HYDAC, along with economic empowerment partner Uven Moodley has established a 51% black-owned company dedicated to delivering solutions to South Africa’s mining industry. The new company’s MD and broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) partner Moodley explains.

In 2022, HYDAC Technology’s German owners, along with HYDAC South Africa, decided to adopt transformational change in South Africa by looking for a BEE partner. The company that was formed, HK Mining Solutions, is 51% owned by Moodley and this business will be ring-fenced for the mining industry.

In their search for a partner, HYDAC Technology’s German owners were looking for an individual that could add value at every level in their partnership and are confident that Moodley’s experience fits this mould perfectly.

HK Mining Solutions is equipped to offer services to South Africa’s mining industry. 

“I think HK Mining is unique in the hydraulics industry in terms of an overseas original equipment manufacturer being in a minority partnership with a local BEE entity,” says Moodley, adding that the company will initially be registered as an Exempted Micro Enterprise, with views to rapidly growing into a Qualifying Small Enterprise. 

He believes that with a partner of HYDAC’s global stature and presence in countries that are strong in mining, HK Mining Solutions will be able to add value and improve reliability of mining operations to the local mining industry, leveraging their local and international team expertise. 

He adds that one of the barriers for B-BBEE companies is finance; however, with the strength of a partner like HYDAC, HK Mining will offer comfort to mining houses in terms of project execution due to financial backing.

Moodley has been involved in the engineering industry for 30 years. He started his career in a clerical position, then through a bursary, he became a diploma-qualified Mechanical Engineer. He has since held positions at engineering, management, director and shareholder levels in several successful companies.

In 2018 he became part of the newly formed management team of HYDAC Technology. “I feel I have circled back to engineering, where my passion lies, which aligns with HYDAC’s core business: turnkey mobile and industrial hydraulics, along with lubrication and filtration solutions as well as diesel and process filtration. And now with HK Mining Solutions we are looking to extend our scope and range to mining specific customers,” says Moodley. 

He adds that he will be ably supported by GM Eddie Jacobs, who has been involved in the hydraulic industry for over 20 years. 

“Eddie has vast hydraulic knowledge and experience. He is an industry expert in mining, having built a career developing and implementing new turnkey hydraulic systems and refurbishing and upgrading existing ones.”

HK Mining Solutions also has shared services, including engineering design offices, assembly and refurbishment workshops. In addition, it has the support of HYDAC global, based in Germany.

“HK Mining’s growth strategy includes expanding the footprint into mining areas either by direct presence, or partnering with local complementary engineering companies, whilst leveraging off HYDAC Technologies’ shared services amongst other engineering workshops,” concludes Moodley.