CAE (CAE-T, CAE-N) has acquired mining software developer Datamine Group, gaining what it calls a strategic link to the mining industry.
CAE, best known for developing modeling, simulation and training technologies for the aviation and defence industry, announced plans last June to partner up with the Quebec government to invest up to $274 million in research and development over seven years in healthcare, mining and energy.
This acquisition is another step in that direction.
Nick Leontidis, CAE’s executive vice-president of strategy and business development, outlined the company’s vision for the new territory, in a statement.
“We will introduce simulation-based mine planning, scheduling and training in an industry where safety is paramount and costs of training are very high,” said Leontidis. “As with our healthcare and energy initiatives, these are early days but we are convinced that we can develop a meaningful position in these areas over the long term.”
Datamine has been developing mining optimization software tools and services for 29 years and supplies companies in 70 countries. Its research and development centre is located in the United Kingdom and employs 110.
Nick Beaton, CEO of Datamine, noted in a press release that although both companies have traditionally operated in different sectors, the similarities between the processes they use make the software universal.
“We immediately recognized CAE’s strengths for large dataset management, scenario simulation and operator training. Mine planners need simulation to validate production schedules, and then, just like in aviation, the operators need to be trained extensively to follow the plan while using the equipment safely and efficiently. CAE’s capabilities will expose equipment operators to a virtual mine environment in order to gain both competence and confidence while reducing the cost of training on real equipment,” said Beaton.
Montreal-based CAE posted annual revenues of more than $1.6 billion for 2009 and it employs 7,000 people worldwide.
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