Tunnel vision Normet

TUNNEL VISION

Normet is a global market leader in the design and manufacture of vehicles for underground mining and tunnel construction. Philip Yorke spoke to Gary Clench, general manager of the company’s South African subsidiary, about the launch of its latest products and the recent acquisition of TAM, a leading construction chemicals company.

Normet is a privately owned company that was founded in Iisalmi, Finland, in 1972 and has since grown to become a major player in the field of hard rock underground mining, tunneling and construction solutions. The company’s head office and its R&D functions are both located in Finland. In addition Normet operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant there as well as managing other key production facilities in Ludvika, Sweden and in Santiago de Chile. To provide a comprehensive service for its multinational customers, the company operates a central service network from Switzerland and has sales and support facilities in 36 locations, based in 22 different countries around the world.

Normet also supplies a wide range of construction chemicals as well as offering a comprehensive range of lifetime care services for the maintenance and operating processes of its products. Today the company offers solutions covering concrete-spraying and transportation, explosive-charging, lifting and installation, as well as underground logistics and scaling. Normet’s business vision is focused on always exceeding its customers’ expectations through partner networking and product quality and reliability, while optimising all safety and environmental standards. Normet’s quality systems are all fully certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001:2004 and the OHSAS 18001:2007 safety certification standard. Currently Normet employs around 1,000 highly skilled engineers and business professionals and in 2011 recorded sales of more than €170 million.

Expanding product range and global reach

Normet is one of the world’s fastest growing companies in its sector with expanding global ambitions and high-tech products. The strategic decision to establish a major presence in South Africa is part of the company’s long-term global expansion programme and follows the group’s acquisition of TAM International, the leaders in specialist chemicals and systems for waterproofing

and the protection of underground tunnels and construction sites.

Today the Normet Group develops, manufactures and markets advanced machines for the mining industry as well as a range of construction chemicals for underground processes. The company’s latest machines are designed for optimising tunnel support systems and technology, which are delivered by mobile, robotised concrete-spraying units. This is in addition to providing highly mechanised explosive-charging and underground logistics systems. The entire range of Normet products and services are now available in South Africa from its operational headquarters and logistics centre in Johannesburg.

Clench said, “Normet has had a presence in South Africa distribution agents for many years and in 2011 the decision was taken to open its own fully affiliated to Normet Oy Finland branch in Johannesburg South Africa. To support its growing presence here, the company acquired a new logistics and warehousing facility in Johannesburg which covers around 1,500 square metres and where we will be able to stock around 1,000 different spare parts for the after-sales care of our specialised construction and tunnel vehicles, as well as the manufacture of construction chemicals from the TAM range.

“Normet SA will be offering all the latest underground mobile and utility vehicles and machines, as well as a full range of TAM chemical products in South Africa.”

“This facility in Johannesburg will also provide the springboard for our sales in neighbouring countries such as Botswana, Namibia, DRC, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Zambia. As with our other global locations, we will be offering full after-market support and training programmes for our customers and partners. In fact we are one of the few global companies to offer this high level of service for clients. The entire, extensive range of underground, mobile and utility vehicles will be available from our facility in Johannesburg. This includes our latest ‘Minimec’ a small, fully robotic concrete-spraying machine.”

Clench added, “However, concrete spraying and logistics equipment remains our main business activity and one where we believe that we lead the world in advanced technology and productivity. In addition to our range of Normet products, we are also acting as main agents for other specialist manufacturers such as Techwill and Hemco mining equipment. All orders received in South Africa will be supplied from our distribution centres in the UK, Taiwan or the Netherlands. This is like a greenfield site for us and we are looking forward to the possibilities and potential that our high-tech products provide for us in the fastgrowing South African marketplace.

Next year we will be showcasing our latest products and equipment at BAUMA, which is the first year this international trade fair will be staged in South Africa.”

Versatile underground logistics vehicles

Normet provides a complete range of versatile, rubber-tyred hard rock underground transport vehicles that are designed to meet every conceivable challenge. The company’s ‘Utimec’ range can be customised for any purpose, such as for fuel transportation, or lubrication, as a mobile workshop, for material transport or simply as a flat bed with a crane. In addition, Normet’s modular ‘Variomec’ concept uses a mine-type carrier and interchangeable work modules which could double as a dump-kit for rock hauling, as a re-mixer kit for concrete transport, or as a boom lift for operatives. Normet’s ‘Multimec’ cassette carrier range concept uses either a 6 ton or 10 ton carrier system and allows for a number of already designed cassettes to be used. In addition if there is not a cassette that meets your requirements this can be designed in conjunction with the customer.

In the area of concrete spraying, Normet also offer optimised self-propelled mechanised and automated spraying systems that deliver high productivity, superior operator safety and outstanding quality and reliability. The latest ‘Spraymec’ models are all available with electro, or diesel-hydraulic configuration and an optional on-board compressor. Whatever the Normet machinery that is used, whether it is for spraying, charging, scaling, lifting or transporting, it is sure to provide the optimal answer to any tunnelling or construction challenge anywhere in the world. n