COVER STORY | ELB GROUP E LB Group’s diversified business model has cushioned it from feeling the negative impacts of the mining sector’s tail-end recession. In fact, 2014 represents a year of solid performance and satisfactory growth for the company. “It is thanks to our widespread geo- graphic footprint, industry knowledge, ex- pertise and integrated solutions offering, covering all aspects of the mining value chain but primarily two main business ar- eas – mining and construction equipment and a range of engineered services – that we are able to explore and provide servic- es across multiple platforms and sectors,” says ELB Group CE Dr Stephen Meijers. 2014: Stable and satisfactory “The general construction and mining industries in South Africa have been un- der pressure and overall market size has subsequently reduced, quite substantially. This did impact on and result in a lower 2014 turnover for our equipment business ELB Equipment, but it is important to note Kumba Iron Ore’s modular plant for Sishen Mine, Northern Cape ELB GROUP’S GROWTH AND DIVERSIFICATION STRATEGY Preparing for the market’s upturn JSE-listed ELB Group is bedding down a business strategy over the next 12 months which will not only ensure its sustainability in the suppressed global economic climate but more importantly, will also position it for potential growth when the market sees an upturn in the next two or three years WRITES LAURA CORNISH. 6 MINING REVIEW AFRICA | JANUARY 2015