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Maptek recognised as Top 10 company (June 2008)

	We are the industry standard in mining technologies, services and support. Maptek is the firm that many of the premier mining companies call to solve their problems; put simply, we are the best. Being the best means employing and retaining the best.
	Maptek CEO, Barry Henderson
	Staff got enthusiastically behind this year’s Habitat for Humanity, putting up siding, building garages, and finishing roofs. It was hard work, but we left with that warmth of heart that comes after giving of oneself for others.
	Todd Husak, HR Director Other charities supported by Maptek staff include the Coats for Colorado and Make-a-Wish foundations.

Maptek has been named one of the 10 best companies to work for in Colorado, in a survey sponsored by Colorado Biz magazine. Employees answered questions online about job satisfaction, relationships with managers and coworkers, corporate communication and benefits.  

Around 50 people work in the Maptek office in Lakewood, one of 12 Maptek offices globally. Maptek started its Denver office with a handful of people in 1985, serving the local mining industry with innovative software and hardware products.

Announcing the Top 10 listing, HR Director, Todd Husak said ‘It's our employees that make or break our environment. We appreciate everyone who arrives at work with an open mind, a generous spirit, and a desire to be the best.'

'We ask a lot of our employees and they consistently deliver beyond expectations. They are truly amazing and I am privileged to work among them.’

‘Whether Maptek wins or not, how we as a company respond to the survey results is the important thing here,’ he added. ‘As always, we treat all employees’ needs and desires seriously, and will endeavor to address any concerns or suggestions that may arise once we receive the survey feedback.’  

Maptek rewards its staff with a competitive salary, an excellent benefits package, profit sharing, bonuses, and most importantly, a friendly workplace that values creativity and individual contributions.

Maptek employees enjoy 100% Health, Dental, and Vision family premiums, generous vacation allowances and public holidays, including one ‘floating’ day, and paid ‘fun’ days for charitable and social events, as well as free access to transport and top level sporting amenities in Denver.

The Top 10 rating confirms what many Maptek employees feel. The mix of mining and software specialists with administrative, marketing and business professionals makes Maptek an interesting place to work.

‘To restate the obvious, it’s the people’, said Software Engineer, Bill Blattner. ‘Working with some very intelligent and thoughtful people has enabled me to endure the bad times and appreciate the good ones. The mutual respect between fellow workers and clients has humbled me.’

‘The opportunity to work on projects that help solve real problems is very fulfilling. Add the ability to have some fun, and you have a place I have called work for 20+ years,’ Bill added.

At the other end of the longevity scale is a group of interns from the top mining schools who’ve already picked Maptek as a great place to work. Part-time at Maptek while completing their degrees, they can then step into a great mining career.

‘As an intern, I got to know the ins and outs of this company, how it worked, why it worked, and I was able to see the vision of where it was going. I got to know each of the employees on a personal level all the way up to the CEO,’ said Mining Engineer, Brandon Frederickson.

‘I knew that based on the management alone, this was a special place. However, I don’t think it was until I was interning at another location that I realized just how special Maptek was. Having the CEO not only know my name and face, but also my wife and child, and actually care about me as an employee and a human being was something that I didn’t expect to find anywhere,’ he added.

At Maptek, employees enjoy everything wonderful about the mining industry, without the isolation. The best schools and the best of Colorado living are only a short drive away. Located centrally in Lakewood, the Maptek office provides easy access to bike paths, the Rocky Mountain Range, skiing, reservoirs, and world class dining and shopping.

Staff feedback emphasized company loyalty, saying that Maptek managers ‘exhibit leadership where most companies only know how to manage’. Management really listens and values employee suggestions, improving the company to ensure clients and employees are happy.

Todd Husak, who joined Maptek last year, is impressed by Maptek’s integrity and demonstrated commitment to its values. Speaking of great corporate citizenship, I've worked for hospitals and non-profits that talk about their commitment to good causes, but I'm proud to state that Maptek and its employees represent the most giving organization I've had the privilege to be a part of.

‘The employee survey will help Maptek to become an even better place to work,’ said Barry Henderson. ‘It focuses attention on one of our corporate values - to foster continuous improvement and ongoing learning through achieving the highest standards of excellence in our people, products and performance.’

Training tomorrow's mining engineers (June 2008)

Maptek conducted a Vulcan training session for professors at the University of Chihuahua, Mexico, in April 2008.

The professors appreciated the chance to become familiar with the Vulcan tools that they will pass onto their students. Professor Angelica Mena, head of the Geology Laboratory, was impressed with Vulcan’s ease of use, workflow setup, data access and reporting tools.

Definitely what I liked most were the visualisation tools and being able to create presentations in animation or ‘walk through’ mode. Having software such as Vulcan for geological modelling and resource estimation positions the University’s Engineering Faculty among the top schools. Professor Angelica Mena

After the introductory training, Mining and Metallurgical Engineering Career Coordinator, J. Alfredo Márquez, commented that ‘giving students the opportunity to access the best technology available shows we are concerned about providing excellence in academic programming’.

‘We are committed to developing the capabilities of our professors, and we understand the importance of Vulcan in the formation of competent mining professionals,’ Ing. Márquez added.

Maptek has supplied more than 500 academic licences of Vulcan software to premier universities around the world. Installing Vulcan in the learning environment benefits both students and their future employers. Graduate mining engineers and geologists can apply the knowledge gained and effectively hit the ground running when handed a task.

Eric Gonzalez, Maptek (centre) and University of Chihuahua staff

Maptek I-Site Studio™ now imports Optech point cloud data (March 2008)

Maptek™ has enabled direct file import functionality of Optech ILRIS-3D point cloud data (IXF format) into its I-Site™ Studio software.

Maptek I-Site Studio offers an impressive range of software tools developed specifically for laser scan data processing. Large point datasets can be efficiently interrogated, modelled and manipulated on a desktop PC or field laptop.

ILRIS-3D is a laser-based ranging and imaging system for the commercial survey, engineering, mining and industrial markets. 

I-Site Studio software is the newest option for Optech customers aiming to meet or exceed their point cloud data processing objectives. The direct import of Optech’s ILRIS IXF data into I-Site Studio allows Optech system users to realise the benefits of the most effective solution for point cloud data processing.
Steven Wong, I-Site Director of International Business Development for Maptek.

Advanced Design Center opens at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology (March 2008)

The Maptek™ sponsored Advanced Mine Design Center was opened at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City on February 15, 2008.

The Mining Engineering and Management Department at the School of Mines is a leading institution that has focused heavily on mine design by leveraging Maptek Vulcan software. With student numbers climbing to 80, they recognised the need for a state-of-the-art mine design lab to accommodate 25 computer stations and a global communications center.

Maptek sponsored the remodelling of 2 rooms to create the newly designed lab, which is also used for geomechanics design activities. Features of the new center include video conferencing facilities, a plasma screen, and a projector networked to tablet PCs and desktops.

The Maptek Advanced Mine Design Center has been a great way for Maptek to support the mining industry. We have had a long relationship with the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and see this as an investment in our continued partnership and in the quality education of future mining industry professionals.
Jon Larson, General Manager
Maptek North American Operations

South Dakota School of Mines and Technology welcomes Maptek		Jon Larson, General Manager of Maptek North America, and President Charles Ruch, SDSM&T, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony		L-R: Steve Uecker, Vulcan Global Product Manager (Maptek), Bradley Johnson, President (SDSM&T Foundation), Charles Ruch, President (SDSM&T), Dr Zbigniew Hladysz, Professor (SDSM&T), Fernando Rodrigues, Technical Services Business Unit Director (Maptek), Shashi Kanth, Director/Instructor (SDSM&T), Dr Charles Kliche, Professor (SDSM&T)		Students at the Advanced Mine Design Center

Maptek sponsors AMIRA optimisation research project (March 2008)

Maptek has joined other suppliers in co-sponsoring an AMIRA research project looking at underground mine design and schedule optimisation tools. AMIRA International Ltd is an independent association of minerals companies which facilitates research projects addressing industry issues, and fosters the development of a stronger industry research base.

Maptek will provide Maptek Vulcan licences, training and support to the Planning and Rapid Integrated Mine Optimisation project, which will focus on developing more efficient computational methods when complex infrastructure branching is needed for distributed ore zones.

Australian Sales Manager for Vulcan, Steve Sullivan, who conducted training in Vulcan’s underground functionality for University of Melbourne and Alford Mining Systems researchers recently in Melbourne, Victoria, said that Maptek is pleased to be involved in the project. ‘We have always invested heavily in R&D and we see this as another way to continue to add value to our products.’
Key researchers involved in the project are MIRARCO Mining Innovation, Alford Mining Systems, AMC Consultants and Melbourne University.

Sponsors Barrick, Rio Tinto, CVRD Inco, Xstrata, Oxiana and BHP Billiton are joined by supplier sponsors Maptek, GijimaAST, Datamine and AMC Consultants. More information about Project 884 can be found at www.amira.com.au under current projects.

When the results of the research are commercialised our customers will be among those who will benefit from this.
Steve Sullivan, Vulcan Sales Manager, Australia