A FIRST transatlantic franchise has been established by York-based laser measurement technology specialist, Measurement Devices Ltd (MDL), to capitalise on its growing success in Canada.

Thomas Engineering Ltd, Manotick, Ontario, has been granted exclusive rights by MDL to become an authorised MDL service, training, calibration and repair centre for Canada carrying specialist testing equipment.

MDL has had a steadily growing presence in Canada for 15 years and its products, including the Cavity Auto-Scanning Laser System (C-ALS) used for remote, underground surveys of voids and cavities, Quarryman Pro and Boretrak are becoming widely used.

Under the franchise agreement, Thomas Engineering, which has been a laser systems dealer since 1996 and has helped to specify MDL equipment for the Canadian market, will operate as MDL Canada. Part of its role will also be to provide surveying services to the Canadian mining and quarrying industries.

This latest franchise agreement, which follows a similar arrangement launched in Australia in January, is part of a wider strategy by MDL, which also has bases in Aberdeen and Houston, Texas, to develop its international presence and provide consistent global after-sales and technical service.

Thomas Engineering managing director, Cam Thomas, says: “Canada offers great potential for MDL products, particularly as there are extensive underground operations mining for gold, nickel, uranium, lead and zinc where MDL products such as C-ALS and the newly-introduced VS 150 void scanner have extensive applications.”

MDL founder and managing director, Steve Ball, says: “Canada is a very important strategic location and a fast-growing market for our products. The establishment of MDL Canada demonstrates our commitment to existing and new customers and our confidence that Thomas Engineering will do a great job for us.”