Excellence in Mining 2014 by Glacier Specialty Publishing

2014 Editon

INTRODUCTION

his province was built by two things: natural resources and people of spirit.

In the mining industry, these two go hand in hand. It’s taken spirited individuals, from the leaders in the corporate boardrooms right on down to the hard working and highly trained employees in the field, to engage in the relentless task of searching, analyzing, digging, excavating and transporting our planet’s mineral wealth both here in B.C. and abroad. It’s made us wealthy, it’s helped us create the items we need for modern life. In these pages we profile today’s significant mining companies and the work they do. How they face challenging times and changing markets. The risks they’ve taken. The people they’ve trained and developed. Emerging trends. And the payoff, for their employees, their shareholders and our economy as a whole.

INSIDE KGHM INTERNATIONAL LTD.– AJAX PROJECT .................................... 5 CSC ELECTRIC LTD. ........................... 7 MOTION INDUSTRIES ........................ 9 FINNING CANADA ........................... 11 INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING LTD................... 13 CUMMINS WESTERN CANADA ...... 15 ASHTON & ASSOCIATES RECRUITING INC. ............................ 17 MOLY-COP CANADA ....................... 19 ROCK CONSTRUCTION & MINING INC. ................................. 21 ANVIL IRONWORKS LTD. ............... 23

Every industry likes to claim it’s the lifeblood of the economy. Mining, which is so fundamental in form and substance to modern life, can make that claim. We hope you enjoy these profiles as much as we did creating them.

Dee Dhaliwal Publisher

PUBLISHER: Dee Dhaliwal DIRECTOR OF SALES: Tara Lalanne MANAGER, SPECIAL PROJECTS: Keshav Sharma PHOTOGRAPHY: Kelly Funk DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Marina Rockey VIDEOGRAPHY TEAM: Chris Sroka & Christopher Jassmann

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KGHM INTERNATIONAL LTD.– AJAX PROJECT

t KGHM International’s Ajax Project, an experienced team of mining professionals is working hard to ensure a proposed copper-gold open pit mine near Kamloops sets the industry’s highest standards. Considering the mine’s location near the city, which has a population of about 85,000 people, nothing less is an option, said Warner Uhl, the Ajax Project’s Manager and Chief Operating Officer. Uhl said his team will use the most modern technologies along with the best mine design to create a project that minimizes or eliminates potential impacts on the project’s closest city neighbours roughly 2 1/2 kilometres away. KGHM International recently redesigned the mine site to move many of the project’s facilities, including the tailings storage facility, the primary crusher and rock storage areas, farther away from city homes. The company will use road watering, vacuum and spray systems and covered ore stockpiles to keep dust out of the air. A well-designed road system and a tight mine footprint will reduce truck traffic – the largest generator of dust on a mine site – and lessen diesel emissions. Reclamation will be done at every stage of the project. The project is currently in the environmental assessment phase, with more than 40 studies underway examining key issues including air and water quality, human health and the possible effects of mine operations on wildlife and birds. “We are committed to building an environmentally responsible mine,” said Uhl. “We will build a world-class project.” There are many advantages to the Ajax Project’s closeness to an urban centre like Kamloops, Uhl said. To start, the existing infrastructure and the availability of services

make economic sense from a project development standpoint. More importantly, Ajax Project employees work in high-paying jobs in the same community they live in. Most mining and construction professionals these days find jobs in distant camps in northern parts of B.C. and Alberta and spend weeks away from home at a time. “I’ve been in major construction works for more than 30 years,” Uhl said. “Most of the construction projects I have been a part of around the world have been in remote locations in camp environments where you’re away from your family for two to three weeks. “Here, I go home every night to my lovely wife, and I am able to spend quality time with my kids.” The project is being developed according to a five-year plan. The company intends to submit its application for an environmental permit in April 2015. The provincial and federal approval processes takes six to 12 months. Construction of the mine could be complete by late 2018, meaning copper and gold production would start in early 2019. The mine’s workforce would peak at roughly 1,400 people during construction and employ 400 to 500 full-time staff during operations. “The Ajax Project will (spend) in excess of $1 billion in capital over the first three years during the construction period,” he said. Uhl believes the Ajax Project has strong support in the community. “In a community of 85,000, nearly 10,000 people have told us they support us,” said Uhl. “Many, many people in Kamloops are very supportive of the Ajax Project. They want to see it go ahead for the economic benefits.” The Ajax Project will contribute millions of dollars every year to the local community

PHOTO Left: Work in progress at the proposed open pit Ajax mine near Kamloops; Above: Core team working on the Ajax project led by Project Manager & Chief Operating Officer Warner Uhl.

“Highest standards in mining is KGHM International’s goal.” through direct taxation and the benefits associated with spin-off jobs in supporting industries and trades. At the Mt. Milligan mine in northern B.C., a project Uhl project also directed, property values for homes in the area rose an average of 15 per cent, he noted. The Ajax Project also operates a full working ranch on its properties with more than 300 cattle. The ranchers are employees of KGHMI. Uhl said the Ajax Project will do its best to keep the ranch running during mine operations. “The other thing we’ve done is we’ve opened some mountain biking trails on the mine site. They’ll be there during the mine operation and construction. These (trails) are in partnership with the Kamloops Performance Cycling Centre and a couple of other local businesses and groups.” The Ajax Project is committed to making a positive difference in Kamloops, through the work it does with local charities and other community groups. 124 SEYMOUR ST. KAMLOOPS, BC TEL 250.374.5446 WEB WWW.AJAXMINE.CA

CSC ELECTRIC LTD.

SC Electric is proud to power the mining industry. Recent expansions to the business mean it can power even more – with a brand new building, more great team members, and an increasing number of contracts, the Kamloops-based, First Nations company is only getting better. Owned and operated by Clayton Scott, CSC Electric has built its foundation providing exceptional service to mines in the Interior of British Columbia. It’s focusing now on developing new partnerships in Northern B.C., and the addition of Scott’s brother Reine English and wife Bonnie to the management team last fall helps expand this family-run operation. Building solid partnerships in the industry is what has allowed this expansion. After renting for many years, in early 2014 CSC moved into its brand new building including five bays and office space. Scott first launched CSC Electric 13 years ago with a primary focus on residential, commercial and industrial electrical. In 2009, after securing a contract with New Gold’s New Afton underground gold and copper operation near Kamloops, the company shifted focus and now primarily serves industrial clients. CSC’s relationship with New Gold provided an excellent training ground. Scott and his team of more than 30 specially-trained electricians are now sought out by mining operations for their skills and expertise.

Scott and his wife Susan have made it their top priority to hire strategically in order to create a reliable workforce. Part of those strategic hires involve employee development – specifically apprenticeship training. “A few years ago the provincial government talked about a shortage in trades because of the mines developing in the area, but we’ve got new apprentices coming through our programs and we have seen many apprentices through to becoming journeymen.” The Industry Training Authority has recognized CSC Electric as a leader in providing apprenticeship opportunities and for helping to address a province-wide skills shortage. Key to developing good working relationships within the mining industry is a focus on safety. “We send our electricians on courses to become certified. We need to do things properly and safely,” says Scott.

“Key to developing good working relationships within the mining industry is a focus on safety.”

It is this emphasis on safety that keeps the mining companies coming back to CSC. The company makes sure the community benefits from its growth as well, and makes a point of giving back plenty. Continued growth of CSC is also the rationale behind Plateau Power, a partnership between CSC and Plowe Power to contract out to BC Hydro on high lines and substation projects. Scott is banking on a bright future for mining in British Columbia, and as a proudly First Nations company CSC plans to be at the forefront.

PHOTO Left: Management team at CSC Electric led by owner operator Clayton Scott. Above: New office building of CSC Electric.

#1-415 DENE DR. KAMLOOPS, BC TEL 250.851.6225 WEB WWW.CSCELECTRIC.CA

MOTION INDUSTRIES

n a mine site time is money. When equipment stops working and parts need to be replaced, they need to be sourced quickly and installed rapidly.

Motion Industries, a supplier of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts and services, prides itself on keeping the mining industry moving. The company formerly known as B.C. Bearing Engineers was acquired in 2010. Motion Industries is well known, with its parent, Genuine Parts Company, engaged in the distribution of automotive replacement parts, industrial replacement parts, office products and electrical and electronic materials dating back to 1928. Motion Industries has branches located throughout British Columbia in: Burnaby, Nanaimo, Cranbrook, Prince George, Kitimat, Kamloops, Quesnel, Abbotsford and Houston. “Having branches located near industry is one of the reasons customers keep returning,” says vice-president of sales and marketing Brent Pope. “This is value added. We live and work in the mining communities and many of our guys are long tenured, so they have a lot of experience providing solutions to the mining industry.” And that’s exactly how Pope views Motion Industries: “We don’t just sell parts, we try to provide solutions.”

Motion Industries is a North American supplier and distributor with access to all the major product lines required by the mining industry. Motion Industries is able to offer access to 5.2 million industrial replacement parts required by the mining industry including: bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical and industrial automation, hydraulic and industrial hose, hydraulic and pneumatic components, industrial supplies and material handling. Company-wide, there are more than 3,300 technically trained sales representatives making on-site service calls daily, not including the more than 200 dedicated product specialists staffing a technical support centre. If a mine needs a retrofit on a specific piece of equipment, Motion can make recommendations on the best product or products to use to achieve the desired outcome.

“When our customers have a problem with a certain process or a part of their operation they ask us for help.”

“When our customers have a problem with a certain process or a part of their operation and they ask us for help, we use our expertise along with our manufacturers to find the best, most cost effective solution for them,” says Pope. As is so often the case with industry, parts are needed immediately. Through building relationships with customers, Motion Industries stocks parts at a local level to reduce the risk of downtime. ”The necessary products, “says Pope, “are almost always on the shelves.”

PHOTO Motion Industries provides maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts and services to the mining industry.

MOTION INDUSTRIES WEB WWW.MOTIONINDUSTRIES.COM

FINNING CANADA

t’s easy to spot the giant yellow iron sold by Finning Canada at work on most mine sites in B.C. and Alberta. But for 81 years, it’s been the heavy equipment dealer’s dedicated employees and behindthe-scenes product support capabilities that have helped keep those mining operations humming. Two years ago, the company’s mining support business took a leap forward when it added the Bucyrus distribution and support business. The acquisition meant Finning added about 240 skilled employees to its 5,000-member team and could offer a wider range of products. “(The Bucyrus acquisition) really complemented the legacy that Caterpillar has built, and we have a much broader presence in the mining industry now as a result,” says Jim Harrison, general manager of Finning’s Kamloops region and coal and metals business development. Since the company’s inception in Vancouver in 1933, Finning employees have worked to support the mining industry; in fact, Finning’s first branch outside of Vancouver opened in Nelson in 1937. Salesperson Joe Adams served a number of mining customers in the area. Says Adams: “I remember being asked to call on a customer near Vanderhoof in the dead of winter. To get there, I went in stages by car, on horseback and even showshoes. When I eventually arrived at my destination, all the customer wanted was literature on Caterpillar tractors for his 12-year-old son!” Looking back on his own career, Harrison recalls a highlight – the introduction of the Cat 789, a 190-ton haul truck in 1988. “At the time, the 789 was the largest truck Caterpillar made,” he says. “Although it was a new mechanical-drive design, Finning and Caterpillar’s ability to support the innovation helped us beat the odds and win the deal.”

Since that time, Cat’s successively larger trucks which now top out at 400-tons, and the Finning support that keeps them rolling, have dominated the market in western Canada. Just as Cat equipment has evolved, so has Finning’s product support capability. “We offer not just equipment, parts and service. We go beyond that to offer complete solutions that help our customers develop maintenance strategies that will increase efficiency and reduce costs.” The range of support services includes Finning’s extensive branch network, maintenance consulting, mechanical availability guarantees, technology solutions, along with technician and operator training. Success can only be maintained if the workforce at Finning remains strong, which is why safety is the company’s No. 1 priority. Over the last two decades, Finning’s safety record has improved dramatically. In the mid-90s, about 150 employees a year sustained injuries serious enough to keep them off work. In the first half of 2013, just two Finning employees lost time due to an on-the-job injury.

“(We) offer complete solutions that help our customers develop maintenance strategies that will increase efficiency and reduce costs.”

“The fact that we actually hurt those two people so that they could not be at work is not acceptable to us,” Harrison says, explaining that injury prevention will always be the company’s main priority, a commitment that comes from the top. “One of our values is: we care. I believe that’s why you see so many long-term employees at Finning. It’s our job as managers and leaders to make sure our employees can achieve their goals and get home safely each day,” says Harrison. Because people who start at Finning stay with Finning, the company is able to offer a significant value to customers.

PHOTO FinningÕs is dedicated employees help keep mining operations humming.

1764 KELLY DOUGLAS RD. KAMLOOPS, BC TEL 1.888.FINNING 250.372.9552 WEB WWW.FINNING.CA

INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING LTD.

EM designs make mines work. One of the leading developers of bulk material handling equipment in British Columbia, IEM, or Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Ltd., is known for creating machinery that helps mines do the heavy lifting. The conveyor systems, belt feeders and apron feeders produced at the company’s 40,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Surrey, B.C., are built primarily for mining operations, and each one is designed and built for long term service, says president and co-owner John Hards. “Every one of these machines is specially designed according to the customer’s needs. It’s very different from having a catalogue with standard machines described, and with list prices.” Few companies can compete effectively with IEM’s model, which involves co-operating with consulting engineers and the client, to custom-make site-specific equipment. The company also designs, builds and markets forest industry equipment including rotary batch debarkers and related equipment for pulp mills and energy plants. “Conveyors are relatively old technology and in some ways they’re pretty simple. But when you start applying them, especially in large industrial applications, there is a terrific amount of engineering design involved.” IEM’s Chief Engineer John Williamson has a lifetime of experience designing conveyor systems, and has excellent working relationships with consultants and customers. The detailed engineering design, manufacture and supply for the Similco Copper Mountain project near Princeton is one example. It includes a kilometrelong coarse ore stacking conveyor specially designed for the project.

copper operation near Kamloops is a perfect example of a difficult challenge to design and build for a new setting as well. The conveyor brings the ore up from underground and has four switchbacks, and much of it had to be bolted to the roof of the tunnels to allow truck access underneath, which called for unique engineering ideas. IEM has a lengthy history. Launched in 1953 as Industrial Equipment Company Ltd., or IECO, it was best known for selling machine parts to the pulp and paper industry in B.C. and Alberta. An American company purchased the retail portion of the business in 2002, but had no interest in the manufacturing shop and engineering capabilities. Hards and his business partner Joe Wurz, C.A., bought the manufacturing facility and renamed it to IEM. Under the pair’s management business began to boom. Last year saw IEM put through orders worth $30 million.

“Every one of these machines is specially designed according to the customer’s needs.”

When Hards and Wurz went into business they split ownership of IEM in half. Today, the employees own 30 per cent of the company; this means that when they work hard and profits are up, they see dividends. IEM and the people who work there are committed to the long term and there are strategies in place for growth. To increase the ability to meet customer’s needs for delivery of products in a relatively short time frame, IEM contracts out some of the work to excellent shops that have their own specific expertise. ‘There are people and companies in greater Vancouver that can do almost anything. If we have something we can’t do efficiently, we know the business that can do it and we subcontract to them.” This means the client gets a high-quality machine, and due to IEM’s quality control procedures the product always meets IEM’s standards.

The conveyor system developed for New Gold’s New Afton underground gold and PHOTO The conveyor system designed and built by IEM at use at Copper Mountain project.

109-19433 96 AVE. SURREY, BC TEL 604.513.9930 WEB WWW.IEM.CA

CUMMINS WESTERN CANADA

ummins Western Canada is a cut above in its support of the mining industry.

From the company vice president of mining to the resident technicians swinging engines on site, the team at Cummins Western Canada is intensely proud of the quality and value of the engines and the services their company has provided for roughly 50 years. Though Cummins Western Canada has a strong tradition in the industry, the company hasn’t rested on that foundation. It has continued to grow and innovate along the way as the needs and technologies of the mining industry have changed. Today, the company has a dedicated network that rebuilds and services engines from its two master-rebuild centers, its four mining branch locations across western Canada and from the traditional 10-service branch operations — and on the ground at the mine site. “We are mining,” said Bill Lapp, vice president of mining for Cummins Western Canada. Cummins trained technicians rebuild and service high horsepower engines across the gamut of the western Canadian mining industry: from the coal driven mines in Sparwood, Tumbler Ridge and Hinton, the hard rock mines of B.C., the underground customers in Central Canada, to the vast oil sands sites in Northern Alberta. Cummins Western Canada keeps its focus on individual customers and their unique needs. Senior management’s relationship with customers is as much a pillar of the company’s customer support as the dedicated mining service and parts inventory they offer. One-year warranty coverage, same as factory new, speaks to the longstanding Cummins philosophy of standing behind its parts and service.

“It’s about developing the right support model with the customer to fit their project,” said Lapp “You can’t say no.” Cummins Western Canada leadership also understands that they wouldn’t be successful without their partners and so they work closely with those valued partners to ensure the company is always offering the best quality, workmanship and service on tight deadlines. Partners include industry leaders Atlas Copco, Liebherr Canada, Sandvik Mining, SMS Equipment, and Wajax Canada. An inclusive and supportive employer, the company insists on a climate where safety always comes first and the growth of each of its 850 Western Canadian employees is fostered. There is even an advanced in-house training center! What’s more, Cummins has a strong history of ethical behavior from before being ethical was cool. Cummins Western Canada is ISO certified and company leadership ensures that this tradition continues with their devotion to giving back to the communities and industry they service.

“It’s about developing the right support model with the customer to fit their project.”

The company currently provides scholarships with 10 trade schools across Western Canada and is working to expand the scholarship program to include every trade school where it operates. They have also made it a priority to work with affiliated trade schools to develop and support the next generation of First Nations students in becoming qualified trades people for the mining industry. Cummins is positioned well for the future with the right product offering for the new Tier IV emissions legislation coming into effect shortly. “If you are wondering what that is and how it can benefit you and the mining industry in Canada, just call us and ask us. We welcome the opportunity to explain,” Lapp said.

PHOTO State of the art workshop at Cummins Western Canada.

18452 96 AVE. SURREY, BC TEL 604.882.5000 WEB WWW.WESTERNCANADA.CUMMINS.COM

ASHTON & ASSOCIATES RECRUITING INC.

eople come and go all the time in business. But Canada’s mining and resource sector is in a class all on it’s own. It’s hiring requirements are very very niche, and cyclical.

Add to that the gaping hole between the talent that’s needed and what’s available in BC’s pool of skilled management and trades, and it’s clear that prioritizing the how, when, and where that you are sourcing your talent is what will differentiate you at the top. Ashton & Associates Recruiting does more than source and help you hire. This group of professionals, under the personal direction of Barbara Ashton, provides an unrivalled level of comprehensive executive search, recruiting, and human resources consulting services to not only ensure you hire right, but that you retain that talent for the long haul. As a retained search service, the Ashton team goes directly to the people you need, the passive talent who are unreachable by any other means and who, because of their skills as headhunters, respond to their calls. “The art of headhunting is very much about building relationships. We build relationships with employers, with people, with job-seekers, with all levels and industries and sectors, and importantly, the local population,” says Barbara Ashton, the founder of Ashton & Associates Recruiting Inc. “Building relationships is not just about building our business. It’s about nurturing and facilitating improved relationships to the highest and greatest good of all parties. When a person’s values, skills and purpose are in alignment with the company they work for, it’s a win-win-WIN for everyone,” adds Barbara.

Successful businesses understand the importance of hiring the right people, the first time. And they appreciate the partnership Ashton’s team builds with them, knowing they are Ashton’s first priority in recruiting the high-demand talent they need to succeed. BC’s resource industry employs more First Nations than any other sector. Yet when companies are forced to use sub-trades and contractors as a stopgap until they can confidently hire the expertise they need long term, this often creates an ongoing cycle of friction, socially, politically, and economically. It’s totally understandable and, for the most part, an accepted cost of doing business. But add to that the fact that few newly hired employees are getting the on-boarding they need to be productive in their new organization, now you’re easily running into costs that are well into the tens of thousands of dollars. It’s difficult to find these skilled people, and it’s even more difficult to keep those people when the market is competing so heavily for them. But that’s exactly what we’re here to help you do.” says Barbara Ashton. It takes time to do the hiring, right. Nothing can change that. But how the hiring gets done, and what happens after the right hire is on board, that is something the team at Ashton & Associates will help you get right.

“I love connecting people and opportunities so that real potential can be actualized, where values, motives, and purpose are rightly aligned between two people, the sweet spot, where businesses and careers flourish.”

“And that’s where we’re different from other firms, and why our unique approach is simply more effective. We’re here for the long haul.” says Barbara. OUR FOCUS: Working with values-based leaders to recruit high value, in-demand talent – general management, trades, sales, operational and administrative support.

PHOTO Left: Ashton Associates Founder & CEO Barbara Ashton. Above: Barbara in discussion with one of her recruiters.

444 VICTORIA ST #204, KAMLOOPS, BC TEL 250.574.5869 WEB WWW.ASHTONASSOCIATES.COM

MOLY-COP CANADA

here is a reason Moly-Cop is the world’s leading supplier of grinding balls and grinding rods to the mining industry.

Moly-Cop works to create the best product for its clients, while at the same time striving to meet best-practice standards within its own corporation. Moly-Cop was acquired by Arrium – previously OneSteel Ltd. – just over three years ago, making it part of a global group of nine other operations. “We use the collective intelligence of the global group and bring that to every area we service,” says Maurice Hindle, marketing and sales manager of Moly-Cop Canada, based in Kamloops, B.C. Best practices include a focus on safety and sustainability, while also creating the greatest value for customers. “We are close to the customer,” Hindle says, describing Moly-Cop’s network across North America and beyond. The Kamloops plant is a supplier to the majority of mines across Canada, Alaska and the Arctic. Plants are strategically located around the globe, with Moly-Cop manufacturing centres in Peru and Chile, the United States, Mexico, Australia and Indonesia. In Canada, the Kamloops plant is able to serve a large geographical area because of its proximity to rail. Shipping to depots in North Bay, Thunder Bay, Ont. and Fairbanks, Alaska means customers take product as they require on a day-to-day basis rather than having to store it on site. “Our expansions are in areas of the world that have a lot of mineral reserves both proven and potential,” Hindle says. These potential reserves in Canada, specifically B.C., justify expansion plans

at the Kamloops plant, which has been running at or near capacity for the past three years. “We are committed to growing within the market. What drives us forward are our existing customers and our potential future customers,” he says naming Yellowhead Mining Company’s Harper Creek Project, as well as Thompson Creek Metal’s Mount Milligan and Imperial Metal’s Red Chris as examples. The expansion will approximately double Moly-Cop’s production capacity and construction has begun with completion and start up targeted for mid-2015. This growth assists Moly-Cop in meeting its current and future production goals, but will be done strategically, with the same dedication to environmental stewardship Moly-Cop has had for more than 25 years. The process of creating the grinding balls is a closed loop. The water used to cool the equipment is put in a pond where excess lubricant is skimmed off and reused. The iron scale that comes off the grinding balls is recovered and sent to a nearby Lafarge plant to be used in cement. The water, now cool, is brought back into the plant to cool the machinery and for use in the postforging heat treat process.

“We use the collective intelligence of the global group and bring that to every area we service.”

While Moly-Cop has a permit to put the water back into the South Thompson River, the company has not done so for many years. The only water that leaves the facility is through evaporation or irrigation. Instead of heading to the landfill, scrap steel is sent either back to the supplier or to steel recyclers, and the vast majority of steel coming into the plant is recycled material. Since the B.C. plant opened in 1986 every effort has been made to run efficiently and sustainably. Their efforts have paid off in Moly-Cop’s consistent and sustained growth.

PHOTO Grinding balls forged at the Moly-Cop production facility near Kamloops.

250 ANDOVER CRES. KAMLOOPS, BC WEB WWW.ARRIUM.COM

ROCK CONSTRUCTION & MINING INC.

ny business owner can buy the right equipment. Building the right team, however, takes patience, commitment and effort And it’s this team building that has allowed Peter Walker of Rock Construction and Mining Inc. to grow his company to the size it is today. Rock is a large scale drilling and blasting company based out of Kamloops and established in June 2002. At the time of launch, the business consisted of Walker, two equipment operators and a single drill. Today, Rock employs 85 people and runs 30 pieces of equipment in four offices nation-wide – Kamloops, Prince George, North Bay, Ont., and Wabush, Nfld. Walker has worked in the mining industry since 1994, and moved to B.C. in 1999. Before launching Rock, he worked as construction manager for Placer Dome Inc. in Vancouver, which later sold to Barrick Gold. While working within the industry saw a need, and with Rock he filled it. “More importantly I filled it with professional people. I always noted that companies would go to great expense to buy the best equipment, but anybody can buy gear.” “Getting the best people is more important,” he says, noting that he’s learned if you employ the most skilled equipment operators, they want to work on the best machines. As a result, Walker’s crew use only the best equipment – sold and serviced by Cubex, Atlas Copco and Bucyrus.

Thoughtful and controlled growth has been key to Rock’s viability. In 2012, Walker estimates 60 per cent of his business came from mining operations in B.C. By the end of the first quarter of 2013, that had dipped to 10 per cent. “Right now we’ve slowed, coal has dropped off due to lower pricing and work has been discontinued.” To remain active, he’s shipped his equipment to other sites throughout Canada – iron ore mining in Ontario and hydro projects in Manitoba. “We’re able to maintain our growth and cash flow, but in different geographical areas.” Rock’s next big push will be into iron ore producing mines in Quebec. The expansion into Quebec is likely to grow the company by a further 25 per cent. While defining where the needs are and quickly getting equipment on site is key to maintaining growth, Walker insists none of it would be possible were it not for the team that he’s developed both within the head office in Kamloops and around the country.

“People are our greatest asset and their safety is our greatest responsibility.”

“This is a small industry and we’re always watching for people who will be a good fit, culturally, within our organization.” While the machinery comes at great cost, it’s the people of Rock that create the biggest return on investment. “People are our greatest asset and their safety is our greatest responsibility.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO Rock Construction operates 30 pieces of equipment out of four offices nationwide.

2-734 LAVAL CRES. KAMLOOPS, BC TEL 250.828.1946 WEB WWW.RCMI.CA

ANVIL IRONWORKS LTD.

or years Dave Schultz, Marvin Sorley and Darrin Berglund worked for, and basically ran the day-to-day operations of someone else’s company. Having expertise in all areas required to run a business, they decided to go into business for themselves. They knew they could run the business better, more efficiently and with better outcomes, so 13 years ago they took an entrepreneurial leap and launched Anvil Ironworks Ltd. Anvil is a full-service steel fabricator specializing in structural steel and miscellaneous metals. When the business first began it consisted of Schultz, Sorley and Berglund in a small shop rented to them by a friend. Today, the business partners employ 20 people in a 21,000 square foot shop on a five-acre parcel near Kamloops. Approximately 30 per cent of Anvil’s work comes from within the mining industry. “We all knew we could do things better and we knew we would be happier,” recalls Berglund who says that between the three partners there is more than 90 years of experience. The partners built the business through simple hard work, some dedicated and talented employees and a commitment to integrity, says Schultz. Thirteen years ago the partners drew up a five-year plan. They surpassed those initial goals within the first three years. Today, Berglund, Sorley, Schultz and the rest of the Anvil team are as busy as they want to be.

PHOTO The 18,000-square-foot Anvil Ironworks shop.

“If you have too much work you can’t control it,” Berglund says, explaining that it’s important to be able to guarantee timelines and quality, something they have accomplished through strategic growth. “Clients know they are going to get a good product and good service and that we’re fair guys. We’re going to get the job done on time,” says Schultz. The effort has paid off in looking at the company’s controlled expansion through the years, and by also acknowledging return customers. The first work was brought to Anvil from area lumber and pulp mills, but there has been a steady shift toward servicing the mining industry with mine projects throughout the B.C. Interior. Anvil Ironworks continues to provide mining companies with any of their steel requirements. When the company first began taking on jobs it was forced to subcontract some of the work out. That ended when Anvil acquired the new shop and equipment in 2010. That acquisition allowed Anvil to expand into the 21,000 square foot shop and triple production almost overnight.

“Clients know that they are going to get a good product and good service and that we’re fair guys. We’re going to get the job done on time.”

“The new shop makes us self-sufficient. We do work for our steel suppliers that they used to do for us,” says Berglund. A point of pride for the business partners is that regardless of how much the business grows, they’re always willing to work the smaller residential projects in with the largescale industrial jobs, and attention to detail and a focus on customer satisfaction exists for all clients, large and small.

9795 WITTNER RD. KAMLOOPS, BC TEL 250.573.1115 WEB WWW.ANVILIRONWORKS.CA