Epiroc is expanding its operations in Canada by opening a new location in Thunder Bay to be closer to the increasing mining and construction activities in the area.
On June 9, the Swedish company announced that the facility will cover 9,862 square feet and include warehouse space along with a rock drill repair center. This will allow them to provide faster service and support for customers working in the region.
Marco Desjardins, Epiroc’s regional manager for West Central Canada, explained that previously, clients in the northwest were served by Epiroc’s global remanufacturing facility located in Sudbury, which opened back in 2020.
At that facility, damaged or worn-out drilling components from industrial vehicles are sent from all over the world to be repaired before they go back into inventory.
The new site will focus exclusively on serving clients from northwestern Ontario.
“Epiroc recognized the need for a physical presence in northwestern Ontario given the current activity we have in the gold mining sector,” said Desjardins, who moved from Edmonton to manage this expansion.
“The development of Greenstone Mine is significant; we currently have 10 drills operating there – eight blast hole drills and two surface drills – supporting that business as it grows.”
Epiroc also helps other mines along the North Shore, including Alamos Gold’s Island Gold Mine located in Dubreuilville and Westdome Gold Mines’ Eagle River project near Wawa. Additionally, they work with contractors like Manroc based out of Manitouwadge.
Desjardins highlighted that there are many opportunities across the northwest region. He specifically mentioned Red Lake where Kinross Gold, West Red Lake Gold Mines, and Evolution Mining all have upcoming projects expected to progress within the next five to ten years.
“And then there’s also the big opportunity: the Ring of Fire and its potential development,” Desjardins added.
“We want to strategically position ourselves to support those ventures.”
When selecting a site in northwest Ontario, Thunder Bay stood out due to its solid transportation infrastructure which includes an international airport, rail access, and a port.
“It has all of our required amenities and provides an excellent base for us to support our customers as they grow both here and throughout the area,” Desjardins noted.
Epiroc is repurposing an existing building situated within an industrial park at central Thunder Bay. The company mentioned that minor renovations should start soon with plans for completion expected this fall.
The facility will house offices and a boardroom alongside a repair shop. The warehouse will stock components from their most popular product lines already used at sites across northwestern Ontario. Most clients are just a few hours away by car which makes it quicker than shipping parts from Sudbury according to Desjardins.
Epiroc plans to employ three sales representatives at their Thunder Bay location while adding a drill repair technician starting this July. There’s still one sales rep position open which Desjardins emphasized would require local candidates who live and work in Thunder Bay.
Apart from this location, Epiroc employs eight repair technicians at Greenstone Mine, two at Island Gold Mine, and another two at West Red Lake Gold Mines.
“You might not see them at this building but they’re definitely part of our team.”
If business picks up as expected, there could be opportunities for expanding staff down the line as well.
The new facility aims for an opening date on October 21. While Desjardins doesn’t expect heavy foot traffic initially he welcomes clients interested in visiting to see what they have available.
“We believe it’s crucial for us to establish our presence with physical space here in Thunder Bay – right at the heart of northwestern Ontario – Midwest area – showing our commitment toward supporting both local mining operations as well as contributing positively towards local economy,” he stated. “So this represents our first step.”
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