Variant Mining Technologies is calling it the biggest ore chute in the world. The Sudbury-based company said it built the chute for Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi mine— a combined underground and open pit copper mine in the Gobi Desert.

A chute is used to safely control the flow of rock from an ore pass to a truck, conveyor belt or rail car in an underground mine.

Derek Meloche, manager of business development and sales for Variant , said this project was the perfect match between what Rio Tinto wanted and what Variant could build.

“This system here is the first controlled, reliable, functionally safe truck loading system in the world,” Meloche said. “And that’s what Rio Tinto wants. It was kind of a perfect storm of the client driving exactly what they wanted for this particular project.”

Meloche noted this project has taken Variant Mining Technologies to a whole new level.

“Primarily [we’ve] been a . . . I’ll say a local, domestic type supplier dealing within Canada and a little bit of the United States,” Meloche said.

“This has really put us on the map as far as being recognized as a global supplier.”

The Ionic Mountain Bike Tour 2019 is ready to hit to the trails at the Naughton Trail Centre this weekend in support of Bladder Cancer Technology at the Northeast Cancer Centre.

This will be the eighth year for the Mountain Bike Tour and the second year in a row that the proceeds will be donated to the Northern Cancer Foundation (NCF) for equipment that can help bladder cancer patients at the Northeast Cancer Centre.

Last year, this event raised more than $37,000.

Riders will hit the trails this Sunday, July 21, bright and early with registration opening at 7:30 a.m. at the Naughton Trail Centre, 1 Denis Ave.

The kids race is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. while the main race gets started at 10 a.m.

Information on how to register, race times, making a donation, volunteering and more can be found online at the Walden Mountain Bike Club’s website, www.waldenmbc.ca or at the NCF’s website www.ncfsudbury.com.

Article by: Sudbury.com Staff

(Left-To-Right) VMT President Steve Matusch & General Manager Paul Chamberland With Clayton’s Steve Gretton

Variant Mining Technologies is pleased to announce that, effective May 31^st, 2014, Clayton Equipment has nominated Variant to be the exclusive supplier, service provider, and North American manufacturer for their premiere line of electric and diesel mine locomotives for the Canadian and US mining industry.

Clayton Equipment Ltd is a leading manufacturer of rail haulage solutions, predominantly focused on battery, trolley and diesel locomotives for mining and tunneling applications.

Throughout the world you will find Clayton equipment operating in the most arduous conditions. Whether it is hauling on the surface or deep below ground, Clayton machines move equipment, materials, personnel and ore in over 60 countries.

Clayton has manufactured over 5000 locomotives in their 80 plus year history, remaining at the forefront of the industry by setting the standard in innovation, safety, reliability and longevity.

Combined with Variant Mining Technologies’ existing line of VMT rail and truck loading chutes, trough conveyors, vibratory feeders and other custom material handling machinery, Variant and Clayton are capable of providing hard rock and soft rock mines with complete ore handling and rail haulage systems.

For more information on Variant Mining Technologies and Clayton Equipment, please visit their respective website.

www.variantmining.com
www.claytonequipment.co.uk