World leading supplier of advanced simulator-based training systems, Osborne Park-based Immersive Technologies, continues to expand its export base with the signing of an alliance agreement with one of Japan’s major mining and construction equipment manuf
World leading supplier of advanced simulator-based training systems, Osborne Park-based Immersive Technologies, continues to expand its export base with the signing of an alliance agreement with one of Japan’s major mining and construction equipment manufacturers.
Under the agreement, Komatsu Ltd will provide Immersive with restricted technical data in order to develop realistic earthmoving simulators for training purposes.
Immersive Technologies was chosen after Komatsu spent more than a year reviewing the earthmoving simulator technology market for a suitable alliance partner.
Immersive Technologies chief executive officer Peter Salfinger said the Komatsu agreement provided further validation of the company’s positioning as the preferred global platform for simulator training in the mining industry.
“We have seen a large number of the world’s new and existing mines recog-nise the benefits of our technology and support system,” he said.
“They are looking increasingly to simulator training to achieve optimum levels of performance and safety out of mobile equipment fleets.
“The major equipment manufacturers have acknowledged the advanced equipment simulator technology provides the most sophisticated training solution to the industry and is the best platform to accurately replicate their complex machine specific technical data.”
Komatsu product support division president Mamoru Hironaka said the system would help promote a safer training option for Komatsu employees.
“By using an advanced simulator for training, customers do not have to remove machines from the production cycle for training purposes or suffer reduced equipment productivity during training time,” he said.
“The simulator is also the safest training option for new operators.”
The alliance now means five of the world’s leading mining equipment manufacturers exclusively support and recommend Immersive’s advanced equipment simulator technology, with similar alliances having been formed with Caterpillar Inc, P & H Mining Equipment Inc, Bucyrus International Inc and Liebherr Mining Equipment.
The company now exports to 17 countries including Canada, the US, South Africa, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia and has more than 85 simulators being used by mine operators, contractors, equipment, suppliers and training bodies.
Exports make up 95 per cent of Immersive’s sales, which have grown from $6.9 million in 2004 to $17.4 million last year, according to accounts lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Its expanding customer support base includes offices in Australia, the US and South Africa.
The new head office in Osborne Park was opened in May, not far from the company’s production facility.
Peter and Wayde Salfinger established Immersive in 1993.
The company sold its first dump truck simulator to Caterpillar in 1999, after several years involved in mining simulator research and development.
As previously reported in WA Business News, Immersive’s founders have bought back full ownership of the company from Sydney-based investment company Equity Partners, which invested more than $2 million in the business to support its expansion. The buy-out was in three instalments totalling $3 million, with the last instalment made last month.
