Ron Miller, Miller Technology Inc.
One of North Bay's industrial aces in the hole has been its robust mining supply sector, and one of its deans is Ron Miller.
The 63-year-old entrepreneur has persevered through the cyclical spikes and dives of the mining business and emerged as a family-run firm that's always on the leading edge of design and innovation.
The president of Miller Technology Inc. started out 30 years ago as a home-based operation out of his garage. Today, the company employs 45 people at their two Seymour Drive locations.
Just about every Canadian operating mine has purchased equipment from Miller, and even a few international ones, since 10 per cent of their sales of their custom-made mining utility vehicles is exported.
The company is very much a family affair. One son, Chad, steers the sales and marketing division of underground equipment, while Kent heads up construction and equipment sales.
Ron, a former chief designer with the former mining equipment maker Jarvis Clark, became an entrepreneur in 1979 when he used his skills to start his own business.
Neighbours' complaints about the noise of diesel tractors emanating from his yard, caused him to shift operations to Seymour Drive in 1985 where he has a 20,000-square-foot shop.
His company boasts a client list of more than 100 companies in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico with some of the more recognizable Northern Ontario customers such as Vale Inco, Xstrata Nickel, and Hydro One.
Miller said one of his secrets to longevity giving careful thought to getting advice and studying a problem.
"We almost always look for three alternatives to a problem. We study the three ways to do something and from that (we) come to a final decision."
The company's signature pieces of equipment have always been underground personnel and utility carriers. What began with a three-wheeled 'Miller Truck,' has expanded into a line of multi-functional utility carriers, including their revolutionary 'Triple 4-ce' carrier. Their long-standing success has been built around doing custom-builds with the accessories and equipment adds-on coming in many variations.
They also run a spinoff company, RMH Equipment, selling Komatsu Forklifts, JCB heavy equipment and CMI mulching heads for excavating and Toyota Landcruiser cabs and chassis and with accessories' outfits.
www.millertechnology.com
"The biggest challenge has been trying to earn a living while at the same time developing new mining machinery. When things are good in the mining industry, the mines have more money to spent, but no time to test new equipment. All of this makes it extremely difficult to get a new product into the market. Some years ago, there were quite a few mines that had great ideas how to design and build new equipment and these mines helped to specify the equipment specs and then helped test the unit in the mine. Today, with business booming there may be less time to do this at the mine level. It now becomes part of the equipment manufacturer's research and development department to do the new design work, and of course, this takes a lot of money and time. Providing new equipment means things don't always work out the first time around. It often takes three units with various changes to get to a production level machine. It takes money and time and patience.
"The biggest surprise has been the success we have all had at our family business. The equipment has steadily been improved and sales have been excellent with the mining industry in a boom. It is exciting what a group of excellent employees can do when put to the challenge.
"We have all learned to be patient. If you rush or make a decision too quickly, it turns out to be wrong. We have learned to think and plan ahead. Part of our growth has been diversity from new products to be sold and serviced by our company.
"Best advice comes from many sources. One important bit is to develop new products each year just to stay in the business. If you do nothing, you're going out of business. It also becomes very important to have your finger on the financial pulse of the company. Today, with 45 employees, it becomes even more critical to have good control over costs and expenses. When we need extra help or advice we go and seek it out. We try not to be too proud to say we don't need help.
"Best advice for anyone in business is to seek out good help and consultants. A good working relationship with your bank is important to help you grow the business.
"A secret to success is a solid plan, hard work and to keep on going even if things don't go right the first time. No one can do everything oneself. It takes a good team to operate a business and be successful."
