Davy Markham, the Sheffield-based heavy-engineering specialist, has won a multi-million-pound contract to supply two mine hoists to extract nickel ore as part of a four-year mine expansion project in Canada (www.davymarkham.com).

Engineers will design and manufacture the equipment in the UK and install it at the Copper Cliff Mine in Ontario in the second quarter of 2018.

The deal, which has secured 40 existing jobs, consolidates Davy Markham’s relationship with global mining company Vale; it has supplied mine hoists for Vale on previous projects.

This new contract is part of the first phase of a project to re-activate and expand the mine under the town of Copper Cliff; it covers the south shaft, hoists and head-frame, plus underground development to access new mining fronts about 5,200ft below the surface.