FCT Group
FCT Group (trading as FCT International) is a leading provider of advanced combustion systems and engineering expertise. It specialises in combustion and fuels, designing burner systems for mineral processing operations and design and supply of specialised pyro-processing plants.
Need
To expand its global footprint and take on larger projects, FCT International required financial support to bridge the gap in payment cycles and manage upfront costs.
Solution
Since 2012, we have supported FCT International with finance solutions to deliver a range of projects, providing additional cash flow to support the business to manage day-to-day operations while expanding globally.
FCT International has been a global player in the highly specialised field of combustion and fuels for over 40 years. Its expertise in designing burner systems for mineral processing operations has earned it a reputation for excellence in a market with limited competitors. In recent years, the scope of projects undertaken by FCT has grown to include more of the equipment required around kilns and furnaces. Since 2012, we have provided the finance solutions it needed to deliver on a global scale.
FCT International was founded in the UK to meet global demand for specialist combustion and fuel products and services. In the 1990s, the business moved to Adelaide, Australia, purchased by Adbri, and was ultimately acquired in a management buyout in 1999 by its employees at that time.
With the business already having offices located globally and the bulk of demand for its products and services coming from South America, FCT International has long maintained offices in Brazil and the USA in addition to its Australian office. It also has a self-sufficient European office in Vienna, Austria, to service that part of the globe.
We wouldn’t have been able to do what we’ve done without Export Finance Australia’s support, and we wouldn't be able to continue growing for long without it.”
Constantine Manias
Chair, FCT International
Today, FCT International comprises three specialist divisions: FCT Combustion, a world leader in combustion burners and control systems used for optimising high-temperature processing plants; FCT Flames, which specialises in the design, manufacture and operation of spectacular flame effects for ceremonial, sporting and other events – the world’s most watched man-made flames; and FCT ACTech, which delivers complete, end-to-end analytical solutions for the cement, mining, and mineral processing industries.
Burning bright
With most of FCT International’s work being project based, the business faced additional cash flow complexities when expanding its global footprint.
To fund its growth plan, FCT International met with our team hoping to find a cash flow solution. Since 2012, we have supported FCT International with finance, including loans, bonds and guarantees for various projects worldwide, which enabled the business to maintain cash flow while mobilising larger projects.
According to the business’s Chair, Constantine Manias, this financial support was crucial for FCT International.
"We wouldn’t have been able to do what we’ve done without Export Finance Australia’s support, and we wouldn't be able to continue growing for long without it,” he said.
“The support from Export Finance Australia has been absolutely critical - it’s been instrumental,” he said.
With our support, FCT International has been able to continue expanding into new markets, including India and the Middle East. The business has also been able to diversify its offerings, branching out into different industries.
Constantine identified that there are two main paths for further growth for FCT International including increasing project scope and expanding geographically.
