Posted By JANICE LEUSCHEN, FOR THE SUDBURY STAR

Despite the economic downturn, layoffs and a lengthy strike, the Sudbury Mining Services and Supply Association continues to pursue its mandate of helping local businesses diversify into new markets.

"It's clear that our people need to be in other places with other commodities--other markets like Columbia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru and be able to compete," said Dick DeStefano, executive director of Sudbury Mining Services and Supply Association.

By Norm Tollinsky

In 1966, moviegoers were all abuzz over the film, "The Russians are Coming, the Russians are Coming," a comedy starring Carl Reiner, Eva Marie Saint and Alan Arkin. Fast forward 44 years and it's the Chinese who are knocking on the door - only it's not a movie.

Norcat contributes to space race

Clustered in a volcanic crater, at 9,000-feet elevation on Hawaii's Big Island, is a contingent of tents and Legolike land rovers outfitted with miniature mining equipment.

The Juno Rovers -- about 1 metre x 1 metre in size and 30 centimetres high -- look like remote controlled toys.

Mining deeper at lower cost to companies and environment
By: Kelly Louiseize

By 2010, Kelly Lake may be the site of a brand new technologically advanced Vale Inco mine. Imagine this: no shafts, no head frame, no ropes, crushers, conveyor belts, no toggle replacements, no main ore passes, no haulage trucks, little diesel fumes and no drifts larger than 12-by-12 feet.

Welcome to the Rail-Veyor operated mine. In a city that has hauled ore from its belly for more than 100 years, change is coming. A second feasibility study on Kelly Lake is looking at an all Rail-Veyor option.