New NRW Contract possibilities FY2017, page-198

Pioupiou you are speaking the voice of reason, I can tell. No Steven Spielberg styled R2D2 NRW2 androids for us?
Not even a remote control truck ?
Maybe not ... As you say, it’s not just one truck, it is a fleet and the line to run them on, and more......and for a company ( our company) that puts so much emphasis on its people, removing people from the equasion is to possibly take out the soul as well as the heart.

But

There will be changes . It’s inevitable . And this ‘intelligent’ stuff does not have to cost billions . New monitoring systems, communication systems, parts ordering systems , machinery assessment systems .... even ways of imoroving safety by monitoring workers concentration.... or by engines cutting out before an accident happens ....it all counts as intelligent .
And Jacko said there are things that can be ‘bolted on’ to existing equipment.
I am sure current technology is far more intelligent than where it was 20 years ago and I have no doubt that even if we don’t have an NRW2 mascot waving at the crowds from the NRW stand when the Forrestfield Rail line is opened, that the company is examining new technologies with a view to applying what it believes will best fit.
- But that may not count as ‘sophisticated automation’ I agree.


In terms of ‘future proofing’ the company if you look around it seems :
-RCR has the alternative power generation plants stitched up.
-Monadelphus says maintenance services are a winner for it ..
“The maintenance and industrial services division saw an 18 per cent rise in topline to a record $400.7 million, as demand for maintenance services increased across the resources and energy sector” (fr9m their last report )
-Whittens has concrete ...( although you can already get a computer to draw a house and a robot bricklayer to build it which may extend one day to concrete form work )
I was looking at -
-Decmil (now that we have an association of sorts )and they seem to have an interesting mix ..... an R@R village ! They also have a well-progressed succession plan with with the son of the founder now head of the company. (The best way to future proof is to have the right people coming on or an exit strategy to pass the business elsewhere?)

-Worley Parsons ..also big in maintenance .. and everything else !
Excellent short read about their view on the future here : https://www.worleyparsons.com/who-we-are/the-future

Ausdrill - seems to be going great guns despite their long term head retiring . They have $218 million dollars. Heavy cash is a traditional way to future proof ...and they own mines ...and I think have targeted Africa as being a great source of work .


NRW does not have it’s eyes shut. We have fantastic management who care about the company and its reputation.
And as you say we are a preeminent railway line builder ..and the overburden etc work will continue ....and we now have the highest accreditation for the bridges and other road work so I am sure there will be more government contracts ....