Sudbury’s mining service community hauled in more than just rock on Aug. 26.
With an international mine rescue competition taking place in the city, the timing was right for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund to spread around more than $3.5 million to six mining projects.
Accutron Instruments pocketed $148,200 to develop prototypes for communications and monitoring systems for use in mining and industrial operations.
BESTECH got a $146,661 cheque to develop a blast gas clearance module to optimize ventilation of blast gas from underground mining corridors and improve productivity.
Boart Longyear Canada received $1.37 million to develop technology for mineral exploration rigs with the potential to improve safety for miners, increase efficiency and reduce drilling costs.
Hardrock Mining Products grabbed $1 million to relocate, modernize and expand its Sudbury operation to increase productivity and meet market demands.
Rock-Tech received $800,000 to help construct a new facility to expand its mining equipment manufacturing operations.
TesMan Inc. received $75,000 to develop innovative technology that will improve mine safety by enabling the explosives loading process to be completed from a distance.
In an Aug. 26 release, the province said “investing in the mining sector is part of the government's economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs.”