Swedish mining equipment manufacturer Epiroc has acquired Vancouver's FVT Research, which has a service shop in Sudbury.
Stockholm-headquartered Epiroc announced Sept. 13 it has agreed to acquire the business and assets of FVT, a Vancouver-based mining service company specializing in diesel-to-battery conversion kits and in rebuilding diesel-powered mining machines to battery-electric vehicles.
The value of the acquisition was not disclosed in a news release.
FVT's service and supply shop is on Armstrong Street in Sudbury. The company employs 25.
FVT had an existing partnership arrangement with Epiroc and was recently been part of a successful project to convert a diesel-powered Epiroc Scooptram ST1030 loader to battery electric.
In a news release, Epiroc said the transaction is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021.
“Bringing the strong team at FVT Research into the Epiroc Group fits perfectly into our strategy to provide emissions-free battery-electric vehicles,” said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s president-CEO in a statement.
“Our customers are increasingly discovering the significant benefits that come with using battery-electric vehicles, and FVT Research’s technical expertise and competence will be key assets for Epiroc as we continue to provide more solutions in this area.”
Earlier this year, Epiroc signed an agreement with Collège Boréal in Sudbury to deliver a new program to train students in the maintenance of battery-electric mining vehicles.