Overbuilt personnel carrier made for mining
When Steve Lawson saw the Extreme Duty Vehicle for the first time, he knew it was the right piece of equipment for his company and one that would help him become a major player in the Canadian mining industry.
Lawson, owner of Lawson Heavy Equipment Brokers in Sudbury, went to MINExpo International last September and was flooded with equipment product information from numerous companies. It was a lot to take in.
Through it all, the EDV - a personnel carrier - was the one product that stuck in Lawson’s mind.
“I was blown away when I saw it,” he said. “There is no comparison. It’s in a whole different class when it comes to personnel carriers. I was down there looking at all the competition and looking for an opportunity. I found it in the EDV. I thought it was the best-built product I had ever seen. I knew it had a lot of potential for the underground mining industry in Canada because of its size, strength, durability and power.”
The EDV is manufactured by Core Industrial and Supply in Alabama. The company was at the event looking to expand its market.
Lawson wasted little time, jumping right into distributor and selling rights negotiations with the company. Over the course of the next few months, Lawson and officials from Core Industrial hammered out a deal for sales and distribution rights from Manitoba to Newfoundland - half of Canada.
Lawson sees the EDV as a solid foundation on which to grow his fledgling company.
“We think we have the best product and we just need opportunities to prove it,” he said. “Once the mines try it, the benefits will be clear. It could take over the personnel carrier market for machines of this size.”
The EDV is all business. It casts an imposing shadow. It is 12,000 pounds of steel that can haul eight people and a ton of equipment. Everything on the EDV is overbuilt to withstand punishing underground mine conditions.
The EDV was originally manufactured for use in coal mines in Alabama. It is battle tested and has proven itself in the field. Its axles are rated for 24,000 pounds. It features a fully independent suspension system with two shocks per wheel and a Cummins 4.5-litre turbo-charged diesel engine that cranks out 110 horsepower and a maximum torque of 360-ft-lb. It features a Dana T20,000 transmission, 12.5-inches of ground clearance, thick skid protection plates for the engine and transmission, a stainless steel fuel tank, instrument panel and battery box enclosure. It is 17 feet long and 88-inches wide with a wheelbase of 144 inches.
Lawson’s company puts the finishing touches on the EDV for use in underground mines in Canada. The EDV also comes in a flat-bed pick-up style version with a modular box that can accommodate additional equipment such as fuel tanks, generators and scissor lifts. There is also a closed-cab version.
It was built to last and withstand grueling work environments.
“For companies looking for a personnel carrier that is going to last, this is it,” Lawson said. “This unit is designed, based on the extreme durability of the components, to be rebuilt for a second life. It will have an impact on repair and maintenance costs for companies. It’s the largest, strongest, heaviest personnel carrier I know of. I am sure other people will be blown away like I was the first time they see it.”
Parts are available in two to three days across Canada and Lawson has three certified underground mechanics at his disposal.
Ramp testing at Vale was performed in late January.
Lawson launched his company six months ago with the idea of creating a niche in the underground mobile personnel carrier market in Canada. Prior to going into business for himself, he worked for 21 years with Toromont selling Caterpillar equipment in Canada and then three years doing the same with John Deere.
The cost for a new EDV is about $160,000, depending on variations and modifications.
