Following its participation at the inaugural bauma Africa trade show, South Africa-based furnace, industrial and mining services company Dickinson Group expects to increase its client base and its exposure as a company and to further service the mining industry with the products it offers, Dickinson Group executive Miles Simpson says.

“The construction and mining industries are not registering much growth and it is expected to stay like this for a while. To overcome this challenge, companies need to improve their service value,” he says, adding that Dickinson Group is in a growth phase and is considering different strategic options to overcome these challenges.

Dickinson Group will display Putzmeister underground concrete spraying equipment and Resemin underground drilling and bolting equipment at its 230 m2 exhibition stand, says Simpson.

The company’s exhibit at the trade show to be held at Gallagher Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, from September 18 to 21, will focus on the construction and mining industries.

Simpson notes that Dickinson Group also wants to expand its business beyond the borders of South Africa into the rest of Africa towards the end of this year.

The company has created an array of partnerships with several South African and international companies to provide skills and support for mines and cement and lime producers throughout Africa, says Dickinson Group CEO Trevor Dickinson.

“Our aim was to bring global specialist service providers together to provide specialist products and services for the rotary kiln industry in Africa,” he explains.

The alliance includes, besides others, US-based refractory brick equipment company Brokk Bricking Solutions, Poland-based hot-kiln alignment company Geoservex and South Africa-based process consultancy Pro-op Industries.

The alliance aims to not only reduce turnaround times for the shutdowns of kilns but also improve service to boost the production of and maintenance and support for rotary kilns and plants in Africa according to international best practice and service standards, he adds.

“As a specialist services company to the mining, smelting and mineral processing industries, our ability to provide custom-made solutions and internation- ally sourced technologies is critical for us to increase production and reduce costs for clients,” says Dickinson Group industrial services director Clinton Pretorius.