Minelab makeing some massive profits

[Rockhunter62]

Ok the SDC looks like the F3 but apart from looks what is the difference apart from the colour ?

Here ya go,

https://www.prospectingaustralia.co...es/3775/1483933463_recon_and_f3_detectors.jpg

And here is the F3 Manual,

https://www.minelab.com/__files/f/4504/4901-0043-6 Operations Manual, F3.pdf

John.

That great. Bit confused though, that user manual for the F3 doesn't look like the F3 you show or like the SDC ? Maybe I'm missing sumthings.

That is because the F3 Compact is the model similar to the SDC.

Sorry I haven't got on earlier, I was out at Charters Towers collecting scrap (bullets, pellets, steel, horseshoes etc) at Youngs General Permission Area. I haven't used the F3 of any model so I can't comment on them.

Cheers

Doug

 

[clegy]

Not sure who the greedy ones are, if you look at Codan's (they bought out Minelab) profit for the year it was only 12% so go figure.

Codan's profit was not that high but Minelab's was off the scale last year!
20 Million dollar debt paydown, so they had some cash to burn that's for sure.

Unfortunately like many companies that become successful they are now public (hence why I read their report its freely available). When this happens the priority shifts from the customer to the shareholder. Unfortunate, but that is the price of success for many companies, they need the cash to make that leap from big to massive and going public is often the only way to raise that capital.

I do notice that the bulk of the profits came from sales in the African and Middle eastern markets and as they have now dumped their distributor there, this year could be very different for them. Australia is NOT and Never will be again, Minelabs main target market, we are just not big enough.

This is NOT unique to minelab, it is the same with many of the manufacturers and I would nearly go as far as to say all of them. We are such a tiny drop in the metal detecting ocean that unfortunately very few products will be developed with us Aussies in Mind.

I believe minelab make some of the most amazing detectors in the world, they just fall down in the final packaging and simple things like ergonomics suffer.

As they are my major competition in coin and relic machines, sounds funny even saying that, I will be watching with interest what they do in the next 12-36 months. It seems a few companies have some pretty special stuff coming up and before too long I predict we will see a lot less blue in the bush.

Its an exciting time to be a detectorist I can say that for sure, soon we'll just send the detector out while we watch the cricket back at camp.

Personally I don't mind the swinging part, its the digging that sucks! Someone needs to put some R&D dollars into autonomous digging tools, none of us are getting any younger and it seems the targets are getting deeper, at least it feels that way.

Happy Hunting all

Clegy.

 

[HarryHoudini]

Personally I don't mind the swinging part, its the digging that sucks! Someone needs to put some R&D dollars into autonomous digging tools, none of us are getting any younger and it seems the targets are getting deeper, at least it feels that way. big_smile

Happy Hunting all

Clegy.

I think its called bring a friend.

 

[Rockhunter62]

Personally I don't mind the swinging part, its the digging that sucks! Someone needs to put some R&D dollars into autonomous digging tools, none of us are getting any younger and it seems the targets are getting deeper, at least it feels that way. big_smile

Happy Hunting all

Clegy.

I think its called bring a friend.

Hey HoudiniHarry,

I think we have to change some off the regulations before we use our autonomous digging tools. Me, I would prefer to "beam it up" instead, save us all the hard work.

Cheers

Doug

 

[Danny13]

I love it all, the digging , the swinging , dirt I eat on toast or sand , depends I guess

 

[Rockhunter62]

It's all about the great outdoors isn't it Danny. Get out of the rat race and enjoy living.

Cheers

Doug

 

[Danny13]

Clegy , what's the difference between the ctx 3030 and Deus in performance in the breakers up to the dune zone ? I know the Deus weighs less which is a positive . How do you compare performance ?

Kind regards

Danny13

 

[Danny13]

Yeah sure is Doug , that's what I love about detecting

 

[silver]

Sharpen those picks fellas !

 

[clegy]

Clegy , what's the difference between the ctx 3030 and Deus in performance in the breakers up to the dune zone ? I know the Deus weighs less which is a positive . How do you compare performance ?

Kind regards

Danny13

hi Danny,

i'd use the ctx until i got to the tideline then over to the deus.

Actually I'd use the CS4PI to be honest in the wet and the deus in the dry.

Wetsand is not the best for the deus it does OK but there are better in the water options IMHO.
Single frequency VLF seem to struggle, I started using PI and haven't looked back on the wet

Hope that helps

Clegy

 

[Norvic]

ML have been part of Codan since it`s beginning, it is not something that has just happened. Whether a company is public or private it still must make profits to be ongoing. To make profits its most important people are its customers, personally I cannot fault any of the metal manufacturers there. Bit of a bummer waiting while problems are sorted out but being in this game since 79 and having had many detectors, problems have been very few, which is remarkable when you consider, mine bounce around in the back of the ute over some pretty rough country.

I suspect Australian customers are very important to ML, gold detecting here in OZ is their history. Taking their latest detector the GPZ 7000, I also suspect Australians are a major user of this detector and will be for many years. But this is my take, I cannot see any detector manufacturer current product that will challenge this, and as long as ML keep ahead with their tech and make a product that gets the gold whilst supporting their customers with after sales support, blue will be the colour in the OZ bush for yonks. Unless ML change colours.

 

[user 4485]

It seems a few companies have some pretty special stuff coming up and before too long I predict we will see a lot less blue in the bush.

I've heard this or similar comments every year for many years & I'm still waiting. Maybe the QED will deliver?
Meanwhile there is more "blue" machines in the bush now than ever. Why? They work & will continue to work + improve through R&D.
Love em or hate em Minelab are always one step in front of any perceived competition. While others are busy trying to find work arounds or even replicate Minelab PI patents - Minelab themselves are busy with the next lot or new technology to keep them going forward.
I always get the feeling Minelab are only idling along. Some say they drip feed us - maybe not too far from the truth? Hopefully some competition does emerge in the gold detecting front. I'd love to see them full on throttle to beat them off & I've got no doubt that they have the know how.

 

[Ridge Runner]

I am sure a company like minelab have technology stock piled on the shelf just waiting for the right time to release it, They have two production lines, One makes Detectors and the other is their R&D Team, The GP/GPX are the New Corner stones of PI Technology and the SDC is the bread and butter PI, The Z is still going through puberty as more and more people learn its traits and by this time next year the Z will become second nature to Prospecting.

John.

 

[Norvic]

True, if the Z we know now is equivalent to the SD2000 in MLs PI development, ZVT has a long way to go and that is exciting. I`ve found the Z as it is now is a remarkable detector in my relatively quiet country.