RCT’s commitment to develop cutting edge technology and manufacture high-quality products locally were on full display for the Honourable Kim Beazley AC, Governor of Western Australia who visited the company’s head office in Perth last week.
The Governor toured RCT’s Kewdale workshops, manufacturing facility and training rooms and was pleased to see highly-talented local people employed to design, develop, manufacture and deploy proprietary products for clients around the world.
RCT’s Executive Director & CEO Brett White, Executive Chairman & Founder Bob Muirhead and Head of Global Operations Dave Holman led the Governor through RCT’s facilities, which have now grown to 230 fully-committed employees worldwide producing automation solutions, protection products, information systems and electrical parts for the mining and industrial sectors.
The only known company of its kind based on its unique business model, RCT maintains its status as the global market leader in its field. Mr White explained it was a great privilege to show the Governor, a proud successful Australian company manufacturing products in Western Australia.
The Governor was impressed with RCT’s strong investment into Research and Development – a significant factor why RCT has always been able to stay at the forefront of the technology curve.
“RCT are always innovating and changing its technology to suit the ever-evolving mining industry, and we’re even looking to expand into the agriculture, defence and construction sectors,” said Mr White.
“When it comes to automation and artificial intelligence, WA is equal to or ahead of the rest of the world in this field. I see the evidence of this frequently when I visit companies throughout the state. RCT is a shining example of WA best practice,” the Governor said.
“RCT has pioneered mining technology for 50 years, with almost every mine site in Australia believed to have some of RCT’s products. It’s great to support businesses that increase WA’s domestic capabilities.”
“From humble beginnings in Kalgoorlie, RCT's footprint now covers ‘all corners’ of the globe including offices in the United States, Canada, Chile, Russia and South Africa.”
While visiting one of RCT’s workshops, locally employed engineers were building a ControlMaster® Automation Centre which enables machine operators to manage mining equipment from a secure location on the mine’s surface.
Mr Holman said the Automation Centre enables operators to manage diverse mining equipment such as water carts, rockbreakers and underground loaders in a way that major Original Equipment Manufacturers cannot, and RCT has yet to come across a machine we could not automate.
RCT would like to thank the Governor and his staff for taking time out of their busy schedules to tour our facilities and observe how RCT stayed fully operational to help the economy withstand and recover from the impact of COVID-19.
Autonomous solutions provider RCT is working with its clients Gold Fields and Northern Star Resources to provide valuable hands-on training opportunities to apprentices in Western Australia’s Goldfields.
Over its 45-year history, RCT has employed many apprentices and other skilled workers to help provide fleet servicing, repair works, maintenance and installation services of remote-control systems and electrical items and equipment for mining companies around the world.
This month RCT’s Kalgoorlie branch is hosting Gold Fields apprentice Auto Electrician Michael Schoeppner who will carry out repair and maintenance work on remotely operated mining equipment under the guidance of RCT’s experienced workshop staff.
Gold Fields Executive Vice President Australasia, Stuart Mathews said “Gold Fields is committed to team development, and we are delighted our apprentices have the opportunity to work with our business partners to receive valuable training, mentoring and experience.”
Following his training experience, Michael will be able to apply his new skills to benefit Gold Fields’ projects in the region, where there is a continued emphasis on the use of remote technologies to improve safety and productivity in its mines.
RCT also has a similar arrangement with Northern Star Resources which saw apprentice Ben Ashby mentored by the company’s bench repair technicians at the Kalgoorlie branch earlier this month.
Ben’s experience centred on unit repairs and diagnosis with particular focus on repairing remote interfaces and elements of RCT’s ControlMaster® Teleremote and Guidance products.
Northern Star Resources Maintenance Manager Aaron Armstrong said the company is delighted that their apprentices have the opportunity to develop their skills with an experienced supplier.
“RCT has a wealth of in-house skills related to mobile plant equipment and electrical systems in the mining sector and we are happy they will share their knowledge with our tradespeople,” he said.
RCT Kalgoorlie Branch Manager Rick Radcliffe said both Michael and Ben were extremely polite and professional
individuals who took initiative and picked up instructions very quickly.
“These training opportunities enable staff from both companies to familiarise themselves with each other’s procedures and technical knowledge providing a strong base for future working relationships,” he said.
“We would be very happy to accommodate apprentices from Northern Star Resources and Gold Fields here at the Kalgoorlie office for future hands-on training experiences.”