The study tour focused on site visits, giving participants exposure to industry experts and an insight into international practices, enterprises and standards relating to the quarrying and extractive industry.
The IQA worked in partnership with Ron Delaney, Hap Seng Building Material Sdn Bhd, and Dallas Wilkinson, Orica, to achieve the following aims:
? To build significant bonds between members in both countries.
? To expose IQA young members to an experienced Hap Seng and Orica management team and sophisticated operations in Malaysia and Singapore.
? To gain the cross-fertilisation of knowledge and experience that these introductions will foster.
? To provide an opportunity for IQA young members to report back their findings and learning to their respective employers.
? To provide a ?benchmarking exercise? for all concerned.
Hap Seng Building Materials Sdn Bhd is Malaysia?s fastest growing quarrying company. Since 2005 it has refurbished its Tawau Quarry operation and submitted a whole of life plan for the quarry that includes an upgrade of production facilities to 160,000+
tonnes per month, the installation of port loading facilities and a comprehensive CSR program committed to the local community.
Hap Seng has expanded from one operating quarry to 14 in the past six years; two are awaiting completion of land conversion but have Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan approvals in place, and five of the quarries have been greenfield start-ups with the balance purchased from family concerns.
The new expanded quarries operate across East Malaysia (Borneo Sabah), exporting aggregate to Indonesia, Brunei and various other domestic ports such as Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu. On the mainland (Peninsular Malaysia) the company exports to Singapore and supplies domestic needs for operations in three states.
The company is committed to growth and is expected to expand further in West Malaysia. This is in stark contrast to the traditional Asian approach and has led to many opportunities for Hap Seng employees to improve their skills and experience.
The plants operated by Hap Seng Building Materials range in capacity from 250 tonnes per hour to 750 tph and are generally Sandvik turnkey deliveries. The company has purchased 202 hectares (500 acres) and is finalising approval for a 1200 tph plant in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It expects to construct a similar plant on the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia.
Orica is a global publicly listed company with more than 14,000 employees in more than 50 countries, providing products and services to customers in twice that number. Consisting of three business units, Orica has evolved to become one of the world?s leading mining services companies. Its core strategy is to be the global leader in the provision of high service, critical consumables to the mining, construction and infrastructure markets, leveraged to long term increases in production and development volumes.
Orica?s strategic positioning within the mining sector has allowed it to stay strong despite continued global economic uncertainty. The mining and processing segments of the commodities value chain on which Orica focuses are largely influenced by production volumes that tend to demonstrate low volatility, even at times of economic slowdown.
Orica focuses on four criteria that guide its success and growth:
1. Market leadership. Orica?s aim is to be a market leader in each of its chosen global and regional businesses.
2. Invest in ?winners?. Orica grows its best performing businesses that have met financial performance targets and have earned the right to grow.
3. Grow ?close to the core?. Orica pursues opportunities in related businesses where it can leverage its knowledge and expertise and achieve synergies.
4. Productivity improvement. Orica has a relentless focus on growth and productivity in all of its businesses.
The IQA Young Member Network travel group consisted of Blake Ardrey (Boral), Dru Oxley (Fulton Hogan), Mardi Colbran (Dubbo Sands), Graham Colbran (Dubbo Sands), Scott Lee (Mawsons) and Andrew Dobie (Mawsons). The group travelled through Singapore and Malaysia, visiting a number of quarry sites and factories and participating in presentations from Hap Seng and Orica personnel.
The travel group was indebted to Ron Delaney (Hap Seng) and Dallas Wilkinson (Orica) for their hospitality and for providing opportunities to share knowledge with the tour group.
Watch this space because there will definitely be another IQA Young Member Network tour in 2013! To put your name forward for the 2013 tour, telephone 0429 438 554 or email general-manager@quarry.com.au
Keep safe and well!
Paul Sutton is the General Manager of the Institute of Quarrying Australia.