Mine radio builder selling to the world: Varis Smart Underground Communications specializes in cheap, durable communications equipment for mine sites.

Varis Smart Underground Communications hit the international market running, and it has not looked back.

"The very first system we ever sold was as far away as you could get (Australia), while still being on the planet," says Matt Ward, president of the Sudbury-based company.

Today, Varis designs, builds and delivers underground wireless communications for mining industries all over the world. Since the first sale of its Leaky Feeder communication system in Australia in 1998, it has delivered its product to almost 15 different countries, as well as to local mining giants such as Inco, Falconbridge, and the FNX-Dynatec Joint Venture.

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From the company's inception in 1996, Ward spent two years developing and designing the Leaky Feeder system. It utilizes live amplifiers and a cable that acts as an antenna to provide underground communications using VHF (very high frequency) two-way radios.

A second significant job was the installation of their system in the Newmont Holloway Mine, north of Kirkland Lake.

"It was our first top-to-bottom Canadian system."

Since then, the company's growth has been non-stop. At times, the growth has been exponential (60 per cent in 2002 and 2003), at others, linear (20 per cent in 2004), says Ward.

Varis has gone from two employees sharing a modest work space of 2,000 square feet five years ago to 11 employees occupying three times the space recently.

Now at 12 employees, the company is still growing and continues to take on new markets and develop new products.

Varis' success can be contributed to its low-cost, durable product. Ward calls it technology appropriate for mines.

"It's easy to work with, simple to understand and easy to maintain," Ward says. "To install this you need three tools: cutters to cut the cable, a knife to peel the insulation off the cable and a screwdriver to screw the stuff in."

He advocates push-to-talk radio with Leaky Feeder over voice-over IPs (Internet Protocol), because it offers guaranteed voice communication.

Push-talk radios have been the choice of miners for over 25 years, as well as police, ambulance services and the military.

"We have a written guarantee you can get 30 metres off the cable (and still have it work)."

Recent innovations have led to their new Ethernet Leaky Feeder System. It is a network convergence of voice, video and data using Ethernet, a non-proprietary standard system that provides low-cost, high-speed wireless networking.

"Ethernet changes the game," Ward says. "It can do more, technologically."

Although it is not something the industry has requested. Varis has installed it at some sites with positive feedback.

The newer technology creates more choices for the mining industry, such as monitoring backfill and conveyor belts, video monitoring of processes, local or remote diagnostics, traffic control, vehicle tracking and much more.

Two other newer products Varis has created are the Smart Tag resource tracking/tagging system and the Smart Blast remote firing device, which have been designed to provide infrastructure for increased safety and production.

As Varis continues to develop its technology, officials expect to explore more global markets. Certified to supply equipment to Russia, Ward believes they will be experiencing some successes there in the near future.

China is also another potential market for Varis.

"China is a hard game to play," Ward says.

Cultural and linguistic difficulties, intellectual property theft, negotiating prices and terms, getting payment, travelling to rural locations and securing AC power are some obstacles businesses face in the Chinese market.

Although Ward sees the risk as big, so is the reward.

"In the risk-reward continuum, it's big on both sides," he says. "It'll be fun, anyway."

www.varismine.com

By ADELLE LARMOUR

Northern Ontario Business