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.

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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.

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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 “ fromcompany mostly benefits 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.

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People in our team have always been the cornerstone of our success.

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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

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