MASHinery allows visitors to operate heavy equipment while introducing young people to the trades
MASHinery is putting the public in the operator’s seat, offering visitors to its North Bay, Ontario, attraction the chance to run heavy equipment.
The new heavy equipment playground is the creation of Ken Sim, owner of North Bay-based Canor Construction and Mano Aggregates.
Drawing on his experience in construction and aggregate production, Sim created MASHinery to make heavy equipment accessible to people who would not otherwise have an opportunity to operate it.
“The main drive we focus on now is getting younger people interested in the industry. Let’s get people into the trades. Let’s get them into excavators,” Sim said.
“It’s going to be a long time before technology advances enough to get water to someone’s house without having to dig a hole. This industry is not going away for quite a long time.”
Sim decided to open MASHinery after visiting a similar heavy equipment experience in Las Vegas. After some thorough research, he found there are few opportunities for the public to try their hand at operating.
“There’s nothing like this in Canada and there’s only three in North America, including MASHinery” he said.
Hit the ground running
Immediately after MASHinery’s grand opening in late July, bookings started to pour in. Within days the attraction welcomed visitors from as far as Niagara Falls and began receiving inquiries for corporate retreats.
“We didn’t know how busy it was going to be right away,” Sim said.
So far, the Kid’s Excavator Experience is the most popular attraction, with multiple bookings per day. Using a micro excavator, children ages five and up can dig up “dinosaur bones” and learn basic manoeuvring and control skills.
“The smiling kids’ faces … It’s worth it just for the stuff I didn’t even think about, the intangibles. It’s great to let them play and see how happy they are,” Sim said.
The fleet
Alongside the youth experience, MASHinery offers the opportunity to operate 4-ton, 13-ton and 20-ton excavators, loaders, rock trucks, skid steers and dozers. At the upper end of package offerings, visitors can use an excavator to crush a car.
MASHinery is also able to draw upon Canor’s 75 machine fleet if a visitor is looking to run a specific machine type.
“I could put a 50-ton excavator up there if they really want to try a big one,” Sim said. “We’re not limiting any exercise.”
With the business quickly generating interest, Sim is looking to expand the dedicated team onsite. To help meet demand, he is training operators from the construction side of his businesses to help with operations when needed.
“They’re very apt on how to run the machinery. So, we just train them on our policies and how to deal with the public,” he said.
The playground
MASHinery is situated on part of Mano Aggregates’ gravel pit. Sim rehabilitated a portion of the aggregate site and amended his license to allow the heavy equipment playground to operate. Mano Aggregates continues to operate a pit for sand processing and screening next door to the attraction.
“It’s like a giant sandbox,” Sim said.
Safety behind the fun
Rather than offering unrestricted seat time, each experience follows a structured program. Participants receive safety and equipment orientation before entering the operating area and are guided by the company’s machine coaches.
General Manager John Perry, who has more than 20 years of experience operating heavy equipment, oversees the operation, leads each safety briefing and has the authority to stop operations if established safety standards are not being met.
As well, the machine coaches and visitors stay in contact using headsets.
“For the kids, we stand right beside the machine with them. We’re right there,” Sim said.
As well, every machine on site is equipped with a remote kill switch.
“We can demobilize the machine with a push of a button,” Sim said. “There’s lots of safety factors in place.”
