'Think and plan ahead' says mining supply chief: innovative, custom-built vehicles keeps Miller Technology on top.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Seeds OF Success

One of North Bay's industrial aces in the hole has been its robust mining supply sector, and one of its deans is Ron Miller.

The 63-year-old entrepreneur has persevered through the cyclical spikes and dives of the mining business and emerged as a family-run firm that's always on the leading edge of design and innovation.

The president of Miller Technology Inc. started out 30 years ago as a home-based operation out of his garage. Today, the company employs 45 people at their Seymour Drive location.

Just about every Canadian operating mine has purchased equipment from Miller, and even a few international ones, since 10 per cent of their sales of their custom-made mining utility vehicles are exported.

The company is very much a family affair. One son, Chad, steers the sales and marketing division of underground equipment, while Kent heads up construction and equipment sales.

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Ron, a chief designer with the former mining equipment maker Jarvis Clark, became an entrepreneur in 1979 when he used his skills to start his own business.

Neighbours' complaints about the noise of diesel tractors emanating from his yard, caused him to shift operations to Seymour Drive in 1985 where he has a 20,000-square-foot shop.

His company boasts a client list of more than 100 companies in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico with some of the more recognizable Northern Ontario customers being Vale Inco, Xstrata Nickel, and Hydro One.

Miller said one of his secrets to longevity is giving careful thought in studying a problem.

"We almost always look for three alternatives to a problem. We study the three ways to do something and from that (we) come to a final decision."

The company's signature pieces of equipment have always been underground personal and utility carriers. What began with a three-wheeled 'Miller Truck,' has expended into a line of multi-functional utility carriers, including their revolutionary 'Triple 4-ce' carrier. Their long-standing success has been built around doing custom-builds with the accessories and equipment adds-on...