INSIGHT | EQUIPMENT
SUPPLY MISSION
Mining Equipment has been supplying tunnel project and mines for almost 45 years in North America, and expanded into Europe, including with acquisitions. The developments are discussed by Matt Pope, Co-President
Mining Equipment (ME) has been supplying the tunnelling and underground mining industry for nearly 45 years. They have always been a customer driven, project focused and family operated endeavour. Robert Pope started Mining Equipment in 1981, and
moved the company to Durango, Colorado, in 1983. The business focused on used equipment, buying equipment from mines and completed tunnel projects, and rebuilding and supplying to future projects. Pope built a rebuild facility in Farmington, NM in 1986.
Mining Equipment specialised in rail-bound equipment, fans, drill jumbos, scooptram and various other underground gear. His sons, Rob and Matt, joined the company in the
1990’s. Mining Equipment purchased Jetair in 1998. Today,
Jetair is a dominant major supplier of axial vane fans and ventilation accessories in North America. The company is a turnkey supplier of complete ventilation systems for tunnel projects. And they are still the only fan manufacturer with forged blades.
They also roll steel ventilation ducting on-site for
many mines and tunnel projects. Rusty Johnson started rolling pipe with his grandfather when he was 19 years old, and is still Mining Equipment’s vent duct specialist. He has been on projects throughout North America rolling steel vent duct up to 96” diameter. Mining Equipment purchased Moran Engineering
and CS Card in the early 2000’s. Moran and Card were rolling stock manufacturers for the tunnelling and mining industry. Those early drawings established the foundation of Mining Equipment’s rolling stock designs. More than half of Mining Equipment’s rolling stock supply is now new custom-built equipment. Chief engineer, Eric Bier, has been with ME for 19 years and specialises in rolling stock design and production. The company began development of its new diesel
locomotives in 2008. They had always rebuilt used locomotives, and still do, but as used inventories dwindled and special requirements persisted, the necessity to build new arose. Richard Dotson leads Mining Equipment’s locomotive technical department.
Below: Metalliance MSV with remixer for a project in Italy IMAGES COURTESY OF MINING EQUIPMENT
38 | January 2025
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