Success Story
Issue No. 32 - December/January
Louminco keeps partners in mine
Established in 1979 to ‘import replace’ spare parts for the mining industry, procurement services specialist Louminco has revelled in SA’s on-going mining boom.
Headquarters in Torrensville is the hub of a far-flung network that has sites overseas - about one third of turnover is export – and deals with some of the industry’s biggest names in BHP Billiton and OneSteel.
Louminco’s USP is its ability to reduce plant operating costs and down time by applying specialist expertise and foresight. Engineering, design, materials knowledge, manufacturing management, procurement and supply systems are the critical areas.
MD Eduardo Donoso says the “hard core” of long-serving employees gives Louminco its strong knowledge base. Most are of 12 to 15-year standing while some have been with the firm almost from the start.
“They are very practical people,” Eduardo says - he joined from Chile in 2000, as a technical manager. “Before the big mining boom started we were already two years ahead (in terms of preparation for the scale of demand).”
Presently trade is a 60-40 split between mining and steelmaking industries.
Keeping the business local is vitally important, Eduardo says. That conviction comes partly from loyalty to the state and partly from understanding how important it is to build close ties with clients.
The Adelaide Office is Louminco’s Service Centre, supporting offices in Whyalla, Mount Is...
