95 Years and Still Going Strong

95 Years and Still Going Strong

Publication: Mining Review Africa
Issue: October 2016

2016 represents South African engineering and environment consulting specialist Knight Piésold’s 95th year in business—a milestone achievement which officially makes it the oldest South African engineering and consulting company. Having evolved over the decades to meet changing industry needs, it is well positioned and prepared to extend its successful legacy for another 95 years, writes Laura Cornish.

Not only is Knight Piésold 100% privately owned, and 180 head strong, but it is focused on delivering an environmentally protected planet for generations to come, but is doing so according to the legislative requirements the South African government has stipulated.

The company’s broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) status has been Level 2 for the past five years, which according to mining technical director Andrew Copeland, is one of many competitive advantages the consulting specialist has to offer the mining industry. “We are also fully ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 accredited,” he adds.

“Unlike most businesses in our profession, Knight Piésold has survived through many economic ups and downs and has in fact grown subsequent to a few name changes, and we plan to continue using our strengths as we approach a century in business,” he says. Today the company has five offices in
South Africa and three in Namibia, two offices in Zambia, Swaziland and the DRC. They all form part of a large global corporation headquartered in Denver, US with supporting offices in Canada, United
Kingdom, Ghana and South America as well. (The South African office, founded by Dr. Francis Edgar Kanthack in 1921, was the original head office.)

 

Download the full article

Download

Recent Insights

November 2024
Design of a Co-disposal Facility for Thickened Tailings and Potentially Acid-generating Waste Rock
November 2024
Compaction Sensitivity in Tailings Stack Infiltration Modeling: Unsaturated Properties Uncertainty Analysis
November 2024
Volumes of Dam Material Mobilized by Erosion During Tailings Dam Failure Events
October 2024
Estudio de rotura de una presa de jales en la zona centro-norte de México
September 2024
Influence of Pre-Existing Mobilized Zones on B3 Cave Propagation and Initial Subsidence at the New Afton Mine
September 2024
Importance of Indigenous Community Engagement related to ARD/ML and Long-Term Water Quality
September 2024
Effective Assessment of ARD/ML Potential for Non-Mining Infrastructure Projects
August 2024
CESA Aon Engineering Excellence Awards 2024: Kikagati Hydropower Plant
July 2024
Interview: Mario Lazo Emparanza, Regional Manager, Knight Piésold Chile
July 2024
Visionary Leadership: Driving Engineering Excellence in Africa with Vishal Haripersad
June 2024
Concept Feasibility and Predicted Behavior of Mining a Rock Tower with Drill-and-Blast Undermining Using Dynamic Three-Dimensional Discontinuum Numerical Models
June 2024
Estimating Shear Stress within a Clay Foundation Using the Burgers-Creep Model
June 2024
Laboratory Study of Manganese Mining Overburden Mixed with Lime as a Paving Subbase Layer
May 2024
Knight Piésold: Ensuring African Excellence in the DRC
May 2024
Wild Coast N2 Highway Project Taking Shape
May 2024
Interview: Guillermo Barreda, Gerente General, Knight Piésold Perú
April 2024
Risk Mitigation through Design Optimization Utilizing Seasonal Effects under Arctic Conditions at the Amaruq Mine
April 2024
Synthetic Rock Mass Modeling of Progressive Unravelling and Overall Slope Stability Using the Discrete Element Method
April 2024
Operational Slope Stability Risk Management for Large Open Pits at the Mount Milligan Mine – A Case Study
April 2024
Risk and Informed Approach to TSF Design and Operation