#miningsupport

By Ato Asefoah Dadzie

It’s not the most glamorous part of mining operations—but ask any metallurgist or plant manager and they’ll tell you: grinding media matters. These unassuming balls of steel, ceramic, or other alloys are essential to breaking down ore, improving recovery rates, and keeping the entire extraction process efficient. The quality of your grinding media can make or break your throughput. Literally.

At JOBEX COMPANY LTD in Ghana, we’ve spent years refining our approach to sourcing grinding media. And if there’s one lesson we’ve learned, it’s this: not all grinding media are created equal.

There’s a big difference between buying “cheap steel balls” and procuring ISO-certified media that have been engineered, tested, and produced to meet the demands of your mill. We’ve had clients who initially opted for the cheapest quote—only to find their liners wearing out faster, their recovery rates dipping, and their downtime increasing.

So let’s talk about how we do it—and why we take it so seriously.

It starts with understanding the client’s need. Not every operation requires the same specs. What’s the ore hardness? The mill diameter? Wet or dry grinding? High-chrome or forged steel? These questions shape our sourcing strategy. You can’t just pick grinding balls off a shelf—well, you can, but it won’t end well.

Once we know the specs, we tap into our vetted international supplier network. And I mean vetted. We’ve rejected manufacturers after failed audits, visited factories ourselves, and conducted third-party lab testing to confirm claimed specifications. Because on paper, everyone says they meet ISO standards. But paper doesn’t grind ore—products do.

For us, ISO certification isn’t just a badge. It’s a guarantee of consistency. It means the producer has proper quality management systems, traceability, and repeatability in manufacturing. It means the hardness range is where it should be, the microstructure is right, and the breakage rate is within acceptable limits.

Take a recent delivery we coordinated for a gold mine near Obuasi. They needed high-chrome media, 40mm and 60mm, in bulk quantities. The first batch was airfreighted to meet an urgent deadline. The rest arrived in staggered shipments via sea freight. We worked closely with customs, tracked every container, and had quality samples tested on arrival. The feedback? “Best performance we’ve seen in two years.”

That didn’t happen by chance. It happened because we cared—because grinding media isn’t just a line item for us. It’s a performance enabler.

And yes, sometimes, we run into obstacles. One of our most reliable manufacturers once faced port delays due to regional unrest. We had to quickly pivot—reroute shipments, adjust inventory plans, keep the client in the loop. That’s the human side of sourcing. It’s not just contracts—it’s relationships, adaptability, and trust.

Some clients ask, “Why not just buy locally?” And sometimes we do, when the quality and volumes align. But when specific metallurgy, production standards, and long-term consistency are required, international sourcing becomes the better choice. The trick is knowing when—and from whom.

That blend of discernment and discipline is something we’ve built over time at JOBEX COMPANY LTD. And I believe it’s part of what earned us a nomination for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council this November in London. It’s more than just an event. It’s a meeting point for businesses across industries who’ve chosen to do things properly, even when it’s harder. A place to build alliances, exchange ideas, and move forward together in a rapidly shifting global economy.

We’re proud to represent Ghana there—not because we claim perfection, but because we believe in accountability. Whether it’s grinding media or any other supply chain element, we show up, we dig deep, and we stand by our work.

By Jonathan Ainoo

When people think of mining, they often picture heavy machinery, rock faces, and rows of trucks. But there’s another part of mining operations—less visible but absolutely essential: the food. Specifically, how you feed dozens, sometimes hundreds, of workers day after day in often remote and rugged environments. At JOBEX COMPANY LTD in Ghana, we’ve learned that camp catering isn’t just about keeping people full—it’s about fueling morale, health, and productivity.

A mining site isn’t a typical workplace. Shift cycles can be grueling, temperatures extreme, and downtime minimal. Workers don’t just need calories—they need meals that sustain energy, promote recovery, and, frankly, give them something to look forward to. We've found that the right menu does more than feed the body. It uplifts the mind.

Years ago, we supported a gold mining project in Ghana’s Ashanti region. The site had over 120 workers on alternating shifts, and the early setup included only a basic meal plan—rice, stew, and maybe a piece of meat. Within weeks, we began to hear murmurs. Fatigue was rising. Complaints became routine. We worked with the site leads to redesign the menu, introduce meal variety, better timing between shifts, and more hydration support. Within a month, absenteeism dropped. Productivity improved. And interestingly, there were fewer minor injuries—perhaps from better concentration and nutrition.

Catering for remote camps requires adaptability. Sometimes fresh produce isn't always available. Water supply might be inconsistent. And electricity? Not always reliable. That’s why at JOBEX, we design menus with all of that in mind. We don’t just ask what’s nutritious—we ask what’s possible.

Storage and hygiene are key concerns. Spoiled food is more than a logistical issue—it’s a health hazard. We invest in cold-chain solutions and proper kitchen workflow. Our staff are trained not just to cook but to handle food safely, even in tight quarters. A safe kitchen is an efficient kitchen.

Another thing people don’t always talk about is cultural preferences. In Ghana, food is identity. Fufu, kenkey, waakye—these aren’t just dishes; they’re comfort, especially when you’re away from home for weeks. Balancing traditional Ghanaian meals with international dietary standards is a delicate but important act. We’ve learned not to assume. Instead, we listen to the camp community. Some teams need high-protein diets, others want lighter options during hot seasons. Some prefer more local dishes, others want occasional Western meals. Flexibility matters.

And the schedule matters just as much as the food. Timing meals to match shift transitions, ensuring that night-shift teams aren’t just left with scraps from dinner service—these details show that you respect your workers. Respect feeds morale. And morale feeds performance.

Cost control, of course, is always in the background. A good caterer can deliver both quality and consistency within budget. It’s not about fancy ingredients—it’s about sourcing smart, reducing waste, and planning menus that rotate without repeating endlessly. We once ran a 90-day rotation for a site with just five cooks. Every day was different, yet predictable. That kind of planning doesn’t happen by accident.

Our nomination for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted this November in London by the International Trade Council, has prompted us to reflect on these “invisible” services. Camp catering doesn’t get headlines, but it’s a critical backbone of site operations. These awards aren’t about glamour—they’re about excellence in execution, the kind that keeps teams going when conditions get tough. We’re proud that JOBEX COMPANY LTD, representing Ghana, has a place in that global conversation.

Catering might seem minor. But in the context of industrial and mining camps, it’s anything but. It’s the difference between a tired, unmotivated crew and one that shows up ready, alert, and valued.