Mining and Heavy Industries

Rema Tip Top unlocks end-to-end solutions

Rema Tip Top has turned its focus to Australian heavy industry, partnering with a local business to offer complete end-to-end solutions. ABHR speaks with Michel Ciepelinski, the company’s Director of Sales and Operations to find out more.

Rema Tip Top has turned its focus to Australian heavy industry, partnering with a local business to offer complete end-to-end solutions. ABHR speaks with Michel Ciepelinski, the company’s Director of Sales and Operations to find out more.

At the dawn of a new decade, unforeseen ‘black swan’ events have caused significant upsets to the global supply chain.

With tensions between the United States and China, a new virus causing billions of dollars to be shed from global markets and the United Kingdom officially leaving the European Union, trade has become increasingly volatile.

Michel Ciepelinski, Director of Sales and Operations at Rema Tip Top, says these threats have the potential to significantly impact a number of sectors, including bulk handling.

“The markets around the world are changing,” he says. “We’ve seen what happens when China slows trade going through its borders and how threatening that can be.”

“In Europe we’ve also seen this with Germany stepping out of the coal and nuclear industries.”

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However, it’s not all doom and gloom for global company Rema Tip Top. The company began its almost 100-year history in Germany, where it grew to be a major international player in the automotive rubber sector. Since then, it has developed further industrial capabilities, providing specialist rubber lining, wear and corrosion protection, and conveyor maintenance.

Ciepelinski says it’s important now more than ever to have a reliable partner in business that has the resources and expertise to react quickly.

“We’re a global company, with operations in more than 150 countries around the world. As one of the biggest providers in a niche market, we are always looking towards the future.”

With Europe stepping away from heavy industry, the company has begun to emphasise its ability to supply lightweight belts and protective coating for industries such as the food market.

At the same time, it has identified Australia as a country where heavy industry is set to expand, especially in the mining and infrastructure construction industries.

“Australia is a very important region for Rema Tip Top,” Ciepelinski says. “Mining is a huge market and is very likely to stay that way long into the future.”

But, according to Ciepelinski, the company doesn’t want to be just known as the ‘conveyor belt company’, and as a result has been developing new offerings and partnerships to provide end-to-end solutions.

Turning the key
Rema Tip Top’s main objective in Australia is to improve the availability and efficiency of plant. Previously, it has strived to do so through rigorous research and development to create long-lasting and effective products, along with dedicated after sales support.

However, the company has bolstered its capacity to install and maintain conveyor systems for Australian mining companies.

In January, Rema Tip Top entered a partnership with a leading civil, structural steel, mechanical and piping company called Drew Project Services. This means the company could call upon its partner to help supply detailed design and fabrication, earthworks, form work and steel fixing, concreting, project management and supervision, heavy construction, site installation and commissioning, specialised welding and cutting, crane operation and rigging, painting, and blasting services.

According to Steve Hipwell, Rema Tip Top’s National Projects and Tenders Manager, the partnership allows Rema Tip Top to focus on the broader infrastructure needs of its customers.

“We’ve long been recognised as a leading provider of products and services that help keep Australian miners on the move,” he says.

“From conveyor belt design, componentry and specialist repair services, we’ve been able to hone our skills over decades to become expert in the installation, maintenance and the replacement of conveyor belts globally.

The partnership is just one way the company has developed from a product provider to a services company, particularly when it comes to offering expertise to greenfield development.

The company can also draw on its worldwide support network to help build projects of any size. Its staff are qualified in project management that will see development from feasibility studies, design, engineering, tendering, commissioning and delivery.

Ciepelinski says mining companies see conveyor systems as a means to an end and want to simplify the process where possible.

“At the end of the day, a mining company is not interested in conveyors, they’re interested in selling their products,” he says.

“That’s why we want to support them, handling everything involved in the design, construction and maintenance of green and brownfield systems so they can focus on production with no unplanned downtime.

“Here at Rema Tip Top, we see the opportunity to add our technology expertise to help customers make better, more informed decisions when it comes to their conveyor systems. Our advanced monitoring and modelling systems have been designed to take the guesswork out of the process and we aim to ultimately increase the availability of their assets and help drive profitability.

“We want to be known as the right partner for bulk handling systems. We stand for quality and reliability and can guarantee that your system will be up and running, delivering for the customer.”

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