Australian underground mining equipment manufacturer Jacon Equipment is preparing to expand its presence in the Philippine market, targeting medium- to large-scale underground mining operations and positioning its regional support network as a key advantage for local customers.
Henry Ge, Jacon's sales director for Asia, said the company had proven its equipment and after-sales service model in Indonesia and was now ready to support mining projects outside its home market.
"We have proved the concept of equipment and after-sales service in Indonesia, which we consider to have similar characteristics — workers' wage levels, style of operations, proximity — and now we are ready to support new mining projects outside of our home," Ge said.
Jacon's products and services are designed for medium- to large-scale underground mining operations, Ge said.
The company is looking to support Philippine underground mines with a range of specialized equipment, including shotcrete sprayers, underground mixer trucks, explosive charging carriers, water cannons and maintenance service trucks.
Jacon's strategy in the Philippine market will focus not only on equipment supply but also on regional technical and after-sales support.
Regional support network
Jacon's support team is spread across Vietnam, Indonesia and Australia, allowing the company to deploy personnel and parts to Philippine mine sites relatively quickly.
Ge said the company's proximity to the Philippines and the similar time zones across its regional operations would allow it to provide physical support, spare parts and responses to customer inquiries in a timely manner.
The company estimates that it can respond to Philippine customers within 2 to 6 hours, depending on the requirement. That response could include an emergency visit to a mine site as well as phone, email or text-based customer support, Ge said.
He said the model could give Jacon an advantage over some international competitors whose headquarters are based in Europe, resulting in significant time-zone differences when serving Philippine customers.
Jacon also operates a manufacturing facility in Vietnam, which Ge said would help reduce transport times and costs for Philippine customers.
"This cuts transport time (and cost) significantly because the Philippines and Vietnam are neighbors," he said.
The proximity of the factory is also expected to support spare-parts availability and shorten equipment lead times when parts are not available in the Philippines.
Experience in Indonesia
Jacon is seeking to apply lessons from its operations in Indonesia, where it has supported three of the country's largest underground mines.
Ge said Jacon had been praised for its responsiveness in helping customers resolve problems at mine sites, including through short delivery times for parts and equipment.
"Jacon can replicate the level of service and capability that has been proven before in a similar environment," he said.
The company sees that experience as a basis for developing its Philippine business, although details of its longer-term market strategy are still being finalized.
Over the next three to five years, Jacon plans to improve its presence and connectivity with relevant stakeholders in the Philippine underground mining community, Ge said.
Further details of the company's plans are still being developed.
Equipment and support
Jacon's equipment portfolio covers several applications and support requirements associated with underground mining.
Among the products the company sees as having potential in the Philippine market are shotcrete sprayers, underground mixer trucks, explosive charging carriers, water cannons and maintenance service trucks.
The equipment is intended for demanding underground mining environments, with Jacon also emphasizing technical support, response times and cost efficiency as part of its value proposition.
Ge said Jacon ultimately wants Philippine miners to associate the company with equipment reliability, technical support, response time and cost efficiency.
Its positioning is summed up in the company's statement: "Equipment That Keeps Up With Your Hard Work. Team That Has Your Back."
Jacon's planned expansion comes as it seeks to build on its experience supporting underground mining operations in Indonesia and establish stronger connections with stakeholders in the Philippine mining industry.
For Jacon, the strategy is to combine its Australian brand and regional support network with a manufacturing base in Vietnam that is geographically close to the Philippines.
The company said this regional footprint would allow it to provide equipment, spare parts and technical support with shorter response times as it develops its presence in the Philippine underground mining market.
