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Multiple baskets.

Article Excerpt
Multiple baskets

by Chad Elmore

With business good, two mining companies expand their product lines.

My college dictionary defines "diversify" as "give variety to." Because that definition's not too exciting, I'll say that another one I have from the Civil War era defines the word as "not putting all the eggs in one basket." Sadly, that book's at home so I can't check for sure. That definition is easier to see: When the chickens are laying and I'm pressed for time, putting a day's production into one container and lighting out for the house is a good idea -- until I trip and the eggs take flight. Even more colorful was what Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Mayor John Rodriguez said about diversification: "We either innovate, or we die."

Two established underground mining equipment specialists recently introduced mobile equipment for non-mining customers. Based in Collingwood, Ontario, MacLean Engineering & Marketing Co. operates a sales, service and distribution facility in Sudbury. The same is true for Miller Technology Inc., whose factory is an hour east of Sudbury in North Bay.

The mining business for both companies is strong and growing. MacLean, founded in 1973 by Don MacLean, has reportedly seen sales grow 40-50% per year. New deliveries of its core mining vehicles are six months out. Miller Technology has added thousands of square feet to its factory to supply its worldwide mining customers -- a long ways from the garage in which Ron Miller started building underground mining trucks in 1980.

Innovating in good times

Mayor Rodriquez was talking to customers and city officials at MacLean Engineering's Sudbury location a few months ago during the introduction of the MV (municipal vehicle), MacLean's first offering from its Diversified Products Div. "This is exactly what I have been talking about," says Rodriquez. "This is an example of a company that started in the mining industry and has innovated and come up with new equipment. This is what we have to do with our community. We live in a mining town at the whim of ore prices. When we diversify we have other things going for us if mining is down. Sudbury is mining and we are proud of it. But we still need to...

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