Since 1994, the company has drawn on that long history of innovation to provide the world’s best geogrids for use as longwall recovery screens, rib support and highwall protection. Since its beginning, Huesker has helped longwall mines safely and successfully move their longwalls, saving countless hours and protecting miners around the world.
United Central Acquires Gooding Rubber
In an asset based transaction, United Central Industrial Supply Co., headquartered in Bristol, Tenn., has acquired Gooding Rubber Co. which is headquartered in Woodridge, Ill. In addition to the Woodridge operation, Gooding operates three additional facilities in Henderson, Ky.; Marion, Ill.; and St. Louis, Mo. Established in 1974, United Central is a full line, full service industrial distributor whose customers are primarily mining, tunneling and mining-related business. Established in 1948, Gooding Rubber, is a major supplier of industrial rubber products to mining and industrial customers in the Midwest.
With the addition of the Gooding operations, United Central will now operate 28 locations throughout many mining districts in the U.S. and western Canada. “The addition of Gooding enhances our ability to better serve the Midwestern mining community with our portfolio of premium products and services designed to help North American mine operators deliver more tons, lower costs, improve safety and enhance operational efficiencies,” said Darrell Cole, president and CEO, United Central.
Dennis Monarch who has led the Gooding mining division team for the past 15 years will continue to manage Gooding’s mining-related operations. He said customers will see a seamless transition because the two companies share a tremendous depth of industry experience as well as an enhanced commitment and dedication to provide superior service. The combined companies will employee approximately 350 people.
Matrix Design Group Opens Western U.S. Office
Matrix Design Group announced the acquisition of Colorado-based engineering firm Engineered Systems, Inc. (ESI). ESI, an electrical and mechanical engineering firm founded in 1985, specializes in the design and modification of manufacturing equipment, commercial systems and electrical systems.
Matrix-ESI will continue day-to-day operations, providing electrical and mechanical engineering services and consulting throughout the Arkansas Valley. “Acquiring ESI allows us to provide even better service to Matrix customers as well as the opportunity to reach out to new markets,” said David Burch, vice president of controls and automation, Matrix. “We are in the process of hiring additional personnel and look forward to taking advantage of this exciting opportunity.”
Matrix-ESI will now be able to provide a broader range of products and services to an expanded customer base while maintaining the quality support currently provided to existing customers. “We’ve done a great deal of work in the West over the past decade,” said Aric Pryor, president, Matrix. “With the recent additions and upgrades of our safety systems in western mines, this acquisition is a natural next step in providing enhanced service and support in this area.”
Runge Launches Online Mining Course
Leading mining technology services company, Runge Limited announced the launch of its new global online mining course, Smartminer in North America. Targeted at professionals, technical staff in the mining industry and those who regularly interact with mining personnel, it will improve productivity by up skilling a global workforce quickly and easily. The solution combines Runge’s mining expertise with Catalyst Interactive’s content delivery expertise, which facilitates the delivery of training solutions and benefits to a global workforce irrespective of their location or time zone.
“This is our first online Runge Profes-sional Development course and it is a great alternative for our growing number of customers who, for various reasons like remoteness and travel costs, cannot attend a classroom-based course or who may prefer a learning environment where they can progress their learning at their own pace in an interactive manner,” said Gary Gibson, global training manager, Runge.
“Businesses require flexible and effective learning solutions to keep pace with the global dynamic business world of mining,” Gibson said. “Learning solutions need to include processes and technologies that provide access to training and development for the business as well as knowledge management and performance support systems.” With this framework in place, Gibson said, the training provided can be focused, workflow-specific and in the “right place, right time, right amount” mode.
Blended learning solutions integrate e-learning methods (such as online delivery, discussion boards and e-mail) with traditional instructor-led methods (including lectures, in-person discussions, seminars, or tutorials). By using this blended approach to learning, up skilling of staff can take on a more ‘holistic’ and structured approach rather than being a one-off, random occurrence. Some learning models even extend the traditional parameters of blended learning to include virtual online classrooms, self paced, print-based training, internet-delivered training, mobile training and mentoring or informal training via a community of practice (CoP). The courseware can be provided in a TaaS (Training as a Service) mode as a fully hosted service globally or installed within mining organizations’ existing LMS (Learning Management System). Irrespective of the model adopted, its function is to deliver, at the moment of need, the knowledge and training that is directly linked to performance improvement for mining professionals and people wishing to enter or interface with the mining and resources industry worldwide.
DMT Supplies Seismic Solutions to Mexican Coal Mining
The German company, DMT, part of the of the TÜV NORD Group, has supplied equipment and services for in-seam seismics to the Mexican thermal-coal producer, Micare. The technique uses seismic waves to identify geological faults in coal seams and to delineate underground deposits precisely. In addition, DMT points out, boreholes only deliver information for discrete points while in-seam seismics can provide continuous mapping of the entire seam.
DMT achieved ‘impressive’ results at Micare during its first campaign in May of last year, providing the Mexican company with a clear picture of the faults and allowing it to plan for further extraction accordingly. DMT also developed and manufactured the instrumentation used for this work in-house, claiming no other vendor in this field can offer a similar depth of experience.
According to DMT, it will be carrying out further surveying campaigns, as well as providing training for Micare staff. It has also begun discussions with Micare about applying other measurement techniques such as 3-D seismics, working from the surface. Having developed its seismic techniques in Germany’s hard-coal industry, DMT has since supplied its services to coal mines in the Czech Republic, Spain, Russia and China, and currently has survey campaigns for operations in both India and Kazakhstan at the planning stage, the company reported.
AMEC Acquires Water and Mining Environmental & Engineering Firm
AMEC, an international engineering and project management company, has acquired BCI Engineers and Scientists, Inc. Established more than 30 years ago, BCI is a diversified environmental, water resources, geotechnical, civil and forensic engineering firm working predominantly in the water and mining sectors. Headquartered in Lakeland, Fla., the company employs nearly 200 engineers, scientists and other professionals in seven offices.“This acquisition is consistent with our Vision 2015 growth strategy in the water and mining sectors, as well as expansion in the Southeast U.S.,” said Hisham Mahmoud, president, AMEC’s Earth & Environmental business.
