ABRASIVE MATTERS

News highlights

gMA garnet abrasives for sAtORP [03] | Reserve plant a Beneficial Use Facility [04] | Breakthrough in waterblasting application [05] |

JUlY 2011 eDitiON

First-of-its-kind mobile application to calculate the true cost of your blasting project

The Group developed a new mobile application, a first-of-its-kind in the abrasive blasting industry for calculating the true cost of a blasting project using GMA Garnet abrasives as well as other existing abrasives.

Launched in June 2011, the GMA Garnet Abrasive Blasting Calculator is available as a free mobile application and users can download the application from Apple iTunes and Android Market. A web version is also be available on the Groups website.

Visit : www.garnetsales.com/gmacalc

The calculator is the perfect tool for project estimators and contractors to calculate the true cost of blasting with GMA Garnet abrasives, says Chief Operating Officer Aaron Williams.

Among the key features of the application are the flexibility to select between Metric and US measurement units and enabling the user to generate the total cost in either per square metre or per square foot of the surface area blasted as well as the total quantity of abrasives required and time taken to complete a given project. (Calculations in this application were built using U.S. military formula methods).

Among the features available are the flexibility to switch between Metric and US measurement units, the quantity of abrasives required and time taken to complete a project.

A first in the industry, the GMA Garnet Abrasive Blasting Calculator is the perfect tool for project estimators and contractors to estimate their abrasive blasting budgets with just a few buttons and swipes on their mobile phones.

Android Market

.Launch Android Market from your mobile phone

.Search for GMA Garnet

.Select GMA Garnet Abrasive Blasting Calculator

.Activate the Free button to install

The true cost includes not only the abrasive, but also the cost of disposal, labour and equipment hire, and takes into account the superior blasting performance of GMA Garnet abrasives compared to other abrasives.

The application also allows you to compare the true cost of blasting with GMA Garnet against your existing abrasives, such as slag or staurolite, Mr Williams added.

By Stephanie Cheong, Perth

Apple iTunes

.Launch App Store from your iPhone

.Search for GMA Garnet

.Select GMA Garnet Abrasive Blasting Calculator

.Activate the Free button to install

Mobile Application Download Instructions

02

Customer Focus Message from the Chief Executive Officer

On its own, this is perhaps the most widely (mis-)used business mantra that is found in most companies Vision Statement.

More often than not, Customer Focus is regarded as a generic virtue to which management should aspire, without the internal organisational and policy structures to clearly identify and understand the customer. At every level of the GMA Garnet Group (GMA), however, from mining and production, quality control, logistics and distribution to the final end user, we focus on understanding our customers needs and circumstances as our strategic choice that involves each and every employee of GMA around the world!

We connect with our customers through real-time information, online interaction and, wherever possible, in person at the customers premises and work sites, to develop deep relationships based on trust, performance and providing value. We believe that the best investment is to prioritise the understanding of our customers needs and aspirations and to provide the best solution to meet those needs.

GMA is recognised as the worlds largest producer of the highest quality industrial garnet abrasives but what our customers really require is not a tonne of abrasive but an area of blast cleaned steel or length of WaterJet cut marble. With this realisation, GMA has over the past 20 years developed a global GMA Distribution and Customer Service network that integrates our products and services with the operations of our key customers, based on an

intimate understanding of our clients problems and objectives. GMAs global presence in all of our established markets enforces and ensures the uniformly high levels of customer and technical service that our customers rightfully expect from the worlds leading garnet brand.

This proximity to our customers provides direct and timely insight into our customers shifting perceptions, requirements or objectives and we have in place efficient feedback cycles that allow us to adopt internal changes to meet that new situation on the ground. Over the years, GMA has developed specific products in response to specific customer needs and introduced new product formulations for special job applications that help our customers to complete their workload faster, with less environmental impact and at lower overall job cost.

Over the past 20 years, GMA has developed a Recycling Strategy to effectively and efficiently reprocess used Garnet from field operations for re-use, directly responding to the challenge of our customers needs for environmentally safe disposal of used Garnet and the maximum utilisation of a non-renewable resource. GMA now operates major industrial Recycling Facilities in the Middle East, Europe and the USA.

For all of us at GMA, Customer Focus is much more than a trivial mention in a Vision Statement it is about truly understanding our customer and working towards solutions with win-win outcomes.

Torsten Ketelsen

CORPORAte

On 17th February 2011, Jebsen & Jessen Group of Companies South East Asia (JJSEA) company founder and former chairman Mr Arwed Peter Jessen passed away at the age of 86 in his hometown of Aabenraa, Denmark.

After a long struggle with Parkinsons disease, AP Jessen departed peacefully surrounded by his family. AP Jessen is the Father of Mr Heinrich Jessen, a co-owner of GMA Garnet Group.

AP Jessen started his career in the family enterprise Jebsen & Co in Shanghai. He was made family partner in 1952 and moved to Hong Kong in 1954 where he lived until 1964. During his time in Hong Kong, AP Jessen was chairman of the Hong Kong Philharmonics, founding member of the Hong Kong Country Club and board member of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company.

In 1963, AP Jessen incorporated what is today the Jebsen & Jessen Group of Companies South East Asia in Singapore and Malaysia. As chairman and principal family shareholder, AP Jessen oversaw his companys affairs across the region. Four decades after the establishment of the Jebsen & Jessen Group of Companies South East Asia, AP Jessen stepped down as chairman and moved back to Aabenraa.

AP Jessen was an outstanding musician, passionate sportsman, great businessman and dedicated father of seven. Mr Jessen will be deeply missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

By Laja Mensdorff-Pouilly, JJSEA, Singapore

In Memoriam

Mr Arwed Peter Jessen

CORPORAte / MiDDle eAst

03

GMA Garnet abrasives for SATORPGMA Garnet abrasives are being utilised for the construction of SATORP one of the largest and most complex petrochemical refineries in the world.

Garnet Arabia Company provides an environmentally friendly package programme comprised of the supply of GMA Garnet abrasives and the collection of used garnet.

GMA Garnet abrasives are being utilised by a majority of the contractors working on the construction of Saudi Aramco TOTAL Refinery and Petrochemical Company (SATORP).

SATORP, which is targeted to be completed in 2013 will be one of the largest and most complex petrochemical refineries in the world.

For this project, Garnet Arabia Company provided an environmentally friendly package programme that was well received by customers and supported by the management at SATORP. The package comprised of the supply of GMA Garnet natural abrasives and the collection of used garnet from the site.

SATORP, also known as Jubail Export Refinery Project (JERP) is a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and TOTAL of France. It is one of the worlds largest refinery & petrochemical projects under construction in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Upon completion, the refinery will be the seventh most complex refiner in the world.

The refinery located in Jubail Industrial City on the eastern province of the Kingdom is expected to be fully operational by 2013 with a projected output of 400,000 barrels per day. It will produce a high proportion of white products such as diesel, gasoline, LPG, petrochemicals and jet fuels from Arabian heavy crude oil. By Soni John, Jubail

Abrasive Cost or Abrasive Value?

What really matters?In your abrasive blasting project, what really matters is the cost per square metre of blasted surface - not the cost per tonne of abrasive!

Great savings can be achieved by selecting a high performance abrasive, that uses less abrasive and does the job faster - covering more square metres in less time!

High performance garnet - GMA Garnet cleans the surface at twice the speed of slag and uses less than half the quantity of abrasive. At the same time, you get superior surface finish while operating in a health and environmentally safe condition. By Torsten Ketelsen, Perth

Call our office near you or write to sales@garnetsales.com today to find out how much you can save with GMA GarnetTM including

recycling options to help you save even more!

True Cost of Abrasive Blast Cleaning

B

DISPOSAL COST

Lower Cost per m

Higher Cost per m

A

SLAG GMA GARNET

EQUIPMENT COST

LABOUR COST

ABRASIVE COST Higher Abrasive Cost per Tonne

Lower Abrasive Cost per Tonne

LowerLabour Cost

Lower Equipment Running Cost

Lower Disposal

HigherLabour Cost

Higher Equipment Running Cost

Higher Disposal

2

2

UNiteD stAtes / MiDDle eAst

04

State government approves Reserve recycling plant as Beneficial Use Facility

The State of Louisiana Department of Environment Quality (LDEQ) has approved the Groups recycling plant in Reserve as a Beneficial Use facility for returned garnet on 4th May 2011.

The Beneficial Use Plan is a green initiative by the state government to turn waste material into reusable resources.

According to GMA Garnet USA Vice President Matt Cain, the application to be part of this initiative commenced in November last year.

The certification goes hand in hand with our ongoing GMR Recycling programme where we encourage our customers to send their used garnet to our facility to be processed for reuse and therefore, saving precious resources from going to landfills. The recognition by LDEQ provides the added legitimacy for us as a certified facility and a healthy boost to our recycling programme efforts, Mr Cain said.

Customers participating in this programme will be awarded with a Certificate of Recycling every year as an acknowledgment to their ongoing support. The certificate, which is certified by the State will reflect the tonnage of used garnet that has been processed and saved from landfills.

Currently, there are around 20 participants in this programme although the participants are expected to rise, especially from major garnet users in the sandblasting and waterjet industries. By Aaron Williams, Houston

The recognition by the Louisiana Department of Environment Quality provides a healthy boost to the plants ongoing GMR recycling programme.

The certification goes hand in hand with the Groups ongoing GMR Recycling programme where customers are encouraged to send in their

used garnet to be processed for reuse.

Over 70 professionals representing Saudi Aramco and major contracting companies attended the event held in Al Khobar.

Roots Group to expand garnet distribution to the abrasive blasting sector in Saudi Arabia

Roots Group, the GMA Garnet Groups (GMA) distributor for waterjet cutting abrasives in Saudi Arabia will be expanding its garnet distribution to some users in the abrasive blasting sector in Jeddah and Riyadh.

The Roots Group Arabia Company Limited (RGA) formerly known as Arabian Roots Stone Industry Supplies Division is a long standing and dedicated distributor of GMA Garnet waterjet abrasives for over 15 years.

Sales of GMA Garnet 80 Mesh waterjet abrasives have steadily increased over the years. RGA holds and impressive market share for GMA Garnet in the Saudi waterjet abrasives market.

GMA ships containerised cargo to RGA warehouses in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam as well as directly to their customers in Saudi Arabia. GMA Garnet 80 Mesh is also available from Unimar Trading in Egypt, a distribution arm of Roots Group.

GMA CEO Torsten Ketelsen and Garnet Arabia Company General Manager Soni John visited Roots Group headquarters in Jeddah on 30th May 2011 for discussions with Roots Group CEO Ousama Fansa and General Manager Marwan Ghalayini, aimed at strengthening and expanding the excellent business relations between the two companies.

By Soni John, Jubail & Mary Fay, Perth

From left: RGA Managing Director Asia Pacific Fouad M. Ghandour, RGA General Manager Marwan Ghalayini, GMA Garnet Group CEO Torsten Ketelsen, RGA CEO Ousama Fansa and Garnet Arabia Company General Manager Soni John.

UNiteD stAtes

05

Breakthrough in waterblasting application using GMA GarnetAn exclusive case reference on a wet abrasive blasting project where the combination of GMA Garnet abrasives and GEOBLASTER equipment had successfully performed on par with dry blasting techniques by John McIntyre Sr., President and owner of GEOBLASTER company.

Pipeline transportation and energy storage company - Kinder Morgan has over 6,000 linear feet (1,828m) of sheet piling at its South East Terminal on the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Installed in 1922, these interlocking style pilings are old and stand 10 to 12 feet (3 to 3.7m) above the waterline. The company was looking into cleaning these sheet pilings 6 feet (1.82m) under the mean tide mark.

The surface preparation method to be selected was based on the capability to clean with little or no dust, effectively remove 40 mils of existing coating and to create a 2.5 mil to 3.5 mil profile to allow a heavy specialty coating that is 100% solids to be applied under water.

Precon, an experienced surface preparation contractor recommended wet abrasive blasting as a viable solution in view of the unique situation where the cleaning was performed on water in an environmentally sensitive area of the river.

GEOBLASTER was contacted to perform a blast trial. The GEOBLASTER systems use air pressure and abrasive media combined with water that are then pressurised to 120-130psi. This new technology has been proven effective in cleaning and surface preparation without dust.

The initial blast trial was performed using medium-grain recycled crushed glass and results from the trial were not promising. The removal was far too slow to be considered effective and the profile was less than desirable. The GEOBLASTER equipment is originally set up to run with softer abrasives such as recycled glass, plastic beads and corn cobs. It is also a common industry perception that waterblasting technology is best suited for cleaning surfaces and not for profile and deep anchor patterns for technical coatings.

I began to search for a more aggressive and clean media and through a business associate, I was told GMA Garnet natural abrasives work very well with GEOBLASTER units. I contacted GMA Garnet USA for some GMA Garnet 30/60 mesh and put it to the test.

During the testing, I knew from the first blast that this was going to meet the needs of the project.

Using GMA Garnet 30/60 mesh, we doubled our production speed and met the necessary 3.5 mil profile requirement. GMA Garnet abrasives has successfully placed GEOBLASTER toe-to-toe with dry blasting techniques without the dust!

The GEOBLASTER, GB 400 unit was able to achieve 150 ft2 (14 m2) per hour at consumption rates of a very reasonable 1 litre of water per minute and 0.8 kilogrammes of GMA Garnet abrasives per minute.

Since the first successful demonstration with GMA Garnet, we have placed GMA Garnet as the recommended abrasive media and each new GEOBLASTER unit delivered comes with a few buckets of GMA Garnet 30/60 mesh.

By John McIntyre Sr., GEOBLASTER, Ontario and Carl Borgh, GMA Garnet Group, New York

eUROPe

New Sales Manager (designate) for United Kingdom

New warehouse in Casablanca to enhance market presence in Morocco and North African Region

06

In cooperation with Quimialmel Maroc S.A.R.L., the Group established a new warehouse in Casablanca to enhance its market presence in Morocco as well as in the North African Region.

The new warehouse, which is also the Groups first facility in the North African Region began its operation on 1st April 2011 and will cater for customers in the whole of Morocco and beyond to Algeria and Tunisia. A range of GMA Garnet waterjet cutting (80, 120 and 200 Mesh) and blast cleaning abrasives are available in 25kg bags on one metric tonne pallets. By Tiziano Cher, Frankfurt

Mr Cliff Hall joined the Group as the new Sales Manager (designate) for GMA Garnet United Kingdom on 1st April 2011.

Cliff will head the implementation of Group strategies for United Kingdom and to further develop and expand the sales of GMA Garnet abrasives within the Waterjet and Blast Cleaning industries.

In addition, Cliff will be responsible for the daily operations of the office including full after sales customer support as well as the performance of the business in the country.

Trained in computer aided engineering design and engineering drawing, Cliff has spent a number of years in the machine tool industry handling customer support and direct sales. Prior to this appointment, Cliff was a Product Manager for a multi-national waterjet cutting company for five years.

The Group welcomes Cliff on board and wishes him a great start to his new role.

By Andreas Hfner, Hamburg

Warehouse Address

Quimialmel Maroc S.A.R.L. c/o GMA Garnet ( Europe ) GmbH

Parc dActivits Oukacha 1 16 Alle des Lauriers, Hangar N 56

Ain Seba - Casablanca, Morocco Attn: Mr. Yassine Lemsagued

Tel: +212 522342587 / 88 Fax: +212 522342590

t GMA Garnet Europe Sales Manager Tiziano Cher (right) with Quimialmel Morocco General Manager Yassine Lemsagued (left).

Cliff Hall

stAFF News

Getting to know the people, place and product

07

25th year milestone for Wayne

stAFF News

Logistics Representative Thomas Heinrich travelled across continents from Europe to Australia for a short work and holiday visit during the end of summer in March this year. Here is the account of his first Down Under experience.

Wayne is also well-known for his community work. Together with his wife Sandra, they are closely involved with Variety Club charity fund raising events. Wayne also dabbles in oil paintings which sell well at Variety Club auctions.

By Martin Taylor & Dean Schwarz, Geraldton

My first impressions of Australia arebeautiful, huge and hot.

Thomas has been with the Group for almost four years. He joined sister Group Jebsen & Jessen Hamburg for two years before coming on board to GMA Garnet Group in 2009.

It is very different from Europe. Even the plants and animals are different.

Perth is a beautiful and calm city and the people are very kind and relaxed. Our Groups head office is located in a beautiful building in the city, very near the Swan River. The colleagues in the office are kind and helpful and welcomed me like a member of the family. I can see that all are very happy to work with the Group.

At the office, it was interesting to observe the daily operations and ongoing activities and I found in particular, the weekly meetings to be very helpful in keeping everyone updated on current matters and to discuss new issues as well.

I also had the opportunity to visit the garnet mine site at Geraldton in the Mid-West of Western Australia. It was an eye-opener to see the entire production cycle starting from the mine site to garnet processing and packaging at the plant.

Prior to this trip, my understanding of garnet begins at the point where we receive the garnet at our office in Hamburg and now, I have a good grasp of how it is being processed, stored and transported. I can now identify myself with the product more, knowing what it is and where it comes from.

As with the friendly and relaxed environment in Perth, the business culture is very much different from what I expected. Meetings with the customers are conducted in a manner more like visiting a friend than a business partner. By Thomas Heinrich, Hamburg

Mr Wayne Dawson has accomplished many milestones in his career journey with the Group.

Starting as a plant hand, Wayne has progressed and developed his career to his current management position as HSE (Health, Safety and Environment) and Quality Manager.

In March this year, Wayne attained a significant milestone - 25 years of service with the Group.

Through the years, Wayne has been involved in most aspects of the Groups dry plant operations in Geraldton and has shown particular aptitude, largely self-motivated, in setting up and administering health, safety and environmental systems for all of the Groups Mid-West operations.

Wayne has been instrumental in obtaining and maintaining the plants accreditations for Quality (ISO 9001), Health and Safety (AS/NZS 4801) and Environment (ISO 14001) standards.

On top of career growth, Wayne cites that the flexible work hours enabled him to enjoy a balanced life of work and play.

I get to do plenty of surfing and windsurfing and spend time with my family, Wayne added.

Wayne (3rd from right) being congratulated for his 25 years of service by CEO Torsten Ketelsen (4th from right) and German Parliamentary Delegates on a site visit to the plant.

GMA Garnet Group is the leading producer of industrial garnet for blast cleaning and waterjet cutting with advanced mining and processing operations established within Western Australia and strategically located warehouses worldwide. The Group has pioneered the operation of large-scale garnet recycling facilities in Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE and USA offering an environmentally friendly solution to the disposal of used garnet. Headquartered in Perth with GMA Group of Companies in Europe, Middle East and America, the Group is supported by a dedicated and professional global distribution network offering professional solutions and extensive technical support to the industry for over 20 years.

Level 18, Exchange Plaza, The Esplanade, Perth, Western Australia 6000 Tel: +61 8 9287 3200 Fax: +61 8 9287 3201 Email sales@garnetsales.com Website: www.garnetsales.com

AUSTRALIA DENMARK GERMANY ITALY SAUDI ARABIA UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNITED KINGDOM UNITED STATES

Middle East

Appointments

stAFF News

United States

Ms Ernestine McDaniel, also known as Ernie joined the Group as Abrasive Blasting Sales in Houston, Texas late last year.

A former board member of NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers) Houston section, Ernie has been working in the mineral industry for over 35 years with experience in various abrasives such as garnet, sand, slags and bicarbonate soda. With her sound knowledge of the abrasive blasting market, Ernie will be instrumental in promoting the benefits of using GMA Garnet natural abrasives in the industrial sector.

Abdullah Al ZainSaneesh Joy

Ernie McDaniel

Mr Fabien Reneaux joined the Group as Sales & Marketing Assistant for France and North Africa on 17th January this year.

Reporting to the Sales Manager for GMA Garnet in Europe, Fabien is responsible for the administration and sales activities of the Groups branch office in Griesheim, Frankfurt.

Fabien holds a bachelors degree in Commerce and Foreign Languages and prior to joining the Group, he has a brief working engagement with Rolls Royce Deutschland in Project Risk Management.

Mr Saneesh Joy joined the Group on 4th April 2011 as Sales/Accounts Coordinator for Garnet Arabia Company in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Saneesh holds a Masters Degree in Commerce from India and has previously worked as a Financial Analyst for a Global Outsourcing Company based in the southern Indian city of Trivandrum for three and a half years.

Within the same month, Mr Abdullah Al Zain joined the Group as the new Receptionist for Garnet Arabia Company on 21st April 2011.

Prior to this appointment, Abdullah was employed in a similar position with a local company for one year.

Leading Hand Donald Rex Hook celebrated 10 years of service with the Group in April this year.

Donald, also known as Rex joined the Group on 2nd April 2001 as a Plant Operator and in June 2008, he was promoted to Leading Hand at the mine site in Port Gregory, Australia.

Prior to joining, Rex was working away from home and could only travel home every three months. Working with GMA enabled him to enjoy a better family life and being able to come home every night.

GMA is a reasonably good company to work for, Rex added.

Happy Anniversary to employees who have achieved 5 years of service from January to June 2011.

GeraldtonAmanda Gundry & Jeffrey Allan Brockwell

DubaiAjay Thanki

The Group values your contribution and looks forward to your personal and career growth with the Group for many years to come. By Aaron Williams, Perth & Dean Schwarz , Geraldton

Anniversary

GMA GARNET GROUPwhen your abrasive matters!

The Group welcomes Ernie, Fabien, Saneesh and Abdullah on board and wishes them a great start to their careers.

By Pete Mitchell, Houston, Tiziano Cher, Frankfurt and Soni John, Jubail

Europe

Fabien Reneaux

Donald Rex Hook