Building Through Rebuilding: Finning’s Sustainable Mining Solutions
In the world of heavy equipment, few names carry as much weight as Caterpillar (Cat). For nearly a century, Cat has been leading the charge in manufacturing durable, efficient, and effective machinery for demanding industries like construction, mining, and everything in between. As the world’s largest Caterpillar dealer, Finning plays a pivotal part in delivering and maintaining this equipment for companies across Canada, South America, the UK, and Ireland.
Some of these companies include world-renowned leaders in mining. With massive operations across the globe, they require reliable equipment to perform a variety of demanding tasks day in and day out. Enter Finning. For decades, companies have partnered with Finning and established relationships that have stood the test of time thanks to a strong foundation of trust and a mutual commitment to doing things the right way. Over the years, these partnerships have seen numerous milestones, including significant events in 2018 and 2024.
When #40,000 Became #100
In 2018, Caterpillar manufactured its 40,000th large dozer—an iconic D11. This achievement wasn’t just a testament to Cat’s engineering and production prowess; it marked a new chapter in its long-standing relationship with Finning and its mining partners. In October of 2018, representatives from Cat and Finning gathered in East Peoria, Illinois, to celebrate this historic milestone. One of Finning’s most valued mining partners purchased this milestone dozer and integrated it into their operations. It would then go on to log up to 7,000 hours of use per year, much like the many other Cat dozers in their fleet.
Fast forward to early 2024, this same dozer would find itself in Finning’s Regina branch for a rebuild. More specifically, it would become the 100th unit to be rebuilt by the skilled technicians in Regina. This rebuild was more than a routine service—it was a symbolic event that commemorated Cat and Finning’s unwavering commitment to quality, reliability, and value engineering for their partners.
Partnerships to Last a Lifetime
A lot has changed over the years in the mining sector. With new regulations, new sustainability goals, emerging technologies, and more complex challenges, effective partnerships are more important than ever to ensure continued success, sustainability, and innovation. In this ever-evolving landscape, the collaboration between Cat, Finning, and their partners serves as a prime example of how enduring relationships can adapt and thrive amidst shifting demands.
In some instances, these partnerships have evolved into comprehensive rebuild lease programs that thoroughly manage fleets consisting of dozens of units. Throughout the years, Cat and Finning have worked alongside their partners to provide flexible financing and tailored equipment solutions for their current and future needs. These rebuild programs are vital for maintaining high fleet availability, an essential quality for extensive mining operations that operate around the clock.
One Cat, Many Lives
So what exactly does a dozer rebuild entail? In most cases, the process involves stripping dozers down to their frames and rebuilding them with new components, including a refreshed cab, new tracks, and updated decals. By choosing to rebuild a machine instead of replacing it, owners can get the most out of their initial purchase. A tailored rebuild program enhances equipment performance while offering significant cost savings when compared to buying new—between 20 and 30% for second-life machines and 40 to 50% for third-life machines.
Cat equipment is able to offer this unique value proposition for operations across various industries because it’s “built to be rebuilt.” This design philosophy underpins Cat’s commitment to sustainable, cost-effective machinery management and continuous improvement. When a dozer or another piece of heavy equipment is rebuilt, up to 7,000 parts are replaced, breathing new life into the unit and updating it based on the latest and greatest technological advancements.
For Finning’s mining partners, this means their dozer fleets are consistently upgraded to the latest specs, modernizing performance, safety features, and emission reduction. Every rebuild is conducted with precise attention to detail, with over 350 tests and inspections performed throughout the process. Components are evaluated, restored to optimal condition if possible, or replaced. This optimizes performance and value across the board, granting each machine a second or third life to continue meeting the rigorous demands of mining operations. Rebuilding also promotes sustainability by reducing the need for new machinery, helping partners meet their sustainable mining goals.
100 Rebuilds and Counting: Celebrating the Regina Team
The ongoing success of each rebuild is a clear demonstration of the dedication and expertise of Finning’s technicians. In particular, the Finning Regina team deserves substantial recognition for their consistent quality. Their 100th rebuild for the 40,000th Cat dozer stands as a lasting representation of the long-standing partnership between Finning and its mining partners. The pride, passion, and dedication of the Regina team is evident in every rebuild and service project they complete, consistently drawing praise from partners for the quality of their work and their unmatched attention to detail.
High-Performance Partnerships for the Future
As Finning’s partnerships continue to evolve, a shared commitment to performance, sustainability, and innovation promise ever-greater achievements. Having worked together for over 90 years, Finning will continue to support its partners by enhancing the rebuild program, integrating new technologies, and adopting sustainable practices to meet the constantly changing demands of the mining sector. By leveraging the strengths of both groups, Finning and its partners will drive innovation and set new benchmarks for operational excellence.
The right partner makes all the difference. If you’re ready to work with a proven provider that offers flexible, tailored, and high-value solutions for the most demanding applications, Finning is ready to assist. Contact us today to get started.
Finning is the world's largest Caterpillar dealer, selling, renting and providing parts and service for equipment and engines to customers across diverse industries, including mining, construction, petroleum, forestry and a wide range of power systems applications. We operate in Western Canada, South America, and UK and Ireland.