the aqs Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
The AQS Beat
OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
21st edition, April 2015
We
un[cover]
1
of a
kind
Striking
ini
f
e
d
already
great
ng
re
Gold
technology
1
The AQS Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
April 2015 - 21st Edition
The AQS Beat
WHAT’S INSIDE...
03
05
FROM THE
MD’S DESK
09
one of a kind
REDEFINING THE FLAP
VALVE PUMP
1
ACID MINE WATER
the lighter side
of life
13 15
hidden talents
at aqs
21
WHAT’S UP
AT AQS
AQS goes easter
egg hunting
Contents
17 19
08
FINDING YOUR
HAPPY PLACE
11
from strength
to strength
Contents
DISCOVERING
GREEN FINGERS
07
23
STRIKING GOLD
2
The AQS Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
A
From the
T
The Transvaal
Gold Company was
the first company to start
mining operations and to
produce gold.
3
Did
you
KNOW
THAT?
T
The man who is
considered to be the
“father” of South African
gold mining is Karl Gottlieb
Mauch.
pril is known to be a tranquil
time for the greater South
Africa. The grass seems
greener, the flowers brighter
and the brisk growth has
disappeared from all the
vegetation in preparation
for autumn and eventually
the winter rest.
During
my
branch visits to AQS
Rustenburg,
Fochville,
Kathu and Steelpoort,
I experienced the same
“placid” atmosphere and
it has nothing to do with the
season or the sales figure achieved
for March. I am sure it is as result
of The Plan reaching adulthood at
AQS Pretoria. The feedback from
our dealers, business partners
and other branches just confirms
the success of the implementation
of The Plan. It is a job well done!
As promised in my
previous article, we will now be
looking at the major role players in
the mining industry during the late
1800’s and early 1900’s. During
this period mining was governed
by the rule that everybody had
the opportunity to dig their way to
fortune.
The era of capitalism and
of great mining magnates dawned
in May 1876. Four of the earliest
magnates were Barney Barnato,
Alfred Beit, Joseph Robinson and
Jules Porges. Of this particular
class of capitalist, Barney Barnato
stands out as the diamond
buyer-cum-mining magnate who
achieved the greatest success. Cecil John Rhodes was
not part of the diamond buyerscum-mining magnates. He made
his fortune as a digger and as an
entrepreneur. He later went into
a partnership with Charles Rudd.
Interestingly, one of their most
profitable ventures was pumping
contracts to extract water from
the claims that was flooding the
Dutoitspan and De Beers mines
The AQS Beat
contact with
local women
by
wearing
GERHARD
copper
PRINSLOO
and gold
Managing
ornaments.
Director
K a r l
Gottlieb Mauch,
considered
to
be the ‘father’ of
South African gold
mining,
started
exploring the central
regions of South
Africa, Zimbabwe and
Botswana for gold in the
late 1860’s. This lead to the
first but unsuccessful, southern
Africa’s gold mining company;
the London and Limpopo Mining
Company.
Farmers across the eastern
Transvaal took a keen interest in
gold sampling. In the mid 1870’s
Jacobus du Preez discovered a
gold-bearing quartz vein on his
farm, Eersteling, near the current
town of Polokwane. News of the
discovery spread like wild fire.
In March 1872, Edward Button
travelled to London, raised capital
and floated the Transvaal Gold
Mining Company.
The
significance
of
Eersteling in South Africa’s mining
history is threefold. Firstly, the
Transvaal Gold Company was
the first company to start mining
operations and to produce some
gold. Secondly, the Volksraad
was compelled to produce the
Republic’s first mining legislation.
And thirdly, the rush attracted
more fortune hunters to the area.
Next time the focus will
move to early 1873 when the first
payable gold was discovered.
Until then, make a
difference. God bless.
the
era of
capitalism
(I am
sure they must have been using
pumps supplied by AQS).
There is an old American
saying that if gold were found on
the red-hot ramparts of hell, men
would still seek it.
“...if gold were found
on the red-hot
ramparts of hell,
men would still
seek it.”
It is the exploitation of
gold, more than any other factor
that has shaped the course of
South Africa’s socio-political
and economical history. South
Africa has three main belts of
gold bearing rock. The Barberton
Mountain Land in Mpumalanga
and Swaziland, the Murchison
Hills in Limpopo Province and
the extensive Witwatersrand
Basin which stretches from
Johannesburg
to
Welkom,
including Kinross, Fochville,
Klerksdorp and Orkney.
The earliest reference to
gold was written by the Voortrekker
JG Brokenhorst on an expedition
north of the Soutpansberg. The
small party of Boers came in
*Cited from Digging Deep by Jade
Davenport.
4
from the md’s desk
from the md’s desk
md’s desk
April 2015 - 21st Edition
Discovering
greeNfingers
tion
ca
Effluent water from
the local sewage farm
is collected in several
dams on the premises.
The water is purified
using 20 sand filters,
ultra-filtration and
reverse osmosis.
5NTU’S
WATER
CLARITY
A
g
800 100
PLANTS
6-10L/M2
IRRIGATION
5
cl
i
ontrol
c
te 4 boilers burn
a
m 30 tons of wood a week to
ensure that the tunnels receive
enough hot water to maintain their
optimal temperature. This wood comes from
the Sibanye Gold mines (a shareholder of the
rose farm) when there is no longer a use for
them as struts and so forth underground.
Pipes containing water at either 400C or 800C
run under the plants to ensure that their roots
have the prime conditions for speedy growth.
Specialised covers are also pulled up
against the sides of all the tunnels
during winter to protect the plants
from the elements.
‘lil on
the
e
Grafted stems are
dipped into plant
hormone, planted in
trays and then kept in
very warm, moist
conditions; up to 95%
ugh lo
humidity (breathing was to
The small
tough in there). This
plants are then
facilitates growth.
moved to less
temperature-regulated
tunnels so that they
can toughen.
lg
rown
Once strong
enough, the rose
plants are planted
in the regular
tunnels.
FULLY GROWN
AFTER
2 MONTHS
A process
of removing
buds from the
fully grown plants’
outer stalks, and
then bending and
folding these stalks
down ensures optimal
growth and long
stemmed roses at the
plant’s centre. The bed
of leaves at the plant’s
base allows for
maximum
photosynthesis.
pan
s
e
lif The plants are
he fully grown after 2 months
and produce blooms for about
7 years (although the farm’s
oldest one lasted for 10 years).
6
a rosy application
30 tons
of
wood/
week
120 000 ROSES
IN A DAY
up
granular fertilizer is
added to this purified
water at incredibly precise
doses. A computer controls
the dosage as the roses need
specific mixtures during
different stages/seasons.
This is where our DL16-30
is being used; it pumps this
mixture to the 10.5ha’s
of undercover
The rose farm is
tunnels.
semi-hydroponic; drip
irrigation and spaghetti
irrigation (pipes pressed
directly into the soil) is used
to deliver the mix of fertilizer
and water to the plants.
6-10litres/m2, depending
on the varient.
of these chosen
varients is evident as
every single person
working on the farm
has their favourite
(and will not be
photographed with
any other kind).
Roses are picked
and then sorted and
packaged. They are stored
in a cooler room at 50C
until they can be delivered.
A minimum of 60 000
roses are produced per
day, with the record being
120 000 in one day!
ve
a rosy application
fertigatio
n
Nitric acid and
K IN G A N
C
I
P
D
s
the 800 100 plants on the
premises has been grafted by
hand. The stem of a prolific Natal
rose is used for the root, and then
a stem of one of 33 varients is
grafted onto it. Rose varients are
imported and tested extensively to
ensure they can thrive in the local
climate before becoming one of
the farm’s official
rose types.
A big thank you to Ludwig, Nico &
Henriko for their time and effort
G
10.5HA’S OF
TUNNELS
graf
VARIENTS
tin
D
Every one of
NThe significance
One of our vertical multistage pumps has recently
been installed at a rose farm
near Fochville, Gauteng. I
simply had to visit the site
when I heard of this unusual
application (very different
to the muddy underground
mining istallations). But be
warned, this is far from your
grandmother’s rose graden;
the scientific intricacies and
the massive scale of the
operation are guaranteed
to make you look at roses
in a new light, and happily
pay the premium during
Valentine’s season!
These flowers
are delivered daily,
right across the
country, using the fleet
of over 10 trucks and
vans. You and I then
walk into our nearest
Pick ‘n Pay or florist
and enjoy the
perfect blooms.
CKIN
PA
This water then
measures at
5NTU’s (a measure
of turbidity - water’s
clarity). This is
cleaner than drinking
water!
LIVERY
E
D
al
ter puri
fi
wa
The AQS Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
bend
i ng
April 2015 - 21st Edition
t
The AQS Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
April 2015 - 21st Edition
Finding your
place
LEON FOURIE - COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
even soccer players. If they were
all happy, the problems associated
with their thinking would disappear
as the root cause would have
vanished.
“...trying to find
a pill for happiness.”
I
t is a life
mission
of mine
to find my happy place.
I realised many years
ago that this place is not located
between any longitude and latitude
on planet earth or even beyond the
furthest reaches of our atmosphere
or endless galaxies.
It is in fact a place inside our
minds that I believe is programmed
and altered by past experiences.
This place commands our future
state based on its software and
levels of update.
In neurology, the system
that controls our state of happiness
(and unhappiness) is called the
hedonic system. Its workings
are somewhat clandestine, as it
cannot be influenced directly by
our central processing unit (CPU).
Scientists
study
the
hedonic system because they are
trying to find a pill for happiness.
The world would be a better place
if everybody was happy. From
the poor to the starving and
the religious extremists, to the
fascists, democrats, racists and
7
To this end, researchers
have compared people with
disabilities to “normal” people,
lottery winners to non-winners,
city dwellers to isolated tribesmen
and even salesman to accountants.
The results are conclusive; neither
physical deficiency, nor riches,
environment or choice of career
has any significant impact on
levels of happiness. In fact, they
determined that all these external
factors combined, contribute only
20% to the happy baseline. The
precise answer to the question of
how to find happiness is somewhat
inconclusive, but believed to be
internal to every human.
I must say that this
realisation shook my existence to
the core. What would I do if I did
not worry about more money, a
bigger house, overseas holidays
or a Porsche?
Beyond the 20% that the
Porsche brings, your baseline
level of happiness is further
determined by personality type,
cultural inputs, discipline (incurred
& internal), physical suffering/or
lack thereof and of course sex life
(just kidding).
What is most amazing is
lighter
the
that the largest deviations from the
baseline (which is unique to every
person and a given) is experienced
between people with different
coping skills.
The reviewers are people
who review an event and deal with
the consequent emotions by taking
the required action. They are able
to move their state of happiness
furthest to the positive from the
baseline.
The suppressors are
the people who internalise their
emotions after an event and do
not take the required action. Their
happiness moves furthest to the
negative from the baseline.
The dirtiest, slimiest, most
disgusting word in this happiness
race must be adaptation. It
simply means that no matter how
much money, how big your house,
how pretty your wife (handsome
your husband), exotic your
destination, potent your drug...
your hedonic system will always
ensure that it saves the experience
within and prevents you from ever
experiencing it at the same high
again.
M
ention a serious topic and soon jokes will be flying around, poking
fun at the seriousness. It does not mean people do not take it
seriously, it is just their ability to see the lighter side.
When you add humour to the mixture of emotions and seriousness,
you can have a satisfying end product, granted you temper it with kindness and
the right timing. Humour touches a place in your heart because of its hidden truth.
Humour is often used to open with at a formal occasion or to warm up a
gathering consisting of uncomfortable strangers. A shared laugh tends to bring people together.
A very good example is the age gap. It rears its head during many meet&eats. People talk about what
they did when they were young, how life has been and often use age as an excuse for not being “with-it” in
terms of technology and other things that interest the young ones. They say there is no such thing as an age
gap, it is a remembrance gap. How do you measure “knowledge because of age”? This can be a very serious
topic so the following quote is intended to see the lighter side; “I don’t think we get smarter as we get older,
I just think we run out of stupid things to do.”
Many companies use humour in their adverts to poke fun at a serious issue. More often than not the
creativity does not make it to the billboards but you can rely on social media and the internet
to broadcast it. They say at least a third of all video clips are funny.
When you read quotes or watch video clips that reflect that lighter
side of life, you may find some of them to be hilarious, others will just
bring about a smile and some will leave you pondering. Whichever
way you look at them, the truth is “laughter is the best medicine”
but “don’t laugh at me, laugh with me and make a friend.”
“...no matter how
potent your drug...you
will never experience
the same high...”
This edition of the AQS Beat
focuses on your hidden talents.
Perhaps finding your happy place
is the first step to uncovering your
talents?
8
The AQS Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
April 2015 - 21st Edition
from
STRENGTHtoSTRENGTH
The transformation from Seven Mile Trading 291 to SMT Industrial.
e
af t
o
bef
9
re
f
battling curves
ck
dba“The
e
e
presentation
was great, he
has a skill to
explain.”
- Mandla
Jkosana
After some brain scratching we ended off the
day with a two hour long go-kart endurance
race. We burned some rubber, made a few
new friends and had a lot of fun. Thank you
to CJ Smith and his team for making it
one amazing day!
d
Engineering
Day
k
c
fee
to rebrand Seven Mile Trading 291 to SMT Industrial
and to change their logo to what it is now. He decided
to redesign and revamp their logo after seeing how
AQS had grown and developed a corporate image. He
felt their previous logo was a bit outdated and needed
a more modern and professional feel. He asked Peet
to guide him in choosing a new look and feel for his
company’s logo. They sat down with a graphic designer
and after hours and hours of brain storming came up
with the beautiful, more professional version you can
see below. When asked about the colour scheme, CJ
explained that these unique colours have always been
his favourites and being able to incorporate them into
his business image is just a bonus!
CJ also shared with me one of his most
memorable moments with AQS. He and Peet
sent a powdery additive to our diaphragm pump
manufacturers, Warren Rupp, in America. They
wanted to test the substance’s ability to aerate
explosives for Sasol. Unfortunately, this delivery of
two mysterious buckets of powder coincided with
the Anthrax scare. Needless to say customs was
immediately on alert and disposed of the package
without hesitation. Talk about an explosive entrance!
SMT Industrial hosted their first engineering
day for 2015 on the 23rd of April. Check out the next
page for more information on what we did during
training and watch our video of the day.
Thank you CJ for allowing us to walk down
memory lane with you. We hope to share more
memorable moments with you and to keep watching
as your business grows from strength to strength.
- Talitha Geldenhuys
On the 23rd of April
SMT Industrial in association with AQS
Liquid Transfer held their first engineering
day for 2015. The training took place at
Le Mans Go-Karting in Menlyn, Pretoria.
Peet Snyman (H/O) provided training on
effective pump selection and how to correctly
calculate pump curves.
ba“All sections
going that extra mile
going that extra mile
A
QS has had the pleasure of witnessing first
hand how CJ Smith has grow from a vibrant
sales representative to the business owner
of SMT Industrial. We were also able to share in
the transformation of Seven Mile Trading 291 into
SMT Industrial. CJ has been working hand in hand
with AQS since the day we opened our doors, an
astonishing 12 years ago now! As you can see the
relationship between CJ and AQS has come a long
way.
In 2000, CJ started his pump career selling
Versa-Matic pumps. To date he has accumulated
about 15 years of experience in the pumping industry.
Talk about a pump expert! We sat down with CJ to
find out more about his journey with AQS and what it
has been like working with us all these years.
As our conversation progressed I could clearly
hear the admiration he has for not only AQS but for
Peet Snyman, André Nagel and Gerhard Prinsloo snr.
CJ elaborated on how Gerhard and André supported
him since the start of his career and carried him
through tough times. The look in his eyes reaffirms
that these three men aren’t just work colleagues but
truely brothers, sharing a bond that surpases any
normal work relationship. Under the guidance of
Peet, CJ bought a closed corporation from us, Seven
Mile Trading 291, and started doing freelance work
for AQS.
Since then Seven Mile Trading 291 has grown
so much. Not only does CJ now have six people
working for him but they also rebranded and we
foresee much more growth in the feature.
I asked CJ about what inspired the decision
The AQS Beat
burning rubber...
are important
and value
adding.”
- Fred
Moatshe
r
E
TH
CH
AT IDEO
W V RE
HE
10
April 2015 - 21st Edition
April 2015 - 21st Edition
1
of a
kind
The AQS Beat
?
T
A
H
T ”
W
O
ONE
N
“
K
U ANS FROM
O
Y
ATED LISH
L
ME
D ” ANS ENG
I
D
TO
TR
EEN
“ HEN AANS
the uncovered talent that started it all
the uncovered talent that started it all
The AQS Beat
W
AFRIK
een makua
Een Makua is the talented artist who drew the artwork for this
month’s Beat cover. He works as a picker and packer at our
Pretoria branch. Een’s colleagues discovered his talent when
they found some of his freehand drawings of our products lying
around in the Pretoria stores. Peet van Zanden immediately
brought this to our attention and we just had to share it with you.
Read all about Een’s love for drawing below.
//WHEN DID YOU START DRAWING, EEN?
“When I was about 7 or 8 years old.”
//WHAT INSPIRES YOUR ART?
“I find drawing to be very therapeutic.
I draw to keep my mind busy. I draw when I am happy
and I draw when I am sad.”
//WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DRAW?
“I enjoy drawing flowers and landscapes
with mountains and rivers.”
Cover
Exclusive
11
//WHAT MEDIUMS DO YOU USE
TO DRAW WITH?
“I mostly use crayons, pencils and
permanent markers on paper.”
12
April 2015 - 21st Edition
April 2015 - 21st Edition
le
hidde
ta
Michael is vocal, not just in general but on the stage
aswell. He is the drummer for the band Freckled Elvis
and has shared the stage with numerous famous SA
entertainers.
Shadrack (FV) is a religious leader
(Maruti) at the Free Babilona Church.
As you can see in the photo below his
family is very proud of his achievement.
Not only does Milly (H/O)
make a hot cup of tea, but
she used to set the track on
fire too. She was champion
of the 100m sprint
throughout
school
and only ran away
from the finals
because
they were
scary.
We all know Peet (H/O) likes to win, but it might surprise you to
know that he was an exceptional high-jumper in highschool. He
always won the regional inter-school championships and placed
4th in the Transvaal. He also set the bar at 1.95m, a record that
held for 10 years at his school.
13
14
the talented aqs family
the talented aqs family
We have discovered a musical
prodigy in the family. Thiaan (PTA)
started playing piano at the mere age
of four. He more recently performed
with the unofficial company band
“The Smashing Pumps”.
Gert (PTA) is a gentleman, so it only make
sense that he is formidable when it comes to the
gentleman’s game of golf. With a handicap
of +3, he won the Germiston Club
Championship in 1991 and
As
placed 7th at the South
w e
African Amateur Golf
We have our very own theatre
w e l l
Championship.
legend; Gerhard Snr. (H/O) our MD.
k n o w ,
He was part of the Amateur Acting
Petra (H/O)
Society in 1981/2. They won the Eastern
is very busy with
Transvaal regional competition with an Anton
her music career. Her
Chekhov comedy; “The
latest achievement is
Marriage Proposal.”
that she will be performing
This play then
the launch of the new Lions
went to the State
Rugby supporters theme song at
Theater in
Ellispark Stadium on the 9th of May.
Pretoria for the nationals.
The AQS Beat
Fortuin (CPT) was the
lead guitarist for his
church’s worship
band for 5
years.
André (DBN) played Masters Baseball for Northern Transvaal
(1993 - 2004) and still plays for Kwa-Zulu Natal. He has also
represented SA Masters Baseball in two tournaments. The
first was in Melbourne Australia in 2002 when he won a
gold medal. The second was in Edmonton Canada in
which his team placed 4th.
A
(p fter
gr rev d
wa eat iou isc
kn ck to s ov
so ew y a u pag erin
m t nd nc e) g
e o he
o
w
f t A wo ver e Een
he QS nd o th ’s
se
e ur ou
sk fam rful co gh hidd
ills ily a lle t i e
ar w chie ag t w n
e r as v ue ou tal
ea d em s’ ld en
lly yn en w b t
su am ts. ier e
rp ic W d,
ri s ,
in bu e
g. t
ntsn
The AQS Beat
The AQS Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
April 2015 - 21st Edition
The AQS Beat
T
went
Easter Egg
easter fun
easter fun
hunting
he Easter bunny
made his way
to all the AQS
branches and
left us with a few
yummy surprises
to find. The
AQS employees
had so much fun
celebrating Easter.
Thank you to AQS
Management for making it
possible!
15
16
The AQS Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
April 2015 - 21st Edition
REDEFINING
The AQS Beat
ease of
maintenance
THE FLAP VALVE PUMP
SANDPIPER LAUNCHED THIS 2” NON-METALLIC FLAP VALVE PUMP AT THE END OF
2014. AFTER TESTING ONE OF THESE SPANKING NEW DIAPHRAGM PUMPS OUT AT
SEVERAL SITES AND BRANCHES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE HAVE DECIDED IT IS TIME
TO INTRODUCE YOU TO (DRUMROLL PLEASE...) THE HD20F PUMP!
ESADS+Plus (Externally Serviceable Air
Distribution System) air valve design is
used. Along with the easy access to flap
check areas, this pump’s design allows
for complete in-line inspection or repair,
without having to remove the pump from
its location.
This saves you on time, effort and
downtime.
just
what
you need
serious
solids
handling
Designed to solve the
most common problems
in mine dewatering, sump
and chemical transfer
applications.
lightweight &
portable
The signature Sandpiper
flap valve design handles
suspended and
non-suspended solids
up to 46mm.
With its non-metallic,
lightweight design,
this pump weighs in at
24kg, making it easy to
manouver.
The HDF20F delivers best-in-class
flow rates: 567 litres per minute.
Suction lift is 6.1m.
Wow!
THE HD20F
scan here
for more
versatile
design
This pump can function in
any position, including on
uneven surfaces.
Hanging points
allow for
multiple
mounting
options.
brand new
brand new
unsurpassed
performance
MOUNTING
CAPABILITIES
long life
Rugged design (stainless steel seats)
and robust air valves (designed to
tolerate dirty air), ensure extended life
of pump.
17
18
o
y
April 2015 - 21st Edition
o
w
n
k
u
pH of
Typical Liquids
Fluid
Solutions
ALKALINE
NEUTRAL
Wetted Section
Construction Metals
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
STAINLESS
7 ALUMINIUM CAST IRON
STEEL
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
I
t is a late afternoon
during a hot summer day
and the clouds gather over
the Highveld. The big drops start
to fall fast and hard but after 30
minutes it’s all over. The dust has settled
and the water seeps through the earth.
Meanwhile, 800m below the surface a
member of the CSP43 team is doing duty. Conditions
are rough against the working face; blasting, rock
falls and heavy equipment are just some of the many
hazards this pump unit has to endure. The pump’s
aluminium body keeps its weight down. Heavy
equipment is unwanted underground due to the
essential mobility required to keep up with progress
as the tunneling continues ever deeper into the earth.
Serial number 2065880 can feel the burn, not from
the continuous stroking but rather from the water
around its feet.
The water’s acidity is particularly bad today,
as its pH creeps to 3. Our pump wonders if it is raining
up above because he understands that ground water
becomes acidic as it comes into contact with the
exposed sulfur bearing minerals. This is just another
day in the office when you work in a mine. Its
aluminium body armour is no match for the chemical
be f
o
ACID
Numeric
pH Level
19
The AQS Beat
ACID
MINE
WATER
re
attack as pitting and
corrosion
damage
becomes evident. A pH
level of between 6-8 is safe
by
for this body shell and it’s a
PEET SNYMAN
Sales & Marketing
relief when number 3772454
Director
arrives to take over.
After doing duty the pumps
resurface and we nurse them
back to health. It is a welcome break. The AQS team
starts them off with a comprehensive wash. The
mild steel nuts and bolts are so badly corroded by
the aggressive water that grinding is usually the only
way to remove them in order to let trained hands
in. The team knows the drill well; open everything
up and assess the damage. Replacement parts are
at the ready, the moving parts are lubricated for
smooth assembly and the outer shell gets kitted out
with shiny new hardware.
Restored number 2065880 gets delivered to
the stores. Ready to keep the workplace dry and safe
again, he awaits for his next mission instructions.
af
di
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April 2015 - 21st Edition
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sales & marketing department
sales & marketing department
The AQS Beat
The AQS Beat
The personnel
from our
Steelpoort
branch, along
with their
families, were
treated to a
weekend at Sun
City as a reward
for their Best
Month Ever in
March. The “sea
sand” was a hit
with the children!
April 2015 - 21st Edition
A WELL DESERVED
BREAK
What’s
@aqs
The AQS Beat
SPECIAL THANK-YOU’S
AQS Rustenburg would like to thank Cobus (RTB). He did
a great job at sorting out the additional warehouse for head
office stock. “He even swept the floors and dusted the place
down!!”, after it took him several days to sort he stock into
their categories.
AQS Steelpoort thanks AQS for their great getaway!
AQS Steelpoort would also like to Gerhard snr and Vusi
(MTA) for helping unpack and check the stock they recently
received.
FUN IN THE SUN
Gerhard snr had one of our solar panels installed at his hanger. It is used to charge his aeroplane’s battery.
So it only stands to reason that AQS gives you wings?!
TAKING STOCK
LOOK AT THOSE
PUMPS!
Steven (STP) hosted a golf day in
Lydenburg for his clients from Bokoni
mine last week. All ages enjoyed the day.
This order of 8 E2’s, 5 submersible
pumps and a float was delivered to Atok,
Steven’s (STP) client.
Us AQS girls don’t mind getting down and dirty!
Amy and Ronel counted and processed their new
stock.
GOLFING
AROUND
IMPRESSIVE ORDER
SMASHING RECORDS
STEVEN (STP) HAD HIS MILLION
RAND IN TURNOVER THIS MONTH.
APRIL SAW LEE (DBN) ACHIEVE
HIS BEST EVER MONTHLY
TURNOVER.
WELL DONE!
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Quntus (FV)
sponsored his
clients for a
recent golf day
hosted by the
local school.
Quintus (FV) received this order of 40 Sandpiper diaphragm
pumps earlier this month. At close to half a million Rand, one
cannot help but be impressed!
Our manufacturer of
diaphragm pumps,
Warren Rupp, has
updated their website.
Check it out, we think
it’s brilliant!
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what we have been up to
what we have been up to
SPORTING FUN
April 2015 - 21st Edition
The AQS Beat
April 2015 - 21st Edition
a rep in-depth
T
he Miner’s Mentality is an illusive
concept...it is not easily quantified
(even by fancy international research
studies) and yet it largely governs how we do
business with our mining clients.
If there is one person at AQS who knows the
miner’s mindset intimately it is Peet Els, a rep in
Rustenburg.
With 35 years of experience in and around
mines, he describes it as a “rough” mindset. You
have to be a hard person, able to handle pressure and
essentially force others into doing the task at hand. There
is no room for buttering people up. Miners are all about
making a living, reaching that target, getting the bonus. They
also care about their families, even though most of them had tough
childhoods.
It was during Peet’s childhood that he learnt to speak Swazi while
playing with the local children in Swaziland. “By the time I went to school, I
could speak better Swazi than Afrikaans”.
This made it easy for him to learn Fanagalo in the General Mining Training College, often having to
stand up and demonstrate pronounciation to the other students. Fanagalo is a mixture of African languages
and was adopted by mines in Southern Africa as it simplifies intercultural communication. Peet explains
that being fluent in Fanagalo paid off well when he became shift boss after 15 years of working in mines. He
had to oversee 154 people, and speaking their language meant that they respected him and wanted to work
for him.
Peet’s experience of South African mines is eye-opening. He started on Evander mine in 1980
after dropping out of school two months into his final year. “I was naughty at school and really wanted
to hit my teacher, not to mention some other guys, so I decided it was time to leave”. He proceeded to
work at several mines from Boksburg and Carltonville to the Free State, and then his dream came true of
working at TauTona. “I wanted to say I had worked in the deepest mine in the world (3.9km down)”. The
dangerous work of drilling and setting explosives doesn’t bother him; the worst part of the job was the
underground earth collapses. Peet said he lost one of the men who worked for him to such a tragedy
and has helped with several of the rescue operations since. Removing bodies ia always terrible.
Peet started working for AQS in October 2005 after his cousin in the Rustenburg branch
convinced him. “I struggled for a while to get used to having a job above ground. When I did an
underground demo, I would want to get involved with the drilling and setting of the faces, because
I could see that the panels were skew! I was actually asked if I was there to sell pumps or to mine,
haha.” Peet is now proud to say that he is no longer a miner; not only is the pay much better,
but it feels good not having to swear to get stuff done.
- Topaz Booysen
Try Fanagalo next time you need help out of a tricky
situation: “Upi lo toilet yena duze?”
[Where is the nearest toilet].
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