US group buys Perth mining technology firm

Perth-based mining technology firm MiPlan has been bought by US company Hexagon Mining, six years after it was established by Robert and Louise Daw with backing from three local venture capital investors.

The two founders, along with about 10 staff, plan to continue with MiPlan under the new ownership.

The rationale for the sale is that Hexagon’s global capabilities and reach will enable MiPlan to develop faster than it could under local ownership.

The business has been backed from the outset by local investors Tony Packer, Tim Moore and Ian McFarlane, who have also been directors of MiPlan.

Messrs Packer and Moore have jointly invested in multiple technology ventures, notably mining software business Surpac Minex Group, which merged with global firm Gemcom Software in 2006.

Mr McFarlane was the founder of Perth IT firm AEM Group, which was bought by Switzerland-based Ajilon in 2006.

Robert and Louise Daw are former employees of Gemcom and founded MiPlan with a vision to apply tablet-based technology to fleet tracking and production management.

Its mobile software applications are used for field data collection, fleet management, production management and reporting.

Mr Daw said the deal was a fantastic outcome for the company’s existing and future clients.

“The range, experience and calibre of the Hexagon group will contribute to the continued improvement of our existing offerings and provide a great platform for the next generation of solutions that mining businesses need to stay competitive,” Mr Daw said in a statement.

“An acquisition by Hexagon held great appeal from the beginning due to our complementary solutions delivering immediate benefit to the market.”

Hexagon president Helio Samora said MiPlan’s solutions suite would be a formidable addition to the company’s technology portfolio.

“Safer, more productive mines depend on making sense of their data,” he said.

“MiPlan’s range of apps represents a scalable, real-time mobile production management solution.

“Applied to our unparalleled suite of technologies for planning, operations and safety, these solutions will empower our customers to act – not react – on real time data at any stage of the mining value chain, no matter their location.”

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Hexagon Mining is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona and is part of Swedish IT company Hexagon.