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Mining Supply and Services Sector

[Jannatec Technologies] Technology for deep underground – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – October 13, 2017)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

As early as next spring, Jannatec Technologies could debut the first components of its wearable technology, which will help cool underground miners, monitor their vital signs and enhance their overall health and safety.

A contributor to the Ultra-Deep Mining Network, the Sudbury-based company has been working for three years on the technology that will allow miners to work in mines that descend to 2.5 kilometres or more.

As mines get deeper, temperatures are hotter, miners are more isolated, and it takes longer to ascend to surface. Companies like Jannatec are developing technology to combat the heat, isolation and other challenges miners may encounter.

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Remote loader invented by former Flonners garners interest – by Christopher L.Istace (Flin Flon Reminder – October 10, 2017)

http://www.thereminder.ca/

A former Flin Flon couple is literally breaking new ground with an invention that is keeping safe miners who are cleaning and loading blast holes in a mine’s rock face. Nine years after establishing their Sudbury, ON-based consulting firm, Rod and Clara Steele received a call from a manager at the nearby Vale Canada’s Coleman nickel mine.

An employee at that site had been killed by a 14-tonne slip of rock that had fallen on him at the mine face, more than 4,200 feet underground. The manager had promised the dead man’s daughter he would do whatever he could to ensure a similar accident would not happen again.

Before then, TesMan was consulting with mines in the design and development of technologies to improve underground mining practices. The company’s team of mining, mechanical and electrical engineers had devised software and equipment to improve industrial safety and productivity.

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Robots under Swedish forest breathe life into ancient mines – by Eric Onstad (Reuters U.S. – October 4, 2017)

https://www.reuters.com/

GARPENBERG MINE, Sweden (Reuters) – Hundreds of meters below the lush forests of rural Sweden, one of the world’s most ancient mines has been transformed into one of the most modern.Sensors linked to robotic equipment in Boliden’s Garpenberg zinc mine – which has been in operation since the 13th century – feed data to operators above ground as screens blink and flash in a nearby control room.

Boliden is at the forefront of a global transformation in which mining companies are exploiting huge amounts of data being crunched by computers to dramatically boost productivity and cut costs.

The advances at Garpenberg, however, have only scratched the surface in exploiting the new technology. Fully automated mines are on the horizon. “We have a way to go. There’s a big possibility of working 24 hours a day with more automation,” said Jenny Gotthardsson, general manager at Garpenberg.

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$5M for Timmins mining supply firms – by Len Gillis (Timmins Daily Press – September 27, 2017)

http://www.timminspress.com/

TIMMINS – The importance of the mining supply and service sector for Timmins and the rest of Ontario was highlighted Wednesday when the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation came to town with more than $5-million worth of investments in the Timmins area alone.

The news was announced by Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle, who is also the chairman of the NOHFC board, which was meeting in Timmins this week. He made the announcement at the OK Tire Mining Division shop on Laforest Road, which was one of the grant recipients.

“Around the world, Ontario has a reputation as a global mining hub,” said Gravelle. He said there are 39 mines operating in the province, making it the leader in Canada. This includes 17 gold mines, 10 base metal mines and one diamond mine, he said.

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NEWS RELEASE: Mining Suppliers Trade Association Offers New Branding, Renewed Focus

https://mstacanada.ca/

TORONTO, Sept. 18, 2017 /CNW/ – Formerly known as the Canadian Association of Mining Equipment and Services for Export – (CAMESE), the association has rebranded with a new look and a host of new services to support members of the mining supply and service industry.

“We are very excited about our new branding and renewed focus on our member’s business priorities,” said Ryan McEachern, MSTA CANADA’s Managing Director. “With the volume of change in the sector over the past 35 years, we wanted to ensure our association was laser focused on supporting our members. Our job is to provide the tools and services they need to help grow their businesses in Canada and around the world.”

Announced at the TMX Broadcast Centre, MSTA CANADA will take a renewed focus to the Mining Service and Supply Sector by delivering enhanced value and services to its membership. “We listened to our members who told us we needed a new approach to supporting their business objectives, and we’ve done just that,” said McEachern. “We have redefined our organization to better reflect the unique needs of our members.”

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New generation of mining vehicles unveiled: Atlas Copco unveils new Boomer M2C Battery driller – by Karen McKinley (Northern Ontario Business – August 3, 2017)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Battery-powered vehicles are taking over underground mining. To meet current demands for cleaner technology and to stay ahead of the innovation curve, Atlas Copco has created an entire suite of battery-powered vehicles, covering the process from bolting, blasting, mucking and hauling.

They added to their ever-growing fleet with the launch of the Boomer M2C Battery driller on Aug. 2 in Sudbury to complements their fleet that includes Minetruck MT42, Scooptram ST1030, Boomer 282 and Aramine L150 miniloader, which were also showcased at the event.

“Mining is coming back and as a company, we have to stay ahead of the innovation and meet demands,” said general manager Jason Smith. “Mines are looking for ways to make the process safer and more cost-effective. These battery-powered machines have zero emissions, unlike diesel machines and they cut down on time spent refueling and maintenance.”

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The world seeks Sudbury’s mining expertise – by Karen McKinley (Northern Ontario Business – June 23, 2017)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Export forum brings supply companies and international investors together to talk

With over a century of mining supply expertise in Sudbury, companies and nations are turning to this region to help them develop their mining sectors, particularly Mexico, South America and the American Southwest.

To make it easier to connect, Ontario’s North Economic Development Corporation (ONEDC) played host to the Northern Ontario Exports Forum 2017 on June 22. The forum at the Holiday Inn allowed mining service supply companies to meet and get a better idea on export marketing, strategic planning, and the sales landscape in their own backyard and beyond.

“It’s an opportunity for the supply and service for mining to look at export opportunities,” said forum chair Tom Palangio, president of WipWare, and the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Services Association.

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Mining services set for a comeback as exploration surges – by Matt Chambers (The Australian – May 31, 2017)

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/

The long-suffering mining services sector could be set for a comeback, with S&P Global logging surging Australian exploration spending and drilling in the March quarter, with a focus on lithium and gold, and Perennial Asset Management declaring it is time to buy into the sector.

In its “Australia: Mining by the Numbers” report on non-ferrous metals, S&P said drilling activity had surged to $US634.4 million ($854m) in the March quarter, up 128 per cent from a year earlier.

The number of exploration holes drilled in the March quarter doubled from the previous quarter to about 920, the highest since at least 2014, when the report started and in a year when there were less than 300 holes drilled in the March quarter.

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Canadore collaborates on space mining tool – by Staff (Northern Ontario Busines – April 26, 2017)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

Sudbury drill firm utilizes North Bay industrial design lab

Canadore College’s innovation centre teamed up with a Sudbury space mining company and a mining supplier on a leading edge drill to be used in deep space exploration.

The staff at the North Bay college’s Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Production (ICAMP) has been working with Deltion Innovations and Atlas Copco for nearly eight months to produce prototype tool ends for Deltion’s space mining multi-purpose tool, called PROMPT (Percussive and Rotary Multi-Purpose Tool).

Atlas and Deltion brought the PROMPT concept and tool designs to Canadore’s industrial design lab at its Commerce Court campus for manufacturing and production. According to a college news release, the centre utilized its “additive manufacturing resources,” including its 3D metal printer and computer numerical control equipment, to prototype the commissioned parts.

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A new model for hauling ore: Cementation develops injection hoisting technology for transporting ore to surface – by Lindsay Kelly (Northern Ontario Business – April 19, 2017)

https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/

A new technology developed by Cementation in North Bay is holding promise as an alternative for bringing ore mined underground up to the surface. Created as a more efficient, cost-effective option to existing models that employ ramps or vertical shaft systems, “injection joisting” transports ore to the surface using a pump-driven pipeline loop.

Cementation president Roy Slack said the technology has real potential to bring substantial value to the industry. “Any time you can impact the capital and operating costs, not only does it mean that existing mines become more efficient, but it can also make the difference between a marginal mine and a profitable mine,” Slack said.

“Some orebodies that may not get developed, this may be a method that allows them to get developed, so that means jobs, that means value creation.” The company has been working on the technology for roughly the last five years, but it came to the forefront of the industry in early March when it was selected to share the $1-million top prize — out of 153 submissions — with Kore Geosystems in the Disrupt Mining contest.

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Australia needs greater mining and METS cohesion (Australian Mining – April 10, 2017)

https://www.australianmining.com.au/

Australia’s minerals industry and its mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector need to collaborate better for the sake of the nation’s future prosperity, according to Dr Vanessa Guthrie, Chair of the Minerals Council of Australia.

In an interview ahead of her talk at the Austmine 2017: Mining’s Innovation Imperative conference, Dr Guthrie said mining and METS companies were drivers of innovation and investment, provided highly-skilled employment opportunities and generated the bulk of Australia’s export earnings.

“Mining and METS companies already work together on a daily basis to support and reinforce each other’s operational activities,” Dr Guthrie said. “By collaborating and partnering at an industry level we can ensure that mining and METS continue to innovate and grow – and that, in turn, will help secure Australia’s economic prosperity into the future.”

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Acquisition complete, Joy Global is now Komatsu Mining Corp. – by Wayne Grayson (Equipment World – April 5, 2017)

http://www.equipmentworld.com/

Komatsu today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Wisconsin-based surface and underground mining equipment manufacturer Joy Global.

Citing a belief that the mining industry will see a long-term rebound driven by increased demand for larger equipment in surface mining and further development of underground mining, Komatsu first announced the $3.7 billion deal in July 2016.

Though the original announcement stated Joy Global would operate as a separate subsidiary of Komatsu and would retain the Joy Global brand, Komatsu has opted to rename the 133-year-old company to Komatsu Mining Corp. Komatsu says Joy Global shares will be delisted from the New York Stock Exchange and will no longer be publicly traded.

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Forging mining ties with Mexico – by Staff (Sudbury Star – March 13, 2017)

http://www.thesudburystar.com/

The Greater Sudbury area now has a mining connection with a Mexican state.

During Mexico Mining Day last week at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada convention in Toronto, Nickel Belt Liberal MP Marc Serre signed a letter of intent for the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Services Association and the State of Guerrero.

The three parties agreed to work together for mutual economic benefit. “Collaboration and creating partnerships are important to the growth of our economy, communities and countries,” Serre said in a news release. “Each year, the industry employs nearly 20,000 residents of Northern Ontario.

It’s important to note the amount of time, dedication and succession planning it takes to bring this forward. It has been a pleasure representing our region at PDAC and I believe Greater Sudbury is the best represented city at the convention.”

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Canada’s Hope Bay fits Gekko mission – Staff (Mining Journal – February 20, 2017)

http://www.mining-journal.com/

Gekko Systems Company Profile

As maiden gold pours go the one by TMAC Resources at its C$325 million Hope Bay project in Canada’s north was a momentous one. It not only marked the production start at a new generation mine in a standout emerging goldfield, but also realisation of a remarkable vision for the future of the industry conceived and developed by Australia’s Gekko Systems over the past 20 years.

“This is a project that fits with our reason for being, really,” says Gekko technical director and co-founder, Sandy Gray.

“We are focussed on step-change in the industry, through low-energy process flowsheet designs, low capital costs and small footprint and modular designs that are positive for the environment, deliver lower operating costs, and allow fast, low-risk, predictable project delivery and execution.

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Nolan Watson, Alicia Woods win inaugural ‘Young Mining Professionals of the Year’ award – by Matthew Keevil and Salma Takikh (Northern Miner – February 6, 2017)

http://www.northernminer.com/

The Young Mining Professionals (YMP) — a non-profit group with chapters in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal — has awarded its inaugural, annual YMP Awards to Nolan Watson, president and CEO of Vancouver-based royalty firm Sandstorm Gold, and Alicia Woods, founder of Covergalls, which specializes in women’s work wear, and general manager of Marcotte Mining Machinery Services in Sudbury, Ontario.

The YMP Awards, presented in association with The Northern Miner, are intended by the YMP to “recognize two young mining professionals, a male and a female, who over the past year, and during the course of their careers, have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and innovative thinking to provide value for their companies and shareholders, as well as for themselves.”

Nominees are required to be under 40 years of age in 2016 and be active in some aspect of mining in Canada or the United States. Voting on a selection of nominees was held in January by a committee of four YMP directors and two Northern Miner executives.

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