A $10-million expansion at The Bucket Shop in Timmins isn’t noteworthy just for its physical bulk, but also for its anticipated impact on the surrounding area.
The company, which manufactures and refurbishes buckets for surface and underground mining equipment, is currently building a 65,000-square-foot shop in the west end of Timmins. It’s the fourth iteration of the shop since the business was founded by Ross Woodward in 1990.
Paul Woodward, Ross’s son and The Bucket Shop’s general manager, said the shop is being designed to handle work on some of the largest mining equipment in the area. That means mining companies can rest assured that their equipment can be serviced when needed.
“I think it’s good for the region because mines can set up in Timmins and look at larger-scale operations knowing that they’ve got the service and support of a shop big enough to cater to their needs,” he said.
Specialized equipment in the new shop will include state-of-the-art ventilation, fume extraction, cutting, and bending technology, as well as a heavy bay with a 70-tonne overhead crane, one of the largest overhead cranes in the region.
All site prep work was done by staff, who put in the footings last year in preparation for this construction season. CJB of Timmins has been hired as the project’s general contractor and was able to get right to work this spring on construction of the building.
“Had we not done the work we did last year with the footings, we would not have completed this year,” Woodward said.
Inclement weather in the early part of the year caused a six-week delay and means the company will have to push back its anticipated Christmas opening date by a few months. But for the most part, the project is on track and going smoothly.
“I think the move will start some time in late January, and I would hope to be functioning 100 per cent by the first of March,” Woodward said.
A larger space also means the company will be hiring. It currently employs close to 100 employees, but Woodward anticipates bringing on between 20 and 30 new hires. Positions ranging from engineers to sales reps to shop personnel will be needed, he noted, and some have already been hired.
The Bucket Shop has brought on international trade and marketing personnel to help the company transition into the export market. Following its appearance at MINExpo in September, the company is readying to tap into new markets with its new product lines.
First, the company is looking to distribute across the country and into the U.S., but eventually plans to hit the international market: Peru, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Australia are all on the list. It just shipped its first bucket to Africa this fall.
“We understand we’ve got a tiger by the tail with this new technology and it’s not something you can afford to really sit back and wait for it to come to you, or wait for it to happen,” Woodward said. “You’ve got to move this stuff forward.”
The new technology in question is The Bucket Shop’s HiPER line of castings, comprised of abrasive-resistant materials that Woodward said extends the lifecycles of bucket components.
Despite the dip in the mining industry, work has stayed consistent for The Bucket Shop, said Woodward, and he’s confident that the new facility will help in drawing even more mining activity to the city.
As long as people are in the business of moving earth, he said, The Bucket Shop will remain a viable business and strive to be a good corporate citizen in Timmins.
“There’s no reason why Timmins can’t be recognized as a centre of excellence as well, for bringing solutions to the market, and that’s all part of our export plan as well,” he said. “We’re happy to be part of the North and everything that’s going on.”
