diverse companies share common bond · if you are in the market to add to or update your excavator...

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DECEMBER 2010 (L-R) President Yvon Lemay, G.M. Josiane Lemay, Production Manager Dany Lemay and Development Director Louis-Marc Bourgouin Enfouibec Inc. (L-R) Chief Mine Engineer Alastair Tiver, CFO Rodney Shier and President/CEO Jim O’Rourke Copper Mountain Mine DIVERSE COMPANIES SHARE COMMON BOND Read how each relies on Komatsu and SMS for productive equipment and reliable services See articles inside . . . President Denis Collet (left) and Founder/VP Gilles Collet Collet Gravel Owner Réal Bédard Réal Bédard Excavation and Forestry

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DECEMBER 2010

Pantone 072 blue

(L-R) President Yvon Lemay, G.M. Josiane Lemay, Production Manager Dany Lemay and Development

Director Louis-Marc Bourgouin

Enfouibec Inc.

(L-R) Chief Mine Engineer Alastair Tiver, CFO Rodney Shier and President/CEO Jim O’Rourke

Copper Mountain Mine

DIVERSE COMPANIES SHARE COMMON BONDRead how each relies on Komatsu and SMS for productive equipment and reliable servicesSee articles inside . . .

President Denis Collet (left) and Founder/VP Gilles Collet

Collet Gravel

Owner Réal Bédard

Réal Bédard Excavation and Forestry

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Dear Valued Customer,

SMS would like to thank our customers for partnering with us to supply equipment and services for their businesses in 2010. Whether you work in the construction, mining, oil or forestry industry, SMS has the equipment — both large and small — to meet your needs and the service and parts to support that equipment.

In this issue of your SMS Solutions, we are especially pleased to feature four customers that have entrusted SMS to provide and support their equipment fleets. As Copper Mountain Mining Corporation prepares to open the new Copper Mountain Mine near Princeton, B.C., they’ve added a whole fleet of brand-new Komatsu machines. A leading aggregate supplier in southwestern Manitoba, Collet Gravel also runs a large fleet of Komatsu equipment at its 15 pits.

In Quebec, SMS customer Enfouibec Inc.’s landfill/recycling business handles everything from paper mill wastewater to construction and demolition debris. They rely on Komatsu excavators and wheel loaders to keep their operation running smoothly. You’ll be intrigued with Réal Bédard Excavation and Forestry, which has changed its focus from forestry to building cranberry fields in the area between Montreal and Quebec City.

We hope you enjoy reading about these SMS customers and the important role that productive, reliable equipment and dependable product support play in their success.

If you are in the market to add to or update your excavator fleet, you’ll want to read all about the new Komatsu PC228USLC-8 tight-tail-swing excavator. Once again, Komatsu has raised the bar for productivity, efficiency and comfort.

For customers with mining trucks, you’ll want to check out the article on SMS’ reman centres, which are the leaders in Canada in remanufactued components for electric mining trucks and other equipment.

As we begin the new year, all of us at SMS look forward to a strengthened economy that results in more business and higher profits for our customers. As always, we hope that you’ll turn to SMS for all your equipment, parts and service needs.

Sincerely, Bruce Knight President and CEO

Bruce Knight

ONE NAME.

ONE COMPANY.

ONE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.

THE PRODUCTS PLUS THE LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU!

IN THIS ISSUE

Published by Construction Publications, Inc. for

www.smsequip.com

ONE NAME. ONE COMPANY. ONE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.

Regional OfficeMontreal (Dorval), QC(514) 636-4950

Baie-Comeau, QC(418) 296-6671

Chibougamau, QC(418) 748-7615

Chicoutimi, QC(418) 549-0022

Dorval, QC(514) 636-4950

Havre-St-Pierre, QC(418) 538-1323

Mirabel, QC(450) 434-1992

Quebec (St-Augustin), QC(418) 870-1502

St-Bruno, QC(450) 441-1201

Trois-Rivières, QC(819) 375-9383

Val-d’Or, QC(819) 874-3733

Fredericton, NB(506) 457-5544

Moncton (Dieppe), NB(506) 857-9513

Goose Bay, NL(709) 896-4904

Pasadena, NL(709) 686-2033

St. John’s (Paradise), NL(709) 782-2151

Wabush, NL(709) 282-3777

Timmins, ON(705) 264-4300

Acheson (Edmonton), AB (780) 948-2200

Head Office

Western RegionRegional OfficeAcheson, AB (780) 948-2200

Acheson, AB (780) 948-2200

Calgary, AB(403) 569-1109

Edmonton, AB(780) 451-2630

Fort McMurray, AB(780) 791-0616

Fort McMurray, AB(780) 743-2622

Grande Prairie, AB(780) 532-9410

Red Deer , AB (403) 340-8343

Campbell River, BC(250) 286-0694

Chetwynd, BC(250) 788-7920

Elkford, BC(250) 865-4651

Fort St. John, BC(250) 785-8161

Houston, BC(250) 845-7911

Eastern Region

Kamloops, BC (250) 374-6961

Nanaimo, BC(250) 245-9156

Prince George, BC(250) 564-8841

Port Coquitlam, BC(604) 941-6611

Surrey, BC(604) 888-9700

Williams Lake, BC(250) 305-1060

Winnipeg, MB(204) 487-1050

Yellowknife, NT(867) 669-0738

Thunder Bay, ON(807) 939-2262

Regina, SK(306) 359-3121

Saskatoon, SK (306) 931-0044

Whitehorse, YT (800) 567-8088

Printed in Canada © 2010 Construction Publications, Inc.

COPPER MOUNTAIN MINE Learn what all the excitement is about as an old mine reopens near Princeton, B.C.

MINING MACHINES Take a look at the largest, most powerful mining shovel, the Komatsu PC8000-6, as it goes to work at Copper Mountain Mine.

COLLET GRAVEL See how the Collet family is working together to build a successful gravel business in southwestern Manitoba.

ENFOUIBEC INC. Read about this pioneer in recycling and how throughout its 30 years, it has grown in size and the number of services it offers.

RÉAL BÉDARD EXCAVATION AND FORESTRY When it comes to building cranberry fields, nobody does it better. Discover their key to success.

NEW PRODUCTS Komatsu’s new PC228USLC-8 excavator has the power and lifting capacity you need in a compact and efficient package. See how this machine fits in a variety of applications.

PARTS SOLUTIONS With busy reman centres in Port Coquitlam and Acheson, SMS is Canada’s leader in remanufactured components for electric mining trucks and more.

SALUTE TO A CUSTOMER

ONE NAME. ONE COMPANY. ONE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.

E in 2007. A feasibility study showing substantial reserves in areas that had not previously been mined was completed in 2008. After that, Mitsubishi joined CMMC as a 25% partner to help finance the project.

Since then, it’s been full speed ahead in developing the property and preparing for actual production to begin in summer of 2011. The cost of the project is C$438 million. While that’s a large amount of money, Copper Mountain President and CEO Jim O’Rourke says it’s a bargain compared with starting up a brand-new mine.

“Copper Mountain is in an ideal location. Because we’re 20 minutes from Princeton, our employees can go home at night rather than live in a camp, as is the case at most British Columbia mines. We also have existing infrastructure — a paved road right to the mine entrance, water services on site and a tailing facility. Cell phones even work here. If we were starting up this same size property in a greenfields location, we’d be looking at twice the cost, up to a billion dollars or so.”

Obviously, Copper Mountain Mining Corp.’s primary goal is to make money on the mine, but O’Rourke says the fact that they’re putting a lot of people to work is a great side benefit.

“There are currently approximately 200 people working to prepare the site (constructing a mill, assembling mobile equipment, doing preliminary earthwork), about 50 of whom are Copper Mountain employees. We will continue to add to our work force as the projected startup date nears. Full employment at the mine will be about 260, but that’s only part of the story. Economic

COPPER MOUNTAIN MINE Lots of excitement near Princeton, B.C., as a new “old” mine nears reopening

Early settlers in southwestern Canada began looking into copper reserves near the British Columbia town of Princeton (about 275 km east of Vancouver) as early as 1884. Mining actually started at the site, which became known as Copper Mountain in 1923, and continued, on-and-off (mostly on) for the next 73 years. In 1996, the mine shut down, a victim of high strip-ratio reserves, rising production costs and the need for large capital expenditures.

Now, driven by increased demand and higher prices, the mine is coming back to life thanks to the Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (CMMC). In 2006, CMMC’s management team, which consists of mining, engineering and investment specialists, bought the property, and shortly thereafter, began drilling and testing. The company went public

(L-R) Chief Mine Engineer Alastair

Tiver, CFO Rodney Shier and President/

CEO Jim O’Rourke are integral to operations

at the Copper Mountain Mine.

A Komatsu bucket from SMS Equipment enhances the entrance to the Copper Mountain Mine in Princeton, B.C.

development leaders estimate total direct and indirect jobs at about 1,000, so reopening the mine is a significant economic boom to the region, and we’re very happy about that.”

Substantial reserves It’s estimated that there are as much as 5 billion pounds of copper reserves at the Copper Mountain Mine, along with substantial credits of gold and silver. In its previous incarnations, the mine consisted of three different pits. This time around, the boundaries between the existing pits will also be mined, resulting in a single super pit, starting with a pushback on the western wall of pit three.

During the first five years, the super pit is expected to produce more than 100 million pounds of copper annually in a copper concentrate. In order to accomplish that, the plant will treat 35,000 tons of ore per day.

“First we mine the ore, then we break it down into six-inch pieces, then we crush it until it’s about the consistency of salt,” O’Rourke explained. “At that point, we use a chemical process to draw the copper out of the ore, and we grind that copper down to a powder-like consistency, which is the copper concentrate. We will truck all the

copper concentrate to the Vancouver port for shipment to Mitsubishi plants in Japan.”

A key aspect of the Copper Mountain Mine is that, in addition to the copper, it will also produce an estimated 30,000 ounces of gold and 330,000 ounces of silver annually, which will account for up to 15 percent of mine revenue.

Team effort O’Rourke says the biggest challenge is to complete construction and begin producing according to the aggressive time line that management set. “Our goal is to be operational in June of 2011. In order to do that, we needed Continued. . .

These three newly assembled Komatsu 830E electric haul trucks will be operating when Copper Mountain Mine begins production next summer.

Underground mining began in 1884 at the Copper Mountain Mine site. Today, Copper Mountain Mining Corporation is developing a “super pit” at the location by combining the existing three pits into one open-pit mine.

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experienced hands — people who know what to do, how to do it and are committed to getting it done. I’m very pleased with the team we’ve put together. It includes many of the top mining people around these parts.”

In addition to O’Rourke, the management team consists of CFO Rodney Shier; VP Exploration Peter Holbek; VP Environmental J. Peter Campbell; Chief Mining Engineer Alastair Tiver and Exploration Geologist Richard Joyes.

At the mine site, key personnel include General Manager Bill Dodds; Operations Manager Art Pratico; Maintenance Manager Bill Van Damme; Operations General Foreman Tom Hanik and Chief Electrician Ward Phillips.

“Many people here worked with Jim (O’Rourke) at Princeton Mining,” said Pratico. “It’s a veteran group. Most of the people on board have decades of mining experience. Some came out of retirement to join in. It’s exciting. It’s been 13 to 14 years since this mine shut down. It’ll be great to see it going again.”

“One of the nice things about the group we have working here is nobody is in it for himself or his own department,” said Phillips. “It’s truly a team effort with everybody pitching in to do whatever needs to be done. I don’t think you’ll ever hear anybody here say, ‘It’s not my job.’ The attitude is, ‘whatever it takes, that’s what we’ll do,’ and that makes it a pleasure to come to work every day.”

A brand-new fleet of equipment A unique aspect of the Copper Mountain Mine is that it will operate essentially with an all-new fleet of equipment — Komatsu machines from SMS. That fleet consists of:

• Two PC8000 hydraulic mining shovels (at more than 3,000 kW/4,000 hp and with 42-m3 clam buckets), the PC8000 is the largest excavator/shovel that Komatsu makes;

• A WA1200-3 wheel loader (1,560 hp);

• Two D375-6 dozers (391 kW/525 hp);

• Fifteen 830E electric haul trucks (1,760 kW/2,360 hp and 218- to 231-metric- tonne/240- to 255-tonne capacity);

The new equipment fleet at Copper Mountain Mine includes (left) this massive Komatsu PC8000-6 mining shovel and (below) this Komatsu WA1200-3 wheel loader.

• A number of smaller machines, including a WD600, PC400 and D85.

“Everybody is excited about starting up with brand-new Komatsu equipment,” reported General Manager Bill Dodds. “That’s a pleasure and a luxury that doesn’t happen very often. In fact, I’d say nobody here has ever run such a new fleet. The fact that it’s all from the same manufacturer will be a big plus both operationally and repair-wise (parts commonality and familiarity with maintenance features), which should result in outstanding availability and productivity. We’re really looking forward to it.”

“I was at the Huckleberry mine when they brought in two Komatsu PC2000s,” recalled Pratico. “They were great machines —

Veteran staff brings experience to operation . . . continued

Bill Dodds, General Manager

Ward Phillips, Chief Electrician

Continued. . .

???. . . suite

Dealer support critical to meet productivity goals. . . continued

productive and reliable. When they decided to go with Komatsu here, I was very pleased. We know they’re top-quality units that will do an excellent job. The operators like Komatsu and so does the shop.”

“I too was introduced to Komatsu equipment at Huckleberry,” added General Pit Foreman Tom Hanik. “Everything about it was good. Production was high and we received outstanding support from SMS. Our experience there makes us confident that the Komatsu pieces will do a great job here.”

SMS support completes “total equipment package” Distributor and manufacturer support is a critical aspect of almost any equipment purchase, but it’s doubly so when it’s a multimillion-dollar equipment package like this one.

“We did a lot of research before selecting Komatsu and SMS,” said Chief Mine Engineer

Alistair Tiver. “Obviously, we wanted the best equipment at the lowest price, but price itself is less important than the total package, which includes dealer support. Saving a couple hundred thousand dollars off the purchase price is always nice, however, at the level we’re operating, any price advantage disappears quickly if the dealer can’t support us. We went with Komatsu and SMS because of the total package they provide.”

That package includes uptime guarantees; two SMS service technicians based at the mine; an SMS trainer to work with all Copper Mountain personnel regarding equipment; and onsite storage of ground engaging tools and other replacement parts.

“SMS has been great to work with,” confirmed Maintenance Manager Bill Van Damme. “Any problem or any concern I have, I call SMS Operations Manager Mike Campbell and he takes care of it. I’m an early riser and generally get here by 4:30 in the morning. I’ve called Mike shortly after that, and he’s up and answering his phone. I appreciate that type of response.”

“SMS showed a willingness and eagerness to work with us to make this happen,” acknowledged Tiver. “They brought a lot of value-added enhancements to the table. The bottom line is we’re confident in the machines and confident that SMS will provide the support and backup we need to be successful. All of us at Copper Mountain Mining are pleased to have them as a partner.”

A model mining operation Copper Mountain Mining has a processing plan for the next 17 years, but O’Rourke says there’s excellent exploration potential and he’s confident the mine will operate long past that 17-year time frame.

“This property has so many advantages. It’s low political risk, low technical risk, low environmental risk and low capital/financing risk. Add to that a skilled work force, which we have access to and which we’re committed to hiring, and you get an operation that should be cash-positive in a short period of time.”

In addition to the large mining equipment Copper Mountain Mining Corporation purchased, the company also bought some smaller machines, including this Komatsu D85 dozer.

Tom Hanik, General Pit Foreman

Inside the mill building at the Copper Mountain Mine,

ore from the stockpile is processed through a multistep

procedure to grind it down to the consistency of table

salt and create a slurry that is scooped off to become copper

concentrate. The building also houses the mine’s

34-foot-diametre SAG mill.

Continued . . .

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Safety, environmental protection are goals. . . continued

In addition to running a productive, safe operation, the Copper Mountain Mine is also committed to protecting the environment in and around the property. All soil is being stockpiled on site to cover waste dumps and otherwise return the land to pre-mining condition. Sewage sludge from Vancouver, which has been turned into bio-solids, will be used in conjunction with the seeding program to achieve excellent cover growth.

“Whether it’s environmental, safety or production, our goal is to make this a model mining operation in all respects,” said O’Rourke. “The best way to achieve that is by having people who share your vision. At Copper Mountain Mining, we feel we have those people. The experience in our work force is virtually unmatched. They came on board because they were excited at the prospect of working on a start-up project like this where they really can make it something special. Because of the people we’ve been able to attract, things are going well, and I’m confident we’ll be operational, as planned in the summer of 2011, and that it will be an operation of which everybody involved will be proud.” n

Copper Mountain Mining is a publicly traded company. For investment information, and to see a video update of the mine under construction, go to the Copper Mountain Mining Web site at www.cumtn.com.

“Beyond productivity and profitability, safety will always be our No. 1 goal at Copper Mountain Mine,” said G.M. Bill Dodds. “Once operational, our plan is to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week — spring, summer, fall and winter. We have a full-time safety supervisor and we’ll have a safety program that involves employees in decision-making.”

SMS Equipment technicians assemble one of Copper Mountain’s 15 Komatsu 830E electric haul trucks at the Copper Mountain Mine site.

Crews have now completed the support wall to Copper Mountain Mine’s new primary crusher, which will crush ore to about 15 centimetres (six inches). The ore will then be transported 1.5 kilometres by an overland conveyor to the ore stockpile.

Pausing for a photo next to a Komatsu WA1200-3 are (L-R) Roy Lapa and Art Hine from SMS; Copper Mountain Mine Operator John Hantel, General Manager Bill Dodds, Operator Glen Ortwein, Operations Manager Art Pratico, Maintenance Manager Bill Van Damme and Operator Dennis Nendick; SMS Sales Rep Jason McCleery and Project Manager Greg Andrews; and Copper Mountain Mine Equipment Trainer John Bereira.

SMS is the authorized dealer in CanadaWestern Region: 1-866-458-0101 • Eastern Region: 1-800-881-9828 • SMSEQUIP.COM

THIS IS A BIG ONE! Komatsu’s largest, most powerful mining shovel goes to work at Copper Mountain Mine

B By the middle of 2011, Copper Mountain Mine near Princeton, B.C., is expected to become Canada’s third-largest copper mine. As the mine ramps up to full production, its new Komatsu PC8000-6 mining shovel will play a major role in keeping the mine at maximum production.

Developed specifically for the biggest mining operations in the world, the Komatsu PC8000-6 electric-powered hydraulic shovel performs at 3,013 kW (4,040 hp) with a bucket capacity of 42 cubic metres (55 cu. yds.). While it’s designed to meet the highest levels of production, the PC8000-6 also meets the highest levels of safety and environmental responsibility. Copper Mountain Mine chose the electric power option on the shovel because of the generous supply of readily available, low-cost electricity in British Columbia. It’s the first electric version put to work in North America.

Assembling the giant, 700-tonne machine was a task of huge proportions. A team of Komatsu and SMS Equipment technicians were at the mine site for weeks, putting together more than 725,000 kilograms (1.6 million lbs.) of Komatsu heavy-duty components. The completed, ready-to-work machine — the 75th unit produced worldwide — was unveiled on November 18 during a ceremony at the mine.

Komatsu’s total production of the PC8000 is now more than 80 machines. A second Komatsu PC8000-6 will soon join Copper Mountain Mining’s extensive fleet of Komatsu mining equipment that includes 15 240-tonne-capacity haul trucks. The mining company services its Komatsu fleet on site at an exclusive, five-bay, Komatsu service facility operated by SMS Equipment.

“With the delivery of the PC8000-6 and all the other mining equipment SMS has supplied

to Copper Mountain Mine, we’re pleased to be a part of this operation,” commented Bruce Knight, President and CEO of SMS Equipment. By next summer, the C$438 million project is expected to produce more than 100 million pounds of copper, along with a substantial output of gold and silver. n

SMS Equipment and Komatsu unveiled this ready-to-work PC8000-6 electric-powered hydraulic shovel during a November 18 ceremony at Copper

Mountain Mine. The machine’s first load — more than 45 children and adults — only partly illustrates the

PC8000’s bucket capacity of 42 cubic metres (55 cu. yds.).

MINING MACHINES

ONE NAME. ONE COMPANY. ONE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.

SMS and Komatsu representatives present Copper Mountain Mine with “Copper Key #75” for its new PC8000. Pictured (L-R) are SMS Equipment’s Mike Granger, Komatsu’s Jiro Furuhashi, Copper Mountain President and CEO Jim O’Rourke and SMS Equipment’s Mike Ranallo.

#75

SALUTE TO A CUSTOMER

ONE NAME. ONE COMPANY. ONE COMMITMENT TO SERVICE.

G Gilles continued acquiring land and/or leases. Today, he and his son, Denis, run Collet Gravel, which has access to 15 pits and is a leading aggregate supplier in southwestern Manitoba.

“Our primary business is supplying sand and crushed gravel to contractors and governmental entities, largely Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation,” explained Denis, who recently took over as President of Collet Gravel (Gilles remains active and serves as Vice President). “Our customers are No. 1 with us. Our goal is to provide everything they expect — and then some. Whatever they need, whenever they call, we get right on it. As a result, we have a large amount of repeat business and customers who stay with us from year to year.”

“There are times when demand for our material is strong and other times when it’s not so strong,” observed Gilles. “Regardless of the economy, the key to success is to always provide top products, give outstanding service and treat customers fairly and honestly. At Collet Gravel, we make it a point to do all those things consistently, in good times and bad.”

Mobile crushing operation For the most part, times have been good for Collet Gravel. The company has grown from a small, two-man firm to one that today employs 35 people. Collet Gravel produces about a million tons of material annually for use in concrete production and asphalt plants, as road base, and many other construction-related industries.

The company has also recently sought to expand its list of aggregate uses to include specialty products. For example, it’s working

COLLET GRAVEL Southwestern Manitoba producer offers quality rock, top service and convenient locations

Gilles Collet has always enjoyed equipment and aggregate. He was an operator for a time and also a farmer, but it was probably destiny that he would someday own a gravel business.

“In the early 1970s, my brother Andy and I bought some farmland that had some gravel on it,” Gilles recalled. “Then we bought more land and it also had some gravel. I had always liked operating and working with rock, and now the opportunity was there to do it for myself rather than somebody else. Initially, the gravel was just a supplement to farming, but over time, it became the primary business.”

Through the years, the brothers bought other businesses, as well as more land. Eventually, they decided to split their interests, with Gilles taking the gravel side. From his home base in Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba,

Denis Collet, President (left), and Gilles Collet, Founder and VP, own and operate Collet Gravel, a leading Manitoba aggregate supplier.

with a company called Eco Solutions to produce a wintertime anti-icing/de-icing sand product for roads that’s more effective and less corrosive than plain sand or salt.

“We also do custom crushing,” noted Denis. “If a customer has a pit on his property and needs some material crushed on site, we’re mobile — we can go to him, do the job and move on. In many cases, deposits in this region are getting depleted so what’s left is marginal gravel; it has too much sand and not enough rock. You have to know how to work those sites to pull the material out properly, and that’s what we do every day.”

Collet Gravel typically moves its crushing operations from pit to pit weekly, and sometimes more frequently, if necessary. “When our crusher is not on the road or being set up, it’s crushing 24 hours a day,” added Gilles. “We’re all about productivity.”

“In addition to productivity, transportation is a big contributor to the cost of gravel,” Denis added. “If we can reduce the distance between our customer and our product, it can save him a significant amount of money. That’s why we have pits centrally located throughout southwestern Manitoba. Being 20 miles closer to a job can make a big difference. Having pits all over the area makes us a more cost-effective option for our customers.”

A family affair Having favourable pit locations is important, and so is having talented, veteran employees to work them. Continued. . .

Collet Gravel owns and/or leases 15 pits in southwestern Manitoba, from which it supplies contractors and Manitoba Infrastructure and Transportation with sand and crushed gravel. The company also does custom crushing.

Collet Gravel runs a large fleet of Komatsu equipment, including WA500 wheel loaders to feed its crushers. “We still have our first Komatsu wheel loaders that we bought more than 20 years ago,” recalled Gilles Collet. “They now have about 50,000 hours on them. That says a lot about why we’ve been loyal Komatsu users.”

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To see Collet Gravel machines in action, find this article in our online magazine at www.SMSSolutionsMagazine.com

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Collet Gravel has 10 trucks in its fleet.

“We are a family business, but everybody who works here is important,” said Gilles. “We don’t have much turnover. Obviously, we have many family members, but even those who aren’t related to us are like part of the family. Their work ethic and knowledge about our operations are what allow us to get the production we need to be successful.”

In addition to Gilles and Denis, other family members active in the business are Gilles’ wife, Lucille; Denis’ brother Claude, who “can do anything” and fills in as needed on a day-to-day basis, plus takes care of the farm; and a cousin, Don Collet, who is shop foreman.

“Lucille worked in the office, back in the early days,” noted Gilles. “We have six kids and they all worked for Gravier Collet at one time or another from the time they were youngsters.”

“I loaded my first gravel truck when I was seven years old,” Denis recalled. “All of us kids were always hanging around in the pit with Dad or uncle Andy. It was just natural to learn the business and pitch in and help. To this day, family members remain very ‘hands-on’ and involved with daily operations. I still get dirty, get out in the pits, make repairs. Our attitude is to do ‘whatever it takes’ and that applies to everybody who works here.”

Other key people at Collet Gravel include Office Manager Jocelyne Dalebozik and assistant Cindy Charette; Night Operations Manager Marty Roch; Truck Foreman Ray Dyck; and Daytime Operations Manager Derek Desrochers.

Collet Gravel grows with SW Manitoba. . . continued

(L-R) Loader Operator Claude Collet, Mechanic Lance Vandevelde, Shop Foreman Don Collet, Heavy-Duty Mechanic Steph Talbot, Mechanic Ryan Piché, Truck Foreman Raymond Dyck and Loader Operator Charles Collet work together to maintain Collet Gravel’s mobile equipment and crushing spreads.

Denis Collet (left) speaks with Derek Desrochers, Daytime Operations Manager.

Collet Gravel is headquartered in Notre Dame de Lourdes, Manitoba.

Continued. . .

???. . . suite

???. . . continued

Collet Gravel — optimistic about future. . . continued

Productive, longlasting equipment Collet Gravel runs a fleet of Komatsu machines to keep the crushing and pit operations running smoothly.

“We got started with Komatsu in 1986,” Gilles recalled. “They were new to Winnipeg at the time. We didn’t know much about them but we needed a new wheel loader so we demo’d a WA450 alongside a top competitor. We liked the Komatsu’s breakout force, plus it was fairly priced, so we decided to buy it. We liked it so much; we got another one later that year.”

“Amazingly, we still have those wheel loaders, which now have nearly 50,000 hours on them,” reported Denis. “We use them primarily as backups, but they still work well, and some of the components are original equipment. That kind of longevity has really

sold us on Komatsu wheel loaders. We now use WA500s to feed our crushers and WA450s/470s to load trucks. Our first WA500 now has 34,000 hours and is still going strong.”

In addition to the wheel loaders, Collet Gravel also has a Komatsu PC270 hydraulic excavator used primarily for grubbing and stripping ahead of the crusher; and a GD655 motor grader to maintain roads for the trucks to get in and out of the pits.

“Since getting that first machine almost 25 years ago, we’ve used Komatsu and SMS extensively,” said Gilles. “I’m very fussy about my equipment. Obviously, the machines have worked well or we wouldn’t still be with them. Our Komatsus have been productive, reliable and longlasting. We take some of the credit for that because we pride ourselves on our maintenance program. We make sure we grease and service the machines regularly. We do some of our own repairs but also call on SMS as needed.”

“SMS has been a good partner,” confirmed Denis. “Our SMS salesman, Neil L’Heureux, has a long history with us. Before he became a salesman, he drove trucks and was frequently in and out of our pits, so we already had a relationship. If we have any problems, we know we can count on Neil to take care of us.”

Growing with SW Manitoba As the company moves forward, it continues to look for opportunities to grow the business, whether that means additional pits or new applications for its rock products.

“We definitely want to continue growing — that’s the only way to remain a healthy business,” asserted Denis. “Southwestern Manitoba is growing all the time and we want to grow right along with it.”

“We’re optimistic about what lies ahead,” added Gilles. “We believe the quality of our product is second-to-none and we work very hard to keep our customers happy with our service. As long as we continue to do those things and our area continues to grow, we feel confident that we’ll be able to grow right along with it.” n

Jocelyne Dalebozik, Office Administrator

and Dispatcher

Cindy Charette, Office Administrator

and Accounting

Collet Gravel crews use this Komatsu GD655 motor grader to maintain pit haul roads.

Gilles Collet (left) works closely with SMS sales rep Neil L’Heureux on

equipment matters. “SMS has been a good

partner for Collet Gravel,” said Gilles. “We

know we can count on Neil to take care of us.”

Available through SMS Equipment

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T to show the government it was a legitimate option. Once we worked through that, the business began to grow.”

Growth has expanded Enfouibec from its initial sand pit, where Yvon Lemay sold sand and gravel products for 15 years prior to starting the landfill/recycling operation. Eight family members are employed by the company, including his niece and nephew, with Josiane as General Manager and Dany as Production Manager.

During the past three decades, Enfouibec has increased the types of materials it handles, with wood, concrete and steel topping the list. Construction and demolition contractors bring in the largest chunks of product, but Enfouibec serves private individuals also looking to dispose of their wares.

“We’re classified only for industrial materials originating from construction and demolition debris, so we take in no household waste,” said Mr. Lemay. “The percentage of material we recycle continues to grow, and the amount we put into our on-site landfill has shrunk accordingly. We have a couple other operations, about 30 miles away in different directions, that handle other types of materials. The others only deal with dry materials, while this location processes wet materials.

“Wastewater in the site, namely wastewater originating from the debris, is gathered in a pond from December to April, and then treated during summer,” added Mr. Lemay. “Approximately 20,000 cubic meters of wastewater are treated each year. While this equates to a large share of our business, it comes also with a heavy load of responsibilities in the longer term. Indeed, even when the landfill and the recycling operation of

ENFOUIBEC INC. Recycling pioneer celebrating three decades of increasing service offerings

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Enfouibec, an achievement President Yvon Lemay never expected to see. In fact, when he founded the company in 1982 on the site of his former sand operation in Bécancour, Quebec, he had some trouble with the local government.

“As we were taking sand out, of course we were creating a hole,” recalled Mr. Lemay. “The local government permitted us to take in garbage, put it in the hole and cover it, making a landfill. People started coming to us wanting us to buy and recycle their scrap because they really had no other place to take it. We were the first in the area to take it in and recycle it.

“It created some problems, because recycling wasn’t legal at the time,” he continued, admitting he was ticketed for doing some recycling operations in the landfill. “We had

Members of the Enfouibec management team include (L-R) President Yvon Lemay, General Manager Josiane Lemay, Production Manager Dany Lemay and Development Director Louis-Marc Bourgouin.

the site will be closed, we will still continue to treat the water.”

An expanding list Mr. Lemay says the site recycles about 70 percent of the total waste products that area mills produce, including wood and pulp. Enfouibec composts about 30,600 cubic metres (40,000 cu. yd.) per year. Material for composting is mixed with soils and tree waste to make a topsoil-type blend which Enfouibec sells.

“We have many people who use it as compost for areas that need grass to grow quickly,” said Mr. Lemay. “It’s an excellent product. Other products that come from our wood waste include bedding for litter boxes, which is relatively new. Our goal is to make about 500 tonnes of it per year. In addition, we sell quite a lot of wood to power plants to burn for energy generation. All the wood that comes in here ends up going back out in some form.”

That’s true of other industrial waste the company handles. Enfouibec has four roll-off trucks that pick up materials from approximately 200 roll-off boxes in about a 100-mile area from along the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, east to Highway 20. The company handles plastics but ferrous and nonferrous metals make

up the bulk of what it collects and runs through a press to be resold to other scrap yards.

While the original sand and gravel operation on the Bécancour site has ceased, Enfouibec does produce road base and compact fill from Continued. . .

Komatsu excavators have been a staple of Enfouibec’s fleet since 1986. Enfouibec uses this PC200LC-8 with a grapple to sort construction debris. “We like everything about Komatsu excavators: hydraulics, fuel economy, power, the cab, you name it,” said President Yvon Lemay.

Enfouibec’s headquarters in Bécancourt, Quebec.

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construction debris, which includes mainly old pavements and brick. Some of the materials come from the company’s operations itself, as Enfouibec offers demolition services.

“We’ve grown because we’ve been willing to seek out new opportunities and take advantage of trends,” said Mr. Lemay. “That includes, along with our other offerings, remediation of contaminated soils. That may be the final piece of our puzzle — for now.”

From a truck to a fleet When the puzzle began taking shape, Enfouibec had one truck and a handful of employees. Now, including family members, the company employs more than 25, including key personnel such as Development Director Louis-Marc Bourgouin and Director of Operations Raymond Lyonnais.

The equipment fleet has grown to include 40 pieces, including Komatsu excavators and wheel loaders purchased from SMS Equipment’s Trois-Riviéres branch. As with its recycling operations, Enfouibec was one of the first in the area to use Komatsu machines.

“Our first Komatsu was a PC200 excavator we bought in 1986, and because it performed so well, Komatsu became our machinery of choice,” said Mr. Lemay, who boasted that the original ripper on the PC200 wasn’t changed out until 12,000 hours. “I believe in buying equipment that’s going to be productive for a long time. Our first Komatsu piece lived up to that, and every one we’ve purchased since has reinforced it.”

Enfouibec has a mix of newer and older Komatsu units, with new pieces including a 21,437-kilogram (47,260-lb.) PC200LC-8 excavator with a grapple. PC78s, PC400s and PC300s — including one with a 60-foot boom — are also in the fleet. “We like everything about Komatsu excavators: hydraulics, fuel economy, power, the cab, you name it,” said Mr. Lemay. “We use them for digging, loading crushers and trucks and a variety of other tasks. They give us a lot of versatility.

“One feature that stands out for us is their balance and how it equates to ground pressure,” he added. “There are parts of the

Equipment fleet grows with company. . . continued

An Enfouibec operator loads wood chips onto a truck with a Komatsu WA380-6 wheel loader. “They’re efficient, both in terms of fuel economy and cycle times,” said President Yvon Lemay of the four Komatsu loaders the company runs.

Using a Komatsu PC78 with a grapple, an Enfouibec operator sorts debris. The company also runs a PC78 with a bucket and thumb.

facility with soft ground, and we just can’t take wheel loaders into those places. We’re able to get our excavators into those and continue to produce.”

In areas of the two-kilometre by half-kilometre site where Enfouibec can run wheel loaders, it uses Komatsu WA380 (142 kW/191 hp) and WA450 (203 kW/272 hp) models for loading trucks and screening machines. “They’re efficient, both in terms of fuel economy and cycle times,” said Mr. Lemay.

For the past seven years, Mr. Lemay has worked with SMS Sales Representative Dominic Bérubé to purchase Komatsu equipment. “Part of our machine longevity is the quality of Komatsu and part is our commitment to good maintenance practices. We handle most of that ourselves, with occasional help from SMS. They treat us well in terms of parts availability, price and service, when we need it.”

A continued tradition Much of Enfouibec’s equipment purchases have been additional pieces — as opposed to replacements — as the company expanded. Mr. Lemay is hoping to keep that trend going, always on the lookout for new sites. “Obviously, it helps that recycling is becoming a more accepted and growing field. We believe that segment of our business is only going to continue to grow.”

Mr. Lemay also believes recycling is about more than just turning old materials into useful products. “Some things aren’t easily replaced. For example, trees. That’s why throughout the past 20 years, we’ve been committed to planting about 1,000 trees per year at our own expense. It makes sense now and in the future.”

He hopes the future includes the next generation of Lemays running the business. “Having my nephew and my niece involved in the business gives me great pride,” said Mr. Lemay. “They see the value of recycling, and I’m more than happy to see them carry on the tradition.” n

Enfouibec has a mix of older and newer Komatsu machines, including this PC300LC-6 used to load soil into trucks.

Enfouibec President Yvon Lemay (left) and SMS Sales Representative Dominic Bérubé have worked together for the past seven years. “They treat us well in terms of parts availability, price and service when we need it,” said Mr. Lemay of SMS. “Dominic is excellent to work with, ensuring we have the right equipment to match our applications.”

An Enfouibec operator digs into a pile with a Komatsu WA450-6 wheel loader at the company’s Bécancourt headquarters.

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R experts in cranberry field development. Today, this area midway between Montreal and the city of Quebec is one of Canada’s leading cranberry producing regions. There are now about 65 cranberry producers within about a 30-kilometre radius, and we’ve built fields for several of them.”

Building a cranberry field is no small feat. A good-size one can easily take seven or eight months, the vast majority of an entire construction season. It generally consists of removing trees, rocks and topsoil, and replacing them with up to a metre (36 inches) of sand. The last step is digging a lake as a water source to irrigate the fields and also to serve as a reservoir to raise the water level at harvest time.

Experience counts Réal Bédard Forest Excavation started small in the business of building cranberry fields. Originally the company consisted of Réal, who did the field work, and his wife, Aline, who handled office duties. Through the years, the company has grown steadily.

By summer 2010, Réal Bédard Excavation and Forestry had about 18 employees, together capable of building as many as 200 acres of cranberry fields per year. Many employees, such as Mario Turmel, have been with the company for up to 15 years.

“Our crews have learned the cranberry business right along with us, and we count on them to help deliver the quality of work, as well as the speed and productivity we’re known for,” said Mr. Bédard. “For many years, cranberry field development has been our main activity, so we feel we know how to do it better, faster and more efficiently than anybody else.”

RÉAL BÉDARD EXCAVATION AND FORESTRY When it comes to building cranberry fields, nobody does it better

Réal Bédard started his company Réal Bédard Forest Excavation and Forestry in 1986. As the name implies, initially, he did a lot of tree clearing in and around his home base near Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Then in 1992, Réal was asked by a large producer in the region to do some work for him creating cranberry fields. Since that time, cranberry field development has become a specialty of Réal Bédard Excavation and Forestry

“Back in the early 1990s, there were only two cranberry farms in this region of the country, and we learned a lot building that first job,” Mr. Bédard recalled. “Then other producers started asking us to develop cranberry fields for them. Through the years, we gained a lot of experience and basically became the

Building cranberry fields is a family affair for Réal Bédard, his wife, Aline, and their children Alexandra, Anthony and Emile.

In 2010, Mr. Bédard and his crews worked on a 100-acre field near Saint-Louis de Blanford.

“This particular field was a challenge because we had to remove a large amount of rock and bring in a lot of material as well,” said Mr. Bédard. “There was also quite a bit of slope to the terrain, which had to be properly graded. We started in March and finished in October, so it took most of the season to complete.”

Equipment that works — and lasts Réal Bédard Excavation and Forestry relies on Komatsu machines from SMS Equipment Company to help deliver projects on time and on budget. The company owns 10 Komatsu units, nine hydraulic excavators (mostly PC200s and PC300s) and a D65PX dozer.

Continued. . . This Komatsu PC300HD-8 is one of nine Komatsu hydraulic excavators that Réal Bédard uses to build cranberry fields in eastern Quebec.

In 2010, Réal Bédard crews built this 100-acre cranberry field near Saint-Louis de Blanford. The process includes

removing topsoil and replacing it with sand, then planting and irrigating the cranberry vines.

This Réal Bédard operator uses a Komatsu PC200LC-7 to build a dike to hold the cranberry bed.

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Salesman Dominic Bérubé has always done an excellent job of finding machines for us and helping us in any way he can.”

“I really appreciate Réal’s support through the years,” said Mr. Bérubé. “He was one of the first people around here to use Komatsu machines. Because he has an excellent reputation in this area, it gave us a lot of credibility early on and has continued to be a good advertisement for Komatsu and SMS. Other contractors see he uses our equipment and they figure it must be good, and SMS must do a good job of backing him up or Réal wouldn’t be using it.”

Cranberry work is all in the family Typically, Réal Bédard Excavation and Forestry will establish 150 to 200 acres of cranberries per year, but, like much of the world economy, the cranberry market was down this year, so there were fewer fields developed region-wide.

“We hope the market will come back because this is the type of work we like to do,” said Mr. Bédard. “Of course, we’re capable of doing other excavation-type work. We’re well-known in the area and I would hope that we’d be invited to participate in some other projects if we’re not busy with cranberries in 2011. But long term, we think cranberry work will eventually return because people are becoming very health-conscious and few fruits are better for you than cranberries.”

In addition to building cranberry fields for others, the Bédards also have their own cranberry farm. It’s a biological (organic) farm that uses no pesticides. Aline Bédard and her brother are mostly responsible for this operation.

“We’ve found that having our own farm is a good way to teach our children about cranberry farming, while at the same time, instilling in them a strong work ethic,” said Mr. Bédard. “Our 14-year-old daughter, Alexandra, helps my wife with the farm. Our 12-year-old son, Anthony, has been able to run equipment for years. Our eight-year-old, Emile, is also involved. Whether they stay in the cranberry business or not, we think it’s been an excellent learning experience for them.” n

Reliable equipment keeps pace with work load. . . continued

Two of Réal Bédard’s excavators are at work building a cranberry field. “We buy Komatsu machines because they’re productive, reliable and they last a long time,” said Mr. Bédard. “We have one with 22,000 hours on it and it still works well.”

SMS Sales Rep Dominic Bérubé (left) works

closely with Réal Bédard on equipment matters.

“Dominic and everybody at SMS have been there for us whenever we’ve needed

them,” said Mr. Bédard. “It’s been a very good relationship

through the years.”

“We’ve used Komatsu machines for many years,” said Mr. Bédard. “They’re productive, reliable and they last a long time. We work our machines hard — 1,600 to 1,700 hours a year is about average. We have one Komatsu excavator with 22,000 hours on it. We still use it, and it still works well. That’s why we buy Komatsu. We bought most of our machines new, but we also own some used Komatsus because we know from firsthand experience how well they hold up.”

Beyond the quality of the equipment, Mr. Bédard says he’s also pleased with the support he gets from SMS.

“We have a mechanic who takes care of most of our repairs, but SMS has been there for us whenever we’ve needed them. Our SMS PSSR Paul Deschênes does a good job of making sure we have the parts we need. And our SMS

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SMS Equipment is now the authorized Indeco dealer across Canada. For more information or to request a demonstration, contact your SMS representative today.

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• Tier-3 engines deliver reduced emissions without sacrificing power or productivity. • Electronics, engine and hydraulics are optimized for maximum efficiency and minimum fuel consumption (10% reduction compared to –7 models). • Multi-function LCD monitor provides critical operating information at a glance (and it can do this in 10 languages).

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NEW PC228USLC-8 Tight-tail-swing excavator provides increased lifting capacity in a variety of applications

T There are times and conditions when a large excavator is not feasible, but you still need power and lifting capacity to get the job done. Komatsu’s new tight-tail-swing PC228USLC-8 provides both in a compact and efficient package.

The new PC228USLC-8 replaces the previous Dash-3 model with nearly 1,361 kilograms (3,000 lbs.) of added counterweight mass that helps provide additional lifting capacity over the front and side. More counterweight mass adds operating weight as well and provides better stability in all digging and lifting projects, including road and bridge construction, as well as urban applications.

“The new PC228 is really a versatile machine that practically anyone who moves earth can appreciate, and that includes utility contractors,” said Product Manager Doug Morris. “Customers tell us they love the tight-tail-swing excavators, so we took the best features of our previous model and built upon that with their input. The results are great.”

At the same time Komatsu beefed up the PC228USLC-8, it decreased fuel consumption and hydraulic loss through an enhanced Closed Centre Load Sensing system that features variable speed matching (VSM) that optimizes performance of the engine and hydraulic systems. VSM gives operators power on demand when needed. In addition, piping size on the bucket circuit is increased, and a newly added quick-return valve reduces hydraulic loss for better efficiency.

The operator can further control efficiency using the machine’s five working modes (Power, Economy, Lifting, Breaker and Attachment) that match engine speed, pump flow and system pressure to a specific application. The

PC228USLC-8 also has a one-touch Power Max Function that increases digging force by 8 percent for 8.5 seconds in hard-digging applications.

Cab enhancements reduce operator fatigue By making the PC228USLC-8 cab spacious and comfortable, Komatsu reduces operator fatigue for increased productivity. The pressurized cab minimizes the amount of dust entering the operating platform and its rigid frame is damper mounted for reduced noise and vibration levels.

“The PC228USLC-8 is really the best of both worlds,” said Morris. “You get plenty of power and stability in a more efficient package. That means lower operating costs, which is something everyone can appreciate.” n

Added counterweight highlights a list of features that give the PC228USLC-8 greater lifting capacity, productivity and efficiency.

Doug Morris,Product Manager

Brief Specs on Komatsu PC228USLC-8

Model Operating weight Output Bucket capacity

PC228USLC-8 24,129-24,678 kg (53,195-54,405 lbs.) 110 kw (148 hp) .5-1.2 m3(0.66-1.57 cu. yds.)

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at work in the oil sands region. Although it’s just three years old, it’s already much larger than Port Coquitlam because of the rapid growth in and around Fort McMurray. About 200 people work at the Acheson branch, which not only does the reman and repair work on the GE drive systems, but also has a hydraulic and mechanical department to rebuild pumps, motors, cylinders, suspensions, drive trains, etc.; a welding department that fabricates and repairs truck boxes and large buckets; and a field service team that works on site in the mines to keep the Komatsu machines up and running.

Improved uptime/lower operating costs The SMS Electrical and Mechanical Service Centres operate separately from SMS branch service departments in Surrey (Vancouver) and Edmonton. The facilities are dedicated to rebuilding and remanufacturing component parts to ensure that Komatsu machines deliver outstanding uptime for the energy companies and contractors in the Alberta oil sands and B.C. coal mines.

“We have a large and growing inventory of mining machines, especially electric-drive haul trucks, at work in western Canada,” said Gary Kesslar, Operations Manager at Acheson. “Our SMS Reman Centres are here to take care of the customers who own those machines by meeting their need for cost-effective replacement parts and components.”

“Our reman exchange components are all rebuilt to ‘as-new’ specifications and are warrantied as such,” said Port Coquitlam Operations Manager Rod Allen. “The customer can have complete confidence and assurance that he’s getting a unit that will

REMAN CENTRES SMS is Canada’s leader in remanufactured components for electric mining trucks and more

W When it comes to repairing and/or remanufacturing components for electric-drive mining trucks, no Canadian company can match the resources and commitment of SMS. With Electrical & Mechanical Service Centres (also known as Remanufacturing or Reman Centres) in Port Coquitlam, B.C., and Acheson, Alberta, SMS is the OEM repair centre for GE electric-drive systems, which are used in Komatsu’s largest mining trucks. Both the Port Coquitlam (near Vancouver) and Acheson (Edmonton) branches are ISO-certified facilities, which means they meet stringent international standards for manufacturing processes.

The Port Coquitlam branch has been around for 30 years and today employs about 50 technicians. While most of its business is overhauling the propulsion system and electronics in Komatsu electric-drive haul trucks, the facility also works on machines for railroads, shipyards/loading docks, ski resorts, plants and other industries in and around British Columbia.

The Acheson branch opened in 2007, primarily to service the mobile, mining equipment fleets

Gary Kesslar,Acheson Operations

Manager

Blair Woida, Port Coquitlam Service

Manager

Rod Allen,Port Coquitlam

Operations Manager

Dean Smith, Port Coquitlam PSSR

This banding machine at the SMS Acheson Reman Centre is used to install steel or resi-glass banding on armature windings under tension.

a can-do attitude throughout the plant. We pride ourselves on outside-the-box thinking that results in innovative solutions for our customers and we’re not able to do that without input from everyone who works here.”

“The same goes for plant and on site safety,” added Acheson Service Manager Rory MacKenzie. “Everything we do is with an eye on working safely for our employees and our customers. We have daily toolbox talks to go over an item of the day and any recent situations that need to be addressed. We have more detailed weekly and monthly safety meetings as well. Safety is a real point of emphasis at SMS, including here at our reman Centres.”

Business is strong and growing With the energy industries in the region going strong, there’s a lot of optimism about the future of the Port Coquitlam and Acheson Service Centres.

“Our Reman Centres help our customers reduce their owning and operating costs and improve their productivity,” said Kesslar. “Our goal is to provide our mining customers with the support they need to be successful. That’s why we’re here and it’s why we’re optimistic about the future. Down the road, as the mining truck and equipment fleets in our region continue to grow, we expect to grow too, by adding whatever services our customers require of us.” n

work like new, but will cost considerably less than a new component.”

Komatsu 830E and 930E haul truck reman exchange components are available at SMS branches throughout Canada where the machine population warrants stocking them. SMS will also make reman components available on site for mining operations with large truck fleets.

Specialized tooling and a “can-do” attitude SMS has taken significant steps to enable its Electrical and Mechanical Service Centres to remanufacture components that will last trouble-free to the next benchmark.

“You don’t just set up shop and call yourself a reman centre,” said Blair Woida, Port Coquitlam Service Manager. “You have to deliver manufacturer-level quality. At SMS, we work closely with both Komatsu and GE, and we achieve international process standards (ISO certification) to ensure OEM quality. We have specialized machining tools that allow us to meet, and in some respects exceed, the precise tolerances required by the manufacturer.”

Among the machining tools and processes that SMS uses to ensure reman quality are:

• VPI or Vacuum Pressure Impregnation which keeps dirt out and keeps insulation strong; • Spin Seasoning (only one in Canada), a process that improves commutator stability;• A rewind shop that manufactures its own form coils (unique to SMS) to guarantee quality;• An electronics lab that offers “board level” repair.

“Beyond these specialized machines and tools, we rely heavily on a dedicated and highly experienced work force,” said Allen. “For example, in Port Coquitlam, average plant tenure is 15 years. From steam cleaners to supervisors, literally everybody who works here is key to our success. It’s a team effort and there’s

(Above) An SMS technician works on an AC induction motor rewind for a Komatsu 930E electric haul truck.

(Left) SMS Equipment’s Port Coquitlam and Acheson branches focus on remanufacturing components for large, electric, mining trucks. Here, final drives undergo repair.

An SMS technician sets up an 830E drive armature for commutator undercut.

Even the largest haul trucks have smaller components that need repair, such as these GE motor-control cards.

Rory MacKenzie,Acheson Service

Manager

Trevor Reese, Electric Technician

Rene Robertson, Electric Technician

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:

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