Measuring success one drill at a time.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: MINING - Company overview

Some say a true testament of a man's worth is evidenced in his working practice. Well, in Sturgeon Falls, three men are making quite a living manufacturing measuring tools for the mines. In fact, their business has doubled over the year, evidence that the company is on the right track.

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From British Columbia to Texas, from India and the former Czech Republic, Ranger Survey Systems Canada is turning drillhole surveying equipment into a common industry phrase.

"People around the world have warmed fairly quickly and fairly well to the product," Don Dupuis, manager of the company

"There have been some tough times, but we're definitely starting to see some forward momentum."

After spending nine years traveling around the world as a drill surveyor, Dupuis returned home to Sturgeon Falls to open Ranger Survey Systems Canada in 2005, marking the first international branch of Australia-based parent company.

The company now counts companies such as CVRD-Inco's exploration arm among its clients, and recently added FNX Mining to that list.

Initially, Dupuis ran the Canadian operation solo out of his Sturgeon Falls home. Receiving parts from the Australian headquarters, he assembled the tools on his own.

However, the cost of shipping the brass alloy housing system around the world soon proved to be problematic the company's Federal Express bill for its first year totaled nearly $80,000.

"Needless to say, other alternatives had to be found," he says. "What made things worse is that the head office was having trouble filling supply because I was constantly soaking up their brass housing. So the decision was made to have the housing built here instead, which led to our current industrial space."

After purchasing new warehousing and office space last November, Dupuis then hired two staff members, a shop machinist and an electronic technician, to occupy the 5,500-square-foot plant.

With two CNC mill lathes, a manual lathe as well as various associated welding and machining equipment, the facility produces the company's flagship product: a wireless drillhole probe which gives Ranger Survey Systems Canada its name.

The product itself is a two-foot-long length of brass in which is encased the circuitry and various components built...