Integrated single-source cable solutions Murrplastik

Fast-growing Finnish mining and tunnelling company Normet is active in 19 countries. Industry Europe’s Emma-Jane Batey spoke to Gary Clench, general manager Normet Africa, to see how the Group is rapidly expanding across Africa.

The global market leader in its mining and tunnelling segments, Finnish-based technology, machinery and chemicals company Normet employs over 700 people worldwide. With operations in 27 locations, including its own sales and service companies on five continents, the Group’s net sales were €170 million in 2011.

Normet provides advanced solutions for selected customer processes in underground mining and tunnel construction environments, with a clear focus on life-time care and high quality. Gary Clench said, “Normet is committed to delivering excellent, reliable service to our customers worldwide. As we continue to grow, our reputation grows with us. With our increasingly global presence highlighting how we must offer a local service with local knowledge, we can call upon our strength as a global business to make that happen.”

Famous name

Well-known as a mining and tunnelling equipment and chemicals group, Normet is growing steadily and strategically. Mr Clench heads up the company’s operations in Africa, which has been going from strength to strength in the year since it was established. He continued, “Our strategy is to stay close to our customers – wherever they are in the world. As one of the most important mining markets in the world, it is important that Normet has a presence in sub-Saharan Africa. We have continued to strengthen our presence across Africa since opening our own sales and after-sales support office in Johannesburg.”

Normet Africa offers exceptional service and back-up to its customers across subSaharan Africa, ‘from Tanzania downwards’, with all the hard rock mining applications covered. Mr Clench continued, “As mining and tunnelling markets in Africa are growing, our own entity and resources will allow for a more focused market approach and growth strategy. We have our own sales personnel for equipment and spare parts together with technical support and service personnel to support our existing and new customers.”

The Johannesburg office for Normet Africa is destined to provide a complete ‘one stop shop’ for its customers across the continent. Offering new machine sales, the ability to rebuild machines, spare parts and technical assistance, Normet Africa also manufactures a range of chemicals locally and exports them throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr Clench explained how the investment in Normet Africa highlights the Group’s commitment to the region. He said, “We believe our long-term commitment to our new and existing customers throughout sub-Saharan Africa is clear from our investment in building up our own resources and presence in Africa. With local production for construction chemicals now up to speed, we can respond more flexibly and effectively to our customers’ needs. We can also share our extensive

knowledge of the concrete spraying process and therefore add value to our products through expert advice.”

TAM integration

The manufacture of chemicals is largely thanks to Normet’s now-complete integration of the construction chemicals company TAM International (TAM). Starting in April 2010 when Normet acquired 40 per cent of the manufacturer and supplier, Normet now wholly owns TAM. By acquiring the remaining 60 per cent in June 2012, Normet has combined with TAM to offer a boosted underground equipment range, additional product solutions packages and an enhanced technically orientated customer support provision.

Today, TAM is involved in many major and prestigious tunnelling projects in Taiwan, Hong Kong and the UK, with active mining projects in countries including Australia, Sweden and Ireland. With TAM’s growth between the first and final stages of the acquisitions proving significant, Normet is certainly excited about the future. Mr Clench said, “Now that TAM is fully integrated into Normet’s own construction chemical business line, it makes us one of the leading specialist suppliers of process solutions to the global underground mining and tunnelling sector. The integration of TAM has brought additional experience, competence, personnel and resources which cement our position as a reliable long-term partner for our customers.”

Mr Clench is also clear that the rapid development of the mining and tunnelling sector in sub-Saharan Africa represents exciting opportunities for growth in the region. One area where Mr Clench is sure that Normet will see increased opportunities is in shotcreteing, a process where Normet excels. He added, “We’re making a real breakthrough when it comes to shotcreting, which is great for us and for our customers. The shotcreting market in Africa is booming and we are already known as a supplier for shotcreting machinery, equipment and chemicals, particularly with the TAM brand on board. We’re finding that rock stabilisation is a growing sector for us, so products including polyurethane injections are in demand. In the near future we will also be able to offer anything to do with concrete transportation as a support service.” n

INTEGRATED SINGLE-SOURCE CABLE SOLUTIONS

Murrplastik is a global leader in the manufacture and supply of injection moulded cable management systems for machine automation, robotics and maritime applications. Philip Yorke talked to Marco Braeuss, the company’s CEO, about its broad product expertise and latest innovative products.

Murrplastik is a privately owned family business that was founded in Germany over 30 years ago and has since grown to become the world leader in injection moulded cable management systems. Murrplastik is a fully integrated ISO 9001 company that provides a wide range of manufacturing, engineering, product development and design services to industry. The company’s sales, distribution and customer-care service organisation spans more than 40 countries worldwide. Murrplastik has a major facility in North America located in Hatfield, Philadelphia, which is designed to serve the company’s US, Canadian and Mexican markets, as well as manufacturing facilities in China to serve the Asian markets.

Customer-specific solutions

Murrplastik works in close partnership with its customers to provide unrivalled, productspecific solutions across its diverse range of