Nearly half a century ago Fred Banfield, Mintec’s founder and Chairman was graduating from the Colorado School of Mines (CSM). It was 1964 and the Golden-based school had already established itself among the world’s leading institutions devoted to resource exploration, extraction, production and utilisation. “I went to CSM because I wanted to be an engineer,” recalls Banfield. “My father, a consulting geologist, recommended CSM as the best for mine engineering. “He was right.” Computers were hardly an integral part of school life in 1964, but their promise made sufficient impression on Banfield. He saw their potential to change the way mines were evaluated, designed and operated. “I became interested in computers and when I left school, my goal was to apply computers to mining engineering and geologic modeling.” Turns out Banfield Junior was right, too. Mintec and its pioneering software MineSight^® is now used worldwide.

Last November, Mintec announced it would donate $100,000 to help upgrade the school’s computer-aided mine design laboratory. In June, that donation will bear fruit in when construction begins. The gift is particularly gratifying for Banfield. “CSM has been an innovator in the training of mining engineers for decades, and the computer lab is just another way in which the department excels in the education of mining engineers,” said Banfield. “We are extremely pleased to support the school with this donation.”

As well as the computer lab remodeling, a much-awaited addition to the department’s home, the 78,200-square-foot Brown Hall, is now under construction on campus. The current laboratory accommodates up to about 40 students at computer stations equipped with mining engineering-related software packages, including MineSight. With Mintec’s gift, not only will the department see upgrades to its computers and software, but also improvements to other lab equipment including podiums, projectors and projection screens.

“The new lab will accommodate nearly twice as many students as the current facility, with vastly improved computer technology and a layout more conductive to live and web-based instruction,” said Kadri Dagdelen, CSM mining engineering department head. “We are very thankful for Mintec’s support.”

The donation continues Mintec’s tradition of investing in the miners of tomorrow. The company funds a $10,000 yearly scholarship both at Colorado School of Mines and University of Arizona. In the 2010-11 academic year, Mintec increased this amount to $25,000 per school. It will soon begin an annual scholarship at Vancouver’s University of British Columbia in Canada.

Mintec is a global software and service provider for the mining industry. Its pioneering software system, MineSight, serves hundreds of sites and thousands of users. Since 1970 the company has grown to 160 employees staffing headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, and nine regional offices on six continents. “After 40 years our commitment remains the same: To make mining better.”