British laser measurement technology specialist, Measurement Devices (MDL) has completed the acquisition of its Canadian technical and distribution facility in a multi-million dollar deal. MDL, based in York, northern England, designs and develops robotic laser surveying and mapping technology, and has acquired 100% share in Thomas Engineering (TEC) Manotick, Ottawa, as part of its strategy to create a global laser measurement, manufacturing and distribution and services business.
British laser measurement technology specialist, Measurement Devices (MDL) has completed the acquisition of its Canadian technical and distribution facility in a multi-million dollar deal.
MDL, based in York, northern England, designs and develops robotic laser surveying and mapping technology, and has acquired 100% share in Thomas Engineering (TEC), Manotick, Ontario, as part of its strategy to create a global laser measurement, manufacturing and distribution and services business.
The acquisition enables MDL and TEC to launch a new business, MDL Canada, which will focus on sales and service to the fast-growing Canadian mining, quarrying and surveying industry.
MDL mining and quarrying industry products, already widely used in Canada, include the Quarryman, Boretrak, C-ALS (Cavity Auto Scanning Laser System), Void Scanner (VS150) and the 3D mobile mapping system Dynascan used on any land and sea moving platform.
MDL founder and chairman, Steve Ball, says: “The global laser surveying industry is set to grow by 50% in the next two years. This will certainly be reflected in Canada where there are vast resource developments and very few people to do this specialist work.
“Our developments in robotic surveying are having a profound effect on how surveying operations are conducted, especially in the dangerous and environmentally-complex field of mining. MDL’s growth is because our equipment saves lives as well as valuable time and money and substantially reduces the risks in conducting essential underground measurement operations.”
Ball claims MDL is doubling in size every two years in spite of the tough economic conditions. Last year it acquired a 100% holding of Melbourne-based MDL (Australia) from mining and construction services business Jeminex, and has also developed a significant presence in Brazil, Chile, South Africa, Russia and China.
