Rob Letschert, the managing director of ThoroughTec, plans to display his world-class mining industry simulators at a big mining exhibition on each of the major continents.
This week the Durban-based technology solutions company received an order from Canada for a major mining simulator system. The breakthrough followed the company's attendance at a mining show in Canada this year.
The company's modelling and simulation division, under executive director John Waltham, has won an important overseas contract to make a simulator of a light armoured vehicle for the Australian defence force. Armscor last year awarded the company a R6 million contract for the development of a simulator for training crews on the Rooikat military vehicle.
Started five years ago with two people and a few thousand rands, ThoroughTec has gone from turnover of R500 000 in the first year to a staff of 50 and turnover of R25 million.
About 30 percent of the company's business is foreign. One of its divisions supplies electronics and software for tollgates and is working on gaining contracts from Sri Lanka and India.
The variable message signs division makes and supplies overhead freeway signs and has done work in Dubai. It recently installed a new signage system in Toyota's production plant in Durban that streamlines output on the factory floor.
The fourth division specialises in parking systems. Last year the company acquired the assets and intellectual property of Pietermaritzburg-based Bulwark Parking and has since launched it own iPark brand. It was recently awarded the contract for parking controls at the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport.
Letschert (37) was born in Durban and schooled at Northwood High. He studied a BSc and MSc in computer science at the University of Natal in Durban. After travelling, he worked in London's computer industry in the early days of CD-ROM.
On his return he joined the simulator division of Altech Defence Systems, where he and some of his colleagues saw a gap in the market for low-cost simulation.
Letschert, Waltham, Keith Duffield and Frank Jacinto struck out on their own, forming Kobitech. After buying out a partner they changed the name to ThoroughTec. Together they are a multidisciplined team with vast experience in the mechanics, electronics, software and systems integration principles that the company needs.
Letschert's approach to business is conservative and his advice to aspirant entrepreneurs is to have some idea, before they start, of what contracts they can bring in that will help reduce the risks of their new ventures.
Emotional intelligence is also a factor to consider in order to ensure longer-term relationships with customers and staff.
"One needs a mixture between someone who can complete tasks and a shaper. If one cannot finish a project then one cannot get anywhere."
It is possible to have a strong technology business in Durban while most of the customers are in Johannesburg.
The real effort comes in going there regularly and giving clients concentrated attention, Letschert says. - Durban