Rio chooses local business with a great story

Karratha based business, PLI, has been awarded a three-year contract with Rio Tinto to service 22 mine-sites across the Pilbara.

The family owned and operated mining support business sees the contract secure employment for at least 40 full time, Pilbara based staff and a further 25 FIFO roles with a total of 100 employees throughout the year.

Specialising in construction, maintenance, plant and equipment, cranes and rigging, corrosion control, civils, building and maintenance capabilities, the company is also ISO certified in Quality, Environmental and Health and Safety Management systems, making it a desirable business to work within the highly competitive mining industry.

PLI HQ in Karratha.

Rio Tinto’s Richard Cohen, Managing Director of Ports Rail and Infrastructure was invited to PLI headquarters Karratha for a site tour and was impressed by the state- of- the- art facility.

“… it’s hard not to be impressed as you walk through the doors of an amazing facility, The offices, the upstairs facility, the workshop out the back, clearly really impressive, and clearly, it’s a company that’s committed to this region for the long term. We are super excited we have just signed a master service agreement with PLI, I know they have done work for us for a long, long time, but to be able to do work directly with us now, and build a relationship, build a direct engagement,

“That’s something that we are trying to do. We are trying to be a good local and it seems to me that PLI is the absolute example of that!” he said.

PLI was delighted to host Rio Tinto in Karratha and according to PLI Managing Director, Jack Heales, the visit from Mr Cohen was a morale booster for the whole team at PLI and acknowledged his staff had worked hard and deserved the opportunity.

L-R Navah Holtzman Rio Tinto Local Procurement Specialist, Tanya Dodd former KDCCI CEO, Richard Cohen Managing Director RIO TINTO Ports and Rail, Boris Kovacevic Business Manager PLI and Jack Heales Managing Director PLI in the PLI Wellness Centre

“We have never been in a better position to confidently provide a quality value adding service.

A fitting reward for the hard work our amazing team has achieved together,” he said.

“We are very thankful for the relationships formed in both local and Perth based procurement and the passion they have shown for local business to be awarded. Since 2009 PLI has employed over 800 local staff,” said Heales.

PLI started from humble beginnings, the brainchild of a hardworking husband and wife team – Jack and Kat Heales,

Kat managed the office and administration side of the business whilst Jack worked in the field.

From the base of two staff providing crane and rigging services, the business has grown to a diverse mover and shaker in the mining and construction industry and boasts impressive capabilities set, enviable employee retention rates and a solid client loyalty base,

Employee mental and physical health is paramount at PLI, so much so that the Headquarters also boasts a second level Wellness Centre for employee downtime complete with reclining massage chairs, pool table, kitchen and bar facilities and widescreen television.

The business now makes over $30,000,000 within construction maintenance and mining support services, however, PLI is well known by locals as the company that built and founded the Pilbara’s first Brewery, The Northwest Brewing Company.

The North West Brewery has brought a unique social vibe to Karratha  

Situated in the LIA, the Brewery has become a vibrant social hub and an increasingly popular venue for corporate, social and family gatherings.

The brewery has not only created a unique, social-vibe that Karratha was lacking, but increased collaborations with other breweries and now distributes the Northwest Brewery line of beers throughout WA as well as attracting A Class entertainers from across the country.

The PLI brand is seen throughout the Pilbara and is more prominently known by the community of Karratha as a generous contributor to community groups through its own PLI Community Support Program

Beneficiaries of the Community Support Program include Auskick, Raiders Boxing Club, Karratha Falcons Football Club, Karratha Falcons Ladies Basketball, Karratha Kids Soccer, Men in Black Variety Bash, Wickham WASPS Motocross, Wickham Basketball Club, Karratha Kart Club, Rockbreakers Karratha Family Support, Reach Us Foundation for Cancer Support, Karratha RSL, Pilbara Trail Blazers, City of Karratha Sportsperson of the Year Award and more broader organisations such Police Legacy through Desert to Reef, The Starlight Foundation, MACA Cancer200, The school of Saint Jude, Tanzania just to name a few.

PLI continues to build a long-standing partnership with local Indigenous groups of the Pilbara aiming to set a precedence in 2023 and 2024

There is no stopping this powerhouse business in its forward trajectory!