Dynatec takes expertise beyond Canada

Richmond Hill, Ont., is headquarters for Dynatec International Ltd., the parent company of nine subsidiaries providing a wide range of services and equipment to the mining industry. Employing about 600 throughout North America, the company operated in Canada, the U.S., Central and South America and, most recently, in Papua New Guinea in the Pacific rim. .TThis privately held Canadian company with assets more than $75 million has achieved outstanding results in safety and loss control on its projects and focuses efforts on providing a safe working environment for its employees. Principal shareholders are the three founding partners, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Dengler, William Shaver and Fred Edwards, together with Inco Ltd. and Minnova Inc.

The most challenging and successful mine project the company has carried out to date in Ontario was LAC Minerals’ Macassa No. 3 Shaft. This history-making project included the initial feasibility study, detailed design, construction of the surface plant and the actual shaft sinking of the deepest shaft in North America and third deepest hoisting shaft in the world at 7,239 ft. More recently, Dynatec completed sinking the Ansil Vent Shaft for Minnova Inc. in Noranda, Que. This shaft was sunk from surface to a depth of 4,460 ft. in 361 calendar days for an average advance of 12.2 ft. per day.

One of the three largest companies of its kind in the mining industry, Dynatec International’s business segments comprise mine contracting, construction, engineering, consulting, diamond drilling, rotary drilling, the manufacture of some mine equipment and distribution for several suppliers of mine equipment.

The nine subsidiary companies include Dynatec Mining of Richmond Hill and counterpart Dynatec Mining of Lakewood, Colo., both specializing in mine development, construction and equipment installations above and below ground. Dynatec Engineering Ltd. of Richmond Hill specializes in feasibility studies, design of shaft hoisting systems and mine design. Also at the Richmond Hill location is Shaft Machines Inc., which manufactures the Cryderman mucking machine.

Concord, Ont., houses Steamtec Inc., a subsidiary manufacturing and marketing steam generators for such industries as mining, concrete producing and other process industries. Dynatec Raiseboring specializes in boring raises using raise boring machines and Dynatec’s fleet of eight raise boring machines has drilled more than 60,000 ft. of raise up to 16 ft. in diameter and up to 2,100 ft. in length. Dynamoran Raising Ltd. of Sudbury centres on Alimak raising with specific application to ventilation and ore passes for underground mines.

The western Canada counterpart to Dynatec Mining is Tonto Mining Ltd. of Burnaby, B.C., concentrating on mine installations, mine development, construction and contract mining. Tonto Drilling, also in Burnaby, is a Canadian industry leader in diamond drilling, reverse circulation and rotary drilling for mine exploration. In the U.S., drilling services are provided by Tonto Drilling Services Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah.

Since incorporation in 1980, Dynatec has experienced dramatic growth. Founded by the three mining engineer partners as a service firm to provide consulting and contracting to the mining industry, Dynatec has forged ahead to a leadership position in the industry.

Like its forerunner Dynatec Mining, Dynatec International continues to be a leader in mine safety and accident prevention. In 1987, the company received a 5-star rating at the standard level of the International Mine Safety Rating System following an external audit by the Mines Accident Prevention Association of Ontario. Subsequently, Dynatec received trophies for the best safety record in Quebec in 1988 as well as trophies for the best safety record in Ontario.

Three major safety awards were presented to Dynatec for excellent safety and accident prevention performance in Ontario for the year 1989.

Dynatec International’s four main goals — to grow and increase revenues each year, to be profitable, to develop a full service company with a reputation for technical innovation and excellence and to provide a stable, challenging employment for its employees — constitute a blueprint for its continued success and the perseverance of its entrepreneurial spirit.