Tell us about the business.
CST was founded in 1984 in response to a long-standing industry need for more accurate, reliable and durable in-motion weighing equipment than was currently available. A key element of its success has been focusing on developing the technology to bring high accuracy weighing technology to critical, and high value material weighing applications.
How long have you been doing business?
Over 30 years.
How many people work for the business?
Over 100 people are employed by CST.
Describe a typical day at ‘The office’.
CST has three offices in Australia and other partners and sales people internationally. Our Sydney office is our main office and our main hub. It is also the site of our factory where we manufacture all of our products. We also have sales people both internationally and in Australia who develop engineering backed solutions, write quotes and respond to technical queries.
What’s the best thing about the business?
CST supports the mining (and other bulk handling industries) industry in a critical niche of data gathering and management for the weighing of bulk materials. Weighing of material is of critical importance to these industries as it relates directly to the financial bottom line for these companies.
CST prides itself on designing and building custom built weighers. This is unusual amongst our competitors who claim accuracies that are impossible when selling off the shelf weighers.
The worst thing?
Our choice to custom build our weighers has not been the easiest road to travel. We are dedicated to honesty and integrity in business dealings and will not shirk our responsibilities as a supplier of critical goods.
What are the biggest challenges facing your business?
Despite the above CST has over the period of many years developed strong relationships with some of the world’s largest mining companies. These relationships have been built on trust. CST is honest about what it can deliver and works hard to support its customers in even the most difficult situations.
What is the biggest opportunity for your business right now?
We are an Australian export business. We do our best to have as much of our goods sourced from within and built within Australia. Being an export business means that not only do we service the Australian market, but we also service the rest of the world with our products.
There is high demand for high accuracy belt weighing solutions all over the world and in the last several years CST has been expanding rapidly into international markets.
What is the business most proud of?
CST has designed and built large weighers for some very large mining operations such as Glencore and Antapaccay, MAMoRan and Cerre Verde in Peru just to name some more recent examples. CST is also proud of work done long ago. Some of our solid weigh frames that we installed over 30 years ago are still in operation and serviced by our teams.
Community or other causes close to its heart and values?
CST considers charity to be an important element of its finances. CST gives money to a wide range of organisations both international and in Australia.
CST has helped skilled workers to travel and settle in Australia. In this way we encourage diversity of all kinds and are welcoming of a wide range of people.
Any employees that deserve a shout out?
Our South American employee Santiago has been invaluable to us as we expand into South America. Santiago understands belt weighing and has the ability to be a jack of all trades, quoting, completing onsite maintenance and installation as well as helping solve technical difficulties. The partnerships that we form internationally need to be high quality for success. Occasionally you partner with a person of true worth and integrity. We have found Santiago to be one such person.
