Mine parts a keystroke away.

• Author: Wareing, Andrew
• Position: New Biz Start-up - Mine Parts North

For Mine Parts North, the world is only a keystroke away. The three-man team of Gerald Roy, Rodney Gerling and Don Chiasson is more than a family, although they are relatives. This new business startup is an amalgamation of mining, financial and marketing knowledge that is spreading the word that if a part is needed at a mine, it is likely to be found in Sudbury.

"What we're trying to do is support Sudbury as the nickel capital of the world and the place to do business," says Chiasson. "We have something like 16 underground mines in the area and so many companies to supply those mines. There are other areas in the world not as fortunate to have access to so many vendors and services. (Sudbury) exports so much in the way of products and services; this is a natural extension."

They say there has been competition within the Sudbury mining community, but their aim in developing their mining supply Web site is to further efforts to open Sudbury up to an international clientele. People looking for parts can browse the Mine Parts North Web site and cross-reference to their database of part numbers, as well as browse the equipment.

Mine Parts North will broker the deal between the seller and the buyer with them receiving a percentage of the sale.

"This is a way to provide another channel to international mining companies," says Gerling. "We are not here to compete with anybody. We're hoping to promote Sudbury to an international market using the Internet."

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The company's database of approximately 400,000 available parts from Sudbury's mining industry is one that Chiasson has compiled over the past several years while working in the industry. The Web site has been designed for easy cross-referencing and easy contact with the Mine Parts North.

"Many people think what we're trying to sell are things like scoop trams and large pieces of equipment," says...