Simulation developer and manufacturer Immersive Technologies wants to replicate its success in the mining sector with new ventures in the defence, aviation and emergency services industries.
Simulation developer and manufacturer Immersive Technologies wants to replicate its success in the mining sector with new ventures in the defence, aviation and emergency services industries.
Immersive has continued developing its stable of 55 mining equipment training simulators and has had sales growth at home and overseas. The company is currently involved in discussions with several defence organisations in Australia and the US.
“We are also working closely with a number of defence organisations around the world for them to acquire our earthmoving simulator trainers for their engineering battalions,” Immersive Technologies chief executive officer Peter Salfinger said.
“That includes the US and Australian armies and other foreign defence organisations.
“We are forming very good alliances and partnerships.
“We already have a number of strategic alliances with major mining companies and original equipment manufacturers.”
Immersive will launch a new rescue fire fighting truck simulator at Perth airport before the end of the year.
The simulator will be installed at three other Australian airports in the next 12 months.
Mr Salfinger said that, while the mining boom had contributed to increasing revenues, it had failed to produce a “significant blip” in the order book.
But the company was experiencing growth at a rapid rate, he said, and, like businesses in the mining industry, was having difficulty finding staff to fill new positions.
“In the past 12 months our revenues have gone up 45 per cent, and that is expected to continue,” Mr Salfinger said.
“We are actively recruiting for a number of different positions, ranging from software developers to marketing, 3D developers and administration staff.
“That is due to additional sales capability on the ground here and in the US. We are applying a different business model to allow smaller mines access to the technology.
“Having said that, we are not just mining any more, we are also ARFF, which is airport, rescue, fire-fighting.
“Mining was our initial market and now we are applying the technology to related markets.
“We are at the point now where every major mining house has either one or multiple Immersive simulators.
“Globally, it has become a standard. It used to be nice to have, but now it is a need to have. They [the customers] have recognised the change.”
Earlier this year the company boosted its team to include executive manager, business development, Oye Obe, who previously held a senior manager’s role at Accenture, and with oil and gas firm Schlumberger. Also coming on board was Skip Sullivan, as vice-president of the North and South American market.
This month the company appointed Roderick Brown as its chairman.
Mr Brown, an engineer by profession, previously held positions at Atlas Copco Mining and Construction, Wagner Mining & Construction Equipment in the US, and CSR Construction Materials in Western Australia.
He is currently a director of Kresta Holdings Ltd.
Immersive’s 55 simulator models are sold as either transportable or free-standing modules.
The simulators are manufactured with the exact parts of the equipment they are designed to simulate.
Transportable models have conversion kits that allow the users to change from one model to another in about 20 minutes.
They also feature air-conditioners, a PC, and training equipment/ software for the trainer.
All simulators are designed, engineered, manufactured, programmed and tested in Perth at facilities in Osborne Park.
