2 | Maicon Engineering
Maicon Engineering | 3 Maicon Engineering is a leading engineering and steel fabrication firm that specializes in plant construction, machine and fitting, design and drafting and steel design. Based out of Geraldton, they are well-respected in the Mid-West engineering and maintenance industry. Established in 1976, the business began as a small venture, employing about half-a-dozen people and solely focusing on servicing and fabricating. After realising the potential for growth, an employee bought out Maicon – looking to capitalise on their success while expanding. This expansion, says Operations Manager John Sargent, was achieved by diversifying and gaining expert knowledge in all areas of their industry. This included gold and talc mining, construction and maintenance. Sargent joined the business about 20 years ago. He briefly switched
4 | Maicon Engineering to ship building before returning to the mining industry several years ago. His involvement with Maicon happened purely by chance, and resulted from meeting some the company’s employees during a contracting job away from his hometown. Enjoying the cheerful atmosphere and camaraderie shared between them, Sargent offered his services in the company’s work shop management. RETAINING KNOWLEDGE Once he joined Maicon Engineering, Sargent found the work environment very satisfying. Unlike previous companies he had worked for, Maicon is family-run business, and keeps the lines of communication open. The company administration doesn’t believe in a typical hierarchal structure of management, he says, which allows all ideas to be valued, and all voices to be heard. All employees have a say in the direction of Maicon’s future path, Sargent says – and that’s the secret to their high retention rate. “Most of our guys have been here longer than five years, there are several that have been here 10 years, and a few longer than that,” Sargent explains. “We try to retain knowledge.” The business prides itself on its training programs, and currently employs around 13 apprentices and three trainees. One of the company’s core values is promoting extensive training for all employees, regardless of age or position. Maicon has become well-known for their comprehensive training program that sets up the graduate for a successful career in the industry. When choosing new apprentices or employees, the first thing Maicon looks for is a “go-getter Installation of Shiploader - Karara Port Site
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6 | Maicon Engineering Off Gas Duct Section Train Unloading shed and Conveyor gallery in background
Maicon Engineering | 7 with vision,” Sargent says. Those with experience, knowledge and a passion to meet the clients’ expectations each and every time make them an ideal staff member. A similar approach is taken when forming relationships with subcontractors – many of whom go back more than 15 years with the company. To accomplish that longevity, Sargent says that relationships with local contractors and suppliers have to be very close. Maicon pushes this by supporting and hiring local subcontractors in the region and using knowledge found within the region to enhance the community. Similar to employees and suppliers, retention rates with clients is also high. Customer approval is a top priority at Maicon Engineering, which has led to long-standing relationships and a strong reputation within the industry. Because they do very little marketing, Sargent credits that reputation to word-of-mouth. Clients keep coming back because at Maicon, “the customer gets more than they pay for in the long run,” Sargent says. Roughly 50 per cent of their client base has been using Maicon’s services for more than 20 years, including top talc mining and mineral sands company in the region. This is because many consider Maicon a “one-stop shop, offering a variety of services from designing, drafting, fabrication, servicing and maintenance.” “We provide a complete and full service, making it easier and more affordable for customers to trust us as their first choice,” Sargent says. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Moving forward, one of Maicon’s key priorities will be keeping up-to-date with technology. They Off Gas Duct Section
8 | Maicon Engineering Installation of Dual Wagon Tipper - Karara Port Site
Maicon Engineering | 9 want to ensure they have the latest computerised drafting software, for instance, and want to equip their surveyors with satellite surveying technology. “There’s a lot of fabrication tools that have come on line in the last several years that we want to take advantage of too,” Sargest explains. In general, Sargent says the plan is to continue growing – which they have been doing since inception. They earned nearly $29.1 million in revenue in the last fiscal year, compared to just $6.8 million in 2000. In order to keep up with demand, Maicon plans to acquire and merge with smaller service-oriented companies that will enhance their business and keep in line with Maicon’s vision of becoming a one-stop shop for all its customers.
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