WORLD PROSPECTS_visuals 21/07/2016 12:36 Page 2
WORLD PROSPECTS
in reduced downtime and increasing
productivity for our customers. The valve
manufacturing process employs tight
tolerances and minimum clearances to ensure
reliable performance and the longevity of the
highly engineered product.”
“Within the oil sands sector, the Delta
Industrial knife gate valves provide innovative,
custom products that are well suited for the
harsh process of this industry. The valves are
heavily entrenched in the oil sands process,
where performance is critical and leakage, both
external and internal, cannot be tolerated.”
In hard rock mining, “a large international
mining company was repairing a major valve on
their tailings line every three months. This was
proving to be extremely inefficient and costly.
They asked us to help solve this problem which
was costing them time and money. A Delta
Industrial knife gate valve was specified and
installed, this valve has now been operating for
four years without any unscheduled maintenance.”
The team at Weir Minerals are currently
working on complementing their range of ASME
600 rated valves. There are also developments
currently being tested which will provide
enhanced performance in high pressure
applications. “We are all very excited about the
product development and new design
innovations to help our customers and
cannot wait to see these unfold,” Abbott
says.
www.global.weir/brands/delta-industrial
FAMUR buyout of Kopex goes ahead
ack on March 17, 2016, FAMUR SA,
through its majority shareholder TDJ,
announced a conditional agreement for
the purchase of controlling shares of Kopex SA,
bringing together the two remaining major Polish
suppliers of mining equipment and technology
known particularly for complete longwall mining
solutions. On June 22, Poland’s anti-monopoly
watchdog UOKiK approved the takeover of
mining machinery producer Kopex by TDJ, a
majority shareholder of Famur, hence there are
no more barriers for the merger to go ahead.
The UOKiK statement said: “The takeover
works towards the development of Polski
Kombajn Górniczy (the Polish Mining Combine),
a programme creating a strong entity offering
comprehensive services and equipment for the
mining industry. The Combine is part of Poland’s
larger Plan for Responsible Development, which
envisages the expansion of strong Polish brands
abroad.” UOKiK’s proceedings in the case
“showed that the markets the companies
operate on are global in scale, and will not see
competition restricted.”
B
After the original March annoucement,
Mirosław Bendzera, CEO of FAMUR stated:
“Fulfillment of this agreement provisions will
enable us to build one strong entity based both
on FAMUR and Kopex. A key condition of this
transaction is reaching agreement with existing
creditors of the Kopex Group, which will enable
the stabilisation of the Group’s financing
sources in the long-term. In the current market
situation, the consolidation is the right direction
for development of both companies, and the
intended operation means the opportunity of a
significant increase in the scale of activity,
quality and efficiency of operations on domestic
and foreign markets.”
“This is the most important moment in the
history of the companies, FAMUR and Kopex. A
period that can bring many benefits is ahead of
us. This is the opportunity for stabilisation and
the excellent base for the development of both
companies, and thus of the entire Silesia. The
merged companies would constitute one of the
largest industrial companies in Poland that
could certainly join the group of National
Champions, whose creation is being promoted
in the development plan by Minister
Morawiecki. In this perspective, it becomes even
more realistic and feasible to conquer global
markets with the ‘Polish Shearer Loader’ and
other products we have been known for as
Polish manufacturers for many years…the
history of both companies show