With the delivery of a BT3 Boom Truck to a base metal miner in Thompson, Manitoba, MacLean is marking the 20th anniversary of the launch of its Mine-Mate™ utility vehicle (UTV) product line. The inaugural MacLean UTVs were delivered to a minesite in the region back in 2003 – an SL3 Scissor Lift, an AC3 Explosives Charger, and a BT3 Boom Truck.
On the 20th anniversary of the original MacLean UTV being shipped to Thompson, the 165th MacLean Boom Truck to roll off the production line is similar in some ways to the original ‘Mine-Mate’ Boom Truck (parts commonality, ruggedised design for reliability, durability and ease of maintenance, safety-first engineered design), but also significantly updated for 2024 – a newly designed cab environment with improved ergonomics and visibility, along with vehicle telemetry to support safer, more productive operations.
“The decision to start manufacturing a full range of utility mining vehicles was a departure for MacLean in the early 2000s, as up to that point in the company’s evolution, we had focused on mobile equipment solutions within the ground support and secondary reduction vehicle categories,” notes John Botelho, Product Manager, Utility Vehicles. “Twenty years later and 1,000+ Mine-Mate UTVs sold and commissioned around the globe, we can now back up the statement that our utility vehicle product line is truly the miner’s best friend…rugged, reliable, and versatile performers in the underground environment.”
“I’m thrilled that our 20-year milestone for this bedrock product line brings us right back to where the Mine-Mate story started for us in northern Manitoba, with our Thompson branch providing the high-quality field support that is crucial to ensuring that a mining vehicle performs underground,” adds Denis Dore, Regional Manager for Manitoba and Saskatchewan. “Our people are what truly make the Mine-Mate UTVs the dependable workhorses that they are in the mining industry.”
“As we pursue the electrification, automation, and digitalisation of our entire product line to meet the changing needs of the industry, we never forget what hasn’t changed over the years – the fundamental importance of safety first, last, and always for workers,” notes Maarten van Koppen, Vice President, Product Management. “We’re proud that our Mine-Mate line of UTV solutions has stood the test of time and we’re not resting on our laurels. We are continuing to innovate for a better world and especially the world of underground mining.”
