David Ryan
Northern News Services
Wednesday, February 7, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - After being active in the Northern mining industry for a number of years, Sandvik Mining and Construction now has a base in Yellowknife.

Sandvik Mining and Construction opened its 10,000 square foot facility in the Kam Lake Industrial Centre last week. Its parent company, Sandvik, is based in Sweden, and has 39,000 employees with operations in 130 countries.

The company will use the two-floor building as a logistical hub, a refurbishment facility and as the main training centre for Sandvik employees and customers' workers, said Dan Allen, president of Sandvik USA/Canada region.

"Our aim is use this as a jump-off point for products and services for our entire range of customers," he said.

The company expects to employ 50 workers in the next 12 months. Sandvik currently works with BHP Billiton's Ekati Diamond Mine, Procon Mining, the Diavik Diamond Mine and De Beers Canada's Snap Lake project, offering a variety of heavy equipment vehicles and mine related services, he said.

As the company becomes embedded in the North, Sandvik will focus on construction, underground softrock mining, surface mining, underground hard rock mining and exploration in the Northwest Territories, he said.

In April, a $1.2 million simulator will arrive. Sandvik will use the simulator to train opportunities for company employees and customer employees, said Peter Jarvis, vice president of underground hardrock mining.

"It's important to develop local residents and offer local people opportunities in the industry," he said.

The final decision to open a facility in Yellowknife came when the company signed an agreement with De Beers Canada for the Snap Lake project, said Allan.

"It gave us the critical mass that was needed to have a permanent presence here," he said.

Sandvik will do maintenance work for underground mine equipment, which includes mobile equipment, trucks, drilling products and utility vehicles, he said.

De Beers has had relationships with Sandvik for their diamond mines in South Africa, said Chantal Lavoie, De Beers Canada's vice president of NWT projects.

"Sandvik will help to provide their support and expertise to achieve our objectives," he said. Mayor Gord Van Tighem welcomed the firm to Yellowknife.

"This is good for the industry, this is good for the community," he said.