INTERVIEW

from coal mining industries still viable in, for example,

Poland. This is why Poland is our most interesting target

country. It is different in third-world countries: Russia,

China and other countries mining huge amounts now

and in the future. There are countries where mining is

at its beginnings; if prices of their commodities rise, our

customers will of course be interested in higher efficiency

of the extraction processes. That is our great opportunity.

We therefore find the countries of South America, South

Africa and South East Asia particularly attractive. We

have contracted our first customers in India where we

supplied the first ever suspended transport system in

a coalmine. Our outlook in this field is very good outside

Europe.

In our enterprise as well as in many

more businesses, an individual is nothing,

it is the team that counts, and we have

developed our team for twenty-five

years.

“

”

You specialize in your own development and production

of electronic components for machinery operating in

an explosive environment. How do you respond to the

risks of mining jobs where the major concern is human

error? Can your products prevent such risks?

Generally, any underground job ranks among the most

dangerous. That is why all our machinery is designed

to comply with all the regulations of that particular

country in health and safety with mining machinery. For

underground operations and environments with a high

risk of on-site explosive gas leaks, we provide machinery

certified in compliance with current EU ATEX legislation.

The unique features of the machinery include special

propulsion enhancement and our own non-explosive

electronic components. Each traction device (an engine

and/or a manipulator) is equipped with a few independent

brake circuits and a safety brake. Our machinery is

equipped with methane sensors signalling the amount

of gas exceeding the given limit and switching the

machine off automatically. The machinery is equipped

with camera systems and other safety measures. We

can also remotely check if that particular machine has

gone through proper maintenance and servicing, the

elementary prerequisites of its safe operation.

Our company mostly benefits

“ from

coal mining industries

still viable in.

”

Your company keeps growing. How do you recruit new

reliable collaborators?

People in our team have always been the cornerstone

of our success. We have emphasized that for all of our

twenty-five years. Only a happy and agile person fully

comprehending the philosophy and strategy of the

company will make the long-term targets come true.

We now have our concept of personal marketing,

recruitment, adaptation, and development for most

significant positions. We cooperate with schools of

various levels. In cooperation with apprentice schools we

support such specialisations as machining and welding.

We regularly offer internship for apprentices and we

do our best to keep in touch with and motivate the best

interns. Cooperation with secondary schools (primarily

engineering schools) is based on construction jobs and

technical documents. We also cooperate with universities

educating mechanical engineers and economists. We

intensely cooperate with Mining University Ostrava; we

have done a project with University of Tomáš Baťa in Zlín.

This cooperation produces new potential colleagues who

like working with us and whom we like too. They are well

qualified and likely to bring a positive contribution to the

company. We undoubtedly do not neglect these issues.

We spend great efforts in providing people with good

pay, meaningful jobs, opportunities for promotion,

development, and job prospects in a family-based

business. The top management of Ferrit is now the

second generation of the company’s founders.

People in our team have

always been the cornerstone

of our success.

“

”

You are a very important employer and exporter in

the Moravian-Silesian Region. Do you think that this

is an optimal environment for good quality enterprise

(including education and transport infrastructures)?

The long-term challenge has been the education of

technical experts at all levels. The job market misses

qualified experts in machining, welders, electrical

engineers, and locksmiths. We suffer from the lack of

secondary and university graduates in technical subjects

both in mechanical and electrical engineering. Businesses

are trying to fix the situation on their own but that is

extremely difficult without the assistance of and efficient

support from the national and regional governments.

It is crucial to change the atmosphere in a society who

often understands the technical subjects as lacking job

prospects, and society does not support young people

choosing the right direction when deciding on their

future jobs and career. It is the technical fields and

qualities of the people employed in them which further

the development and prosperity of the Czech Republic.

Your company is closely connected to the region and

the Beskyd Mountains. How do you relax and recharge

batteries?

My greatest interest has always been my family even

though at the beginning of the enterprise, my wife was

the driving force of the clan. However, I spent all my free

time with them. There were four of us, now it is just her

and me. My hobbies include hiking, especially in the

mountains. We have a house with a large garden where

there is a lot to do all year long. Physical jobs are the best

relaxation for me.

Thank you very much for the interview.

Editorial of magazine.

Text:

redakce

Foto:

archiv Ferrit

archiv EY

www.ferrit.cz

POSITIV ǀ 1/2019 13