Jonny McMurtry, Chief Operating Officer at Precisionscreen, observes that the industry is now, more than ever, keen to utilise products efficiently.
How did 2022 look like for Precisionscreen in terms of company performance? What were some key milestones?
After a Covid affected period of 12 to 24 months, which was full of uncertainties and changes for us, our focus was on gaining some stability. Having lost a lot of experience in some of our management figures leaving the company, we decided to focus on Australian manufacturing as opposed to a blend of importing and manufacturing. Looking back at our achievements, we can call it a success because we grew as a company, not just in terms of sales and turnover, but also because we were able to retain all our staff and introduce new members to our team. We even launched two new products in the market over the past six weeks, which were developed internally using ideas from our line managers and different people within the company. Both products were developed organically by understanding what our customers’ needs and requirements were.
Which of Precisionscreen’s products are most popular in the quarrying industry?
Our Scorpion range, including our reclaimer and pugmill units continue to grow in volume and have a new addition to the range in our Scorpion stacker, wheeled hopper/conveyor unit. The newest addition to our Scorpion family, our Scorpion Stacker plant comes with galvanised extended hopper, e-lanyards for main conveyor, suitable guarding, engine bay enclosures, fitted with large eight cubic metre hopper and extended jib conveyor for 6500 millimetre discharge height and powered by Perkins power pack and in-house developed hydraulic system.
Has Precisionscreen introduced new products or upgrades?
Alongside our recently introduced Scorpion Stacker unit, we have recently introduced new units such as a bin feeder for safely loading bulker bags into our PLC pugmill units. We also had modifications to existing units such as track mounting our PLC pugmill unit. The new Bin Feeder system was developed in only six weeks, from the point of discussions with the client to being completed and working onsite, which is an example of the team’s hard work and willingness to try new ideas.
What do you foresee to be major challenges for the quarrying industry in the next three years?
Access to skilled labour, increasing cost of imported goods and raw materials prices plus running costs of machines including electric power systems and diesel, combined with the quarry industry’s ability to meet or match the demands of materials required for expected increase in infrastructure and development.
How has Precisionscreen set itself up to face those challenges?
Firstly, we contacted local education facilities that do apprentice training and we offered placements or work experience for some young college students to both introduce new ideas to our business and hopefully new, enthusiastic young adults into our industry. We also tried to develop our new skills and techniques with our existing employees within the team, making sure the employees we have are fully proficient and up to date with the certifications expected for our industry. To tackle the overseas or imported costs, that ties in with our focus on local manufacturing. We’re not trying to compete against every type of machine in the market. What we’re trying to do is offer alternative solutions which can be manufactured in Brisbane, using local manufacturing and local suppliers for innovative and reliable products and services, fully developed in Brisbane. We are trying to counter-act those increasing costs and the limited supply by offering alternative solutions with the end user in mind.
Have there been changes in market demands from your perspective?
Over the past 12 to 24 months, our most sought-after product has been our PLC Pugmill. I think the industry is trying to maximise production volumes or generate sellable products as effectively as possible. Where in the past a lot of resources might have gone to waste, more customers are now trying to get as many materials as they can from their crushing and screening processes. I don’t necessarily think that the expectations or demands from the industry have changed or substantially increased, but I think the customers are expecting more effectiveness and improved efficiencies from their processes.
Going into 2023, what does Precisionscreen aim to achieve?
Our focus for 2023 is new product development and the growth and strength of our company’s culture. We are still looking to develop new or diversification of Precisionscreen product lines, such as electric driven screen plants and modular crushing plants. With the increasing price of diesel, we want to develop some direct electric or electric over hydraulic crushing and screening options, particularly for our customers in metro areas who have access to good electricity sources. We will also focus on niche areas and offer solutions for sand washing processes, which includes the re-introduction our fines recovery pod to help customers with water recycling for washing processes and extracting fine material. Ultimately, what we’re trying to offer is a quality product that we can stand besides, be proud of and support for years to come which Australian customers within the Australian market can rely on.
For more information on Precisionscreen’s screening and crushing solutions, visit their website.