February 3, 2026 - Recognizing the limitations surrounding natural resources, Becker Mining Systems (Becker) is supporting clients across the globe with pioneering solutions to fuel a more sustainable future for the mining sector. As companies increasingly transition to climate-friendly raw material extraction, Becker’s high-quality, easy-to-integrate solutions increase productivity and production reliability. 

Founded in 1964, Becker has extensive expertise in connectivity and communications, and is the only worldwide supplier of complete energy, automation, communication, transportation, and infrastructure technology for the mining industry. As a market leader in its category, Becker prioritizes safety, productivity, and efficiency, using the best possible technologies to achieve optimal results in terms of both production and profitability. 

Dedicated to the development and application of mining, tunnelling, and oil and gas communications, Becker’s Canadian operation, formerly known as Varis Mine Technology (Varis Mine), is headquartered in Sudbury, Ontario, close to some of Canada’s most famous nickel-copper mines. Varis Mine was founded in 1997 but became part of Becker in 2006 and has since supported the company’s sites in Canada and around the globe. By combining the group’s global expertise with local roots in Canada’s mining activities, the company delivers purpose-built technologies designed for the most demanding underground conditions. 

Albert Bower, CEO of Becker Canada, joins us to expand on the story behind Varis Mine, its operations, and the vital role it plays in mining communications. “Varis Mine operates independently from the wider Becker group on a day-to-day basis, but with long-term guidance and strategy from the head office in Germany,” Albert opens. “What’s unique about Varis Mine is that each of our products is designed from the ground up for underground mining operations. Rather than adapting surface technologies for below-ground use, we focus on communications and purpose-built engineering to develop solutions that address underground conditions like dust, humidity, confined spaces, and vibration. 

“With a strong mechanical and electrical background, Becker’s product offerings fall into six core divisions: energy distribution, communication, automation, haulage, infrastructure, and digital mine,” he continues. “Although we’ve been automating mining operations for the last 20 years or so, we’re not prone to boasting or publicizing our wins, meaning many people aren’t aware of the innovation we’ve brought to the industry. More recently, we’re seeing a drive towards some kind of standardization with regards to the integration of technology, aimed at securing a more seamless implementation process.” 

Sudbury, Ontario

Moving on to Becker’s network of facilities in Canada, Albert explains that the company has remained loyal to its home while expanding across the country. “Varis Mine was founded in Sudbury, Ontario, and we’ve remained headquartered in Sudbury ever since, now with a 19,000-square-foot facility for manufacturing, designing, and testing,” he elaborates. “We export globally but we’ve also expanded across Canada with operations in Montreal, Saskatoon, Newfoundland, and Alberta. 

“We’re investing heavily in our facilities, and we’re soon going to break ground on an additional site in Sudbury. This 33,000-square-foot site will not only allow us to expand our electric communications product line but also strengthen our focus on working with our clients to bring electrical safety components to the Canadian market.” 

With decades of bringing innovative technologies and concepts to the mining industry, new product development and R&D activities lie at the heart of Becker’s approach to innovation. “Genuine passion drives our commitment to innovation,” Albert states. “We’re a safety-oriented engineering company; we’re not trying to ‘reinvent the wheel’ for the sake of making a product faster or more aesthetically pleasing, but rather to solve client problems. We have an excellent sales team who speak with our clients on a day-to-day basis to understand their current issues. However, it’s important that we approach new product development with a long-term view to ensure the product not only solves today’s problems but also those further down the line.” 

As our conversation continues, talk turns to the challenges currently faced by both Becker and the wider mining industry. “One of our biggest tasks is not only finding, but also retaining talented people,” Albert explains. “Our location in Sudbury is somewhat remote, and we can sometimes struggle to find local people. We’ve found that training people is often a better option than trying to find seasoned people, so we don’t recruit from a specific group or demographic. Training our own people also means we can better control their learning and development, ensuring they become knowledgeable employees that champion the company moving forward. 

“From a corporate culture perspective, there’s always going to be politics, but a good leader knows how to navigate the politics without playing within them. We pride ourselves on being open and honest with our people, treating each other with respect, and addressing any issues before they become bigger problems. As a family-owned company, we put family first and prioritize wellbeing, because we believe happy people also enjoy their work.” 

With the mining industry seeing constant change and growing pressure to operate more responsibly, Becker is continuing to play a key role in providing innovative underground communications technologies that enhance safety, reliability, and productivity. As the company embarks on a new facility in Sudbury, Becker remains focused on delivering solutions that meet the operational needs of both today and tomorrow. 

“2026 is set to be a busy year as we continue to expand and work on some key ongoing projects,” Albert says. “With our new facility in Sudbury and plans to transfer some of our technology from Germany to Canada, our manufacturing capabilities will increase by around 35-to-40 percent from a Canadian perspective. 

“The industry is transitioning, and we’re seeing trends where smaller companies break into the market with low-cost products,” he concludes. “As this trend continues, our staff will become our greatest asset, so it’s crucial that we maintain our talented base of people with quality field technicians to support our products and great salespeople to support our clients.”