Worldwide growth in mineral exploration and the business development for Atlas Copco’s Exploration Products has increased the Company’s commitment to the industry and to North Bay.

Atlas Copco GDE Division, the Group’s division responsible for exploration drilling and ground engineering, is investing in a new facility for its North Bay manufacturing operations.

The Division’s Canadian based operational unit, Atlas Copco Exploration Products will build a new consumable factory on Ferris Drive, North Bay. Site and building alternatives have been investigated with the goal to have an efficient facility for production of exploration diamond bits, drill rods and core barrels, as well as a new production plant for Swellex rock reinforcement bolts. The plan is to relocate the current manufacturing and install Swellex production into a larger facility in the first quarter of 2008.

Swellex is a ground reinforcement system used in underground mining and tunneling projects. It is a system that provides improved safety for workers through the reliability of installation and strong load securing properties. The new production cell being installed in North Bay will address the growing popularity of this product in the North American mining industry.

Proposals for the new facility were coordinated by Derek Gould and Ed King of CB Richard Ellis, a full service industrial real estate consultant. CBRE is providing both real estate and building services to Atlas Copco. An ‘RFP’ was issued to 6 firms - 2 in North Bay, 1 in Sudbury and 3 in Toronto. The successful candidate is O.R.E. Development Corporation based in Mississauga. O.R.E. is a full service commercial real estate development company and a member of the Opus Group.

Key issues for this design, build and lease back project are timing, functionality, product flow, process quality and reduced environmental impact in keeping with Atlas Copco’s ISO14001 program. O.R.E. is encouraged to use local sub-contractors who are already familiar with Atlas Copco processes and environmental objectives.

The division is headquartered in Märsta, Sweden, and in addition to North Bay has manufacturing facilities in Europe, Africa, and Asia. All the plants are currently running at full capacity and forecasts show that the trend will continue.

Hans Lidén, divisional President, attributes this strong growth to: “Atlas Copco’s long-term dedication to the business of exploration and our investment in product innovation which has resulted in one of the strongest product ranges in the market today.”



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