What’s New… (June 01, 2004)

BUSINESS EXPORT AWARD FOR MINE RADIO SYSTEMS

Mine Radio Systems Inc. of Stouffville, Ont., was recently recognized by the Ontario Global Traders Awards Program. This is a program of the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, celebrating the outstanding export achievements by the most innovative and successful small- and medium-sized enterprises in the province.

Mine Radio Systems won honourable mention for 2004 in the Market Expansion category for its “market expansion and excellence in exporting”.

In fact, since 1992, MRS has grown its exports from 2% of sales to more than 88%. Its integrated mine management and operational systems are now being sold in more than thirty-five countries. More for information, visit www.mineradio.com or phone 905-640-1839.

FLEET MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS AWARDED

Wenco International Mining Systems (Wenco) has won contracts to supply its Fleet Management System to ALROSA’s Jubilee mine in Russia and to Cambior’s Rosebel gold project in Suriname.

ALROSA Co. Ltd. accounts for virtually all rough diamonds produced in Russia, and for about 20% of the world’s rough diamond output. The contract includes the provision of Wenco’s core Fleet Management System for the management of Jubilee’s 58 trucks, 12 loading units and six drills, together with wireless communications, computer equipment, application software, turnkey system installation and two-year on-site support.

Cambior Inc.’s Rosebel open-pit project is expected to generate average annual gold production of 220,000 oz over nine years based on current mineral reserves. Wenco’s Fleet Management System will use GPS to monitor and graphically display the positions of trucks, shovels and other mobile mining equipment. Its powerful dispatching algorithm will then direct the movement of trucks and equipment for maximum efficiency, and set out each truck’s shovel assignments in order to achieve precise production and ore quality targets.

For more information on Wenco, visit www.wencomine.com or phone 604-270-8277.

PRODUCT OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR NEW WIRELESS AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY

Phoenix-based Honeywell has received Frost & Sullivan‘s prestigious Sensors New Product of the Year Award for 2004, for being the first major automation supplier to develop wireless transmitter technology. The Honeywell XYR 5000 wireless transmitter series, introduced in January 2004, was singled out for providing exceptional benefits to customers and for offering significant advantages over traditional transmitters.

Benefits of wireless technology include up to 60% lower installation costs, more reliable and accurate measurements, increased safety and personnel efficiency, higher plant uptime, lower maintenance requirements and the ability to monitor equipment in motion.

Wireless transmitters facilitate automated monitoring in remote, hazardous or hard-to-access locations. Self-checking software and hardware continuously monitor instrument operation and identify and report when sensor or device parameters are out of specification. In addition, frequency-hopping spread-spectrum technology overrides noise and security issues and helps prevent signal interference.

For more information, visit www.acs.honeywell.com.

NEWMONT’S FLOTATION PROJECT AWARDED IN NEVADA

Dorr-Oliver Eimco, a subsidiary of Canadian-based Groupe Laperrire & Verreault, was recently awarded a contract to supply flotation equipment to Newmont Mining Corp. for its Carlin Mill 5 flotation project in Nevada. Dorr-Oliver Eimco worked closely with Hatch Engineering of Vancouver to present a timely and competitive bid, with 3D sale presentations that captured the attention and approval of Newmont management.

The Dorr-Oliver Eimco team combined previously separate technologies into a winning combination for the customer. This included special engineering to utilize WEMCO tank designs complemented with Dorr-Oliver flotation mechanisms while fitting the new flotation rows into an existing space. Taking advantage of GL&V’s global sourcing arrangement, manufacturing costs were kept low, passing along additional savings to the customer. The equipment to be manufactured and installed includes 16 roughers (Dorr-Oliver tank cells, 50 m3 each) and eight cleaners (Dorr-Oliver tank cells, 10 m3 each).

For more information, phone 801-526-2000 or visit www.glv.com.

NEW ONLINE TECHNOLOGY FOR PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE

Predictive Systems Engineering Inc. of Cherry Hill, N. J., has launched a complete computerized system that predicts when and where rotating industrial machines will fail. PredictiveOnLine monitors online in real-time, both the motor condition and its mechanical aspects, such as bearings, shafts and pumps, etc. This allows corrective action to be taken only when actually necessary, bringing the maintenance cost of mid-range industrial equipment down to affordable levels.

The system uses electric phase angle sensors connected to the motor control centre; phase angle sensors are more robust than other sensors, more sensitive at lower frequencies, and in 80% of cases they sense equipment faults earlier than vibration monitoring.

This unique software solution incorporates artificial intelligence for remote monitoring of industrial and commercial equipment over the Internet. It can help management achieve zero mechanical failures during operation with a minimum of periodic maintenance; minimal expenditures for maintenance personnel and subcontractors; spare parts inventory reduction with accurate predictive information; and remote multi-location access of management reports from a central station.

It can be used for all rotating equipment including electric motors, pumps, diesel engines and generators, process equipment, mills and mining equipment.

Chipco Canada Inc. has acquired the Canadian rights to this new technology. For more information phone 905-731-0328 or visit www.chipcocanada.ca.

BULK MATERIALS HANDLING ALLIANCE TO REACH EASTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS

Air Control Science, Inc. of Boulder, Colo., and PRODECO of Teplice, Czech Republic, have formed a strategic alliance to design, fabricate and install innovative bulk materials-handling systems in Eastern Europe.

Air Control Science is an engineer constructor for bulk materials handling and dust control systems. Its passive dust control systems are known for the ability to handle all coals, including the dusty and explosive Powder River Basin coal. These systems reduce dust emission, preserve materials handling equipment, and create a healthier environment for workers in coal, cement, grains, and primary metal facilities.

PRODECO is one of Eastern Europe’s better-known and established engineering and construction companies for materials handling.

Under terms of this alliance, Air Control Science will provide the initial designs and construction management supervision for joint projects, while PRODECO will fabricate and install the systems where the firm has an extensive network, including Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Yugoslavia, Poland, Bulgaria and Greece. For more information visit www.aircontrolscience.com or www.prodeco.cz.

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