Mining industry technical solutions provider Maptek™ has been awarded a $975,000 grant which will enable it to quadruple production of its high performance I-Site 3D laser scanners. A total of 27 new jobs are expected to be created in Maptek's South Australian-based operation over the next six years as a result of the grant. With matching Maptek funding, the project is valued at $1,950,000.The Innovation and Investment Fund for South Australia (IIFSA) is a joint Australian and South Australian Government program to assist companies with innovative industry development. The package supports new investment that will create sustainable new jobs in South Australia. 'Global demand for Maptek's 3D measurement technology lies behind the development planning,' explains Simon Ratcliffe, Maptek I-Site Development Manager, 'but home-grown demand from the mining sector has been a large factor in the decision to go for this.' 'Our systems, which can be setup and operated by one person, address the current skills shortage in mining and allow sites to operate efficiently while still holding safety as a high priority.' The $975,000 grant over a three-year period will allow Maptek to diversify and expand its manufacturing capacity to cover emerging products in a rapidly changing technology field. Laser scanning is moving into the mainstream of modern surveying practice. 'Customers are increasingly seeing the benefits of an integrated solution to their surveying needs', said Ratcliffe. 'With a 27-year history providing high technology solutions to the mining industry, Maptek knows mining and what companies need on the ground.'

Maptek™ has joined other suppliers in co-sponsoring an AMIRA research project looking at mine design and schedule optimisation tools. AMIRA International Ltd is an independent association of minerals companies which facilitates collaborative 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 for 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.' 'When the results of the research are commercialised our customers will be among those who will benefit from this.' Maptek™ has joined other suppliers in co-sponsoring an AMIRA research project looking at mine design and schedule optimisation tools. AMIRA International Ltd is an independent association of minerals companies which facilitates collaborative 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 for 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.' 'When the results of the research are commercialised our customers will be among those who will benefit from this.' 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.

Objectivity/DB, the leading real-time data management solution for software applications with complex data management requirements, has been selected by Maptek as a key part of their platform for their next generation of products, including Maptek Vulcan, I-Site, and MineSuite.The first deployment of Objectivity/DB will occur in a new version of Maptek’s I-Site software, a tool that allows users in the mining, engineering and forensics industries to collect, model and manipulate millions of scanned data points captured from high performance laser scanners. The Maptek I-Site product family is used to capture detailed 3D laser images, high-resolution photos and survey data. Objectivity/DB will satisfy two critical requirements of Maptek’s next generation solutions: the ability to scale over time without loss of performance and the ability to process massive amounts of data in real-time. The transition to Objectivity/DB is part of Maptek’s long-term strategy to seek innovative and efficient ways of meeting customer needs. 'Utilizing Objectivity/DB will significantly reduce development time for our next generation of products, enabling us to innovate faster and deliver leading-edge solutions to our customers,' said Barry Henderson, CEO of Maptek. For Objectivity, the deal represents expansion into a burgeoning market with many opportunities for growth. 'We are thrilled that Maptek has selected Objectivity/DB as part of its innovation strategy moving forward,' said Jay Jarrell, president and CEO of Objectivity, Inc.  'Maptek has taken an important step to ensure the viability of their products far into the future.' Objectivity/DB has a fully scalable, distributed processing architecture that manages localized, centralized or distributed object databases by synthesizing large, complicated streams of data into a single logical view.

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. About 50 people work in the Maptek office in Lakewood. Maptek started its Denver office with a handful of people in 1985, serving the local mining industry with innovative software and hardware products. Maptek now has 12 offices around the world. "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," said Maptek CEO, Barry Henderson. "Being the best means employing and retaining the best." 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 respond to the survey results is the important thing here,’ he added. ‘We will endeavor to address any concerns or suggestions that may arise from 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 for 20+ years 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." 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. 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." "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 added. Other charities supported by Maptek staff include the Coats for Colorado and Make-a-Wish foundations. "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."