DESPITE the global mining downturn, Hedweld is looking forward to a successful year in 2015.
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After what has been a challenging 12 months for the Australian mining industry, the Singleton-based company is pleased to say it has a lot to be optimistic about.
Hedweld, a family-owned business, has established itself as a world leader in the design and manufacture of mining and safety equipment, known for its Trilift range of component handling equipment and the Safe-Away range of access systems.
Using the expertise and technology acquired in the mining sector, Hedweld launched a new company Milbrotec in 2014 to offer solutions for the agricultural sector.
It is this innovation and diversification of our products and markets that will provide us with growth opportunities in the years ahead.
“2015 will see great developments within our Milbrotec range,” managing director Ian Hedley said.
“This is an exciting time for our newest business.”
Hedweld currently employs 88 full-time staff.
And, the week before Christmas, it added seven new apprentices.
Priding themselves as a training organisation, they now have 16 trainees and apprentices on the team.
Since June 2014, Hedweld has also been in the position to recruit and employ four permanent staff and three casuals.
“I am very proud that in a time when other companies are still in the unfortunate position where they are having to lay off staff in order to survive, we (having restructured) are now in the position to grow our team,” Mr Hedley said.
Although the mining industry has a long recovery ahead of it, Hedweld’s export sales have been growing to 72 per cent of total sales this financial year.
The company entered three new markets in 2014 and now exports to 31 countries.
Hedweld’s export market has seen them through the mining downturn and indications are that things are starting to look forward domestically.