Nurturing quarry leaders of tomorrow

To help nurture young talent in the quarrying industry and mould them into future leaders, Pilot Crushtec International recently hosted the Institute of Quarrying Southern Africa’s (IQSA) Young Members Network for a facilities tour and presentations by subject matter experts.

Held on 25 July, the technical meeting started with a tour of workshops and facilities, before the Pilot Crushtec team of experts shared their knowledge on a range of topics, including process design, design engineering for crushing and screening, as well as sand production using vertical shaft impact crushers, among others.

To attract young people in the quarrying industry, IQSA established a Young Members Network to create awareness of the global network opportunities between the Institute of Quarrying member countries and other stakeholders such as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Speaking to Quarrying Africa, IQSA chairman Jeremy Hunter-Smith says the recent technical meeting at Pilot Crushtec was aimed at giving young members the much-needed exposure to the technical aspects of crushing and screening.

“Often companies are in their own islands. These regional and technical meetings give young members an opportunity to network and learn more about the various aspects of the industry. This is important in preparing for future leadership roles in our industry. I am encouraged to see many great young people coming through the pipeline. With the right mentors, they will be able to develop and take the industry to the next level,” says Hunter-Smith.

Francois Marais, director of sales and marketing at Pilot Crushtec, says the company has for the past 25 years supported IQSA’s programmes. “It is our way of giving back to the industry,” says Marais. “With the experience we have in our ranks, we are able to pass on the necessary knowledge that can help mould these young members into industry leaders of tomorrow.”