Group Mission & Values Statement
SPIRIT defines our values and mission as a group. Who are we? What do we stand for and what do we want the Goldschmidt Group to be associated with. Our mission statement was developed with the assistance of colleagues from all Goldschmidt group companies. SPIRIT serves to serves to define values which are important for our group and which influence and characterize us. They are the results of our 120 years of history and at the same time basis for our future development.
SUCCESS
We are strongly committed to providing customer value with our products and services. We understand that reliability of product, process, service, and delivery is key to our customer. Being global in approach and local in service we are close to the customer and aim for sustainable growth and demanding profitability.
INNOVATION
The future of our business requires a strong investment in research and development. We value all innovations, of every kind and size, which deliver sustainable profit and customer value. We do not seek high-risk innovations and projects outside our defined markets. Respecting the traditional base of our success we will be open to new business opportunities in our core market.
RAIL
We believe in the lasting potential of the rail infrastructure market and see many growth opportunities. Our identity is defined by the commitment to our customers around the world. We constantly seek profitable innovation in and adjacent to our target market.
INTERNATIONAL
Being international is part of our business and part of our identity. We are always close to our customers and will continue to grow internationally. We practice intercultural cooperation and communication with our customers and employees around the world. We think globally, have strong central support, and act locally to ensure the success of our customers.
- Think Globally, Act Locally
- Leading the Team During an Economic Downturn
- Employee Empowerment
- Staff Training and Development
- Community Investment
- Compliance
Goldschmidt Group is led by strong leadership with set vision, which promote and encourage local strong leadership. Thermitrex is passionate about building long-term sustainable business relationship with all stakeholders and providing holistic rail construction and maintenance solution to Rail Operators and Contractors in Africa. Thermitrex is determined to increase footprint in Sub-Saharan African market through partnership and superior products. Thermitrex existing 51 years excellent track record provides proof that this organisation is always determined to meet and exceed their customer’s needs. Thermitrex has established long lasting relationships with customers as well as strategic partners that support the success of the business. As a global company, the values of success, people and innovation are the backbone of the culture and ethos of the business, driving the company toward continuously supporting customers, staff and R & D, positioning the Goldschmidt Thermit Group as leader and technical authority in the area of track maintenance, products and services, all innovative and progressive in nature.
Daily more than a million journeys are made in Africa to transport goods and also to commute. Generally, Africa Rail Infrastructure is in a bad condition due to lack of investment, maintenance, and expansion. The cost of poor maintenance of rail infrastructure is so enormous; loss of life, long lead-time to transport goods and high cost of freight etc. Thermitrex sees a great opportunity of Africa economic growth through well maintain rail infrastructure, mining, interregional trade, and growing urbanization. Thermitrex is part of the rail infrastructure solution to ensure people and goods reach destinations safe, cost effective and reliable. We offer world-class total solutions to rail operators and construction companies ranging from rail track joining, consumables, road rail vehicles, buffer stopper (rail emergency stoppers), rail track measuring equipment’s, rail track tools and equipment’s. Thermitrex products meet high international standards including DIN EN and ASTM.
In 2015 to 2017 we experienced accelerated wave of business decline in Rail and Construction industry due to low volume demand, most of the companies were affected negatively by economic and political factors. Three major construction companies filed for business rescue. Thermitrex walked the rough road with all its stakeholders including staff and supported by Goldschmidt Group. IMF forecast South Africa growth at less than 2% in 2019 and 2020. The current business conditions warrant a different conduct, rules, ethics, and values of leadership to stir the ship. During economic downturn you need influential leadership and leading from the front. “The leader must not spend more time on turning the ignition key if the vehicle cannot start but rather spend time on the engine.
While companies during economic downturn focused on downsizing and restructuring, Thermitrex focused on new capital investment, retraining staff, identifying new markets, and investing in product development and new products. Thermitrex invested on Thermit Single Use Manufacturing Technology to boast 100% local content in Southern Africa. Our 11290m² Factory investment based in Boksburg East, Boksburg, South Africa, have a capacity to produce Thermit production to construct rail track line from Cape Town to Cairo. Thermitrex Leadership Vision is in line with Africa Union and NEPAD Agenda 2063 in promoting continent and regional integration. Thermitrex Leadership is driven by the voice of the customer, we always go to the scene of the crime and write our story about the needs of the customer. We are not product pushers but solution makers. Thermitrex successfully launched new robust and digital tools and equipment to improve the quality and reliability of rail track in 2017. Thermitrex new rail tools and equipment’s have gain attraction locally and beyond borders.
Thermitrex established Transformation Committee to engage and enable employees to take part in decision making. The Transformation Committee consists of Executive Managers, Senior Managers, and Union Representatives. All our employees are shareholders of the Thermitrex SA Employees Ownership Trust.
This initiative has driven the culture of high performance. Our workforce feels more appreciated because we know them on a personal level. Thermitrex Leadership treats employees important and needed, we make time to celebrating birthdays with each member of the staff and also celebrate Thermitrex employee’s day once a year. Our employees care about our customers, coworkers, and business sustainability.
Currently, the company has in excess of 40 full-time, highly skilled and professional staff, as well as a dedicated technical sales support team strategically deployed in Africa to communicate and respond to customer requests efficiently and effectively. Thermitrex has a sound human capital strategy based on international practice standards to grow and retain the majority of key staff. The majority of our staff members have more than 10 years’ service with Thermitrex. The policies, procedures and working instruction of a company are driven by its people, Thermitrex Leadership regards its staff as “human gems”. Thermitrex invests enormous money yearly on training and development at all levels of the company including leadership, administration, technical and operators. Said Henry Sambane.
Thermitrex has the policy to invest and develop local communities through enterprise and supplier development, Scholarship, Learnership, and social responsibility. Thermitrex provides administration resources, mentoring, training, and investment to historical disadvantage business entities. This investment enabled the above-mentioned entities to employ staff and support immediate and extended families. Our goal is to invest in long-term sustainable community projects. Thermitrex offers Employees’ children bursaries and unemployed youth leadership support. Our goal is to invest in the future of our community
Thermitrex has the policy to invest and develop local communities through enterprise and supplier development, Scholarship, Learnership, and social responsibility. Thermitrex provides administration resources, mentoring, training, and investment to historical disadvantage business entities. This investment enabled the above-mentioned entities to employ staff and support immediate and extended families. Our goal is to invest in long-term sustainable community projects. Thermitrex offers Employees’ children bursaries and unemployed youth learnership support. Our goal is to invest in the future of our community