Mining equipment and engineering company Sandvik has broken ground on an $85-million maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Sudbury.
The building, for which groundwork is already underway at 2555 Maley Dr., will serve as a regional manufacturing hub to support mining industry equipment rebuilds, component repairs, field operations and servicing for battery-electric vehicles.
Provincial officials were on hand for a groundbreaking ceremony Dec. 5, at which Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Victor Fedeli announced $4 million in provincial funding.
Although this provincial expenditure represents only 4.7 per cent of the project’s overall budget, Fedeli described the incentive, through the Invest Ontario Fund, as “a significant mover.”
Headquartered in Sweden, he noted that Sandvik had the pick of the litter in choosing a location.
“We’re pushing for it to happen in Ontario, and if they’ve chosen Sudbury specifically, we couldn’t be happier, but it’s part of our incentive program for companies to come to Ontario,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to protect Ontario, and providing an incentive is an encouragement and inducement to the head offices around the world to make sure you do it here in Ontario.”
This is of particular importance nowadays, he said, with U.S. President Donald Trump's continued tariff threats and attempts to bring all jobs south of the border.
“At these times of economic uncertainty, our government remains absolutely laser focused on securing jobs, creating investments that will shape the next decade of economic growth,” Fedeli said.
Groundwork for the facility, at the eastern end of Maley Drive, is currently underway, and Sandvik vice-president of Sales Area Canada Peter Corcoran said he anticipates an opening by the end of 2027. The facility will sustain 400 existing jobs and create more than 60.
The building’s design, Corcoran said, “reflects our commitments to sustainability, technology and the evolving needs of our industry,” and accounts for recent years’ rapidly increasing equipment sizes, allowing more room to meet health and safety concerns.
Described as a “state-of-the-art maintenance, repair and overhaul facility,” there’ll be room for hands-on training, co-op placements and apprenticeships.
“This is a historic day for our community,” Mayor Paul Lefebvre said during Friday’s announcement.
The future, he said, is “rooted in a strong economy, the jobs and the kind of innovation that keeps our community innovative on a global stage.”
“We have the land, we have the resources and we have the talent,” Lefebvre said. “This investment sets the stage for even more innovation and growth in Greater Sudbury.”
During his public remarks, Fedeli said he was making announcements in five cities this week totalling more than $1 billion in investments, with Sudbury’s $85 million pushing it over the edge. A total of 770 jobs are being created and 850 are being protected, he said.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.