COVER STORY negotiable. We strive to exceed customers’ service expectations”. The MD also places equal emphasis on retaining an open communication platform with MIP’s customers, which provides them with constant reassurance throughout the duration of a project. With a business model suited to alleviate and/or overcome some of the processing challenges of a struggling mining sector, MIP has flourished and grown year-on-year. What they said The key to our on-going success in this market environment is providing technically ‘superior’ equipment of the ‘highest quality’, quickly and cost competitively. Philip Hoff Cautiously optimistic for 2015 and beyond Hoff is “cautiously” optimistic about 2015 and expects a variety of new projects to come online over the course of the remaining months of the year. “Most of our recent work has been in the coal, diamonds, gold and platinum sectors and this looks set to continue, especially in the coal sector where we are listed as a preferred supplier with many of the local majors.” Fortunately, MIP’s exposure to new projects is significant thanks to its global Linear screen footprint which includes completed projects in Australia, North and South America as well as Africa. It also has an agent in Brazil, Argentina and Turkey in addition to an offi ce in North America. “Our intention moving forward is expanding our project portfolio footprint in Africa,” Hoff reveals. To date, the company has already worked in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Namibia, and Burkina Faso and is eyeing Kenya, Ghana and possibly Nigeria, in addition to the ‘mining hot spots’ such as Botswana and Zambia. Another key element to growth is diversification and thanks to its acquisition of dust extraction business ADCS, MIP is developing a reputation and taking on new work in a sector not directly linked with minerals processing. This industry area is gaining momentum as environmental legislation becomes a business priority. “The dust extraction arm of the business is looking strong with a major new order imminent,” Hoff mentions. Looking beyond 2015, Hoff ’s growth aspirations remain intact but will be “more controlled”. “Growth will always form a strategic arm of this business, but it is unlikely we will continue with the same momentum. Under no circumstance will I allow growth to dilute the quality and service of our work. As the business stands, I am comfortable and feel certain we are capable of delivering on our promises.” A healthy 2015 project list The majority of MIP’s recent thickener contracts have been to diamond, platinum and coal projects in South Africa MIP is in the process of supplying, building, erecting and commissioning a variety of thickener projects in South Africa, Lesotho and abroad. The company’s bolt-together thickener has gained significant market interest since it was introduced to the market in 2009. MIP introduced the concept to meet clients’ preference for plant mobility and reduced MINING REVIEW AFRICA | MAY 2015 5