REBUILDS AND RENTALS
Mining makeovers
Rebuilds and refurbishments play a vital role in today ’ s mining industry , helping users maximise existing fleet life but also enabling a thriving market in rebuilt equipment sales and rentals – Paul Moore reports
Rebuilds often form just one part of a diverse offering from specialists in this field and this year , 2025 , is the 35th year in business for one of these - Amalgamated Mining and Tunnelling , based in Edmonton , Alberta . What started out as a simple rebuild / refurb facility in 1990 has become a global player in underground machine rebuilds , new equipment sales and rentals , parts supply and other services . IM Editorial Director Paul Moore sat down with President Colin Elson for some insight into how AMT got to where it is today and the unique value proposition it brings to the market .
So what enabled AMT to grow and expand to such as extent ? “ We started out as a rebuild facility for end users like mine owners and contractors . Even then a real source of pride was being able to move upgrade older equipment with newer technology . At that time , going from air brakes to hydraulic brakes was a big deal . Both then and today when we do rebuilds we want to stay competitive , so we look at why using us is beneficial for the end user . One of the things that makes a lot of sense is that we have the ability and the experience to understand what the new technologies entail . We don ’ t incorporate any technology that is still being trialled , and we only use proven technology that has already been in the market for at least four or five years .”
When AMT started incorporating new technologies , the founders and owners of Amalgamated including Tom Flanagan , realised that it had to have a diverse set of capabilities to be able to manufacture and remanufacture equipment instead of just rebuilds . This included the Cobra man carrier which was based on a Caterpillar platform and over time became very popular . The IP for that was eventually sold to a US company .
Elson told IM : “ The next natural step to meet demand in the market was to offer new equipment but not where we would be competing with the major underground OEMs in the market . We looked instead at how we could work with them . We decided that the new
Colin Elson , President , Amalgamated Mining and Tunnelling
Aerial view of Amalgamated Mining & Tunnelling facilities in Edmonton , Alberta , Canada
machine rental business was the missing piece of the puzzle that we could get into – as it wasn ’ t competing with them , rather it was involving them and giving the end user another route when seeking new machines .”
Elson points out that if you look at a major OEM quoting a mine owner for a fleet of new equipment , there are not that many options – the customer can purchase or lease through the OEM finance houses – but AMT saw that it could preorder new machine inventory based on its knowledge instead of waiting for orders . “ We hold our inventory so that it is readily available at any time . The other side of that is that when the mine owner looks to upgrade and buy new machines , they are still left with their old machines . Do you take those and rebuild them and bring them up to newer standards ? Or reuse them in a different market whether overseas or in other territories where there is still demand for it ? Or third you recycle the engines and other major hardware components to support already running fleets . Amalgamated can offer solutions for all aspects of this three-tiered decision . So we say to the mine owner – we can offer you the same new machine that you would get from the OEM with the newest ratings and technologies – but we also give you options for your old machine asset . And because the new equipment is ready to go , there is no lead time or wait time .”
In tandem with all of this was ensuring this growth of the business was matched with the right people with the right experience and personality to implement and drive these new options for customers . Elson : “ Just as an
FEBRUARY 2025 | International Mining 63