July 8, 2008 - Cambrian College today announced a contribution of customized mining software from BESTECH that will be used to enhance the educational experience for Cambrian College students in the Mining, Automation, and Instrumentation programs.

The NRG-1 software is BESTECH’s web-based control system that is currently used by the mining industry for underground mine and plant ventilation control. The software enables optimum control of assets, and it helps reduce energy costs, increase revenue, and enhance safety. At Cambrian, the software will be used to enrich the learning opportunities for students in the College’s engineering technology programs.

“Cambrian College takes great pride in its 40-year track record of successful partnerships with business and industry,” said Cambrian President Sylvia Barnard. “Our goal is to continue to provide skilled, workforce-ready graduates for a global economy. We are very pleased to add BESTECH to our growing list of industry partners, and I would like to thank BESTECH for sharing our vision and investing in Cambrian students, in the College system, and in the future of our economy.”

“Supporting Cambrian College’s learning environment with industry-standard software is a key component of our community investment,” said Denis Pitre, Vice-President and CEO of BESTECH. “Students in the Mining, Instrumentation, and Automation programs will work with NRG-1 as part of their studies. They will also test and challenge the software, ensuring a better product for BESTECH customers.”

The Cambrian – BESTECH partnership will also extend beyond the use of NRG-1 software and will also involve corporate training and research opportunities.

About BESTECH
Founded in 1995 by Marc Boudreau and Denis Pitre, BESTECH has established itself as a leader in innovative technologies dedicated to system integration and industrial automation. Recognized leaders in the field, the company has worked extensively in the mining, pulp and paper, forestry, oil and gas, automotive, manufacturing and municipal sectors. After more than 10 years of sustainable growth, BESTECH employs a skilled team of engineers, technologists, programmers and a support staff of over 65people in its Engineering, Software Development and Environmental Monitoring divisions. BESTECH was the recipient of Northern Ontario Business and Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce Awards for Innovation in 2000, and was recently recognized as the 2008 Bell Business Excellence Award for ‘Company of the Year.’

About Cambrian College
For over 40 years, Cambrian College has been providing business and industry with workplace-ready employees…has been contributing significantly to the economic success of our community. Cambrian has over 4,400 students enrolled in about 85 programs, plus over 8,000 students in continuing education programs. Cambrian has provided global workplaces with over 30,000 graduates who enjoy an overall employer satisfaction rate of over 91 per cent. Throughout its history, Cambrian’s partnerships with business, industry, the professions, and other educational institutions have been the hallmark of its success.

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