We are an integrated mining equipment company. This means that, piece by piece, step by step, Mining Technologies International is fully capable of delivering all the parts that make up your mining operation from one reliable source.
MTI- TAKING UNDERGROUND EQUIPMENT TO NEW HEIGHTS
South Side Story
May 2011
Your One Stop Solution Provider
Mining Technologies International’s (MTI) roots began more than seventy years ago here in Sudbury. J.E Rumball Machine Shop was a general machine fabricating shop located in Elisabella Street off Falconbridge Road founded by Jack Rumball. The company was purchased by Smith International in 1971. It was shortly after this sale that Bob Lipic became part of the history after the experience gained from a variety of career directions he took after graduating from the Haileybury School of Mines in 1965. Bob travelled to Sudbury to work at Falconbridge as an engineering surveyor at Strathcona Mines as they were just sinking the shaft. From there he moved to geophysical engineering and surveying with Tech Corp before taking on a job as a consulting engineer in Toronto. He moved to become project manager at Superior Mine an iron ore mine northeast of Wawa and then took on another job as a consulting engineer in northern Quebec.
Bob moved to Sudbury again where he pursued an interest in equipment sales. The company represented Ingersoll Rand, had a line of construction equipment and had taken on Smith International’s Drilco line of consumables. Bob, once again moved to Toronto, this time as a sales manager for Boart Hardmills (predecessor of Boart Longyear) before agreeing to become Smith International’s sales and marketing representative for all mines in Canada. Smith International was run out of Texas and had several different product lines including Drillco, Dynadrill, Smith Tools to name a few.
By 1980, Bob had become the General Manager for Smith Canada and had developed an impressive customer base of Canadian mines and other industries by focussing on providing each customer with the best possible service. Five years later Bob was informed that Smith International was phasing out all of their mining interests and offered Bob a job with their oil field group.
Bob went into action and asked for permission to buy out the business. He visited his customers, all the contacts he had made over the years in the mining business and asked them that if he was successful in buying the business would they continue to support him? They all agreed and the transaction was completed in 1986 – Bob Lipic became the owner of Drillco and was given the distributorship of Smith Tools for Canada.
In 1994, Inco approached Bob and asked him if he was interested in purchasing Continuous Mining Systems which had been designing and manufacturing mining equipment for ten years. Bob agreed and took over CMS location on Fielding Road in 1995. Included in the sale were well known companies LHD Equipment, John Clark Inc. CMS pacific and Drilco Australia PTY and the following year, the company became Mining Technologies International. MTI also purchased Ingersoll-Rand’s underground product line and Rob Lipic, Ryan Lipic and Bob Lipic in the MTI plant located on Fielding Road. Part of the administration team at MTI’s corporate head office located on Magill Street. … Your One Stop Solution Provider supplies and repairs Montabert rock drills.
Today, MTI operates four full service facilities. Two are in Sudbury, their cylinder division is located in North Bay and they have recently expanded their location in Billings, Montana. The new Montana location offers 33,000 square feet of shop space, five acres of storage, and a showroom.
The company has service branches located in Thompson, Manitoba, Elko Nevada, Red Lake, Ontario, Bathurst, New Brunswick, Torreon, Mexico and Val d’or, Quebec and has agency locations throughout the world.
Soon after Bob went into business for himself his son Rob Lipic began working at MTI during the summer when he was 15 years old. From labourer, to sales and IT manager, Rob is today the General Manager of MTI’s Mobile division.
Ryan Lipic, Rob’s brother, is MTI’s marketing manager. Ryan started working at his father’s company sweeping floors and cleaning the plant when he was 15 years old. As marketing manager, Ryan is responsible for all the companies marketing from brochures to trade shows. As the company operates in all parts of the world, marketing can be a challenge especially when it comes to the different languages spoken. MTI also regularly participates in trade shows all over the world as a means to showcase and get maximum exposure for their new equipment.
Today, Bob travels extensively throughout the world. With clients in more than 40 countries, Bob can spend as much as 30 weeks of the year on international calls to customers. His travels have been quite exciting. He’s been accosted by bandits in Chile and Zaire and shot at in Nigeria. He’s travelled through countries hit by civil strikes and overtaken by drug lords but he still looks forward to the challenge of introducing a new mine to MTI’s products.
Bob Lipic has been the recipient of several awards recognizing his accomplishments. He was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006 by Northern Ontario Business; he received the Community Builders Award of Excellence in Economic Development also in 2006; the Sudbury District Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award. He was also nominated for the Ontario Premier’s Award.
The company today is involved in many exciting new projects. They’ve introduced the world’s smallest jumbo drill and have added a new 11 yard loader to their product line. They’ve built a working prototype of the world’s first hybrid-powered loader in partnership with CANMET and are testing a prototype they’ve manufactured of the world’s first AC Drive locomotive for underground mines.
Innovation comes naturally to MTI, Bob and his team are constantly in search of new ideas that will provide, lower costs, higher efficiencies, leave less of an environmental footprint and provide more safety features for their customers. MTI prides itself on being a “one stop solution provider” for all its clients and Bob has ensured that the service provided by the entire team at MTI is always focussed on the most important part of any business – providing each customer with service that’s unparalleled in the industry.
MTI Consumable Products Offers Exceptional Performance, High Quality and Safety
MTI Consumables’ goal is to supply the mining, forestry and other industries with a range of consumable products that focus on high quality and that offer the end user value for money, exceptional performance, are customized to each user’s needs and most importantly create a safe work environment.
MTI Consumables experience in hard rock mining goes back almost sixty years. MTI Consumables has pioneered many of the processes that are still used to this day and employs some of the most experienced minds in the industry, and MTI continues to build on the experience and leadership that we have shown throughout the past 60 years. MTI Consumables continues to lead the way in Raise Bore, Blast Hole, ITH drilling tools and MTI Ni-Basin Ground engaging bucket and lips, developed over the years as Drilco Industrial and Drillex International.
Mick Hardwick was the Raise Drill Supervisor at Western Mining, Kambalda Nickel Operations from 1982 to 1987. He ran in house and contract raise drilling at WMC operations. He then moved to Australian Raise Drilling, first as drilling superintendent and then operations manager for the company based in Adelaide, South Australia from 1987 through to 1996 after management buyout of WMC raise drilling division. He started at MTI in 1996 and is the General Manager of MTI’s Consumables division.
MTI Consumables is ISO 9001-2008 certified and we own and control the DI Grand Master Gauges to ensure the highest quality connection for every new tool produced in our facility.
MTI Consumables offers inspection & repair services ensuring that all your MTI tools continue to operate efficiently for years to come. We have worked with some of the largest operations around the globe, and we consistently help our customers achieve the lowest cost per ton possible. MTI Consumables products include:
Buckets
MTI Buckets demonstrate MTI’s commitment to providing our customers with new and innovative products. MTI now features a rebuildable bucket with replaceable wear components such as; inside and outside wear liners, bolt-on lip shrouds, weld-on lip shrouds, bolt-on side cutters, weld-on side cutters, boom and dump wear sleeves, wear shoes, wear edges, and etc…
MTI engineers have designed buckets to handle the most abrasive conditions and offer the benefits of lower maintenance costs and fast repair times. The product line includes: Buckets, Standard Bucket, Heavy Duty Bucket, Rebuildable Bucket, Cast Wear Parts, Ez-Fill Lip Assemblies and Spade Lip Assemblies Blast Hole Drilling Tools.
MTI has designed and introduced a variety of rotary blast hole tools to meet the MTI Consumable Products Offer… increasing needs of the customer. Their product line up includes: Drill Steel, Stabilization, Model 63B Roller Stabilizers, Welded Blade Stabilizers, Swivel Mount Shock Subs and other Accessories
In-the-Hole (ITH) Drilling Tools.
MTI offers a full range of ITH Drill String rods and associated tooling including: ITH Drill String Components, Drill Steel, Bit Breakout Baskets and Breakout Wrenches, Recovery Tools, Specialty Tools, Wear Gauges, Stabilizers and more.
Raise Bore Drilling Tools
The rotary drilling method of boring large diameter holes for the mining and construction industries has proven to be extremely safe and economical.
For constructing ventilation shafts, ore passes and penn stocks, raise drilling has gained worldwide acceptance as the preferred method. MTI has developed a directional control technology for raise drilling, called the “Packed Hole Technique”, which utilizes stabilizers immediately adjacent to the bit. In addition MTI manufacturers Raise Bore Drilling Tools, Raise Bore Drill Steel, Raise Bore Drill Rods, Integral Rib Stabilizers, Reamer Stabilizers, Portable Makeup / Breakout Tools, Ring Gauge Set, Thread Protection.
Together in Innovation
Mick Hardwick is MTI’s General Manager of the Consumables division. He’s shown with MTI’s Mazak Integrex 650H2 x 160” Universal with Mazatrol Matrix Control and deep hole boring capability.
In today’s mining industry long and large diameter raise are being developed to deeper depths. Being a mechanical means of developing shafts and vent raises, raise drilling is an extremely safe and efficient means of excavation. It is unnecessary for personal to enter the shaft at any point during excavation. This method typically represents a significant reduction in costs and time in developing ventilation circuits at a minesite.
Limitations in existing drill rod design led Redpath to MTI and the creation of the Redbore 100 – the world’s most powerful raise drill which was introduced in 2008. The Redbore 100 has 3.5 million pounds of thrust – primarily what you use to break the rock and 750,000 foot pounds of rotational torque for turning a 6.7 metre (22’) diameter reaming head.
MTI designed the 14.5-inch diameter drill steel, which comes in seven-foot lengths and features a new 3 lead thread design to accommodate the powerful torque and thrust and is MTI’s highest capacity drill rod to date. Results have shown 20% more power than other high capacity raise drill systems which allows raises to be developed to greater depths and larger diameters. Redbore 100 can raise bore 1000 m in depth by 8 m in diameter in one pass and each vertical shaft bored can function as a full production shaft or to provide ventilation.
MTI Cylinders
The Cylinder Division of Mining Technologies International Inc. means more than just quality, affordable hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders. It means “state-of-the-art” design and manufacturing techniques, top quality OEM replacement parts, and most importantly of all, superior customer service.
Custom made is MTI’s forte; high quality and value for money based on sound proven design principles is MTI’s core aim. MTI understands that mining, forestry and other industrial equipment is continually subjected to extreme conditions that punish cylinders. Dust, grit, heat, cold, and moisture all have an impact on cylinder performance.
MTI’s team of highly skilled professionals continues to lead the way in the development of new technologies and innovative solutions to complex cylinder problems.
Lou Blanchette is the General Manager of MTI’s Cylinder division which is located in North Bay. With 30 years at MTI and previous
experience in the forestry industry, there’s not much about cylinders that Lou doesn’t know.
In keeping with MTI’s philosophy of unparalleled support, the company provides cost saving repairs, upgrades or re-engineering to all makes and models of cylinders. Each location of MTI including branches have rebuilding capabilities and our own engineered cylinder test benches with pressure testing to 6,000 PSI in each of the facilities
With a vast computer database of repair analysis on every cylinder processed, MTI’s expertise and knowledge is unsurpassed in the industry.
MTI’s dedication to excellence has proven itself in the tough, unforgiving environments of mining, forestry, and heavy industry.
From the small independent operator to multinational corporations, MTI cylinders are delivering dependability and performance the world over.
Whether you require a custom-built product or one of thousands off the shelf items, MTI can supply the hydraulic and pneumatic cylinder configurations that are right for the job.
MTI is an ISO 9001-2008 company and is Canadian Welding Bureau certified. Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) manufacturing and
pretesting ensures that each product we ship will meet or exceed these standards.
MTI Cylinder Features
• All cylinders meet or surpass OEM specifications
• Induction hardened chrome plated rods
• Heavy duty durable construction
• Long lasting high temperature seals
• Lubricated hardened steel or SAE 660 bronze bushings included
• Recognized global supplier
• Full warranty Scoop and Truck Replacement cylinders are available for:
• All MTI Stock & Replacement Cylinders
• MTI DT Series Trucks
• MTI LT Series Scoops
• All MTI Jumbos
• Most Other Manufacturers’ Replacement Cylinders
Building Rugged Mobile Equipment…
Mining Technologies International operates and distributes through a worldwide network of locations manufacturing, selling and servicing mobile
equipment for underground applications.
Rob Lipic is the General Manager of MTI’s Mobile equipment division. He’s been with the company for 23 years first as a student during the summer months, then as MTI’s IT manager and for the last three years as GM of the mobile division.
MTI is always looking at ways to increase uptime and maximize future productivity and they build all their equipment to endure a tough working environment,while meeting and exceeding quality and safety standards
MTI provides full service support for all their products worldwide including OEM parts with competitive firm pricing. MTI offers major component rebuilds and rebuilt exchange components for products.
Trucks
Hauling ore is an important aspect of the underground mining process.
Underground mine trucks have improved steadily with the times. Technology affords the operators conveniences that were not available before. Today’s machines are designed with safety, service and cost effectiveness in mind.
MTI manufacturers a full line of underground, four wheel drive truck with different load capacities and heavy duty all mechanical powertrains.
Development and Production Drills
Drill-blast rock excavation in mine development involves rock excavation of vertical shafts, horizontal drifts, inclined ramps and steep raises to establish a mine’s infrastructure. MTI manufactures a full range of production drills with single or two boom hydraulic drills that are designed to drill vertical, horizontal and angled holes in underground production and development headings and features one or two hydraulic percussion drifters with a
variety of heading size capabilities.
Loaders
MTI is already thinking about the next generation and has introduced a number of innovative solutions to their fleet. Their underground loaders have a number of rated load configurations and an all mechanical power train.
The latest addition to the fleet is the MTI LT1650 which which is their largest loader to date. It has an 11 yard bucket capacity and plans are in the works to develop an even larger truck with a 14 yard bucket.
MTI has also built the world’s first hybrid loader. The loader utilizes a hydrogen injection system developed by Hy-Drive technologies Ltd. of Mississauga, Ontario. The system works by injecting small amounts of hydrogen gas into a diesel engine’s combustion chamber. This results in dramatically reduced
emissions, improved fuel efficiency The hybrid powered Load Haul Dump (LHD) has undergone testing at Iamgold’s Mouska Mine near Val d’or, Quebec in partnership with CANMET.
Plans are underway to build a four cubic yard loader as well.
Rail Haulage
MTI manufactures a complete range of locomotives that provide optimum safety and reliability.
MTI supplies high quality locomotives for underground mining that are built for heavy haulage. MTI locomotives are available in battery, trolley and/or diesel driven models. Their construction is modular and they are simple to operate. In addition MTI also builds mine cars, dump stations and chutes for high production and low cost operation.
MTI is currently pioneering an AC Drive underground locomotive. The primary advantages of AC drive technology are that adhesion levels are up to 100% greater than DC which results in much higher reliability and reduced maintenance requirements for AC drive motors.
Manufacturing is scheduled to begin soon with ongoing testing this summer in a working underground mine.
MTI has also designed and built a working prototype of the RJ 21 EX Hydra Crusher. for above ground mining applications. The RJ 21 EX is half the weight and half the size of a standard cylinder based crusher and uses a rotary jaw crusher that has made it more powerful, faster and more efficient. The unit is mounted on a standard excavator and uses the existing hydraulic system to process about 100 tons of rock per hour. It can take rock between 12 and 14 inches in size and reduce it programmed sizes that range from less than an inch to six inches in size.
Aftermarket Parts and Service at its Best
Mining Technologies International provides a full range of value-added aftermarket services, and are committed to assisting customers mine ores and minerals at the lowest possible cost. MTI’s experienced aftermarket personnel are always available for support, training, parts and service and provide every
customer with first-class and professional service to ensure that all MTI products operate at peak efficiency throughout their life cycle. Like all MTI personnel, MTI Aftermarket strives for excellence in assisting our customers achieve their production and maintenance goals. MTI exists entirely to ensure that all MTI
equipment has maximum uptime. MTI offers after-sale support to facilitate consistent improvement in cost containment and production efficiency and 24 / 7
emergency service outside of normal business hours. Every customers’ number one objective is to move more with their MTI equipment and MTI’s aftermarket team is there to support them.
In addition to our full fabrication/service locations in Sudbury, North Bay and Billings, Montana, MTI also has a branch distribution network of six companyowned facilities in strategic locations in North America. In addition, MTI has stocking dealers in international locations to ensure efficient service for our global customers.
MTI offers extended service packages to suit customer fleet requirements. Preventative & Life Cycle Maintenance (LCM) programs provide a range of products and services that achieves the lowest cost per ton over the life of the equipment. LCM is important because the cost to maintain, repair and rebuild the equipment over its life is 2-3 times the initial purchase price. LCM is of increased importance in today’s full production environment because every hour of downtime costs lost revenue that cannot be recovered.
In addition MTI provides training on all their products as well as extended warranty protection. MTI warrants all parts of every new product sold to be free from defects in materials and workmanship under normal operating usage for one year or 2,000 hours of operation.
Each main location, branch facility and international location has access to a full inventory of OEM and aftermarket parts for all MTI equipment and that of other manufacturers. With more than 10,000 parts in their $35 million inventory, business and industry can count on MTI to get them the replacement parts they need as soon as possible. With full fabrication and machining facilities MTI can also custom make value-added parts for all equipment.
MTI is currently in the process of upgrading their computerized parts’ network to give their customers the added convenience of ordering parts on-line.
MTI Quality Assurance
Quality assurance is the process of using systems and methodologies that ensure that the manufactured products meet the required quality standards consistently. The aim of quality assurance is to manufacturer products right the first time, without any rework. Phil Thibault is Mining Technologies
International’s Quality Assurance manager and he knows that quality assurance is crucial in MTI’s business. Phil has 27 years of experience at
MTI beginning his career as a service tech on the road until he became manager two years ago.
With so much competition and such few margins, no manufacturing industry can afford to spend time and money on rework. Every activity in the industry costs money and so does rework, but customers do not pay for rework. Customers pay for the value addition by the company and if they see more valuable additions by some other company being offered at same or lower costs, they move to that company. Hence to assure good quality to customers, quality assurance plays a significant role. Consumables Division andits staff specialize in the manufacture of quality machined and fabricated products. Utilizing state of the art computer controlled manufacturing techniques, we manufacture to uncompromising standards. Mining Technologies International Inc. is ISO 9001 – 2008 certified. In addition to the yearly quality control audits performed by the independent Quality Management Institute, Phil Thibault and his team also perform regular spot audits to check that all the manufacturing procedures are being followed. “Quality assurance programs contribute to lower costs; ensures that we retain our customers and attract new ones; saves time and guarantees that the efforts and processes are moving in right direction so that the end product not only meets but exceeds the customers expectations,” says Phil.
Diane Robbins, QA administrator (left), Gaston Godin, project leader and Phil Thibault Quality Assurance manager with an MTI Ramp Runner 2MB Jumbo.
Every product manufactured by MTI undergoes strict procedures. Throughout the manufacturing process the sales, engineering, plant and the quality assurance team work together to document every facet of production. Each department involved at MTI must make sure that everything from bolts to engines are exactly used according to the design before signing off on the piece of equipment. The MTI inspection team also makes sure the fabrication processes used meet their high standards and will test everything including welds used on a piece of equipment. These procedures are followed through product testing, delivery and set up for any customer.
Once delivered, every customer receives a complete parts catalogue with the serial numbers of all parts to make it easier to get replacement parts and warranty service.
MTI also visits its suppliers on a regular basis to determine that the quality assurance standards on the products MTI purchases meet the same exacting standards MTI uses at its own facilities.
Precision Engineering
The MTI Engineering division has a strong market presence throughout Canada and internationally. In addition to selling mining consumables and conducting fabrication, engineering and overhaul work for mine owners and operators MTI’s Engineering department also works closely with the other MTI divisions by:
• identifying opportunities where mine owners or operators require specialist mining, mechanical or electrical services;
• providing mining consumables to projects where MTI operates;
• developing new innovative products such as the AC-drive locomotive; and
• undertaking general fabricating and repair work.
Olli Matikainen is the Product Development Manager at MTI. As a mechanical engineer, Olli has a long history of developing mobile off-road equipment for the
mining, forestry and construction industries. “The mining industry by nature is very innovative,” says Olli “and there is an abundance of new ideas that need to be explored.” Most of the ideas for new projects come from within MTI in their continual search to save their customers time and money while
increasing their workers’ safety.
“The first thing we do at MTI is start with the basics; how much will it cost, what are the options and how long will it take to make it? Then the dialogue starts.” continues Olli.
The engineering department at MTI will then put together proposal drawings, pricing and a delivery schedule before the fabrication process starts.
The multi-disciplined engineering and technical services team at MTI offers practical, innovative and reliable designs. With a staff of more than twenty, mechanical and electrical engineers and technicians, MTI has the capability to design any project. Skilled engineers and designers evaluate and develop systems, increase competitiveness, provide productivity improvements and more.
MTI also provides a practical training environment for students in engineering programs at Laurentian University. Co-op positions are available throughout the year.
Rescue Takes Innovation
For nearly 22 hours one billion people around the world watched the rescue of the 33 miners who had been trapped underground at San Jose copper and gold
mine near Copiapó, Chile. The mine collapsed on August 5, 2010 and it was not until 17 days later that word came that all 33 trapped miners were alive.
Mine rescue teams in Chile were galvanized and northern Ontario expertise played a part in the rescue. MTI got the call on September 9, 2010
from Atlas Copco. MTI manufactures raise bore tools for Atlas Copco. Atlas Copco asked MTI to manufacture a reamer which is a type of drill bit, in this case it was a 28- inch bit. The reamer had beendesigned by Atlas Copco and Cementation Canada was going to do the drilling. Three drilling plans were initiated
by the Ministry of Mines in Chile was not successful.
Cementation knew from past experience that MTI had the expertise to get the job done. Normally the bit would require up to 6 weeks for delivery. Initially MTI gave them a three week delivery time but they were told that it was needed in two weeks.
MTI went to their employees and explained the necessity of completing this on time and with everyone’s hard work the reamer was manufactured in 10 days.
As we all know now the rescue of the miners was successful.
Electrical Safety & Ingenuity
MTI has it’s own electrical department where all the electrical components for MTI mobile equipment are manufactured according to exacting standards.
MTI currently has 14 electrician apprentices on staff who are overseen by a staff of electricians. MTI’s highly trained personnel, and a commitment to strict quality standards ensures the high quality of all their industrial engine components. MTI manufactures integrated wiring harness systems, industrial sensors, including engine pressure sensors, and more as well as alarm monitoring and safety systems including control panels and display systems for total engine control.
Machining & Fabricating Capabilities…
Mining Technologies International operates the most complete custom precision machine shops with a wide range of capabilities from prototype to production. With a full service engineering department MTI can also develop solutions for your new tool builds, re-design or update drawings for engineering in addition to the planning, designing and manaufacturing of a project from start to finish. Mining Technologies International and its staff specialize in the
manufacture of high quality machined and fabricated products and equipment. Utilizing state of the art computer controlled manufacturing techniques,
MTI manufactures to uncompromising standards.
MTI is ISO 9001 – 2008 certified. MTI also owns and controls the DI Grand Master gauges and have developed our new MTI 315 thread for hard rock raise drill mining products in addition to other types of thread gauges and taper gauges.
As a general machine shop and/or fabricator, MTI manufactures a wide range of products dependent on their customers’ needs. MTI specializes in mining related products but also serves the forestry and industrial construction sectors. MTI also manufactures a wide array of products such as, shafts, gears, rings, weldments, etc. for a number other manufacturing sectors.
Specialty-machining services such as Deep Hole Boring / Trepanning, Cylindrical Grinding & Hardsurfacing application are also available. Investing in the latest technology, MTI’s newest addition is a Mazak Integrex 650H2 x 160” Universal with Mazatrol Matrix Control and deep hole boring capability. The Integrex “Done-in-One” performance offers Y-axis off center machining, Continuous B-Axis positioning and single set-up machining for large & small parts. This combination machining center/turning center completes all operations in a single set-up whether turning, milling, boring, drilling, etc.
MTI stocks only the best bar material. Inventory includes Timken 4145 & Buderus 4330 series alloy bar in the forged, vacuum degassed, quench & tempered condition. In 2008, MTI was the fourth largest consumer of turbine/military grade 4330 series alloy bar. Also in stock are numerous grades of steel, alloy bar and tubing sizes plus, a wide range of steel plate types and sizes.
The knowledgeable and dedicated team of machinists, electricians, CWB certified welders, mechanics efficiently produces and fabricates a wide range of complex metal fabrications for clients.
For more than 70 years, MTI has built a reputation as a premiere provider of industrial machining services, equipment rebuilding and component remanufacturing. For serious projects and critical applications, MTI’s customers have come to rely upon their high quality workmanship and fast turnaround work.
MTI serves the needs of nearly every industrial market segment. The team at all MTI location enjoys the challenges and has the expertise to take on difficult jobs with confidence.