SCHLAM MINING
W
ithout a doubt, the COVID19 pandemic has impacted economies and lives around the world. In the Australian mining space, the effects of such a unique period are wide-ranging. “Schlam has proactively managed the potential impacts of COVID-19 since January 2020,” begins Matthew Thomas, CEO of the company. “We developed a series of prevention, preparation and response measures focused on doing our part to slow the spread of the virus and ensure the health of our people while still maintaining business continuity. “The mining industry itself was quick to respond with a range of measures to keep people safe while maintaining business as usual. Our organisation rigorously conducted risk assessments and implemented appropriate measures from a business perspective.” According to Thomas, demand for commodities in Australia grew during the COVID-19 pandemic period, and in line with this, demand for Schlam’s products and services also experienced a significant increase.
SCHLAM – FROM PAST TO PRESENT Schlam’s history began when it was originally established in 1996. Barry Schlam saw a need for high quality precision welding and fabrication services in the Southwest industrial sector of WA. Schlam quickly established a reputation for outstanding quality and service throughout the area by the time Barry’s son Ryan joined the company in 2001. Today, Schlam has grown to become one of WA’s largest privately-owned mining services companies, with a growing global footprint.
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In response, Schlam worked to increase staffing across every one of its business areas to meet the scale of its customers’ requirements and provide new and secure employment opportunities for Australians. “Our company has a proud history of managing and navigating adversity throughout its 25 years in the industry, and we have emerged from this episode stronger than before,” Thomas says. “Courtesy of a workforce of over 350 talented people positioned throughout the Australian resources sector, as well as a healthy balance sheet, we not only weathered the storm, but also grew in size and reach during an unprecedented time. “While we are proud of how we have managed these challenges, we have still encountered supply chain stresses for raw materials and also strong competition for skilled labour. Despite this, the business also increased its headcount in the People Solutions division during this difficult period.”
PAYLOAD, PEOPLE AND ENGINEERING Schlam is an established and successful Australian mining products and services company that safely and sustainably partners with clients to provide high-quality outcomes through outstanding people, equipment, technology, and innovation. The company first began operations in 1996, and today has two principal areas: People Solutions, its services division, and Payload Solutions, the company products division. “We’re rapidly growing People Solutions; this side of the business is where Schlam first made a name for itself, starting in the southwest of Western Australia (WA) and then growing into the Pilbara,” Thomas tells us. “People Solutions provides skilled tradespeople to perform maintenance on heavy mobile mining equipment such as dump trucks, excavators, drill rigs and many more forms of heavy equipment and vehicles.
