Austin Powder

Employees in APC Show the Power of Family - On and Off the Clock At Austin Powder Company (APC), the value of family extends beyond the workplace, as demonstrated by a recent weekend adventure. Several employees and their spouses, friends, children, and grandchildren gathered at an off-road ATV adventure park in eastern Kentucky. Organized by Wayne Roark, Operations Manager, the event saw participation from various company roles, including corporate officers, a division president, and team members from Ohio, Virginia, and Alabama. The gathering was a voluntary effort to enjoy each other's company, resulting in lots of laughter and good food, exemplifying the company's "Power of Family" ethos.

The Employees of Austin Detonator Saved 4 Tonnes of CO2 by Biking to Work For the sixth year, Austin Detonator participated in the May Bike, Walk, or Jog to Work Challenge, emphasizing sustainability alongside safety. Sixty-one employees formed 19 teams, collectively traveling over 250,000 kilometers and saving 4,046 kg of CO2 emissions. Austin donated CZK 1 per kilometer traveled, totaling CZK 25,284, which was given to young cyclists from the SK EDIE Team sports club and handicapped clients of Domov Jitka daycare center. The event concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing all participants, especially those with 100% participation and the fastest cyclists. Managing Director Jiří Václavík praised the employees' dedication to using environmentally friendly transport and their commitment to the environment.

Austin Powder Celebrates First Successful Shock*Star Shipment to Ghana Austin Powder Africa has successfully delivered Shock*Star detonators to Ghana for the first time, a milestone facilitated by West African representative Mohammed Elgharraz and the Austin Detonator team. This achievement marks Ghana as a gateway for Austin Powder's expansion in Western Africa. Elgharraz's expertise and the team's commitment ensured the delivery met all safety and quality standards. After two weeks, a shipment of 120,000 detonators arrived at Tema port with positive customer feedback. Two additional shipments, totaling 215,000 detonators, are set for delivery by late September. This milestone underscores Austin Powder's strategic growth in the African region.

Austin Powder Argentina Continues to Support Education in Tandil Austin Powder Argentina has supported education in Tandil for several years through various initiatives. This year, they continue their efforts by providing two scholarships through the Tandil Graduates Association's University Within Your Reach Program to help students stay in university with financial aid. Additionally, since 2015, they have collaborated with the Olavarría Technological Institute Foundation, offering scholarships to outstanding students. For 2024, Austin Powder Argentina is expanding its community contributions by adding a scholarship, reinforcing its commitment to educational advancement and youth empowerment. Juan Mario Albarello, Tandil Manager, expressed pride in contributing to regional educational growth, emphasizing the positive impact on the community and the country.

Embracing Renewable Energy: Solar Panels Installed on the Bentong Plant in Malaysia Austin Powder Malaysia has advanced its sustainability efforts by installing solar panels at its Bentong plant, underscoring its commitment to Sustainability principles. The first phase, featuring 98.9 kW of solar panels on the Raw Material Warehouse, has been completed. This initiative, which received government subsidies covering 45% of the investment costs, is expected to reduce grid electricity consumption by 20-25%. The project aligns with Austin Powder's global sustainability strategies and Malaysia's Green Technology Roadmap 2050. Ongoing efficiency monitoring will guide the second installation phase, with the Working at Heights management system ensuring safe maintenance in the future.

Austin Powder Company in the United States showcases its commitment to safety in a new video.

Austin Powder Australia Achieves Milestone in Papua New Guinea Austin Powder Australia (APAU) has successfully entered a new market by establishing local technical support and shipping Shock*Star products to Papua New Guinea, marking a significant milestone in the company's global expansion. This achievement follows over two years of work and planning, overcoming challenges related to export and import licenses, storage facility audits, and regulatory compliance in a post-COVID environment; the APAU team collaborated closely with local authorities and colleagues at Austin Detonator to secure necessary approvals and export permits. This milestone underscores APAU's commitment to global growth and innovation.

Austin Detonator Inspires Czech Companies by Sharing Experiences in the Pro Výroba Tour The tour focused on promoting best practices and innovation in manufacturing. Austin Detonator's presentations and demonstrations showcased their advanced technologies and production methods, encouraging local companies to adopt similar strategies for improvement and growth. This knowledge exchange aimed to enhance the overall quality and competitiveness of the Czech manufacturing industry.

Enhanced Safety with Peer-to-Peer Reporting Application in Zimbabwe Intrachem / Austin Powder Zimbabwe has launched a cutting-edge application to enhance risk assessment through peer-to-peer reviews and safety reporting. This solution facilitates real-time information transfer to management dashboards, enabling safety and management teams to oversee incidents, identify contributing factors, and implement necessary controls to prevent recurrence. The team also developed a mobile app to simplify data collection, allowing employees to participate in the risk assessment process from any location. This innovative application automates processes, enhances data visibility, and sets a new standard for incident management and risk mitigation in the Zimbabwean explosives industry.

Photo of the Month: Taken by Brian Cavallaro, Technical Services Rep. "North Texas was overcome with rainfall, and a customer site had a levee failure but needed rock on the ground!!"