Mine parts a keystroke away.

For Mine Parts North, the world is only a keystroke away. The three-man team of Gerald Roy, Rodney Gerling and Don Chiasson is more than a family, although they are relatives. This new business startup is an amalgamation of mining, financial and marketing knowledge that is spreading the word that if a part is needed at a mine, it is likely to be found in Sudbury.

"What we're trying to do is support Sudbury as the nickel capital of the world and the place to do business," says Chiasson. "We have something like 16 underground mines in the area and so many companies to supply those mines. There are other areas in the world not as fortunate to have access to so many vendors and services. (Sudbury) exports so much in the way of products and services; this is a natural extension."

They say there has been competition within the Sudbury mining community, but their aim in developing their mining supply Web site is to further efforts to open Sudbury up to an international clientele. People looking for parts can browse the Mine Parts North Web site and cross-reference to their database of part numbers, as well as browse the equipment.

Mine Parts North will broker the deal between the seller and the buyer with them receiving a percentage of the sale.

"This is a way to provide another channel to international mining companies," says Gerling. "We are not here to compete with anybody. We're hoping to promote Sudbury to an international market using the Internet."

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The company's database of approximately 400,000 available parts from Sudbury's mining industry is one that Chiasson has compiled over the past several years while working in the industry. The Web site has been designed for easy cross-referencing and easy contact with the Mine Parts North.

"Many people think what we're trying to sell are things like scoop trams and large pieces of equipment," says Gerling. "Our main focus is to provide new, used and surplus parts."

The three men each bring different backgrounds to the work. The database of equipment parts comes from Chiasson's 20 years of mining experience in Sudbury, while the rest of the business operates with Roy's financing and Gerling's background in the financial field.

The group is still working to identify the niche they hope to fill and they have made deals involving large pieces of equipment. However, they have been working primarily to establish themselves as a company that has access to every type of part a mining company anywhere in the world is going to need.

The Internet adds a new dimension of easy access, adds Chiasson.

"With everyone jumping online, it has completely changed communication," he says. "Before, it would be difficult to talk to someone from Chile or elsewhere in the world because of international long-distance charges, time differences and that sort of thing. Now, it's nothing for them to send an e-mail."

They say that, as the site develops and results in more sales, the trio would like to expand the services offered to include a service to provide buyers with complete parts lists required for certain pieces of equipment and data sheets on the various parts. At some point, they might even be able to travel with the part to ensure it is used and installed correctly.

www.minepartsnorth.com

By ANDREW WAREING

Northern Ontario Business