Mining supplier ramps up into production: Atlas Copco doubles manufacturing space with new shop.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: NORTH BAY

September was a busy month for Atlas Copco general manager Jeff Hagar. Management at the North Bay mining supplier were preparing to head to the Las Vegas Mine Expo to showcase their wares, while simultaneously getting ready for a new factory opening and all the media interviews that go with that.

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The global mining supply giant has more than doubled its manufacturing space with a new 94,000-square-foot plant on a 12-acre site on Ferris Drive.

The new building is the workplace for 130 blue collar and administrative positions transferred over from their cramped 40,000-square-foot McKeown Avenue shop. The move made during May and June will boost their production of exploration products by 25 per cent.

The new factory will make drill rods, core barrels and diamond drill bits. About 20,000-square-feet is set aside for production of their Swellex rock bolts, originally developed in Austria.

The new place is a highly secure pass-card facility which houses plenty of proprietary technology. It's a fully automated plant with robotic welders installed and most modern of heating treating equipment.

For the Sept. 19 open house, Hagar was expecting area politicians, heads of local business and officials from local post-secondary institutions, along with visitors from Atlas Copco's head office in Sweden,

"They're going to see Atlas Copco has made a significant announcement in the mining industry in Canada and in business in North Bay."

What was especially gratifying for him was the expected attendance by 40 customers from across Canada, the U.S., Brazil and Peru.

"That's a great testimony to the employees and the product that we make."

Hagar says head office's decision to site the Swellex line in North Bay was because of its good workforce, productive employees and an already successful manufacturing operation.

The local Swellex production is specifically geared toward supplying their North American customers including Diavik, De Beers and Agnico-Eagle.

The company has has been a fixture in North Bay since buying JKS Boyles 10 years ago. Some product assembly operations will remain behind on McKeown.

The business and marketplace has grown to the point where 60 per cent of the products made in North Bay are exported to exploration drillers like Major, Cabo and Kluane.

Plans are to use that space to continue to grow out the business. Should the need arise, Hagar says the building is designed to expand by 20,000 square feet on both...