Suppliers Roundup (June 23, 2003)

Dyno Nobel buys explosives firm

Dyno Nobel of Norway has bought a majority interest in St. Lawrence Explosives (SLE), which is based in up-state New York.

The deal comes only weeks after Dyno Nobel agreed to buy Connecticut-based explosives firm, Ensign-Bickford Co.

“St. Lawrence will now have access to a wider variety of explosives products and technical support,” says SLE President Julie Percori, “while Dyno Nobel will gain increased access to the New York market.”

Dyno Nobel is owned by the private European equity firm Industri Kapital, and specializes in blast initiation systems and blasting products. The company also manufactures and markets explosives and blasting services.

Atlas Copco expands in South Africa

The South African division of Atlas Copco has acquired Professional Diamond Drilling Equipment and Mining Drilling Services, both of which are based in Johannesburg.

Professional Diamond Drilling Equipment manufactures drill bits, whereas Mining Drilling Services supplies exploration equipment.

Says Patrik Nolaker, president of the Atlas Copco’s exploration division: “Combining our product portfolio with local manufacturing and strong local sales and distribution organizations gives us an opportunity to increase our presence in southern Africa.”

Colin Rice, an owner of Professional Diamond Drilling Equipment, will manage the expanded division, which will be known as Atlas Copco Exploration Products Africa.

Canadian companies win award

Three Canadian manufacturers of mining equipment — suppliers Cubex, MacLean Engineering, and Machines Roger International — shared the “best booth” award at the recent convention of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum in Montreal.

The award recognizes a display that featured the Cubex Aries articulated drill.

“The show was an opportunity for our three companies to showcase combined strengths in product development,” says James Peterson, manager of sales and marketing for Cubex.

To create the Aries drill, the companies started with an articulated carrier designed by MacLean Engineering. Cubex drilling systems were then added, followed by a raised bore head for blind boring, supplied by Machines Roger International.

Bechtel to build Icelandic smelter

Bechtel will handle engineering, procurement and project management for Alcoa in the construction of its US$1-billion smelter in eastern Iceland.

Much of the engineering work will be done at Bechtel’s specialty aluminum centre in Montreal, which will allow Quebec-based suppliers to bid on US$550 million of plant equipment. The centre is expected to employ 250 engineers during the preliminary stages of construction.

Bechtel, together with an Icelandic consortium, will build the plant in the country’s eastern region, near the town of Reydarfjordur. The project will employ 1,500 workers at peak construction, and some 450 jobs will be created when the plant becomes fully operational.

Construction is expected to begin in November 2005 and be completed in the second half of 2007. When complete, the facility will have the capacity to produce 322,000 tonnes of aluminum per year.

Bechtel is based in San Francisco.