Breaker Technology 2010
November 2010Founded in 1958, Breaker Technology (BTI) is one of the few Canadian equipment manufacturers to service the mining, construction and demolition, and aggregate industries for such a lengthy period of time. Today, part of the Astec family of companies, BTI is renowned for high performance, unparalleled experience, and product support through a comprehensive sales and service network which includes manufacturing, sales and warehouse facilities in Thornbury, Ontario; service and warehouse facilities in Solon, Ohio, and Riverside, California; and over 200 strategically located distribution and service outlets worldwide.
BTI specializes in hydraulic breakers, demolition attachments, portable and stationary rockbreakers, and a full line of low profile, underground mining vehicles. “For decades, we have led the way in equipment and services for the construction, aggregate, demolition, and mining industries,” explains BTI President Frank Cargould. “We have a reputation for producing a very well built line of equipment, which is durable, easy to maintain, and comes with full customer support and training.
No matter the task, odds are it has the right product for you. Versatile multipurpose systems can be customized with an array of attachments such as quick couplers, shears, crushers, pulverizers, multi-processors, compactors, and wood pickers, addressing the need for more robust equipment as customers look to maximize value.
Because they’re aware that one size doesn’t always fit all, BTI offers numerous models to choose from. This philosophy has seen it sell many different systems to customers in a variety of industries over the years. Many of those customers have relied on such equipment for up to 25 years. “We have sold a number of breaker systems to a lot of different customers who hold our systems in very high regard” says Frank. “There is now, given the age of some of that equipment, a growing replacement market.”
Construction, and consequently construction equipment, has been hit by the credit squeeze, and all the manufacturers are coping with that. “Right now, it is very soft in the U.S. as far as construction equipment goes,” states Mr. Cargould.
However, BTI is less exposed than its competitors who focus solely on the construction market. In fact, bucking the trend, its diverse line of products, which spans several industries, continues to grow and be adapted to the specific needs of its global clients, particularly in the mining sector. Many new features and benefits have been incorporated into BTI’s diverse line of products with productivity and safety goals of the end user in mind. Frank points to several factors for BTI’s continuing success, ranging from the dedication of its long-term, committed staff to the support of the Astec Group. In order to stay at the cutting edge for over 5 decades, BTI has invested in product development and this, says Mr. Cargould, has helped it establish a solid reputation for engineering products with the most advanced technologies available. The company’s breaker systems, for example, can be considered the benchmark for reliability and performance across a range of applications.
According to Mr. Cargould, making systems that are easy to use is what the company continues to focus on. Frank, who has been president for the last 11 years, believes the commitment to technology and the customer is as strong, if not stronger, today as it was when he was first appointed to the role of president. He is still driven by the challenges of the job and is determined to continue pushing this business forward. “Our products are enthusiastically accepted as the standard for the industries they serve,” adds Frank. ■
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