Vale unloads extra-large gift to Cambrian College

Sudbury's Cambrian College has received a new piece of heavy equipment from mining giant Vale, which donated a scoop tram to the heavy equipment tech program.

Vale Base Metals has made “an extra-large contribution” to Cambrian College’s Heavy Equipment Technician program and its applied research division.

The school said the combined value of the donations is about $60,000.

Donations support training and research

The mining company has donated a scoop tram to the Heavy Equipment Technician program.

“It will be used as a trainer that students can work on as they prepare for careers as heavy equipment mechanics,” Cambrian said

Vale also donated a battery electric Rokion vehicle to Cambrian R&D, the applied research division of the college.

Cambrian said the vehicle is housed in the Vale Electric Vehicle Lab and will support a variety of applied research projects involving the testing and advancement of industrial electric vehicle systems aimed at accelerating the adoption of battery electric mining equipment.

College, company officials comment

Janice Clarke, the school’s academic VP at Cambrian College, said the donations provide valuable access to industry-relevant equipment.

“These donations provide our students, faculty, and researchers with valuable access to equipment and technologies that reflect the realities of today’s mining industry,” Clarke said.

“Hands-on learning and applied research experiences are critical to preparing graduates for the future workforce, and we are grateful to Vale for their continued partnership and support of student success and innovation at Cambrian.”

“VBM is proud to support Cambrian College and the important work to prepare the next generation of skilled workers and advance mining innovation in Northern Ontario,” said Jodi Podlatis, the head of commercial, finance and supply chain at Vale Base Metals.

“We believe strongly in hands-on learning and real-world experience, and collaborations like this ensure students have the opportunity to work directly with the technologies and practices shaping the future of critical minerals.”

Partnership continues

Officials with both organizations said these donations further strengthen the long-standing partnership between them – particularly in the areas of skilled trades training, mining innovation and battery electric vehicle technology.