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news

news

Award-Winning Interior Design Firm SK Design Opens Office in Riyadh

RacquetX Announces Miami Open Experience as Excitement Builds for Landmark 2024 Event

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RacquetX, the world’s first all-racquet sport conference and experience, is proud to announce a joint ticket experience with Miami Open presented by Itaú, a leading ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tennis tournament that takes place from March 17 - 31, 2024.

RacquetX and Miami Open attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy ‘RacquetX Night at the Miami Open’ taking place at the Hard Rock Stadium on Monday, March 25th, as well as access to the three-day, one-of-a-kind experience at RacquetX. RacquetX, which takes place across March 24-26 2024 at the Miami Beach Convention Center, represents a hugely exciting milestone for the racquet sport industry as the first event dedicated to all racquet sports, giving businesses, professionals, fans and enthusiasts alike the chance to be inspired, exchange ideas, make connections and play on one of the 9 multi-sport courts.

RacquetX Co-Founder Robyn Duda said: “We’re delighted to announce this celebration with the iconic Miami Open that will allow tournament-goers and RacquetX participants to enjoy the benefits of each event, which take place at the same time in Miami this March. This is a huge vindication of everything we’re trying

to achieve at RacquetX by working with the best in the industry.”

The brainchild of events guru Duda and entrepreneur Marco Giberti, RacquetX is the exciting culmination of huge growth across the sector. The conference’s three headline sports – tennis, pickleball and padel – have all experienced surges in participation since the pandemic and are riding the crest of a wave as people turn to racquet sports in numbers never seen before. Tennis has experienced a 33% boom in participation since 2020, pickleball is taking North America by storm with the number of people playing growing by 59% over three years, reaching a total of 8.9 million in 2022; while padel is widely accepted as the world’s fastest-growing sport with over 25 million players.

As well as those three headline sports, RacquetX is welcoming professionals and enthusiasts of all racquet sports – from squash to badminton and table tennis, and also welcoming cult sports such as Platform tennis, which is popular in the U.S. Northeast.

Until now, there was no place for industry professionals across all these sports to exchange ideas and try new products and technologies.

SK Design Studio, a globally recognized interior design and architecture firm, is thrilled to announce the opening of its new office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This expansion marks a significant milestone in the world of interior design, promising to elevate the standards of interior architecture, interior design, and contract furniture in Riyadh.

Founded and led by the visionary Mrs. Sara Khairallah, SK Design brings a wealth of experience, innovation, and a reputation for excellence to the dynamic design landscape of Riyadh. With a commitment to creating unparalleled spaces that blend aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability, SK Design is set to redefine the concept of interior design in the region.

SK Design boasts a talented and diverse team of professionals, each with a unique set of skills and a passion for delivering exceptional design solutions. With extensive experience in interior design, architecture, 2D/3D animation, FF&E (Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment) services, and tailored architecture designs, the team at SK Design is equipped to tackle projects of any scale and complexity.

At the core of SK Design’s philosophy is a clientcentric approach that places the client’s vision, needs, and aspirations at the forefront of every project.

The firm’s interior design process begins with a deep understanding of the client’s lifestyle, preferences, and objectives. SK Design’s team collaborates closely with clients, fostering a creative partnership that ensures the end result not only meets but exceeds expectations.

Mrs. Sara Khairallah, Founder and Creative Director of SK Design, remarked, “Our goal is to create spaces that tell a story, evoke emotions, and enrich the lives of those who inhabit them. We believe that exceptional interior design is not just about aesthetics but also about creating functional and harmonious environments that resonate with our clients on a profound level.”

SK Design offers a comprehensive suite of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of clients in Riyadh and beyond. Whether it’s crafting exquisite interior spaces, visualizing designs through immersive 2D/3D animations, curating the finest furnishings, or delivering bespoke architectural solutions.

The new Riyadh office, located at Noor Center on Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Street in the Al Olaya District, serves as a hub for creativity and innovation.

It is a space where ideas are born, designs take shape, and dreams become reality.

SK Design Studio’s arrival in Riyadh is set to revolutionize the interior design landscape by bringing together creativity, expertise, and a passion for excellence. As they embark on this exciting journey, they invite the people of Riyadh to experience the art of design reimagined.

news

Global Teledermatology Market Gears Up for a Bright Future: ~15% Growth Expected by 2027

The emergence of hybrid teledermatology, the rise in skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema, and skin cancer, the lack of dermatologists and other qualified healthcare professionals who can provide specialized dermatological care, and technological developments in teledermatology products and the introduction of new dermatology services are the main factors propelling the market Teledermatology is a new and emerging type of care delivery in which telecommunication technologies are utilized to transmit dermatology-related medical information over a long distance via voice, video, and data transmission.

Asynchronous (store-and-forward) segment dominates the teledermatology market, with hybrid teledermatology expected to gain traction in the coming years Store-and-forward (SAF) teledermatology permits photos and other health-related information to be transmitted from a patient to a provider/clinician or from one provider/ clinician to another using telehealth software for evaluation. Some of the primary elements driving its demand include reduced consultation wait times, expedited treatment of urgent patients, efficient management of a higher volume of patient cases, and improved patient satisfaction.

However, a crucial problem that is predicted to hinder its adoption is the absence of real-time input on patient queries/concerns.

In the future years, hybrid teledermatology is projected to gain traction. It combines realtime and store-and-forward teledermatology components. Patients may receive insights from real-time talks and benefit from the completeness of asynchronous data sharing by using the hybrid method, which allows them to choose the mode of consultation that best suits them. The method shortens wait times, improves access to care, and increases patient satisfaction.

Technological advancements and the launch of new Teledermatology services drive the Teledermatology Market Over the years, the Teledermatology industry has seen a lot of technical breakthroughs and the introduction of new services. These advancements are anticipated to fuel the teledermatology industry in the future years.

For instance: In May 2023, the Black Country Provider Collaborative launched new teledermatology services in the UK that aim to triage patients within a 24-hour period, reduce unnecessary appointments, and streamline access to diagnostics and treatments In Septemeber 2022, Oro Health in partnership with MCI Onehealth launched a new Teledermatology platform In Ontario for private and public patients. The new MCI platform, MCI Dermatology Connect, is powered by Oro Health Technology and provides a highly secured and reliable medical process. By using the platform, patients from the comfort of their homes will be able to receive personalized consultation, diagnosis, and prescription for minor dermatology pathologies within few days

Competitive Landscape Analysis of the Teledermatology Market Some of the key players operating in the market include MedX Health, Digital Diagnostic/3Derm Systems, MetaOptima, Miiskin, Hims & Hers, Mandel Dermatology, MDLIVE, Medweb, First Derm, Dermicus, Eagle Telemedicine, Advanced Telemed Services, SkyMD, Integrated Dermatology, Curology, among others.

O rganic and Inorganic G row th Strate gies Adopte d by Players to E st ablish Their Foothold in the Tele dermatolog y M arket Players operating in this market are adopting organic and inorganic grow th strategies such as launching new product s, launching pilot programs, acquiring related f irms, and entering into collaborations to garner higher market share. For instance, In April 2023, MedX Health, a global leader in teledermatolog y entered into an agreement with PharmaChoice Canada to launch MedX

teledermatolog y screening plat form across canada. PharmaChoice Canada is one of Canada’s fastest-growing pharmacy groups, with more than 1000 independent pharmacy owners and operators In J uly 20 2 1, H ims & H ers H ealth , acquire d tele dermatolog y spe cialist , A postrophe.

The acquisition expands the f irm’s abilit y to provide consumers with some of the most advance d and personalize d dermatolog y treatment s , faster and at sc ale The potential for inte grating ar tif icial intelligence (AI ) into tele dermatolog y to improve diagnosis accuracy, streamline work f lows , and optimize patient c are, the rising popularit y of telehealth among patient s and providers , and the ag gres sive organic and inorganic grow th strate gies employe d by the players are all expe cte d to contribute to the tele dermatolog y market ’s anticipate d future grow th .

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Groupe Tornatech

A Business of Firsts and Forward Thinking Donnie Rust

Groupe Tornatech

I

n 2024, Groupe Tornatech turns thirty-nine, and as one of Canada’s foremost specialists in the conception and manufacture of fire pump controllers, the company is old enough to identify the lessons in its own history, wise enough to capitalize on them and young enough to still leap at each presented opportunity.

Founded in 1985 by Bruno Goupil and Armin Kunert, the company owns two independently successful brands of fire pump controllers, Tornatech and Firetol and remain a business of firsts and forward thinking. The first Canadian company to successfully obtain UL listing and FM approval for both electric and diesel engine fire pump controllers they have a well-earned reputation for excellence. However, it wasn’t until 2004, when co-founder Armin Kunert retired and Bruno Goupil became the sole owner of Tornatech, that additional offices in Singapore, Dubai, Belgium, and the USA were established.

And, as Dominic Bergeron, Co-President and Chief Operating Officer of Groupe Tornatech explains, one of the things setting them apart from their competition is their global footprint and their customer proximity.

“We are the only firm in our industry with sites near each of our customers,” he says, “This enables us to entrench ourselves in the local business culture, speak to clients in their home language and gain a deeper understanding of their challenges and how to solve them.”

Supplementing their strategic approach to location, each of the company sites benefit from the industry’s latest technologies. For example, they have established a highly advanced ERP system that is used across all the firm’s manufacturing plants, allowing realtime communication to share knowledge, process improvements and best practices.

Efficiency is key, and their controllers are designed with the use of a template in mind, reminiscent of automobile manufacturing, that can then be modified for the UK, European, Asian and American markets. In collaboration with their ERP and manufacturing processes, this template helps their subsidiary partners reproduce their

Groupe Tornatech

“We also believe in the saying that two brains are better than one,”

unique solutions ensuring a global consistency across all products.

Dominic goes on to explain that to support these efforts, the company employs an Operational Excellence team who review their production processes and operational capabilities. A kaizen approach is applied to their continuous improvement, however consistency is essential, so any changes are applied to every plant, “Our ideas affect the whole network comprehensively, allowing improvements to be implemented quickly.”

Staff Empowerment

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Installed in over eighty-five countries to date, Groupe Tornatech’s fire pump controllers play a vital role in fire suppression systems around the world. With an eye on future growth, one of the company’s most recent projects involves the use of robotics onsite to increase productivity and alleviate labour.

“Robotics were utilised to lower the number of tasks that our employees needed to perform, which made their skills accessible for higher value responsibilities,” Dominic says, “In 2022 collaborative robots were launched in our Canadian production facility and we have since extended their usage to other plants.”

This approach has paid dividends. Over the course of the last decade, Groupe Tornatech has boosted its turnover from $10 million in 2011 to over $100 million in 2020 and the company now boasts close to five hundred employees worldwide.

“None of this would be possible without our staff,” Dominic says, “We have a great team to be proud of. Truly one of the best, and a key reason for our success over the years. Empowering them to achieve not only keeps our customers happy, but opens our business to new opportunities and prospects.”

Dominic alludes that any future growth or development of the company will be a result of the core group of staff they work with. A stalwart team that cares about the company’s success

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Groupe Tornatech

Groupe Tornatech

“The staff propose various charities that they believe we should focus on... For example, earlier this year the focus was on mental health, and for a month we supported a number of charities working in the field.”

and legacy is a vital aspect of any business, but it is a two-way street. The relationship Groupe Tornatech has with its team members is why the company is regularly recognised as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies.

Future Growth In 2024, Groupe Tornatech aims to continue its growth and development through new markets.

According to Dominic, the fact that they don’t rely solely upon one market will be a key benefit for the organization in the future. In fact, this is one of the reasons the company successfully weathered the storms that the industry faced at the start of this decade.

“We are so spread out around the globe that when one market is down, another one is going up, so we always have a regular flow of work on the go,” he reports, “Construction is back and so is our growth, especially in places like the Middle East, which is a huge market for us. Even in places that are currently slow, such as the Asian-Pacific area and South American markets, there are signs that activity is going to soar soon as more areas benefit from long-delayed construction projects that will kickstart the economies.”

The ‘spread’ means that Tornatech’s products can be found in some of the world’s most magnificent buildings, such as the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Apple Park in California,

the Burj Al Arab, and the Palm Jumeirah archipelago in Dubai, the Willis Tower in Chicago, and the Taipei 101 in Taiwan.

Identifying new niche markets within the construction industry forms an important focus for 2024. Although, irrespective of what projects are being completed now, their Strategic Development team, who were established specifically for this purpose, are always on the lookout for new areas for the company to shine.

“There are a lot of possibilities and opportunities coming from the international market,” Dominic explains, “So we want to continue with our strategic plan for the road ahead, which primarily involves gaining a larger share of our niche market and a larger share of new markets in places like Asia or Europe.”

As a group, the company aims to achieve significant portfolio growth in the next few years while supplying superior quality, innovative and reliable products, and the best customer experience to keep them ahead and well edged.

Success isn’t always about putting out fires, it can be about suppressing them too.

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ISS APAC

Changing the Workplace Experience Donnie Rust

ISS APAC

R

eshaping the working environment and removing waste, ISS APAC (ISS Asia Pacific) is a key driver of sustainable development that is equally technologically driven and people centric. From technology to increased health and safety, which was particularly relevant during the pandemic, the workplace has become a focal point of transformation and improvement for companies across the globe. ISS has positioned itself well, with multiple offices spanning 30 countries and over 40,000 customers, to lead the change to the workplace experience.

The Business In the search for a workplace experience and integrated facilities services that meet and surpass modern expectations, ISS APAC has the clear advantage over the market. Better placemaking solutions equal better business performance, providing businesses with an important edge which is something that ISS APAC’s customers report.

Formed in 1901, ISS grew over the course of a century from a nightwatchman business into a multiservice integrated facility services company.

With a constant focus on people and a passion for providing great service experiences to its customers whatever the vertical.

Garry Parker, CCO of Asia-Pacific at ISS APAC has said that experience has shown that people always make for great places to work, and their customers rely on them to create places that work and think.

“They choose us because we create, manage

and maintain environments that make life easier, more productive and enjoyable,” he says, “Our people care about the people they support, always adding a human touch to create places that deliver and delight.”

According to Garry, every one of the employees in every customer facility is trained, equipped, and motivated to work at the highest standards.

“Working with customers day by day, side by side, we come to understand every aspect of the employee experience,” he continues. “We deploy data, insights, and knowledge to develop innovative strategies and intelligent solutions to meet the intricate realities of service delivery.

This helps us manage risk, reduce cost, and ensure consistency.”

As a global company with a heritage of fairness, equality and inclusion, ISS APAC their people to deal with problems and opportunities as and when they arise. Their job is to home in on the project needs and aid their customers to achieve their purpose, whether it’s hospitals healing patients, businesses boosting productivity, airports transferring passengers or manufacturing sites producing goods.

Attention And Validation.

With diversity and inclusion as some of their core principles, ISS APAC embraces and encourages these fundamentals in the broadest of terms, including ethnicity, race, age, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, religious beliefs and cultural and individual educational backgrounds.

“We believe our diverse workforce gives us a clear competitive advantage and is a vital asset in our long-term sustainable business success,” says Garry, “Our inclusive culture empowers our people, and makes us more creative, productive, and attractive as a workplace.”

He adds that the company also prioritises the well-being of their people taking all steps necessary to prevent accidents and injury arising out of the course of work. In fact, safety is critical to their success. Alongside these people-centric aspects of the workplace, ISS APAC ensures that it recognises the achievements and efforts of its staff.

“Our people’s success means a lot to us,” says Garry, “We have introduced an annual Apple Award, with awards given at sites, on accounts, and at country level. Culminating once a year at our annual global leadership conference the official Apple Award is given to an employee that has gone above and beyond and been an outstanding representative for the corporate values.”

Being A Responsible Business Addition to its corporate function, ISS recognises its responsibility to the planet, with a corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy representing a fundamental driver of the company’s ambition to make the world work better.

Gary explains that ISS contribute to sustainable development around three core competencies including a focus on five relevant United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here they have reduced their electricity

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ISS APAC

consumption and water consumption by nearly 35 percent from 2018 to 2020. While in Indonesia, they have engaged with local communities in North Sumatra in transforming the mindset and behaviour of the community to create a clean environment. Each year they run a Global Environmental Campaign to raise awareness across the organisation, and on top of this, they have the ISS Green Offices Programme designed to reduce the impact of their own in-office daily work practices on the environment.

“Also, education is the enabler of that change,” Gary continues, “Which is why we offer world class training to every one of our employees.”

That’s over 370,000 employees. This training is known as ISS Journeys, and the aim is that before 2025, all employees will be offered training to upgrade their languages, internet, and computer skills.

2023 Milestone.

In keeping with its own inward focussed sustainability goals, ISS has made significant progress against its global food service sustainability targets with a collective 30% food waste reduction from its 2019 baseline.

This achievement puts ISS well on track to reach its target of 50% food waste reduction by 2027. Furthermore, ISS has taken yet another step towards fulfilling its commitment to the World Resource Institute’s Cool Food Pledge by reducing nearly 5% of the greenhouse gas emissions per 1,000 kcal associated with the food it serves globally.

Hamish Cook, Head of Group Food Services, explains that the activities and progress are a result of ISS’s global food sustainability programme which the company rolled out across countries at the beginning of 2022.

“A key element of the programme was to enhance our focus on innovation and leverage data and insights across our global operations.

Our partnership with technology company Winnow has been a key lever in this endeavour.

By integrating Winnow’s Artificial Intelligence solutions into restaurants and kitchens, our chefs are empowered with knowledge about plate waste and consumer patterns, which helps them to optimise food production and portion sizes – thereby reducing food and plastic waste.”

Through Winnow, ISS is now achieving a collective annualised saving rate of 985,000 tonnes of food waste for its customers. This is equivalent to saving 2,463,000 meals and reducing Co2 emissions by 4,200 tonnes!

In the end, we must drive the climate agenda together which requires constant awareness and attention,” says Hamish, “And to always optimise the usage of food and materials, minimise waste, and encourage those around you to do the same.”

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Meinhardt Group

Solid Foundations For The Future Donnie Rust

Meinhardt Group

W

hatever the future looks like, rest assured Meinhardt Group will have a hand in shaping it. Across Australia and Asia, and now into the middle east, the company plays a direct part in shaping the very buildings and infrastructure that give our lives, cultures, and societies the quality we take for granted. Last when Business Pursuit featured Meinhardt Group we looked at the company’s past, this time it’s all about the company’s future.

A Year Of Recognition And Success

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2023, has been a year of new developments and recognition of successes. Group CEO, Omar Shahzad, was named one of the 100 most powerful innovators in the Middle East construction industry by Construction Week Middle East.

To put that into context, since 2013, Omar has led Meinhardt Group and overseen the 5,000 strong global team across all the company’s 55 offices. Under his stewardship, Meinhardt has delivered a range of complex, groundbreaking projects such as the Sindalah Island Cluster 5 Four Seasons project in NEOM, and the awardwinning and Guinness World Records-listed Moro Data Centre project in Dubai.

Other significant movements this year include

a passionate approach to Digital Transformation, where the team has been at the forefront of integrating BIM, and advanced design optimisation and validation tools into their processes. As Omar explained during his acceptance speech, their commitment to sustainability is unwavering, with goals to reduce our GHG emissions and become carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050 or earlier. Which has also been a major focus of Omar’s vision for the company, to not only be responsible for building the future but for building a better one.

Meindhart’s Legacy After forging a legacy that spans across seven decades, Meinhardt is one of the most respected Asian-based engineering companies in the world. Synonymous with trust, innovation, and engineering excellence their customers have come to value and depend on their highly buildable and sustainable solutions.

In fact, it is their clients who are largely responsible for driving the reputation of the group, since they come to Meinhardt with the most complex of projects requiring the most innovative and inspiring solutions. The company counts developers, construction companies, government agencies, multinational corporates,

NGOs, and a handful of insanely wealthy individuals wanting to have their names put on something that should be impossible to build.

The challenges faced over the years include tall buildings, roads and highways, aviation, metros and railways, water, ports, and power and have not only honed the group’s skills in producing undeniable results but also engaged their spirit to continuously challenge the status quo. And it works, with Omar proudly revealing that over 50% of their clients today are repeat customers.

“A large part of it is our way of thinking and managing people,” he says, “Which is a blend of the best of the East & West thinking. Installing a sense of purpose in the grander big picture that has us constantly improving as we do our part to shape the future.”

Plans For 2024 In June this year, at a glittering awards ceremony, Meinhardt Announced major growth plans for UAE & Middle East to double its presence to 400 specialised staff by 2024. The event was graced by His Excellency Mr Humaid Ben Salem, Secretary General of the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FCCI). The guest of honour, he said, “I am very excited to hear about Meinhardt’s substantial expansion

Meinhardt Group

Meinhardt Group

plans for its presence and operations in UAE. This reflects the enduring and long-term relationship between our country and Meinhardt which is rooted in the ever-progressive socioeconomic landscape of the country and the broader region.”

The event also drew a strong turnout from industry leaders including developers, financiers, contractors, and UAE-based heads of diplomatic missions. The celebration coincided with Meinhardt Group’s Global Board Meeting which was notably hosted in UAE for the first time.

At the conference, Meinhardt had several announcements to make. Firstly, that it will be setting up two new entities to offer the full suite of consultancy services encompassing planning, design, construction supervision, architect of record services, energy audit and sustainability in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Then, the Group revealed that its worldrenowned specialist façade engineering group, Meinhardt Façade, will be expanding its services to include façade management solutions in UAE and GCC region to holistically support clients during the project lifecycle of a building asset.

And finally, that the Group will also be setting up two global Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Dubai. The Group is setting up its first global CoE which will be for data centres, the first of its kind by any consultant in UAE. The CoE will enable the Group to draw on its extensive local and global experience, and seamlessly offer clients end to end services, including design, construction turnkey solutions, testing and facilities management.

Speaking about the event, Omar says, “We have been operating in UAE for more than twenty years and the conference gave us a chance to reaffirm our continued commitment to the UAE as an important node of our global operations and to continue to contribute to the sustained

progress of the country.”

He adds, “It was an important opportunity as well to highlight how we can leverage our blend of local knowledge and international expertise to develop our UAE business to serve as a regional and global hub.”

Smart Cities In a major stride towards innovation, the Group is also setting up a global CoE for smart cities.

This remarkable initiative marks the Group’s second endeavour for this particular brand of project, following the successful establishment of its first centre in Singapore in 2015, with the support of Singapore’s Economic Development Board. Over the years, the Group has cultivated a distinctive and compelling expertise in planning , designing , and implementing integrated infrastructure and technology solutions at various scales, including citylevel initiatives, townships, and large-scale projects like airports and transit-oriented developments. Currently, Meinhardt is actively engaged in numerous smart city endeavours across Singapore, Hong Kong , India, Central Asia, and more.

In conjunction with its significant growth plans, the Group will be officially opening its new state-of-the-art office in Dubai that can accommodate up to 400 people or nearly double its existing workforce. The office has already been bestowed several awards including Best Workplace in the Middle East by Design Middle East.

Ehab Ibrahim , C ountr y and re gional market s dire ctor of M einhardt UA E said, “ We believe M einhardt ’s expansion is well -time d given the re gion’s positive e conomic outlook .

The G roup’s relevant trac k re cord espe cially it s A sian experience combine d with our strong re gional presence will add value during the design and implement ation st ages of large -sc ale real est ate and infrastructure proje ct s in terms of buildabilit y, cost ef f iciency and sust ainabilit y.”

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Northern Offshore

Challenging the status quo Donnie Rust

Northern Offshore

C

hallenging every step of the traditional well management industry, Northern Offshore are not simply building the next generation of jack up rigs but a business for the future. A company that is in alignment with customer needs and structured to swiftly apply state-ofthe-art solutions to complex industry problems.

All Together

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A key component to creating reliable rigs, which will quite literary be what people live and work on, is a collaborative culture. Creating this within Northern Offshore has been a priority for Peter Cunnion, Vice President of Asia and Middle East and as he says, Northern Offshore knows what ’s needed on a rig floor because they’ve been there.

“Our knowledge runs deep, and we never compromise on safety, environmental protection, health, and quality,” he says, “Everything we do is based on taking care of our people, who are the linchpin of our combined operations and success. We keep our people safe, and they handle the rest.”

A believer in the investment of people as well as technology, Cunnion and the company have made the commitment system wide to apply the approach of collaborative thinking by investing

heavily in the latest equipment, technology, education, and hands-on training.

This approach ensures that the people working the rigs know how to maximize the benefits the technology brings, and it covers all aspects. They look for input on how to drill better wells, how best to apply what they’ve learned from similar wells to ultimately reduce completion times and improve well-bore quality. And always, where possible, they challenge the status quo.

“In today’s environment, the first thing our customers need is a drilling contractor that listens. Conversely, the last thing they need is a company layered with bureaucratic processes. In revolt against this, we aim for quick, thoughtful, and practical solutions.”

The Typical Jack Up Rig A typical example of the kind of work Northern Offshore handles is the “ATLANTIC AMSTERDAM”, a comprehensive control and living platform offering multiple centres and people areas. These include an integrated living centre, production support centre and a comprehensive monitoring and dispatching centre where much of the finest tech is found.

Additionally, are an industrial tourism base, marine science and education base and a far-

reaching sea emergency rescue centre.

This was modified from a self-elevating drilling rig in 2022, and it earned a DNV certificate after the modification was completed. All the structure, equipment and systems were thoroughly inspected and upgraded during the modification period, and this also included a complete paint job.

Investing In People At Northern, the belief is that a stable crew is a safe crew and to minimize turnover, they go to great lengths to create an environment designed to attract, train, and retain the very best people.

Operating with a diverse team of men and women of many nationalities they benefit from a range of valuable perspectives and skill sets that have put them in their leaderboard position.

Optimizing safet y and ef f iciency, they provide ex tensive OEM -specif ic training on the latest, state - of-the -ar t equipment .

Ensuring their people understand implicitly what the equipment can do and can properly manage set tings to optimize per formance.

The training is comprehensive and flexible, allowing training and competency programmes to be structured as needed to address new technolog y or requirement s.

Northern Offshore

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Northern Offshore

So, rather than training employees to focus solely on the capability of the drilling equipment, they aim to train them on how to drill a better well, using the appropriate equipment at its full potential. It’s a new and far-sighted approach that results in better work and better workers.

As technology inevitably evolves, Northern’s aim is to have their people better positioned to evolve along with it, generating new ideas and approaches which always open new opportunities.

“Many workers in the industry never change factory-default equipment settings,” says Cunnion, “Whereas we train our workers to become intimately familiar and to manage those settings and make the most of this advanced technology.”

IADC Certified In this regard Northern Offshore is IADC certified.

The IADC is focused on core industry issues, like health and safety, training, and accreditation, attracting the next generation to work alongside the current and previous. They serve as a strong advocate for oil and gas activities and have been since 1940. For nigh on 83 years, IADC has championed the drilling industry through training programs, guidelines, publications, committees, conferences, and advocacy for the global drilling industry.

efficient. Northern reinforces those advantages with a comprehensive, globally audited, fully integrated Safety Management System, ensuring that employees are trained and competent, that their equipment is maintained, and that all other aspects of the business model are controlled.

Investing In Technology

Fleet

Thanks to key management having spent time on rigs, the directors of Northern Offshore understand what is required to ensure that QHSE and operational standards are met and that the people working in these environments are safe.

Better training has been combined with safer technologies and automated systems replacing many of the manual operations. As a result, the work environment has become much safer and

If a company is not producing, then it is not profiting. Northern Offshore has engineered a fleet with that simple fact in mind. Using automated systems that include more powerful torque capabilities for increased mudflow and improved hole-cleaning capacity, greater weight limits, safety enhancements and efficiency improvements, they continue to reduce flat time from the equation.

Rigs As Cunnion relays, “Reality is a prime contributor to the rig engineering team. We listen to our customers. We evaluate the well challenges, choosing equipment and system specifications required to drill wells of today and tomorrow.”

Increasingly, customers are drilling longer and more challenging directional wells. Northern are meeting that need with greater hole-cleaning capacities and torque. Equally important, they make sure that their crews are trained to help their customers fully capitalize on these improvements. Today’s drillers work in a noiseand vibration-free, climate-controlled cabin where traditional feedback on the well is replaced by digital instrumentation enabling them to achieve optimum performance daily that directly affects the customer.

“Simply put,” Cunnion concludes, “Meeting the needs of our customers drives everything we do.”

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Saam Towage

Leaders often tow the competition Donnie Rust

Saam Towage

I

t is often the obligation of forward-thinking pioneers to tow their industry into the future.

SAAM Towage, who specialise in inner harbour towage operations, are a perfect example of this.

An experienced supplier of maritime services for LNG and oil terminals, the company through its strategic towage network in the Americas, safely assists over 37,000 ships of all types each year.

Boasting a proven track record of excellent services in the offshore arena including oil terminals and mooring buoy operations.

Achieving this has taken commitment to regularly updating their fleet with specially fitted state-ofthe-art technology including escort tug notation, emissions control certification, automatic gas detection, and other features to perform escort services for oil and gas tankers. Providing maximum safety and reliability while meeting all regulations and customer expectations.

Offshore And Special Areas SAAM Towage are expanding their capabilities in supporting offshore oil and gas activities during the exploration and production phases.

Their experience in Mexico and Colombia includes support for seismic and oceanographic studies, assistance with marine construction and maintenance, diving operations, towage at production facilities (FPSOs), mobilization and positioning of drilling platforms, towage of barges with required equipment and dredges, as well as services including crew transportation, oil spill recovery and material transportation with OSVs such as tugboats, AHT and PSVs. With an operations base in Colombia and fleet allocation in the Americas, SAAM Towage benefits from a strategic position with proximity to offshore production bases enabling them to reach their expansion goals in the offshore oil and gas market.

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Saam Towage The demand for special services has always been an integral part of their industry. Their tugs are fully suitable to undertake any request related to coastal towing, barge assistance, oil rig assistance, civil construction, and salvage operations. Furthermore, their experience and technological superiority puts them in a good position to respond quickly and effectively when needed to reduce the impact of marine incidents.

Leading From The Front For Sixty Years

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Be it ports or in the high seas, SAAM understand that in towing, you are always pulling from the front and their versatile fleet and commitment of their people has allowed them to meet the various requirements of maritime operations for over 60 years. This has made them the single largest towage operator in the Americas, operating in thirteen countries, servicing thirty-seven thousand vessels each year across ninety ports with a team of over two thousand quality staff and two electric tugs.

As Managing Director Hernán Gómez says, “We are constantly focussed on evolution, customer service, and careful reinvestment. Our people are the backbone of the business, and our mission is to serve our customers with safety and operational excellence.”

Pioneers The maritime industry has been challenged to improve their consistency with green approaches, and all change must begin somewhere. SAAM Towage and Teck and Neptune Terminals have partnered to deploy the first two electric tugboats for the Port of Vancouver, which will significantly reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and underwater noise.

The ElectRA 2300SX tugs were designed

by Robert Allan and are being built by SANMAR shipyard with an overall length of 23 meters and 70 tons Bollard Pull performance. At their maximum performance capabilities, together they will reduce 2,600 tons of CO2 each year.

These tugs are energized by two Li-ion battery groups, making them 100% electric, zero emission vessels, powered from the British Columbia’s hydroelectric grid. The ElectRA Tugs will offer both current and future clients, innovative, green and sustainable solutions, solidifying their role as critical partners in reducing carbon footprints throughout their supply chain.

Team SAAM seek to promote maximum performance and enhance internal talent through the application of good practices and internal

control mechanisms. They work towards their organizational vision of attracting and retaining well-prepared professionals by being a meritocratic business, rewarding and allocating responsibility based on a person’s merits and achievements.

“It’s not just our tugs we have faith in, people are essential.” says Hernán Gómez.

Impressive Feats SAAM Towage Peru serves the largest vessel to call on the west coast of South America In September, SAAM Towage Peru recorded a new milestone by servicing the largest vessel to reach the west coast of South America. The Alexander Von Humboldt, belonging to the CMA CGM shipping company and part of the ACSA 1 service connecting Asia and South America, docked at the Port of Callao.

The ship measures 396 meters in length, 53.6 meters in beam and has a capacity of 16,590 TEUs. Due to its size, the vessel required the assistance of three tugboats with a bollard pull capacity of 70 tons.

The SAAM Towage Peru Country Manager Cristián Cifuentes said, “Our fleet is equipped with high-powered tugboats, and our crew is highly trained in servicing large vessels.

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Saam Towage

Saam Towage

“We’re doing our part for the next generations.

These efforts show our interest to continue working in an integral way: with safety, efficiency, responsibility, and respect for the environment,

Operations like servicing the Alexander Von Humboldt allow us to demonstrate our versatility and flexibility.

The vessel will continue its route to Asia and is scheduled to call at the ports of Buenaventura, Posorja, Lazaro, Yokohoma, Busan and Shekou.

SAAM Towage has been operating in Peru since 2021 and works in ten terminals in the country, with ten tugboats assisting foreign trade. SAAM Towage has more than 210 tugs globally at more than 90 ports in the Americas. It performs over 140,000 manoeuvres for around 40,000 vessels each year.

Carbon Neutrality, One Tug At A Time SAAM Towage Honduras achieved carbon neutrality, in June 2023. Their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Honduras during 2022 were measured and fully offset and certified by Bureau Veritas.

“We are committed to sustainability, and implementing active emission reduction measures in our operations is part of our value proposition to our customers, employees, and the communities where we are located,” explained Joao Paulo Marins, SAAM Towage’s local country manager, “In Honduras, we wanted to go a step further and take our emissions to zero, mitigating our footprint with carbon credits backed by the best institutions, from reforestation and clean energy projects.”

The executive added that both processes— measurement and offsetting—make for more conscious management of resources and emphasized the entire team’s commitment to work in an environmentally friendly manner.

“We’re doing our part for the next generations. These efforts show our interest to continue working in an integral way: with safety, efficiency, responsibility, and respect for the environment,” added Marins.

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Tek-Dry Systems

Don’t patch, replace Donnie Rust

Tek-Dry Systems

O

ffering thermal processing solutions for the international food industry and specialising in sophisticated-turnkey installations matched with efficient on-site process line evaluation, the England based company Tek-Dry Systems has been the leading supplier and innovator in their industry for over thirty years. Based in Lancashire, where they have their onsite facility, the company enjoys a global reach with products and services being utilized in countries as far-and-wide as Australia and the United States.

Global Demand One of the reasons for Tek-Dry’s global draw, is the personable way their teams of experts treat the customers. Acting as industry consultants and process partners, the experts in engineering, design and technical processing have set their own standard for quality and performance.

Additionally, with their products designed and built in-house in the UK, Tek-Dry Systems has shaped itself into the go-to partner for the world’s leading brands.

Custom-Made Approach

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A key component to Tek-Dry’s success is their understanding of the nature of their client’s

businesses. Their customers are serious about reliability and flexibility because installing new equipment into their factories, especially those that can’t close production completely, can pose a logistical nightmare. In such industries a reputation for successfully navigating such situations can be enough to carry a company.

Factories and warehouses face the dilemma of outgrowing their workspace, while not necessarily having the availability of space to move into, or the budget to move into larger premises and new machinery and technologies need to be integrated into current footprints.

As experts at creating bespoke equipment, they often serve clients who have such challenges that require products to be designed to retrofit and work with existing equipment making better use of the floorspace.

This is where the benefit of in-house manufacturing is best presented, as unlike competitors who may have their products produced abroad, Tek-Dry Systems benefit from a much closer collaboration between the drawing office and shop floor which provides the means to closely monitor fabrication techniques, and immediately implement design improvements.

Further to this, the company’s excellent industry relationships mean they can call on

Tek-Dry Systems

the best fabrication engineers in their area to complement their abilities and ensure that they use the most current techniques and innovative technologies. Armed with a wealth of experience in a wide variety of applications, including the use of the latest 3D design and simulation software to ensure their dryers are the pinnacle of equipment available today, Tek-Dry Systems continually enhances their understanding of their industry with each new challenge.

Reputation Is Everything As aforementioned, reputation counts in this industry and Tek-Dry Systems constantly delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering expertise and operational excellence. Providing immediate and lifetime aftermarket support to all their customers, and, as the work they undertake is bespoke, they inevitably forge long-lasting partnerships with clients.

Industrial Food Drying Equipment And Beyond The company’s extensive product portfolio comprises both food and industrial thermal process equipment, from dryers and coolers, through to ancillary products such as industrial washers, impregnators, and re-humidification lines. To further diversify their products and increase capacity, they recently moved into new, much larger premises.

Don’t Patch, Replace Sometimes, customers approach them and a request a one-off piece of equipment because they cannot find machinery to perform the required tasks needed. Others are looking to improve their existing processes, be it speed, hygiene or quality which are all crucial factors particularly in the food industry. However, often by creating new processes and installing modern equipment customers can end up saving time and money and futureproof their business for the long term.

Developing and testing innovative ideas is more affordable than ever with advances in design and simulation software. Creating a new piece of equipment that could potentially

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Tek-Dry Systems

Tek-Dry Systems

Tek-Dry Systems constantly delivers trusted end-to-end process solutions for customers and partners through engineering expertise and operational excellence

replace a lengthy and expensive process will save on production costs as well as reduce the possibilities of costly future issues.

Development In an ever more competitive market, manufacturers must continually improve their equipment and processes to reduce pain points and create high-quality finished products. A company’s rep, their principles, their approach and general mandates are scrutenised harder than ever and businesses have to be on their toes to keep up with these demands. Tek-Dry Systems are available on a consultancy basis to help analyse current processes and identify areas that can be strengthened. Their capable in-house design team can generate new concepts and processes without the need to manufacture expensive prototypes.

This is in part due to a change that occurred years ago in Tek-Dry Systems’ approach to design, when they moved from using traditional 2D CAD, to SolidWorks’ 3D design and simulation software. The benefits were immediately recognizable as using SolidWorks enables their engineers to improve design and manufacturing techniques, analyse component stress and simulate airflow and thermal conditions in three dimensions. This revolutionary step resulted in more efficient, higher quality equipment, without the cost premiums associated with prototype development.

Process Development Process and products go hand in hand and years of experience in thermal and airflow applications

has provided Tek-Dry Systems with the knowledge to meet customer’s specific processing needs. A great deal of importance is placed on both product and process research before a specification can be created.

Test are performed at their in-house test facilities, or on-site using their portable test unit. Either way, they always collaborate closely with the customer to analyse the product characteristics, and the resulting data is fed into their process model before being passed onto the design team for development into a complete, tailor-made solution.

Internal Research And Development Along with their ongoing endeavours to improve the processes, products and success of their customers, Tek-Dry Systems also pursue their own internal projects with the aim to improve on their line of products. This way of “working on themselves” has in the past and will continue to bring innovations to the dryer industry. Innovations that will not only safeguard Tek-Dry Systems’ position as the leader, but prepare the ground for future developments and opportunities within the industry to be capitalised on.

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Tomini Shipping

Going For Gold Donnie Rust

Tomini Shipping

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n internationally recognized, privatelyowned business empire, Tomini Group has focused interests in two very different sectors in the transportation and maritime services. Namely, shipping , and classic cars.

Philosophy

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Owned by the Shaikh family, a respected family of businesspeople and entrepreneurs, the company’s mission is simply to be the most trusted partner in global transportation and maritime services. Achieving this has required a reputation forged on commitment to safety, corporate responsibility, sustainability, and trust.

For them, being the best in business is not only

about facts and figures, but also about showing how powerful the focus you place on your industry can be.

So, providing an unwavering commitment to their clients, Tomini Shipping demonstrates on a day-to-day basis how to be the leading private dry bulk owner, providing the best-in-class all-inclusive ship management, which supports their modern and efficient fleet, which has grown substantially over the last eighteen months, and in turn supports the clients. The company values are the foundations of their success and act as their rudder for how to navigate the day-to-day waters as well as the challenges on the horizon.

“Through living these values, we work together to achieve our strategic goals, they

guide our decisions and our relationships with our clients, partners, suppliers, employees and local communities,” says CEO Numair Shaikh, speaking about the company’s approach to daily operations, “Our values are bolstered by authenticity, passion, diversity, and resilience.

We know who we are and what we stand for and we stay true to our visions and beliefs. We are committed to the pursuit of daily excellence.”

TOMINI is listed on the Norwegian OTC market and over half a billion dollars have been invested in the shipping business since it was founded. After seventy years of being deeply embedded in the sector, the group has owned over 139 ships and performed over a thousand voyages. The current fleet comprises of vessels

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Tomini Shipping

Tomini Shipping

under the category Handysize, Ultramax, Kamsarmax and Capesize. Ninety percent of Tomini’s business interests lie in shipping, but they have diversified into classic cars as well, Tomini Classic which has a collection value of $20 million.

Shipping Tomini Shipping is a world class ship owner and operator, and the maritime industry is deeply engrained in their cultural heritage. The business is wholly owned by the Shaikh family, which for over 70 years have been involved in every aspect of the shipping market, including ownership and technical management, whilst commercial management is handled through their partners Alpina Chartering ApS in Denmark.

Classic Cars Tomini Classics specializes in post-war sports cars, with over 100 select examples in stock.

Originally conceived as a private collection, their inventory ranges from mid-century automotive legends to more recent classics of the early 1990s. Attractive to passionate automotive enthusiasts, investors looking to diversify a portfolio or those sentimental drivers seeking a valuable family heirloom, Tomini Classics takes pride in collecting the best and finest the market has to offer, all under one roof.

2022 Into 2023 2022 was a busy year, and began with Numair Shaikh saying, “Throughout this year we will be growing our fleet to meet the global transportation needs of our clients and market demands.”

And this has certainly been their approach. In 2022, the company took on several Handymaxes, the Tomini Zonda, Tomini Bora, Tomini Ghibli and the Tomini Norte and the Interlink Veracity which was renamed Tomini Kaimai. All 2016 models built in China. Further acquisitions in 2022 included the Tomini Levant, Tomini Solano, Tomini Sirocco, Tomini Alize and the Tomini Pampero. Vessels by Taizhou Kouan Shipbuilding Co. Ltd and which was, up until end of 2022 the biggest Tomini handysize acquisition campaign with a total of 13 handysize vessels purchased throughout the year.

And this largely continued through 2023. In August of this year Tomini Shipping, reached yet another milestone in their expansion journey with the acquisition of Tomini K12. This Chinese-built capesize bulk cargo ship of 208,286 DWT is the largest carrier in their existing fleet. The addition of Tomini K12, formerly known as MP The Vrabel, brought the fleet to a total of 28 vessels!

This latest acquisition was well-aligned with the company’s growth strategy of enhancing its fleet composition. Specifically, increasing the cargo capacity per vessel, and reducing emissions on a per deadweight ton basis.

“We see a very positive supply side picture

on the handies, with relatively few new builds on order, and an ageing profile of the existing fleet,” said Numair Shaikh, “This leads to greater recycling numbers due to incoming environmental regulations, meaning the fundamentals are very much in favour of a positive handysize segment.”

Beyond Shipping And Cars Beyond the purchase of ships and cars, Tomini Shipping also made headlines in March of this year when the crew of Tomini Dynasty rescued eleven Malaysians from a capsized boat sixty nautical miles off the East Coast of Malaysia in the Sabah Region.

The ship’s crew coordinated a successful rescue of the survivors consisting of four men, four women and three children, after their boat capsized and drifted into Philippine waters. The survivors were adrift for three days before being noticed and rescued by the Tomini Dynasty crew.

As per survivors’ statement, they are a family from Tawau, Malaysia and were on their way to Semporna, to attend a funeral using their boat. During the passage they encountered bad weather and the boat toppled over, filled with water and the engine was damaged.

Tomini Shipping was able to report that all the survivors rescued by the vessel were healthy and initial medical assistance onboard was provided along with food and accommodation. Following contact with Malaysian Authorities and MRCC, Tomini crew coordinated the safe disembarkation of all eleven survivors with a Naval vessel.

All eleven survivors were handed over to the Malaysian Naval Vessel “KD Paus” along with their damaged boat.

“We’d like to commend and thank the brave crew of Tomini Dynasty for their heroic actions. This rescue evidences the values upheld by our seafarers and their unwavering commitment not only to seamanship but also preserving human lives without a second thought,” concludes Numair Shaikh.

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Trojan Safety Services

Industrial Safety Specialists Donnie Rust

Trojan Safety Services

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hat do the oil and gas, mining, pulp and paper, forestry and construction industries all have in common? Firstly, they are the industries that the world relies on the most and cannot run without, and secondly, they pose high risks to life and limb. Safety is crucial in these industries and so is making sure that staff and team members are not only aware of the safety protocols but dedicated to them.

For almost thirty years, Trojan Safety has been providing safety services in Western Canada and is a leading industrial safety service and training provider committed to the safety of their clients, students, employees, and the communities surrounding their worksites. By helping businesses meet applicable provincial and federal safety laws and compliance requirements they ensure that workers are always protected on the job and get back to their families safely at the end of the day.

Comprehensive Industrial Safety Training

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According to Trojan Safety, the only standard that training should aim for is ‘excellent’, and with this in mind they offer a selection of classes conducted by their inhouse-trained staff members who are all certified professionals

Whether it’s at the office or out to meet clients, being on-time is one of the most important measures of respect

in their area. Each one brings a combination of multiple years of field experience in various industries as well as educational safety training expertise. Combining industry best practices with their own personal experiences they deliver consistently great programmes and fantastic learning experiences that engage and imprint.

Since 1994, Trojan Safety has been providing health, safety and environmental services for the oil and gas, mining, pulp and paper, forestry and construction industries and these include industrial firefighting, first aid and paramedic services, H2S safety services, portable and stand-alone gas and mobile air quality monitoring, and decontamination shower units.

Their head office in Fort St. John also houses a training centre for teaching Energy Safety Canada and other industry-required courses.

The Non-Negotiables Every successful legacy business has a core foundation built on the non-negotiable rules that governs their behaviour. Trojan Safety have five that lie at the heart of everything they do.

Caring: the safety business is based around helping others and they employ people who enjoy doing this and take it seriously. A strong personable aspect is required and Trojan Safety

Trojan Safety Services 56

works with people who instinctively go the extra mile and demonstrate the highest level of customer attention and care.

Learning: ongoing training and development, personal growth through active participation in in-house training and through continuous research is strongly encouraged. The unsaid rule is, “If you’re no longer learning at Trojan Safety Services, it’s time to quit.” The safety industry has the challenge of keeping up with the technological developments as well as the project challenges that their clients take on. It is not an industry where people can afford to let their heels touch the ground.

Punctuality: a given for all work environments.

Whether it’s at the office or out to meet clients, being on-time is one of the most important measures of respect. At Trojan Safety, staff are forewarned that punctuality does not mean arriving through the doors but being early and ready to go at the promised start time.

Dependability: Trojans are well trained, prepared and show up with the proper tools and equipment to get the job done right without

excuses. If any issues arise, clients and customers can count on them to take care of it immediately.

Strong Relationships: businesses thrive on relationships and when Trojan Safety’s team put all five of these non-negotiables together a foundation of trust, which is by far the most valuable commodity in the safety industry, is created.

Employee Safety How businesses treat their staf f reflect directly on how they treat their customers and a large par t of Trojan’s commitment to safet y was achieved by obtaining a Cer tif icate of Recognition (COR) under the Alber ta Human Resource Employment / Worksafe BC program. COR is a formal acknowledgement that Trojan Safet y Ser vices has successfully implemented and maintains a workplace health and safet y program. COR has given Trojan Safet y Ser vices the abilit y to involve all personnel, from senior management to the most junior worker, in various aspect s of developing and maintaining their program and

Trojan Safety Services

Oil And Gas Industry therefore to share the same commitment to exceptional safet y ser vice.

Choosing The Right Course Having the courses to cover all the major aspects of training needed in the oil and gas industry is only the starting point though, because irrespective of size, many companies are not fully aware of specifically what training is needed and that is where the hands-on customer centric approach of Trojan Safety shines through. Clients know that not only are they getting the best standard of safety training and management but also the exact kind they need with the appropriate focuses on what they require today and what they may need tomorrow.

Training is an ongoing process with retraining being included as new developments in the industry affect the landscape. Keeping up with this is the job of Trojan Safety so that their clients and customers don’t have to worry about this and can focus on doing their jobs.

Trojans are well trained, prepared and show up with the proper tools and equipment to get the job done right without excuses.

Trojan Safety recently opened their new training facilities in Fort St. John, British Columbia where they offer both in-house and on-site programmes, providing much needed training to participants recommended by the oil and gas industry. Every day, thousands of people employed in the industry work hard to secure the energy needs of all Canadians. Each worker requires training on the workplace hazards that are associated with this dynamic industry.

As one of the most dangerous industries to personnel, the demand for high standard training in safety protocols and behaviours is ever increasing. Canada’s need for oil and gas products continues to grow, as is the draw from foreign personnel who may have different training.

Therefore, up-to-date health and safety training in the oil and gas industry is vital. It prevents fiery fiascos, explosive mishaps, and slippery situations. Plus, it ensures that oil rigs become platforms for success, not drama. Remember, in this industry, “Safety First” isn’t just a motto; it’s an oil-time classic!

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Universal Africa Lines

When experience and innovation collide Donnie Rust

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Universal Africa Lines

Universal Africa Lines

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n 1973 Universal Africa Lines was founded

by Roger Jungblut who has, since then, possessed a keen focus on the African continent. Following an instinct to gather feeton-the-ground experience, in the early years of the business Roger, along with his management spent a great deal of time travelling across Africa to familiarise themselves with the local circumstances. This was to gain an unbiased perspective of things that would allow for accurate decision making and planning. This first-hand experience allowed them to find solutions to the many logistical problems that existed in the West African ports, including those that came from the sea and from behind a desk.

This personalised, get-stuck-in approach resulted in the company’s first contacts and contracts. At the time, projects like breweries, airports and LNG plants were being transported to several West African countries by UAL and slowly but surely, they specialised in the transportation of project and oil-and-gas related cargo.

Por t congestion remained a signif icant problem even long af ter large oil and gas deposit s were discovered in Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and other African countries in the early nineties. Consequently,

UAL decided to build a por t on their own in one of the most strategic places for the oil and gas industr y in West Africa- now known as the K Freepor t and Oil Centre on the island of Bioko (Equatorial Guinea).

“We think outside of the box as a matter of course at UAL Alliance,” says Roger, “And, we are proud of these well-established roots from the past five decades, since they are the basis for our innovation, practical and effective approach.”

UALs mission is to offer customers the best logistic chain management from the US Gulf and Europe to West Africa and back.

Not only overseeing the transportation of breakbulk and containers from one point to another, but also arranging the necessary documentation, customs clearance and ship and port management throughout their network of UAL agents. They endeavour to be more than a carrier: rather, their mission is to solve their customer’s logistical problems by providing them with complete logistics-chainmanagement.

How To Stay Afloat In Shipping The UAL Alliance combines the diverse aspects of logistics into one dedicated shipping service, collaborating with multiple agents under the UAL brand name throughout Europe, Africa and

the Americas, United Africa Lines represents a global shipping brand that has serviced the oil and gas industry for fifty years.

Their focus is complete logistic management, involving both break bulk and containers, from Europe and from the US gulf to West Africa and vice versa. Offering intraAfrican service on the West Coast of Africa through their fleet of multi-purpose vessels.

The vessels are geared, meaning that they have the capacity to load and discharge cargo using their own cranes.

Customer Focus UALs customers are paramount and are accustomed to fast, flexible, and professional service provided by experts. Clients receive decades of focused experience, technical expertise, and commercial awareness, combined with European and American management and inclusive local knowledge.

Through constant dedication and hard work, UAL Alliance builds on strong business relationships and mutual trust between their global customers and their partners.

International Footprint Universal Africa Lines BV is a Dutch registered shipping line with offices in Capelle aan

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Universal Africa Lines den IJessel and has its headquarters in the Netherlands. In the United States, they are represented by UAL America who manage their extensive client base and service providers.

Ecological Investment

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UAL has invested heavily in ecological sustainability and were one of the first companies to commission to build five of their own “eco trader” vessels with reduced draft, resulting in efficient fuel consumption. Easily recognized by their innovative axe-bow design which has revolutionised vessel safety and efficiency by allowing ships to cut through the crests of heavyweather waves instead of riding and crashing down over the tops of them. Additionally, UAL have expanded their investment into preserving resources such as drinking water with their award

“We provide complete K5 waste management for our customers,” says Roger, “” With certificates documenting the recycling of their waste in full compliance to this treaty.”

winning Ecoaguas Plant. They have obtained internationally recognised licenses to ship and manage hazardous waste from Africa to Europe to have it recycled in certified plants, all in full compliance with the Basel treaty.

“We provide complete K5 waste management for our customers,” says Roger, “” With certificates documenting the recycling of their waste in full compliance to this treaty.”

Broadbased Social Investment Social investment pays strong dividends and UAL Alliance has its own broad based social investment through Youngblood Arts and Culture Development (named after founder) as UAL connects continents, so arts and culture connect all parts of the world. It was and is their mission to support progress within the creative sector and to

Universal Africa Lines

connect people internationally through arts and culture. This way, talented individuals are given a real chance at a sustainable future in creative industries.

Ual Chartering UAL Chartering offers shipping solutions worldwide to and from Africa and is specialized in tonnage procurement and parcelling of ships for complex projects, heavy-lifts, break bulk, bulk cargoes, and containerized cargo including IMO dangerous goods. UAL Chartering handles monthly shipments from the Mediterranean and Black Sea to West, South and East Africa.

Internal Promotion On the 1st of October 2023, Universal Africa Lines welcomed Mrs. Tania Galli as a new member

We are very happy to have her on board and we look positively to the future in these exciting times.

of the board of directors. A testament to UALs commitment to recognizing and fostering talent within their organisation, Mrs. Galli who has been the head of legal and an integral part of the UAL team for the past 12 years, has repeatedly demonstrated her dedication and capacity in managing complex legal challenges during her tenure, navigating regulatory compliance and protecting UAL’s interests.

Mr. Jungblut, CEO of Universal Africa Lines BV, and chairperson of the board, added, “Mrs. Galli’s longstanding expertise in our very niche business in West Africa makes her the right candidate to strengthen our management team and it will allow our group to further expand its services while maintaining our high standards. We are very happy to have her on board and we look positively to the future in these exciting times.”

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Wide Open Agriculture Australia

Lupin ahead of the competition Donnie Rust

Wide Open Agriculture Australia

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ustralian enterprise Wide Open Agriculture is more than just a company but a movement that is dedicated to redefining the landscape of agriculture through passionate and productive sustainability. Proving that once a good idea takes root, it will grow and flourish given the opportunity, the company is making changes to the sector by reforming it into a regenerative and ethical arena both wide and resplendent with possibilities.

From Seed And Root Founded with a vision to transform the way humanity approaches food production, Wide Open Agriculture believes that the land, when treated with respect and care, yields not only abundant harvests but flourishing ecosystems.

The company’s journey began with a commitment to break free from conventional norms and cultivate a future where agriculture coexists harmoniously with the environment.

Beyond sustainability. The ‘wide open difference’ Run by Chief Executive Officer Jay Albany, who has spent his career building better networks to access quality food, Wide Open Agriculture goes beyond sustainability and embraces

regenerative farming practices that breathe life into the soil, restore ecosystems, and support thriving communities. Seeing the agricultural sector as stewards of the land, he recognises the responsibility of those in the sector to preserve it and the interconnectedness of their actions.

This is the Wide Open Difference, bridging the gap between what is being done and what is possible.

The Global Impact Of Local Focus More than simply a name, Wide Open Agriculture is a philosophy that extends beyond their fields.

They champion local farmers, source responsibly and prioritize the well-being of communities. By fostering partnerships with those who share their values, they are creating a positive ripple that will grow to encircle the world.

Soil To Plate. Transparency And Integrity In an industry where transparency is increasingly important, Wide Open Agriculture takes pride in every step of their process. From the cultivation methods employed, to the journey taken by their produce from soil to plate, everything is openly shared and available for scrutiny. Through them, the origin of a meal can be traced all the way back to the very seed in the dirt.

Serving You.

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MBL Food & Packaging is WA’s leading wholesale distributor of Flexible Packaging & Food Service products to the Food Processing, Retail Butchery & Hospitality industries.

info@mbl.com.au 08 9334 9600

www.mbl.com.au

The Mission At the heart of their comprehensive agricultural initiative lies the Dirty Clean Food (DCF) business unit. This is a strategic collaboration with regenerative farmers redefining conventional paradigms in the food supply chain.

Operating under the Dirty Clean Food brand, they proudly spearhead the creation of premium beef, lamb, poultry, and pantry staples in partnership with regenerative farmers.

These products find their way to their loyal customers via a diverse distribution network of independent grocery stores including Coles Local, and some of Western Australia’s most esteemed fine dining establishments.

Making use of digital access, and always on the very bleeding edge of innovation, they’ve gone beyond traditional models and Dirty Clean Food extends its reach through an online store, offering homeowners access to a digital realm where they can delve into the narratives behind the regenerative farmers and discover a thoughtfully curated selection of products. Some of which may surprise you.

Dirty Clean Food By streamlining supply chains and eschewing the overheads associated with brick-and-mortar

Wide Open Agriculture Australia

Wide Open Agriculture Australia

Wide Open Agriculture Australia

retail, Dirty Clean Food ensures that regenerative farmers receive a premium for their commitment.

This not only champions sustainability but positions the brand to provide consumers with exceptional products at competitive prices.

At the core of Dirty Clean Food is a commitment to reshaping the landscape of food production and consumption and part of this involves the age-old implementation of espionage behind enemy lines. What do we mean by this? Lupins.

Time To Rethink Lupins Lupins have been eaten since the time of the pharaohs, who recognised its value as a nutritious and versatile crop. At Wide Open Ingredients, another arm of the company, they have revolutionised the lupin as a food source.

Then, combining the benefits of regenerative agriculture with their patented technology, they have been able to produce a nutritious, and importantly, sustainable plant-based protein that is highly functional and versatile to meet the needs of all.

Wide Open Ingredients Before we jump into lupins, let’s quickly touch on Wide Open Ingredients which is a division of Wide Open Agriculture, that focusses on regenerative agriculture. This is a combination of farming principles and practices that work with, rather than against, natural systems. These practices increase biodiversity, enrich soils, restore the water cycle and enhance ecosystem services.

Regenerative Agriculture helps reverse climate change by drawing carbon back down into the soil which can increase resilience to climate instability. It keeps soil and farmlands healthy for crops and involves other practises that nourish the land in the same way that a healthy, and

concise diet improves the lives of you and me.

Lupins play an important role in a Regenerative Agricultural system since they are an ideal ‘break’ crop, fixing nitrogen into the ground creating healthy, nourished soils. Growing lupins has been scientifically proven to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50% in a twoyear rotation of wheat and lupins. In Australia lupins are already a staple crop, with over 80% of the world’s supply being grown in the region.

In 2023, an international team of researchers identified the “sweetness gene” responsible for low alkaloid levels in lupins. This discovery is expected to accelerate the development of new bitter-free crops and another protein source for plant-based foods. Lupins, which are a legume from the family Fabaceae, rival soybean in protein content at an impressive 44% while being high in fibre and low in sugars. Moreover, lupin crops are climate tolerant and have a great potential to recover poor soils. However, this legume naturally accumulates bitter and toxic alkaloids unpleasant for the human palate, which is why this sweetness gene could be the spoon full of sugar the industry has been waiting for.

Already, Wide Open Agriculture produces oat milk enriched with lupin protein, this is thanks to them having previously developed a technology to make lupin concentrate powder with a neutral flavour that can be added to many different recipes for food and beverages. Farming methods have been constant for centuries, so if you want to change something you must make sure you get those seeds of innovation planted fast and widen your ambition.

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Anomatic Corporation

Thinking big, working small Donnie Rust

Anomatic Corporation

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elying on almost sixty years of manufacturing experience, Anomatic Corporation produces innovative products for today’s biggest brands including Revlon, Maybelline, Estee Lauder, and Mary Kay to name a few. Through their revolutionary technology, backed by peerless industry know-how, they help their clients stay ahead of the curve with trends and expectations of sensibility and sustainability.

Specifically, a manufacturer of largequantity aluminium parts for cosmetic companies which rely on product aesthetics and safety, Anomatic’s full services include package design, rapid 3D prototyping, metal forming, anodizing, decorating, assembly and metallization.

Based in New Albany, Ohio, Anomatic is a full-service manufacturer of anodized aluminium and plastic packaging for the Beauty, Personal Care and Pharmaceutical markets. A pioneer in metal finishing, the company has a rich history of innovation integrating new technologies, developing new capabilities, and building a world-class team with material science and tool design

expertise. Their organic, strategic growth is a clear competitive advantage and one of the many reasons why some of the world’s most recognizable brands have partnered with them for eco-friendly, sustainable, anodized aluminium and plastic packaging solutions.

HISTORY Beyond cosmetics, since 1965, Anomatic has manufactured a wide range of items including consumer products like MP3 players and baseball bats to more industrial applications such as heat sinks and aerospace/aviation components. While the marketed reputation of the company has shifted focus over the last six decades, now the company’s involvement in the cosmetic industry is their primary thrust. Here they lend significant weight to brands seeking to solidify their stance on global climate and eco-sustainability concerns.

Product Lines The company produces anodized aluminium packaging for the personal care, makeup, fragrance, automotive,

pharmaceutical, health and beauty industries for clients as well as industrial applications. Headquartered in New Albany, Ohio with additional US manufacturing locations in Newark, Ohio, Blacklick, Ohio, Naugatuck, Connecticut, and an international facility in Suzhou, China.

Specializing in high-volume runs, Anomatic is known as the “colour experts” for their highly consistent anodizing process and colour matching capabilities. Now vertically integrated, Anomatic has reinvested to add multiple additional decorative technologies as well as metallization in-house, making the company one of the only metallizing manufacturers in the US to supply the cosmetics industry.

In House Environmental Policies Anomatic is committed to being environmentally responsible and has implemented a sustainability plan to reduce energy, waste, water, and air pollution as well as recycle and reuse materials. In 2010, Anomatic announced the formation of the Sustainability and Environmental Operations Group with the focus on expanding their sustainable and green

Anomatic Corporation

policies. Soon after, the company opened its LEED-certified facility in New Albany, Ohio within the International Personal Care and Beauty Campus and moved its headquarters there.

In 2022, the company took this approach one step further when they partnered with Novelis to launch evercycleTM for Cosmetics, certified to contain 100% recycled aluminium. Already a global leader of sustainable and decorative anodized aluminium packaging solutions for CPG, the partnership with Novelis, the world leader in aluminium rolling and recycling, will allow Anomatic to continue to meet the stringent criteria for anodizing and the aesthetic expectations for cosmetics and beauty packaging. evercycleTM Cosmetics by Novelis is certified by SCS Global Services to contain 100% recycled aluminium. The new alloy comes at a critical juncture as CPG brands are facing new legislation to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures including GHG emissions, product life cycle analysis, future targets, and business goals.

“With increasing consumer desire for more sustainable products, Novelis is proud to offer our customers a new packaging solution that is not only made from 100% recycled aluminium but one that can also be repeatedly recycled,” said Jami Chime, Account Manager, Specialty Products, Novelis North America.

Greg Beeman, Vice President of Supply Chain at Anomatic added at the time, that their partnership with Novelis to jointly develop and bring to market this ecofriendly alloy comprised of 100% recycled content, in a challenging and disruptive metal supply environment, further demonstrates Anomatic’s commitment to their customers and their business. evercycle is currently in production at Novelis and Anomatic.

Mark Ormiston, Vice President of Innovation said, “It is our corporate social responsibility to make decisions and take action to protect and benefit our planet. We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Novelis, enabling us to develop a groundbreaking product, reducing our carbon footprint, benefiting brands and consumers alike who share a passion for more sustainable solutions.”

As a note, SCS Global Services is a third-party certification company providing independent verification that sustainability claims related to an organization’s products and operations are honest, valid, and

transparent. Novelis produces its evercycle Cosmetics alloy in Oswego, New York; Kingston Ontario; and Buckhannon West Virginia.

Packaging: Reliability And Style Packaging always counts for more than we give it credit for. Anomatic’s finishing options aim to be stunning, elegant, glamorous, classic, mesmerizing, and fashionable, helping the products make a statement to the consumer. It is their belief that the best ideas come while working together and that innovation and collaboration often walk hand in hand. To create a truly one-of-a-kind packaging experience, it is important that the product is first considered from all available perspectives before wrapping up.

This is one of the areas where aluminium shines as a packaging solution. It is one of the most efficient and sustainable materials and as experts in the anodization of aluminium, Anomatic is proud to offer products that utilize the Earth’s third most abundant element. Anodized aluminium is 100% recyclable and highly durable, 75% of all aluminium ever produced remains in use today and it is infinitely recyclable without degradation to the material and when anodized, the metal’s virtues are enhanced by preserving and extending the life of the actual product.

Thinking Big. Working Small.

Ultimately, at Anomatic, they believe corporate social responsibility is imperative and requires vision, innovation, and above all action. Their hard-working team is committed. to positive outcomes that benefit the planet and society. By leveraging creativity, integrity, and expertise, they create ground-breaking processes and design visionary products to reduce their carbon footprint and protect the world for future generations. These lofty goals are divided up into efficient dayto-day practices that bring together all the factors of this global company into a well packaged gift to us all.

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Aztec Oils

Exceeding customer and competitor expectations Donnie Rust

Aztec Oils

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ecently, A ztec Oils appeared on the EM200 list of fastest growing companies in the East Midlands (United Kingdom). A notable accolade recognising the company ’s application of strateg y, excellence, kaizen approach and incredible customer focus, this is not the f irst prominent mention they ’ve received, nor will it likely be the last . Additionally, it is par ticularly mentionable now, given the challenges the manufacturing industr y faces af ter the impact of Covid-19, Brexit, and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

To give some contex t, EM200’s Grant Thornton’s annual repor t details the fastest growing companies across the 4 regions of Not tinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Lincolnshire. The list is compiled through detailed analyses of company EBITDA grow th over a 3 -year period, encompassing industries such as manufacturing , retail, technolog y, healthcare, food and beverage, and business suppor t . It is a credit to the A ztec Oils team to be recognised for the hard work they dedicate to the business day in and day out .

Aztec Oils As one of the UK’s leading specialists in high

performance lubricant manufacture and distribution, Aztec Oils has played a fundamental role in shaping the industry for over a quarter of a century. Offering a complete range of specialist products, they pride themselves on supplying industrial lubricant solutions to the harshest environments and maintaining a level of quality and performance that exceeds both customer and competitor expectations.

Industry Lubrication products are the unsung heroes of machinery, ensuring smooth operation and minimizing friction. In the vast machinery landscape of human progress, from industrial engines to household appliances, lubricants play a pivotal role. By reducing wear and tear, they enhance efficiency and extend the lifespan of equipment, fostering sustainability. As technology advances, the demand for innovative lubrication solutions grows, driving research and development. The evolution of lubricants parallels human ingenuity, enabling the seamless functioning of intricate systems that power our modern world. In essence, lubrication products are the silent enablers, silently greasing the wheels of progress for a smoother, more efficient tomorrow.

With IPAC, RELIABILITY is never in short supply.

Experience And Quality So far, because their sector range continues to grow, Aztec Oils manufacture specifically tailored lubricants for the automotive, commercial, agricultural, industrial, metalworking, marine and the bridgeable and food sectors. Each of these verticals are backed by intense research and development by their team which is what really sets them apart as a business. All machine types require their own individual lubrication to function properly, and Aztec Oils have, from the earliest days of their inception, set themselves the goal of understanding not only what the customer wants, but also what they don’t know they need.

“Knowing more than your customers do and surprising them is a great way to build their trust and loyalty,” says managing director Mark Lord.

Exceeding customer expectations on their industry-knowledge would not be enough if Aztec Oils Ltd didn’t match it with the quality of their products and services. This quality is achieved by setting their in-house standards well above those of the industry and ensuring their work comply with all relevant regulations.

“Specific quality objectives are set and reviewed through our management review process,” says Mark, “To achieve these, we

A generous supply of flexibility is one of the keys to success in the current market - and when you partner with IPAC, you get plenty. That means providing creative options and the type of problem-solving that gets things done.

We’re focused on helping our customers through any challenge, and we’re forging

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ahead with flexibility.

Aztec Oils

Aztec Oils

Aztec Oils

“Specific quality objectives are set and reviewed through our management review process,”

maintain a quality system that meets BS EN ISO 9001 requirements. Following this, it is down to us to continually improve our performance with regular evaluation of products and services that ensure our objectives are achieved and problems are prevented.”

The conduct of a business is as important as the product itself, and Aztec Oils aim to deliver all customer orders within five working days for UK delivery and a maximum of fifteen days for export orders. Orders are managed by a dedicated fleet of lorries and third-party distribution partners, both globally and domestic, they aid to best service customer orders and ensure optimum service in the transit of product.

review,” Mark explains, “And are committed to providing relevant environmental training and promoting environmental awareness to employees and, where appropriate, to suppliers.”

Environment

Community Involvement

Aztec Oils Ltd are committed to preventing pollution and complying with all relevant environmental legislation, regulations, and other environmental requirements. According to Mark, they regularly evaluate the environmental impact of their activities, products and services and act to continually improve their environmental performance by implementing an Environmental Management System that meets the requirements of ISO 14001.

As part of this it is their policy to minimise the use of energy, water and natural resources as well as prevent waste through re-use and recycling where possible. Waste products are disposed safely and legally while the use of non-hazardous materials, where practical, is preferred. The suppliers that they choose to work with are on the same page and are as equally responsible and committed to the prevention of environmental damage and the disruption of local areas (such as nuisance factors like noise and air pollution).

“We regularly evaluate our progress in environmental concerns through a management

Earlier this year, Aztec Oils were delighted to work with St. Mary’s High School in Chesterfield to host a select number of Applied Science students in their Aztec Oils laboratory. Kevin Travis, Technical Director at Aztec, along with his team of specialist chemists, took the students through the key processes and equipment used to develop and test specialised formulations, answering any burning questions along the way.

“It was a pleasure as always to meet such bright and interested students and we hope to have given them a taste for a future in Technical Product Development,” said Travis.

Rebekah Noyes of St Mary’s Catholic High School said, “Visiting Aztec Oils has been a fantastic opportunity for students studying Applied Science at St Mary’s Catholic High School.

When touring the site, we have been met by friendly, supportive staff who have always taken a genuine interest in our students and what they are working on. It has been brilliant for our students to see the opportunities they have in STEM careers as well as being able to use specialised equipment which they wouldn’t be able to access otherwise.

In our experience, the staff at Aztec Oils have always gone above and beyond to support our students which is a reflection on how they look after their customers and partners.”

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Cerno Management

Authenticity equals quality Donnie Rust

Cerno Management

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ocussing predominantly on major cities and metropolitan areas, Cerno Management, based in Australia has been building a fresh approach to the continent ’s property investment and management industry since 2004. Separating them from the competition, the strategy is based on creating personalised and tailored solutions for property investment and project delivery.

Over the years, the company, collectively known as Cerno Group, has expanded significantly to offer four key divisions, these being Cerno Real Estate Investors; Cerno Management; Cerno Property Services; and Cerno Capital.

The Cerno Approach As a diversified national property group, Cerno Management have successfully created, owned, managed, and financed assets in various Australian locations. Keeping to highly populated and commerce rich areas, they are intimately familiar with these metropolitan areas and with the tide of business.

The “Cerno Approach” is a simple and refreshing one, the company genuinely cares about their client’s needs and strive to be authentic, professional, and keen to go the extra mile. Having done this from the onset in 2004, by

now, almost twenty years later, it is simply how they conduct business.

Their Values Commitment and honesty are integral commodities sadly lacking in today ’s business world. While all businesses would be quick to claim they value such guiding principles, they are seldom seen in practice. Whereas, at Cerno, they pride themselves on their demonstrative adherence to their core values of service.

As co-founder Paul Di Cristo says, “There’s one way that we do business, and that ’s the Cerno way, with integrity, class, and transparency. This is inherent in our corporate culture and our clients respect these values and the ethical way we conduct business.”

This culture of ethical conduct has seeped in deep. As Paul reveals, the company has always sought to develop partnerships with like-minded organisations and clients who share their commitment to these values. In pursuit of the highest standards of these codes, Cerno has achieved certification against several recognised industry standards including ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 4801 and ISO 45001 (OH&S management) and

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ISO 14001 (environmental management). They are also certified compliant with Edition Five of the NSW Government ’s Work Health and Safety Management Systems and Auditing Guidelines.

The Cerno Crew At the heart of Cerno is a diverse and dedicated team of professionals possessing broad-based property and finance experience.

There are no revolving doors at Cerno and their high staff tenure stems from the in-house development of the individual members of their team. This has allowed them to develop a communicative and collaborative crew under one banner that works towards unified goals.

What Clients Can Expect The baseline standard at Cerno begins with a personalised, client-centric approach, with superior services provided to their discerning customers. From there, these services are delivered in the most professional manner, via a hands-on, readily available team that nurtures clients and manages their expectations every step of the way. This approach has ensured excellent retention rates and new business through positive wordof-mouth endorsements.

Cerno Management

Cerno Management Enabling clients to make proactive and wellinformed decisions is the focus of Cerno Management. The stronger the control throughout the project the greater ability to control and deliver expected outcomes. Cerno Management provides project delivery services, including project and development management.

The company’s expertise covers a broad range of asset classes including commercial, registered clubs, hospitality, industrial, residential, retail, and seniors living. This experience allows them to take full responsibility for the management and control of all facets of project delivery, from inception to completion and in turn this allows clients to keep their focus on their core businesses.

The Cerno Difference When you get down to it, the key differentiation is their integrated approach to project and development management and their scope of experience in dealing with and managing complex projects and assets. They have developed an indepth understanding of the complexities of real estate ownership and as well as the processes involved in delivering a project vision from conception to completion.

Unsurprisingly, Cerno Management’s team of skilled professionals have established trusted relationships with consultants, builders, subcontractors, suppliers, finance bankers and lawyers enabling them to deliver the quality service they have become known for. And, almost as an extra guarantee, clients have access to a Director, regardless of the size of the project.

How They Do It Although each client receives a bespoke experience, it is a team approach that ensures that the clients benefit from the perspective of being an integral member of the project.

“Working this closely with clients,” says Paul, “We focus on balancing the time, cost, and quality components of each project to deliver on clients’ objectives. It’s important that we gain a comprehensive understanding of their goals and objectives at all stages of the project life cycle.”

While they make sure that clients understand the risks from the outside, Cerno makes sure to use their superior experience to help improve efficiencies, reduce client input times and save money. As one of their recent projects RMIT B107 L13, demonstrates.

The Rmit Project Building 108 is an RMIT owned building located in the City Campus, in the central CBD on Bourke Street that held an opportunity. Within the 17-floor building, due to extensive HAZMAT

presence in levels 13 and above, 5 floors sat vacant and unused. The scope of the project included an early works package with the full demolition of the existing fit out on Level 14, including extensive hazmat removal and clearance works.

The main works scope involved the fit out of level 13 to provide a new flexible workspace, with supporting facilities. The fit out included 194 work points, 7 AV-equipped meeting rooms, 4 flexible collaborative spaces, 7 focus rooms, staff kitchen and breakout zone, updated bathroom amenities, and the upgrade of the services infrastructure for the floor.

The project arose in December 2019 when the need for further office space was identified.

All consultant appointments, design, tendering and construction works needed to be completed

by June 2020, to align with the end of the leased office space. During this time, the project team coordinated around building stakeholders, a live environment, and the impacts of COVID-19.

The Approach The main works were delivered under a deferred let procurement model to allow early contractor involvement. This was essential due to the 6-month overall programme and 12week construction period. Due to the inherent programme constraints, the design team were cognisant of sourcing locally supplied products to avoid any delays associated with long lead times.

As the effects of COVID-19 were felt, this decision meant the team were unaffected by materials being held up in customs.

Weekly meetings with the project team were essential in managing project risks, particularly around programme issues and resolving onsite queries. Once COVID-19 escalated, these meetings continued via MS Teams to comply with social distancing restrictions. In the end, despite all of the adversity and through a global pandemic, the project was delivered with $250,000 in savings.

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Compass Minerals UK

A salt of the earth company Donnie Rust

Compass Minerals UK

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iligently working in the background and producing an essential product that is often overlooked, Compass Minerals U.K. is Britain’s largest supplier of natural rock salt, used every winter in the United Kingdom by winter maintenance professionals to thaw icy roads.

Most drivers may very well be unaware of the source of the salt but are nevertheless grateful when it has been lain down.

Working from their underground rock salt mine in Winsford, Cheshire, which is the UK’s oldest and largest working mine, Compass Mineral’s range of products is wide, their attention to the customer’s needs detailed and their approach to environment best practises comprehensive. But this is only the start.

Compass Minerals is a leading global provider of essential minerals focused on safely delivering “where” and “when” it matters to help solve nature’s challenges for customers and communities. The company’s salt products help keep roadways safe during winter weather and are used in numerous other consumer, industrial, chemical, and agricultural applications. Its plant

nutrition products help improve the quality and yield of crops, while supporting sustainable agriculture. Additionally, the company is pursuing development of a sustainable lithium brine resource to support the North American battery market and is, as of recently, the owner of Fortress North America, a next-generation fire retardant company. Compass Minerals operates 12 production and packaging facilities with nearly 2,000 employees throughout the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

Salt Stocks, which is their secure online customer portal, offering a secure login to a web-based automated stock management and ordering system. The unique system enables customers to have full control over their stock levels where they can log into Salt Stocks to check stock levels at each depot, place, and track orders, and calculate tonnage delivered over set time periods. Salt Stocks also provides customers with access to many downloadable reports containing delivery and order information from their depots.

Customer Ease

Community And Environmental Focuses

The organisations that rely on Compass Minerals to keep them supplied with salt have the task of acting both pre-emptively and reactively to the state of road-ice conditions across the UK. The escalatory effect of untreated roads during icy conditions is well documented and can have a knock-on effect on the economy of the whole country, so these organisations- many of which are private entities themselves with municipal tenders- always need to be loaded.

To meet this, Compass Minerals have created

Certified ISO14001, Compass Minerals actively engages with the communities where they work and live. Their community engagement initiatives include charitable gifts and volunteering opportunities. From conserving ecological landscapes and volunteering with local organisations to targeting their philanthropy toward causes that align with their Core Purpose, their aim is to make sure their presence benefits those around us.

“I am excited for the experience and new perspective that Jonathan will bring to this work as we continue to act with intention toward building a stronger Compass Minerals,”

Compass Minerals UK

Onsite at Winsford, the company hosts a protective species program with ecological management zones located in their woodlands.

These areas are protected and monitored annually by a professional ecologist to ensure the wildlife is not disturbed and that they have the best possible opportunity to thrive in their natural environment. Within their onsite wildlife garden, they also have seven beehives, each containing around 50,000 honeybees who are cared for weekly by a local beekeeper.

New Movements And Developments Recently, Compass Minerals added Jonathan Rose to the senior management team as chief strategy officer. In this role, Rose leads efforts to continue charting a long-term strategic roadmap for the company through the optimization of its core Salt and Plant Nutrition businesses while growing into the adjacent markets of lithium and next-gen fire retardants.

Prior to joining Compass Minerals, Rose most recently served as chief financial officer for Standard Power. He has brought nearly three decades of leadership experience in strategy, finance, mergers and acquisitions, and human resources – largely focused on the mining and metals space – at some of the largest investment banks and financial service companies in the world. Earlier in his career, he also co-led diversity recruiting efforts for a multinational investment bank and spent time as a field coordinator for a non-profit dedicated to international development and education.

“I am excited for the experience and new perspective that Jonathan will bring to this work as we continue to act with intention toward building a stronger Compass Minerals,” said Kevin S. Crutchfield, president, and CEO of Compass Minerals.

Fortress North America As of May 2023, Compass Minerals is the wholesale owner of Fortress North America after acquiring the 55% interest which had been

outstanding since January 2022. The transaction of Fortress, which is a next-generation fire retardant company, includes the company’s assets, contracts, and intellectual properties.

“The value creation possible through the full integration of Fortress’ patented portfolio of next-gen fire retardant formulations with our extensive logistics and production capabilities made this acquisition a priority for our company,” said Crutchfield, in May, “With the recent milestones attained by Fortress, our confidence in its earnings potential is bolstered as we gain a share of the next-gen fire retardant market, a counter-seasonal opportunity and sizeable addressable market that is now open to us. We are pleased to welcome the Fortress team into the Compass Minerals family.”

The leadership team at Fortress, including CEO Robert Burnham, will continue to lead and develop the business which was founded in 2016. A developer of proprietary formulations of magnesium chloride-based aerial and ground fire retardants proven to be more effective and safer on the environment than traditional fire retardants on the market. Magnesium chloride is already an existing product stream out of Compass Minerals’ Ogden, Utah, solar evaporation facility.

Burnham commented, “Being fully integrated with Compass Minerals will represent a quantum leap forward for Fortress and empower us to scale up and compete in what has been a onesided market.”

Achieving the recent milestone of becoming the first new company in more than two decades to have their aerial fire retardants fully approved on the Qualified Product List, followed by securing a binding supply agreement with the USFS, represents the culmination of a multi-year effort and shared vision between the Fortress and Compass Minerals teams. Now, with a robust portfolio of next-generation formulations in the pipeline and buttressed by the infrastructure available to them as part of Compass Minerals, they are shifting their focus to the rapid acceleration of their supply chain, logistics and manufacturing capabilities.

“The combination of Fortress and Compass Minerals is the next natural step toward our joint mission to establish ourselves as the market leader in next-gen fire retardants,” he concludes.

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Federal Realty Investment Trust

Comprehensive Financial Care In A Vacationer’s Paradise Donnie Rust

Federal Realty Investment Trust

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ith the mission of delivering longterm sustainable growth, Federal Realty Investment Trust, an S&P 500 real estate company founded in 1962, specialises in investing in communities where retail demand exceeds supply. With over fifty years of experience in this field they’ve carved out a multifaceted business plan that customers benefit from.

As one of the oldest US REITs, Federal Realty Investment Trust (Federal Realty) focuses on the ownership, operation and development of highquality retail properties, ranging from groceryanchored shopping centres to large-scale mixeduse neighbourhoods. These projects rely on a concise list of three essential pillars:

Stability Their properties lie in nine major markets characterized by superior demographics and significant demand. The diversified portfolio is positioned as the real estate of choice for the widest selection of tenants and uses.

Growth

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The flexible nature of Federal Realty’s portfolio lends itself to continually evolve through remerchandising and reinvestment that

positions their assets for the future. Additionally, any developments are backed by decades of proven experience creating live, work and play destinations.

Execution With a proven history of delivering results and the longest record of annual dividend rate increases among US REITs, Federal Realty’s business has been remarkably resilient even in the most adverse economic cycles and is well-positioned for long-term success.

Finger On The Pulse A differentiating factor for Federal Realty Investment Trust is that they keep the finger on the pulse on all people focussed trends and their understanding of how behaviours affect investment realities. This includes outside perspectives and how their own products need to shift for their marketplace.

For example, in the work place, employees today are scouting for more than just an office; they are on the hunt for an encompassing experience — a medley of amenities, ease, and unmatched quality that elevates their professional journey. Federal Realty is spearheading the charge in reimagining the

“Once you arrive, everything you need for the day is easily within reach.”

Federal Realty Investment Trust

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Federal Realty Investment Trust office experience.

Patrick McMahon, Senior Vice President, Regional Development at Federal articulates this shift succinctly: “It is about replicating the closeto-home comforts we embraced during COVID, from medical appointments to a night out. Having everything you need right outside your office door is now a top ask for our tenants.”

Assembly Row in Somerville, MA, epitomizes this approach. As the North American headquarters for PUMA, it stood ahead of the curve even before the pandemic. When PUMA became an anchor tenant in 2019, their vision focused on an emerging shift from traditional office environments to spaces that fulfilled the needs of modern workers. On their list? A dynamic streetscape, diverse transportation options, and an energized scene, rich with amenities. Assembly Row, with its pioneering spirit and array of shops and eateries, met all these needs.

Since 2019, evolving expectations of today’s workplace have been central to Federal’s approach. The transition back to the office after work-from-home is still a nuanced challenge, however Federal Realty continues to rise to the occasion, catering to tenants’ growing demands for lifestyle-friendly office space in and around first ring suburbs. Meeting and exceeding these criteria have clearly contributed to the company’s impressive 98% office occupancy rate, as of June 30, 2023.

Santana Row, located in the heart of Silicon Valley, similarly showcases Federal Realty’s adaptability across diverse geographical landscapes, drawing in premier tech companies and startups alike. The firm’s corporate HQ, Pike & Rose, is another prime example. It adeptly balances consumer and tenant needs with accessibility and appeal. Stuart Biel, Senior Vice President, Regional Leasing, recognizes a rising demand for office spaces in top-tier suburbs post-pandemic. He emphasizes the synergy between a controlled environment and an abundance of amenities, stating, “Once you arrive, everything you need for the day is easily within reach.”

Biel explains further that he has observed a growing trend among tenants. They are not just gravitating toward vibrant streetscapes but are drawn to spaces that seamlessly blend convenience with exceptional quality. Pike & Rose exemplifies this shift, featuring office spaces that offer both creature comforts and state-of-theart design. Additions like touchless elevators and advanced air filtration systems, driven by recent global challenges, further enrich the experience.

Always Have A Fresh Take

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It is always recommended to have a fresh take on your product, and with the mixed-used section of Federal Realty’s business portfolio this is often the case.

Once built to accommodate car-focused communities, open air shopping centres are blossoming thanks to fresh consumer demand.

For commercial real estate owners, the crux in this shift is identifying assets with the right fundamentals: prime locations, superior

“It is about replicating the close-to-home comforts we embraced during COVID, from medical appointments to a night out. Having everything you need right outside your office door is now a top ask for our tenants.”

demographics, and flexible formats.

Federal’s portfolio enables us to create new housing opportunities in high-demand areas that allow for a steady stream of shoppers to fuel the retail tenants. The result is a unique, elevated experience built to thrive in any economic turn.

And that is by design.

The redevelopment at Bala Cynwyd Shopping Centre, outside of downtown Philadelphia, perfectly embodies this strategy. One example of Bala’s success is the chic boutique apartment building, The Delwyn. “ The Delw yn was an underutilized parking lot that just sat there idle for years,” said John Tschiderer, Federal ’s senior vice president for development . “ It was a f ield of dumpsters back there.”

The proper t y ’s come a long way since then and is now considered an excellent asset in the por t folio and a communit y hot spot for the booming inner- Philly market . This achievement has inspired fur ther residential development on the site, thereby providing more options for the built-in communit y to sustain revenue for retailers.

“It has surpassed our expectations regarding what rental rates could be achieved at Bala Cynwyd. It’s a credit to our prime property location, great design and landscape architecture, the convenience provided to residents, and the superior hospitality-minded service our team delivers,” said Mike Ennes, senior vice president, mixed-use initiatives and corporate communications.

Before a project is greenlit the real estate must be unique and have the potential to meet Federal Realty’s high standards. Their strategy

of integrating diverse real estate formats within strong demographics in sought-after areas enables them to produce superior outcomes, like Bala Cynwyd. It ’s no mistake that Federal Realty’s portfolio, made up of these foundations, continues to yield more opportunities to harvest value.

Adding residential components to their centres has proved tantamount to retailers’ success. These tenants have adopted new methods to engage residents with offerings for insider experiences and services. Such tactics have led to an increase in revenue based on referrals, which are better suited to close-knit communities where word-of-mouth is more effective than traditional marketing.

“Creating living experiences in retail destinations is not something everyone can do. Our property locations and decades of experience transforming large mixed-use neighbourhoods and applying those learnings to underutilized footprints enable us to craft hospitality-inspired residential spaces that are truly identifiable,” said Mike Ennes.

Federal Realty Investment Trust

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Hazell Bros

A hefty vehicle of change Donnie Rust

Hazell Bros

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ounded in 1944 by brothers Donald and Rowley Hazell, and operating out of Southern Tasmania, Hazell Bros made its mark very quickly and set about expanding and diversifying into new sectors at a dizzying pace. By the 1950s, the company had expanded its services to include earthmoving projects and by the ‘70s they were also involved in civil construction. Over the course of the next 30 years the business continued to expand throughout Tasmania and advanced into other suitable industries, adding quarries, concrete batch plants, a commercial building business and a crane company to its impressive portfolio.

During 2010, Hazell Bros found footing in Victoria and Queensland where they acquired civil construction and plant hire operations and in 2013, they were awarded a long-term contract with Nyrstar Port Pirie (SA) for materials handling and dust suppression activities. Despite the rapid growth the company has not lost that pioneering spirit that made it so capable in the last century.

A Family Business At its heart, Hazell Bros has always been and remains to this day, a family owned and operated business with second generation brothers Geoffrey and Robert Hazell, owning and heading

up operations. The entrepreneurial spirit that was prevalent at the start of the business continues as well and throughout its 75+ year history Hazell Bros has further diversified its operations to meet prevailing economic conditions, industry trends and client needs.

As of 2023, their core business functions include civil construction, quarry management and ownership, concrete production and construction material testing, plant hire, transport, asset servicing and industrial services.

The commonality of all these different sectors is that Hazell Bros own their equipment assets and have earned the loyalty of their staff.

Management attests that it is their 800-strong team of employees that form the mainstay of the business, and it is by their diverse catalogue of expertise and talent that Hazell Bros continues to add value and exceed the expectations of their national and international clients.

These skills and talents are honed by the company’s detailed training and development programmes and is repaid by a workforce who are committed to working safely and upholding the culture of family values and initiative.

With a large privately owned fleet of vehicles, plants and equipment, plus extensive quarry

HEAVY HAULAGE IS IN OUR DNA Where ever the road leads, whatever the load.

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and product interests, Hazell Bros enjoys a longstanding reputation for reliability in providing service solutions and the supply of quality products and materials. It is through this that the company continually explores new opportunities by relentlessly challenging the status quo. This has proven to be a successful strategy and helped them to be the pioneering element in their respective verticals.

Core Principles Established by the original founders, who understood the importance of core principles for a business to forge a lasting and worthy legacy, Hazell Bros maintain a set number of values through which the business is governed.

Provide A Safe Working Environment: for all employees where excellence is rewarded.

Participate in Environmental Protection: ensure that no operational areas of the business contribute negatively to the environment through strong and regularly updated policies.

Quality and Excellence: be committed to the development, production and delivery of quality products and services that exceed the expectations of clients.

Community: build relationships based on respect, mutual success, open and honest

Hazell Bros

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Hazell Bros

Hazell Bros

Hazell Bros is a recognised Tasmanian Government Employer of Choice and has been since this recognition was first established in 2008.

communication, and the development of longterm partnerships.

People: Hazell Bros Group, was founded on strong family and community values and continues to this day to promote a culture based on fairness, trust, and integrity with a commitment to ensure all employees have the right to a fair, safe, and productive environment which is free of discrimination, bullying and harassment.

A Focus On People Grounded in family and community values, many Hazell Bros employees have worked with three generations of the founding family and subsequently have developed strong ties to the company. They care for the business and each other. This has resulted in a sense of ownership and belonging, and in a state like Tasmania, it is hard to find someone who hasn’t, or at least knows somebody who has, worked for the family at some stage. Their focus on people is taken seriously, with the company going out of its way to provide support and flexibility to all employees and their families, especially in times of need.

Thanks in part to all this, Hazell Bros is a recognised Tasmanian Government Employer of Choice and has been since this recognition was first established in 2008. Employers of Choice are recognised by the Tasmanian Government for demonstrating contemporary workplace practices and outstanding support for their staff and providing opportunities for employees to build an effective work-life balance. Having identified that the value of any family are the people involved in it, there is nothing more important at Hazell Bros than having their workforce return home in a fit and healthy state at the end of every working day. “Safety first Always Works” is more than a slogan, it is the cornerstone of the company’s entire safety culture.

Active Empowerment And Mental Wellbeing Employees are empowered and proactively encouraged to take ownership of safety and ensure safe outcomes through identifying hazards and managing risks. To this end, key leaders of the business attend weekly meetings at the Safety Forum to ensure emerging risks are managed and communicated across the whole business. Forewarned is forearmed.

Additionally, the company recognises that employees’ mental health is just as important as their physical well-being and their Employee Assistance Programme and Health & Well-being Programme ensure all aspects of employees’ well-being are cared for.

This includes an Employee Assistance Programme that offers confidential, no-cost counselling to employees and their family members. Expert counsellors who are available to help with all the challenges of modern-day life including stress management, relationship challenges and budgeting. Workplace health and well-being programmes as well as flexible working options provide team members with an additional range of benefits and opportunities to keep all happy and well.

With this in mind, it ’s perhaps time to add another sector that Hazell Bros has moved into, the construction of happier and more fulfilling lives.

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IMI Critical Engineering

Value In Valves Donnie Rust

IMI Critical Engineering

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MI Critical Engineering are a global leader in engineered solutions for severe service applications requiring valve and flow-control manufacturing. Providing innovative and efficient solutions to various industries such as power generation, oil and gas, petrochemical, pharmaceuticals, and industrial manufacturing.

Over 150 years old, the company has an interesting history that has deeply influenced their approach to business today.

Based in Birmingham, United Kingdom, IMI Critical Engineering have always offered cuttingedge technologies and comprehensive solutions and their renowned team of experts have been setting the industry standards in the UK since they were founded in 1862. Originally a percussion cap

manufacturer, the company’s growth was rapid and diverse as they entered other prominent areas of the time including printing, brass rolling, bicycle components and manufacturing.

During those early fledgling days, the company honed its expertise in metallurgy and at the turn of the 20th century opened its first metallurgy laboratory. Bringing a series of never-seen-before technological advances to the industry they were soon a globally recognised mover and shaker in the engineering world. Amid the tremendous technological advances that were seen in the 20th century, a new company IMI CCI was founded in 1961 that focused on the development and manufacturing of a new type of control valve. By 1981 IMI CCI had joined IMI and

through successful acquisitions and pioneering endeavours established the current IMI Critical Engineering and took podium position as a major, worldwide valve manufacturer.

INNOVATION AND EXCELLENCE Building on such a rich heritage spanning over a century, the company has and continues to build a reputation for excellence and innovation in industries where safety and reliability are paramount. As the trusted partner to major industrial and infrastructure sectors, IMI Critical Engineering deliver advanced technologies, including valves, actuators, and related services, that ensure the smooth and efficient operation of critical systems.

IMI Critical Engineering

Comprehensive Support, Tailored Solutions The comprehensive portfolio, combined with their deep engineering expertise, enables IMI to tailor their solutions to meet unique industry challenges and turn them into development opportunities. At IMI Critical Engineering, there is an unwavering commitment to quality, performance, and customer satisfaction that has positioned them as a global leader and set the benchmark for best practice in the industry.

Part of this are comprehensive lifecycle maintenance programmes that are on offer covering work and expertise needed during projects and support afterwards. Maximising valve reliability and performance is prioritised, ensuring smooth operation, minimising downtime, and providing peace of mind to customers.

Global Experience People make a company great. Front and centre of IMI are the 2,900 talented and diverse individuals committed to delivering precision-engineered flow control solutions, expert installation, and lifetime servicing. Alongside this, the company utilises manufacturing facilities in twelve countries and a global service network.

IMI Critical Engineering are known to invest

heavily in training and development to deliver a deep understanding of their solutions, their functionalities, and the industries they serve. This expertise allows them to offer comprehensive design and installation guidance, troubleshoot effectively, and provide valuable insights empowering the customer to leverage their solutions to the fullest potential.

Modern Slavery Act

“...the expansion will transform Island Gold into one of Canada’s largest and most profitable gold mines.”

The United Kingdom, and indeed the world, has seen a great deal of change to the workplace since the 1860s and IMI Critical Engineering have always found that if you plan to lead the change in industry, you must do it from the front. As such, they continue to believe all companies must take their role seriously in preventing modern day slavery and human trafficking. For themselves, IMI utilises a combination of general corporate responsibility policies and specific supply chain compliance actions to combat modern slavery in its supply chain. These include processes and codes of conduct that affect the company at all levels from management down to staff training.

Advanced Solutions For An Evolving Industry Above all else, their flow control solutions

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are designed to enhance safety, plant per formance, and environmental standards.

IMI are specialists in working closely with process licensors and electronic pressure controllers (EPCs) to create innovative products that address the evolving needs of the oil and gas industry. Their unique, experience-based expertise enables them to play a critical role across the entire industry value chain, from upstream gas production and midstream processing to downstream distribution, as well as every aspect of the liquified natural gas (LNG) process.

The application of their technology is far reaching and connects many different industries sectors such as petrochemical, nuclear, hydrogen power and renewables, process industries, marine, sanitary solutions for pharma, biotech, food, and beverage industries.

Not to mention iron and steel metallurgy, desalination, and potable water solutions.

Additive Manufacturing. The Future Of Valve Manufacturing?

In a recent case study, A leading energy provider had significantly increased oil production from a field in the Arabian Gulf. Higher production increased the pressure of the flow passing through its water injection system beyond its capability and multiple control valves began to fail after a short period of operation, with severe cavitation damage to the valve trim. This calamity resulted in high costs due to the need for frequent maintenance and trim replacement. The client asked IMI Critical Engineering to investigate and recommend a solution.

Team engineers were sent in to analyse the current process conditions in the plant, including production volumes, the properties of the injected water, pressure, and temperature ranges.

Interestingly, valve problems are often wrongly attributed to component and plant age, however this is usually due to the operating conditions changing. Valves are precision components designed for specific conditions.

When process conditions change, problems can arise, including excess vibration and noise, cavitation, and leakages, as well as reduced control over the flow through the valve.

In this instance, IMI’s team of engineers identified a change in the inlet pressure as the root of the problem. During earlier periods of operation, inlet pressure had been below 1000psig , but when production from the field increased significantly, inlet pressures rose to 2500psig , putting stress on the internal parts of the valve. Furthermore, water saline content is double that of seawater ( 70,000 ppm), as the plant pulls injection water from the reservoir the fluid velocity exceeds 100 ft/ sec through the valve.

In the past, operators would have had to replace the whole valve with a new one customised to the current process conditions, attracting significant costs and disruption. Now, with the advent of additive manufacturing – 3D printing – it is possible to retrofit a new valve trim to the existing valve.

Retrofit3D A ‘drop-in’ solution for valve problems, IMI Critical Engineering’s Retrofit3D provides a speedy and cost-effective solution to many valve problems, including those arising from a change in the process conditions.

Retrofit3D combines additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, and traditional manufacturing techniques to engineer valve trims that are optimised for the process conditions.

Unlike traditional manufacturing techniques which are subtractive and remove material, additive manufacturing works by building components by ‘printing’ layer upon layer. This provides extra flexibility in valve design, as internal features and complex geometries can be incorporated that would be impossible to achieve with traditional manufacturing techniques.

Additive manufacturing also allows for more efficient use of space, with disk stacks up to 40% smaller, which can be retrofitted into a wide range of valve bodies.

Additive manufacturing is a widely used term, but covers many different, sophisticated techniques with new methods being developed constantly. Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LBPF) or Direct Metal laser Sintering (DMLS) are among the most known technics for stainless steel and nickel-based alloys printing, but IMI Critical Engineering also uses Binder Jetting techniques for specialist applications requiring specific materials such as Stellite6.

IMI Critical Engineering is at the forefront of additive manufacturing, having successfully used the technology for over ten years, and playing an active role in the industry, from the development and testing of materials, parts qualification, to standards development.

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Hudson Group

Walk in as a wanderer, leave as a friend.

Donnie Rust

Hudson Group

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or over 30 years the main goal of Hudson Group, a leading travel experience retailer in the United States, has been to consistently deliver what travellers need and want. With their sophisticated merchandising approach which ensures that every location is stocked with national necessities alongside a bounty of regional must-haves, they have unified the concepts of grab and go convenience and local pride. Loyalty, goodwill, and excellent customer service has seen this company grow not only in footprint but reputation since their founder Mario DiDomizio set up his first travel news store in LaGuardia Airport in 1987.

Several factors have contributed to the expansive reach of the company and their impressive growth. Currently the group boasts over 1000 stores across the US with 300 of those opening within the last six years, focussed on travellers embarking and disembarking national and international flights.

Sales Gimmicks Or By-Design The customer experience is paramount, and

Hudson Group have built their business through operational excellence, financial discipline, and the never-ending quest to find alignment between customers, landlords, vendors, and employees. Being able to develop and incorporate local concepts is a distinctive advantage and at the same time, the General Managers know their specific landlords and employ a deep understanding of local demographics for their specific markets. This unmatched knowledge is then levered to deliver a unique and constantly evolving product offering that resonates with the local traveling public as well as driving sales and profitability.

When it comes to the stores, impeccable design and superior quality of concessions make all the difference. The more accessible their stores are, the easier it is for passengers to shop there. When it comes to design, the stores are as visually open and approachable as possible.

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) is considered during store layout and plays a role in the selection of their floor materials. Their floors are durable, slip-resistant, and smooth rolling

CDS Mestel Construction Corp. is an organization which specializes in general contracting, construction management and design build services throughout the tri-state area. With over 100 years of experience, our team has specialized in projects spanning from corporate interiors, food & beverage venues, high-end retail, lounges throughout malls and airports. At CDS Mestel we pride ourselves in offering a significant contribution to the satisfaction beyond our clients expectations. By providing customized resources to meet the demands of each of our clients, our team can provide an end-to-end solution that is a necessity, no matter what size project we are handed. We continue to produce the highest quality of work in a variety of industries and we look forward to having the opportunity to work on your project.

Connect With Us:

Location: CDS Mestel Construction Corp.

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2120 Jericho Turnpike Garden City Park, NY 11040

Contact: Office: 516-739-1865 Fax: 516-739-3957 Email: JustinR@cdsmestelconstruction.com Website: Cdsmestelconstruction.com

despite the innumerable luggage wheels and shoes moving across them.

Spread is also important, and the Hudson Group provides bookstores, travel item shops, cafes and duty free stores and kiosks, allowing travellers a one stop shop for their products, refreshments, and respites. And beyond the impressive growth, Hudson Group is also the recipient of several prestigious awards that reflect its status as the leader in travel retail.

Pioneering Travellers today are savvy and frequently updating their expectations. Hudson has kept themselves firmly in the market by ensuring that on one side their partnerships are as mutually coherent as possible, while on the other side, that their technology usage is innovative and cutting edge.

Nothing in-store is tired. This approach of keeping things fresh has been witnessed through several important developments taking place in 2023.

2023 In October, it was announced that Hudson

Hudson is excited to further the strong partnership that we have built over the years with the Fresno Yosemite International Airport with this opportunity to reimagine our retail offering

Hudson Group

Group, is set to open three reimagined travel convenience stores at Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT ) in 2024 and 2025 under a newly awarded 15 -year contract working alongside company Dufry AG (soon to become Avolta).

Having served as the retail partner of FAT for the past 20 years, this new contract signals confidence in Hudson’s continued ability to deliver innovative and exciting concessions under its Destination 2027 strategy. As such, Hudson will convert and expand its existing retail spaces into three completely transformed stores including a standalone Hudson store, a combination Hudson and Brookstone store, and a first-of-its-kind hybrid concept, Hudson, and Einstein Bros. Bagels.

A key part of Hudson’s commitment to transforming the retail experience in FAT entails introducing an enhanced digital technology offering and an expanded selection of local brands. Each new store will have self-checkout and mobile POS to make shopping faster and easier, and the Red By Dufry loyalty program will allow travellers to engage with Hudson at every touchpoint of their journey, all while earning exclusive benefits when they shop. In addition to the traditional travel convenience assortment, the three stores will also boast a curated collection of souvenirs and local goods that celebrate Fresno’s position as a top agricultural producer in California like Hinkle’s Honey, Life’s Grape, Raphio Chocolate, and more.

“Hudson is excited to further the strong partnership that we have built over the years with the Fresno Yosemite International Airport with this opportunity to reimagine our retail offering,” said Brian Quinn, North America Head of Retail Operations. “These new stores will give travellers the best retail experiences in the industry through the leading digital innovation, brand assortments, and customer service we’re known for.”

Director of Aviation Henry Thompson, added, “A continued partnership with Hudson delivers new and refreshed concepts to travellers flying

through Fresno Yosemite International Airport while introducing visitors to our region with locally produced products. The Airport is pleased to have Hudson’s first ever Einstein Bros. Bagels location and we look forward to the opening of their stores.”

Totalling more than 3,300 square feet of concessions space pre- and post-security, Hudson’s three new stores include: Hudson: for travel essentials, books, magazines, snacks and beverages, travel and convenience necessities, local souvenirs, electronics, and more.

Hudson and Brookstone: combining Hudson’s iconic travel convenience brand and Brookstone, the ultimate electronics destination, offered exclusively in airports by Hudson. Travellers have access to their travel essentials, and all their tech must-haves from brands such as Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony, and more, alongside an innovative offering of gadgets and accessories.

Hudson and Einstein Bros. Bagels: A first-time collaboration between Hudson and Einstein Bros.

Bagels, this hybrid concept allows travellers to pick up their travel essentials alongside Einstein Bros. Bagels’ freshly baked bagels, breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and coffee.

“More than ever, we’re hearing from our travellers that they are looking for products that are ethically and responsibly made. As a hallmark of sustainable fashion, The House of LR&C is the ideal partner to meet that demand and show how our ESG commitments under our Destination 2027 strategy touch every part of our business,” said Brian Quinn, Executive Vice President, and Deputy CEO of Hudson. “We are excited about this new store opening and look forward to travellers being able to shop for some of the highest quality apparel from Russell Wilson, Ciara, and The House of LR&C.”

Leading With Innovation The new store also features interactive elements such as Flowcodes, allowing for digital exploration and a unique omnichannel experience. By scanning the Flowcodes with their cell phones, travellers can learn more about the product and its materials, browse additional styles and colours, and unlock exclusive content.

With the support of Flowcodes, Hudson team members working in the store can serve as brand ambassadors and stylists, creating an even more personalized experience for travellers.

They may arrive as travellers and wanderers and coddiwomplers, but they leave as friends.

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Safe and seamless for Medical and Pharmaceutical deliveries Our fully compliant, temperature-controlled vehicles provide secure and reliable distribution of medical and pharmaceutical deliveries, including time-sensitive cold chain parcels. With over 40 hubs across South Africa, our state-of-the-art and fully integrated technology and logistics infrastructure solutions makes us the perfect partner for the medical and pharmaceutical industry. Paperless, secure and timeous, our online track and trace system also makes it easy to follow your vital parcel journey from start to finish.

R Consignment information captured at client Infoslips for analysing billing

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Data is transferred from client to RAM via Web Services

Address is auto validated and cleansed by RAM where necessary

e-POD available Temperature-controlled vehicles

B2B + B2C solutions

Receiver can track and trace the parcel

Dispatch from client to RAM from senders’ premises

Handheld delivery with specific client document requirements

B2C data stored according to POPI act

Receiver can change and/or validate their delivery address

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Consignment is transported to delivery hub Receiver kept updated 'Good Morning, your order is out for delivery today'

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From A-to-B, seamlessly.