Gem Mines In North Carolina

Automation sector a 'hidden gem' in manufacturing

WATERLOO REGION — Joe Fox believes it’s one of Waterloo Region’s and Ontario’s best-kept secrets.

Southern Ontario has one of the largest concentrations of factory automation companies in North America and maybe even the world, he says.

“In many ways it’s a hidden gem in Ontario’s manufacturing spectrum,” says Fox, vice-president of business development at Systematix Inc., a Waterloo-based automation company.

This part of Ontario is home to more than 100 large, medium and small automation companies, Fox notes.

And the shiniest jewel in that crown is right here in Waterloo Region, he says.

“This is the heartland. This is the bull’s-eye,” he says, rhyming off a slew of automation companies in the area including ATS Automation Tooling Systems, Rockwell, Peer Group, Brock Solutions, Eclipse Automation, TCA Technologies and Systematix.

The entire industry is worth about $3 billion to the Ontario economy, Fox estimates, and can be divided into three different segments:

   Standard machine builders, which create a machine to operate over a range of applications.

Another little known fact about the industry is its high-tech nature, says Fox, who worked at ATS for eight years prior to joining Systematix.

This area’s computer software and hardware sector gets a lot of hype and attention, but the automation industry rivals it in innovation and skill-level, he insists.

Engineering, hardware and software design, physics, math, computer science, project-management skills — they’re all required to some degree in factory automation, Fox notes.

“The machines we build haven’t necessarily been built before so there’s a need to constantly innovate. It’s very much a high-tech business.”

How did this area become such an automation powerhouse?

Fox and Systematix’s owner and president Cecil Bauman point to the cluster of engineering and technology-oriented educational institutions such as the University of Waterloo and Conestoga College and this region’s location in the centre of the automotive-industry corridor running from Oshawa through to Windsor.

The auto pact, free trade and the desire of major automakers to contract out parts manufacturing also played a part.

And then there was the arrival of “programmable logic controllers,” minicomputers that could control many complicated industrial machines, in the 1970s. They replaced the old hard-wired assembly lines, or “ladder-logic” lines as Bauman calls them.

Visit Gem Mountain for the Best Gem Mining Experience | North ...

Article by Robert Black

Its visitors and residents consider Spruce Pine NC to be a wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. Since the location itself is mountainous,many outdoor activities are popular and your playground is the Blue Ridge Mountains. You can pursue excellent outdoor camping,mountain climbing,hiking,and trekking experiences in the place and make it a prime spot for your year-round outdoor activities. Check out the following places to visit and you will truly experience a recreational spot for all seasons.

Places for Outdoor Activities

Aside from the Blue Ridge Mountains,you also can visit the Springmaid Mountain for a horseback riding activity or the River’s Edge Outfitters,as well as the Tarheel Angler Outfitters for wild fishing activities. See your kid catch different varieties of trout in these fishing resorts. White water rafting is also a popular activity in Spruce Pine NC with its rapids in the middle of glorious landscapes. Visit either the Loafers Glory Rafting and Tubing or Loafers Glory Campground and River Tours for your white water rafting activities with your fellow outdoor enthusiasts.

You have not quite visited North Carolina if you haven’t been to the Gem Mountain for an exciting gem mining activity. Perfect for kids of all ages,this mining activity allows you to find valuable gems using prime mining equipment. For spelunking activities,visit the Linville Caverns that is also welcoming to kids. If you are on a holiday during winter,visit Spruce Pine NC and its high quality ski resorts. They may not be the prime ski sports of the country,but they offer the same ski experience,especially if you are also opting for a very relaxing vacation.

Restaurants and Shops

For dining during daytime,visit mountain view restaurants such as the Skyline Cavern Tavern or the Little Switzerland Chalet for a very nice dining experience. They promise a splendid view of the mountains and terrain,as well as delectable cuisines and famous barbeque meals. There are also a number of home cooking,barbeque restaurants,and little cafes perfect for dining anytime of the day. If you opt for a fine dining in Spruce Pine NC,visit Grassy Creek Golf &Country Club Restaurant or Best Cellar Restaurant.

An afternoon shopping is worthwhile if you visit Little Switzerland General Store and other little shops in the place. If you happen to be visiting during Christmas holidays,do not miss the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree store. You do not have to shop for a tree,but the collection of Christmas trees,ornaments,and gifts is rich and worth visiting.

Mines, miners, and minerals of western North Carolina, western North Carolina's hidden mineralogical treasures

Insiders' Guide to North Carolina's Mountains, Including Asheville, Biltmore Estate, Cherokee, and the Blue Ridge Parkway

Mineral collecting sites in North Carolina

Insiders' Guide to North Carolina's Mountains, 8th, Including Asheville, Biltmore Estate, and the Blue Ridge Parkway

History of the gems found in North Carolina