Modular Mining, a global leader in the delivery of real-time computer-based mine management solutions, unveiled its new Customer Experience Center (CEC) during a ribbon cutting ceremony recently. Located in the company’s corporate headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, USA, the CEC’s opening coincides with Modular Mining’s 40th anniversary and celebrates the company’s continued growth and positive trajectory in both Tucson and the mining sector. The opening and facility tour drew local elected and public officials, community leaders, local mining customers, representatives of Modular Mining’s parent company Komatsu, and business partners.
“Our new Customer Experience Center is designed to showcase how mine management solutions can improve the safety, efficiency, and productivity of mining operations, and help our customers do so sustainably,” said Jorge Mascena, President & CEO, Modular Mining. “Today’s announcement marks our third major renovation project in six years at this facility. Tucson is evolving into a key mining technology hub, and this expansion demonstrates our commitment to leading this transformation as a long-term member of this community.”
Established in Tucson in 1979, Modular Mining revolutionized the mining industry with the development of the DISPATCH® Fleet Management System. This technology was the first of its kind in the industry and continues to help improve productivity and efficiency for open pit mines today. The DISPATCH system’s global success served as the springboard for further innovation, including the ProVision® High-Precision Machine Guidance system, the MineCare® Maintenance Management system, and others. The company employs more than 800 people globally, with nearly 350 located in Tucson. Founded by an associate professor and three graduate students from the University of Arizona, Modular Mining highly values its roots in Tucson and its relationship with the university.
The company was purchased by heavy-equipment leader, Komatsu LTD, in 1996; the partnership enabled Modular Mining’s technology to support the world’s first autonomous mining trucks. Today, that partnership thrives as the companies continue to collaborate to improve operator safety and site efficiency for miners across the world.
"I am proud to have worked with Modular Mining to be able to expand their business, which employs nearly 350 people and is one of the bigger employers in Tucson's Ward 5. I want to congratulate Modular Mining and their leadership team on this expansion, their work, and success, and look forward to their future growth,” said City of Tucson Council Member Richard Fimbres, Ward 5.
“Modular Mining's expansion is more exciting news for Southern Arizona," said Arizona Governor, Doug Ducey. "Tucson is quickly becoming a hub for mining technology, bringing more good-paying jobs and expanding Arizona's reputation as a technology leader. We thank Modular Mining for continuing to invest in Arizona."
“We congratulate Modular Mining on this expansion that creates new opportunities for technicians and engineers in one of our state’s key sectors,” said Sandra Watson, President & CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “Arizona is proud to be the headquarters of this company, which has been — and continues to be — a significant contributor to the mining industry.”
“This is the second headquarters expansion in our region, just in the first month of 2020,” said Joe Snell, President & CEO, Sun Corridor Inc. “Tucson continues to be a location of choice for technology companies like Modular Mining. Modular, born out of the University of Arizona and now employing over 800 globally, has been at the forefront of mine management solutions for nearly 40 years. We thank them for their significant commitment and expansion, right here in Tucson.”
“Congratulations to Modular Mining on their new facility. It’s hard to overstate how important it is for our community to have this company headquartered in Pima County,” said District 2 Supervisor, Ramón Valadez. “As consumer technology continues to grow along with the world’s population, so will the need for mineral extraction to meet the demand. We must mine the Earth better, smarter and cleaner and Modular Mining is one of the leading companies developing the technologies to achieve those goals. We should all be proud such a company calls Pima County home.”
The expansion of the CEC comes on the successes of other recent company expansions in Tucson. Komatsu’s Autonomous Haulage Systems (AHS) Center of Excellence (CoE) opened in June 2019, where a cross-functional team of personnel from both Komatsu and Modular Mining work together under the Komatsu umbrella to develop, sell, and support the industry-leading AHS. In 2014, Modular Mining expanded their corporate campus to include a building dedicated to the company’s research and development. That same year, Komatsu opened their new Arizona Proving Grounds in Sahuarita, AZ; a 660-acre facility which is also largely used for research and development of Komatsu mining equipment and testing Modular Mining’s technologies.