Becker Wholesale Mine Supply: Going Global in the New Century
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Many in the industry know Becker Wholesale Mine Supply (BWMS) as the world-class company that provides the mining industry with a conduit for their communication needs – wireless systems, two-way radios, leaky feeders and the latest in worker and asset tracking.
But, as the needs of the industry change, so does BWMS. In 2011, the company has gone global. Beginning in June, they established their first international sales and service division, Becker Wholesale Mine Supply Canada Ltd. In partnership with Varis, the new office is located in Sudbury, Ontario, and will open to the public on July 1.
The first product line from the Canadian division will be from their newest partner, Conspec Controls, which has developed the only approved gas monitoring system for underground coal mines in Canada. The company’s next-generation safety enhancement devices, including Smart Head monitors, controllers and battery-powered transmitters, will all now be available through their comprehensive catalog.
Also new to the BWMS is Riter Engineering. Earlier this year BWMS signed an agreement with the Utah-based company making it part of Becker Mining America. The partnership will ensure growth in the electrical sector of the industry including transformers, relays, switches, circuit breakers, metering, large motors, and variable frequency drives. In addition, Riter will continue to serve the industry in the western coalfields for all of the cutting-edge technology BWMS has to offer.
BMWS also distributes Strata Proximity Systems’ HazardAvert proximity detection and collision avoidance system, the first system of its type approved by the US Mine Safety and Health Administration for use in US operations. This product will help protect workers who may have the potential to be involved in crushing and pinning accidents. It is a technology that has come onto the market at the right time.
Illuminating the Dark
BWMS’s distributorship with Canadian-based NL Technologies offers their customers the best in personal light options with the Northern Light All-In-One cordless Polaris cap lamp and the cordless Rebel lamp. Polaris, ideal for use underground, has a primary LED lamp that produces 3500 Lux output from a compact, lightweight lithium ion battery as well as a secondary LED light source for close-up viewing.
The Rebel, suited for surface mining and other industrial uses, as well as outdoor applications, has three light settings including a super-high 8000 Lux beam, and a softer ambient beam for detailed viewing.
BWMS in the News
Earlier this year, BWMS made a significant announcement when they unveiled their new partnership with Kutta Radios, manufacturer of the DRUM wireless communications system.
The medium frequency device, which received Part 23 certification from MSHA in August 2010, is suitable for everyday and emergency use. The heartbeat of DRUM is the repeater, which turns the metallic infrastructure of an underground mine into a large antenna to carry radio signals throughout – no power infrastructure and low maintenance and installations.
It is also flexible, operating seamlessly with leaky feeder and node systems. Should an operation expand, the technology can expand with it just by placing more phone lines or lifelines to which the system’s signal will attach.
BWMS is also often asked about the Varis Mesh technology. Since announcing the partnership with co-developers Venture Design Services and Varis-Becker last November, interest has skyrocketed.
The robust and comprehensive system, which was made available to US mines last year and received federal approval from MSHA last May, blends the best tried-and-true voice of the leading Varis leaky feeder system with the unprecedented mine management benefits of MineTracer true-wireless mesh. The two cutting-edge technologies are blended into a hybrid, and each used for what they are ideally suited.
Many know the benefits of the Varis leaky feeder system, but perhaps not the added features like ventilation, rock dust roof bolt, CO beltline and refuge chamber monitoring and communications of the MineTracer. Add theft deterrence tracking, machine health monitoring, coal production monitoring, and many other mine-management items, and admittedly it doesn’t get any more comprehensive than this.
The mining communications and tracking experts at Becker Wholesale Mine Supply have been assisting the coal and tunneling industries for years to remain on the cutting edge of technology. They are more equipped than ever to guide customers who seek the latest systems that are MINER Act compliant. They still offer all of the tried-and-true communications and tracking systems from the solid brand names industry leaders have come to know, but their partnership and distributorship network is growing to ensure those in the industry have all of the available tools and technology from a committed and service-first business. From the Becker/Varis leaky feeder communication system to the new Becker Node Wi-Fi-based system to Comtrol and Kenwood, Becker Wholesale Mine Supply will keep the industry working confidently and efficiently.
For more information:
Contact: Bill Hensler
Phone: 724-515-4993 x101
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
To stop by Becker Wholesale Mine Supply’s website, CLICK HERE
