Century Systems Technologies Inc. took home the 2010 Innovation Award at the 24th annual Northern Ontario Business Awards ceremony September 7 in Thunder Bay.Century Systems president Ray Auger received the award for creating Windows-based software products designed to help mining and exploration companies manage data and streamline operational and business processes.The company was established in 1996 when Auger, who had been working in Sudbury as an independent computer consultant, saw an opportunity to develop software for the exploration industry. The company's flagship product is DHLogger, a drillhole data capture and management application.Auger and his team have recently moved into a 4,000-square foot facility to accommodate the expanding business. Demand from the mining industry has generated clients in 45 countries, with 5,200 licenses spread across 250 sites worldwide. A staff of 20 work at offices in Sudbury, Mexico, Peru and Argentina.The product line collects, validates, stores and manages information related to drilling, surveying and laboratory results. The proprietary DHLogger and Sample Station software can collect and log data from drillholes and point samples. MineMapper 3D can map geological, geotechnical and geochemical aspects of open pit and underground mines in the field in real time.The company's Fusion Central product manages data in real time by relaying the information back to a central repository off-site. This allows multiple users from various locations to feed data to one point in a secure format. A complementary product, Report Manager, allows for the stored information to be extracted.
The company's Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) streamlines and automates processes within mine site labs, drawing the information collected in the field from the Fusion servers. It then transfers the information to the lab, and the results are passed back into the central repository. Once data is collected in the field, it can be used throughout the exploration process.
The product line is modular, which means clients can integrate new Century Systems software products as they are developed.
"You can go from a single license to a full multinational corporate solution, depending on how you grow," said Auger.
The company also offers formal training courses throughout the year to better equip clients to maximize the software's capability.
