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Sudbury: A Natural Attraction
Surrounded by pristine northern boreal forest and an abundance of lakes and rivers, Greater Sudbury’s natural assets contribute to its success as a preferred Ontario destination. There are over 300 lakes within the city watershed and nine full service Provincial Parks that are just a short drive away.
Greater Sudbury – Innovation Boom
Mining research and innovation in Sudbury has evolved into a world-class industry all its own. Many of the brightest minds in mining related sciences are being drawn here to be part of one of the world’s most advanced clusters of international mining research.
Much of the ongoing research relates to the creation of the next generation of mines and the challenge of bringing more raw material up from deeper mines while maintaining the highest levels of safety and efficiency. Other research focuses on developing improved processes in manufacturing including new refining methods, development of processing plants for specialized minerals and the creation of specialized nickel alloys.
Greater Sudbury’s innovation cluster is made possible through partnerships involving post-secondary institutions, all levels of government and some of the world’s largest mining corporations including Vale, Exstrata and Rio Tinto. It is the long-term sustainability of these mining companies that is so dependant on the innovative research coming out of facilities like the Center of Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and the Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO), both located at Sudbury’s Laurentian University.
At CEMI, R&D efforts strive to establish excellence in strategic areas of research such as deep mining, mineral exploration, integrated mine engineering and environmental sustainability.
MIRARCO is the largest not-for-profit, applied research firm in North America. Its goal is to transfer as much benefit as possible to industry, to create unique and exciting employment, and to engage inn projects that make a real difference.
The Northern Center for Advanced Technology Inc (NORCAT) is Sudbury’s third major innovation partner. A not-for-profit, government funded company, it’s 60,000 square foot Innovation and Commercialization Center is the central location for innovation development, contractor training, an Occupational Health and Safety Resource Centre and eLearning technology.
Other R&D facilities in Greater Sudbury include:
- Vale Living with Lakes Centre (Laurentian University)
- Centre for Integrated Monitoring Technology (CIMTEC)
- Deep Mine Research Consortium
The Sudbury Basin still dominates
Since those first nickel and copper discoveries, Sudbury has evolved from a simple mining community into an internationally renowned, Canadian mining showcase and one of the most productive, technologically advanced, and environmentally aware mining centers on the planet. Local mining operations together with a wonderfully robust supply and services sector are a powerful engine for economic growth in Greater Sudbury. With Sudbury holding the title as Ontario’s mining powerhouse, the province produced approximately $7,7 billion worth of minerals in 2010 and employed more than 25,000 people in production and exploration combined. Ontario also leads Canada in nickel and copper production (34% and 30% respectively).
For a region that has been mined for well over a century, the continued high level of exploration activity is a testament to the confidence mining companies have in the future of the Sudbury Basin. John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer for Vale’s North Atlantic Operations revealed recently that when he joined Vale, he was surprised how many deposits there were within the Basin with potential for future development.
Building our Mining Muscle
Sudbury’s leadership position in the Canadian and global mining industry has not gone unnoticed. Increasingly, international firms view Sudbury as an ideal base of operations, allowing further expansion of this influential sector. Companies that want to be close to the action have established Canadian offices in Sudbury. These include mining equipment manu¬facturers, engineering firms and mining contractors.
Beyond mining the raw materials, there are new value-added operations. Recently, Crossworks Manufacturing opened a new diamond cutting and polishing facility in Sudbury, the first of its kind in Ontario. It will cut and polish close to $25 million worth of rough stones a year from the DeBeers Victor Mine, near the James Bay coastal community of Attawapiskat First Nation. Sudbury is also be¬ing considered as the location for Cliffs Natural Resources’ chromite processing facility to process chromite into high-grade ferrochrome.
A Surprising Success Story
Sudbury’s mining supply and services sector got its start by providing tools, parts and profes¬sional services to local mining companies. As new technology and innovation led to new products and processes, these homegrown companies found eager national and international mining markets looking to improve their productivity. Today, the sector represents more than 300 companies employing almost 14,000 skilled workers and professionals and generating approximately $4 bil¬lion in revenue each year. While 80% of the mining supply and services market is domestic, compa¬nies are testing international waters in increasing numbers and are making inroads into the U.S., Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and Russia. Assisting with the sector’s global expansion are the Greater Sudbury Development Corpera¬tion, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, and the Sudbury Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA).
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