Excellent results for RST
Publication: The Mining Chronicle
Date: August 2011
RST currently operates throughout Australia and internationally in South America, Asia, South Africa and New Caledonia. Its most recent international success has seen the company win a contract in the Philippines to build road systems and a lucrative South American contact as sole dust suppressant provider to the Pascua Lama mine on the border of Chile and Argentina.
RST director David Handel attributed the result to the expansion into overseas markets in the last 12 to 18 months and an injection of new services while building strategic alliances.
"We took the aggressive approach to expanding out business," said Mr Handel.
"In these uncertain times, we had the choice to wind down our expansion plans and go the safe route or be aggressive and go for it. We chose to go the aggressive route. We targeted the right areas and fortunately we've had a fair bit of luck thrown in there as well."
The company's commitment to continued reseach and development has lead to a recent upgrade of products and an extension of services to now include innovative mechanical and advanced dust management technologies through the complete materials supply chain.
Using new and innovative turn-key technology, RST's road stabilisation validation systems now feature new mechanical devices and improved engineering for on-site analysis.
"We are continually improving our product range and growing our services and the move into mechanical markets has taken a huge lift with our new 'Teksmart' divison," said Mr Handel.
"The move to automotive systems is also a massive growth area of our business. Together with our strategic alliance with Proof Engineers, we are now able to offer better systems and services that have proven results, which is a major benefit for our clients.
"We are currently working on a static monitoring system that collects data from on-site readers to the computers and mobile phones of site managers. We are building this technology alongside the expertise of Proof Engineers, to be able to monitor and control dust, before it reaches a problem point.
''RST is now showing we can take on projects outside the sphere with proven results and the biggest value to clients is the on-the-ground support, with men, equipment, vehicles as well as continual testing, improvment and monitoring.
''In a nutshell, we're getting into the dynamic data gathering and running of sites. Mining companies love the fact that we're capable of taking action first, rather than waiting until problems occur. We're fixing it before it's broken."
The addition of new products and services has also seen the company double its employees, with the RST team expanding from 20 staff in 2010 to a team of more than 40 staff worldwide this year.
"In 18 months we have doubled our income and we now have twice as many people," said Mr Handel.
RST co-director Peter Parkinson said the company would look to double its profits again in the next 12 months as well as increase international business by a further 25 per cent.
"Despite rapid international growth, international exports currently make up only 12 per cent of our major income producing business, with the majority of our current projects operating on Australian soil," said Mr Parkinson.
"We estimate in order to reach this goal within 12 months, 75 per cent of our focus will again be within Australia, with further 25 per cent focused on building international opportunities."