Cantherm Distributors · Authorized and sole Arcotherm distributor for North America since 1993 · Ships to drill camps and mining operations across Canada and the United States

When the drill rig is two hours from the nearest power line and the temperature is -38°C, the equipment can’t be the weak link.

Cantherm supplies the indirect-fired heaters, off-grid generators, bulk fuel tanks, and rapid-deployment shelters that keep drill camps, mining operations, and remote exploration sites running through the coldest months. Headquartered in Winnipeg — we have been shipping into the North since 1993.

What Drilling and Mining Operations Actually Need from On-Site Equipment

Drilling and mining operations are unforgiving on equipment. Remote location, sub-zero conditions, dust, vibration, fuel logistics measured in weeks rather than days — the equipment that works for jobsite construction often does not survive a winter season at a remote drill camp. The spec drilling and mining operators actually buy against:

Indirect-fired safety for crew enclosures. A heated drill shack with workers inside means combustion exhaust can’t be in the air stream. Indirect-fired diesel is the standard for any occupied enclosure — drill shacks, core processing tents, geo offices, equipment maintenance bays, and crew warming shelters all require sealed combustion. Direct-fired heaters belong outdoors only.

Remote-site reliability. A heater that fails at a drill camp 200 km from the nearest service center is a multi-day problem, not a multi-hour problem. Equipment built for serious operations — proper combustion chambers, replaceable parts, manufacturer support — is the only thing that makes sense at distance from infrastructure.

Extended runtime between refuels. Bulk fuel deliveries to remote mining sites happen on schedules measured in weeks, not days. Equipment that runs 24+ hours on a single tank — paired with bulk fuel storage on site — keeps the operation off the refuel critical path.

Cold-weather starting at -35°C and below. Many drilling and mining operations push through deep winter. A heater that won’t start on a January morning at -40°C ambient is a worker-safety problem, not a comfort problem. The Arcotherm indirect-fired line is engineered for this — single fuel-line kits on the EC and PHOEN lines recirculate warm oil to enable cold-weather starts where standard heaters fail.

Off-grid power capacity. Drill sites, exploration camps, and outlying mining operations often have no grid connection. Generator capacity to run heaters, lighting, communications, and any electrical drill or core-processing equipment is core infrastructure, not an accessory.

Field-replaceable parts. When something fails at a remote camp, the camp manager needs to swap a part with what’s on the truck — not wait three days for a manufacturer service tech. That means high-turn parts (igniters, motors, fuel pumps, thermocouples) sourced from a distributor who actually stocks them, not back-ordered from overseas.

That’s the spec the Arcotherm line and the wider Cantherm catalogue were built against.

Cantherm’s Approach for Drilling and Mining

Core camp heating: Arcotherm PHOEN 400 HC

Indirect-fired diesel, two-stage burner, 57-gallon onboard tank. 412K BTU input on high stage. 29 hours of runtime on low stage — the right answer when fuel delivery is scheduled rather than on-demand. Forklift pockets and a single-point lift bail mean it can be relocated around a camp as operations shift. The PHOEN line is the workhorse for drill-camp common areas, core-processing tents, and mid-size equipment shelters.

Drill shacks and small enclosures: Arcotherm EC Series

Indirect-fired diesel for the smaller occupied spaces. Sealed combustion, clean air output, CSA approved. Runs on diesel #2, kerosene K1, or jet fuel — useful where the camp’s diesel pool may be supplemented from helicopter-delivered jet fuel.

• EC 100 (112K BTU input, 11 gal tank, 14-hr runtime) — drill shacks, single-crew warming shelters, equipment maintenance bays
• EC 200 (205K BTU input, 17.2 gal tank, 12-hr runtime) — mid-size camp structures, larger drill shacks, geo offices
• EC 300 (294K BTU input, 27.7 gal tank, 13-hr runtime) — larger crew structures, multi-room field offices

All three run on 120V wall power for simple integration with camp generator power.

Large equipment shelters and processing structures: TITAN and JUMBO

TITAN 750 / TITAN 1000 — indirect-fired diesel or gas, centrifugal fan, 92–93% efficiency, 300 Pa static pressure (handles long duct runs to distributed structures). 240V single-phase. For the largest equipment shelters, core sheds, and multi-structure heating from a single unit.

JUMBO 400 / 600 / 800 — indirect-fired diesel or gas with axial fan, 90% efficiency. Wider BTU output range when long duct runs aren’t required.

Off-grid power: Yanmar and TecnoGen generators

Yanmar YDG portable diesel generators for small-to-mid drill sites — quiet operation, fuel efficient, built for remote-site cycling. TecnoGen Enermax mobile generators for larger camps with multiple structures, electric equipment loads, and continuous-operation requirements. Both pair cleanly with Cantherm heaters and the rest of the camp electrical needs.

Fuel logistics: Western Global tanks

Western Global commercial fuel tanks sized from 500 to 10,000+ gallons for bulk on-site diesel storage. FuelCub portable refueling systems for distributing fuel from bulk storage to individual heaters and generators around the camp. The right tank-and-pump arrangement turns three days of refueling labor into one.

Rapid-deployment shelter: Njordair Fast Tent

Inflatable buildings that deploy in under an hour for core processing tents, equipment shelter, crew warming structures, or rapid camp expansion. Useful for exploration operations that scale up and down on monthly cycles.

Workers and ground safety: PPE and onsite safety

Personal protective equipment, blower ventilation systems, and on-site safety gear — the gear that keeps drill and mining crews working safely in the conditions the work demands.

Equipment Recommendations by Drilling and Mining Use Case

Why Drilling and Mining Operations Choose Cantherm

Indirect-fired safety as the starting point. Our recommendation engine starts with indirect-fired diesel for any application where workers will be in the heated structure. We don’t sell direct-fired heaters for occupied drill shacks, core processing tents, or crew enclosures because it’s the wrong tool for the application — combustion products in the air stream are a worker-safety issue.

Cold-weather operation built in. Single fuel-line kit option on the EC and PHOEN lines for extreme cold starting. The Arcotherm line was developed for European winter conditions and tested for the North American market, including the operating conditions of Northern Manitoba, the prairies in January, and the Northwest Territories.

Bulk fuel logistics, sorted. Cantherm quotes heaters and bulk fuel tanks as packaged solutions — a PHOEN 400 HC paired with a 1,000-gallon Western Global tank and a FuelCub refueling system runs a mid-size drill camp for weeks between bulk fuel deliveries. The right package the first time saves recurring fuel-delivery logistics costs.

Parts in Winnipeg inventory, supported into the 2030s. High-turn parts (igniters, motors, fuel pumps, thermocouples) stocked at the Winnipeg warehouse — same-day shipping standard. Arcotherm maintains parts for ten years past a model’s retirement. The unit a drill operator buys today is supported throughout the typical project lifecycle.

Tech support that knows remote operations. Sizing a heater for a -38°C drill shack 300 km off the grid is a different conversation from sizing a heater for a heated commercial garage in Winnipeg. Cantherm has had both, and knows how to ask the right questions for either.

Shipping into the North handled on Cantherm’s side. Many drilling and mining customers are shipping equipment to locations served only by winter roads, ice roads, or air cargo. Cantherm handles the freight logistics, customs paperwork, and CSA certification confirmation. You tell us the destination and the timeline; we work backwards.

Drilling and Mining Operations Cantherm Supports

Manitoba-based drilling and mining operations have been a core Cantherm market since the company’s founding. Northern Manitoba mining operations, exploration drilling programs across the province, and the related camp and equipment infrastructure projects have been part of Cantherm’s customer base for three decades.

Beyond Manitoba, Cantherm equipment is on drill sites and mining operations across Canada and the United States — from junior exploration programs in Northern Ontario to large established mining operations in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan. The same equipment serves U.S. mining operations in Alaska, Minnesota, Nevada, and the broader Western states.

The breadth of customers reflects the breadth of the catalogue — single drill shacks running off one EC 100 to multi-structure permanent mining operations running a full mix of indirect-fired heat, generator capacity, fuel logistics, and rapid-deployment shelter.

Drilling and Mining Buyer FAQ

Can I use a direct-fired heater in a drill shack with workers inside?

No. Direct-fired heaters expel combustion products (carbon monoxide, water vapour, nitrogen oxides) directly into the heated air. In an occupied drill shack or core processing tent — anywhere workers are breathing the air — indirect-fired diesel (EC, PHOEN, TITAN, JUMBO) is the only safe choice. Direct-fired heaters belong in open-air or extremely well-ventilated applications.

How do I size a heater for a drill camp structure at -35°C?

Three rules of thumb for typical drill-camp enclosures at -35°C ambient:

• Tarp / fabric shelter (uninsulated): 100–150 BTU/h per square foot of floor area
• Insulated drill shack or core tent: 50–75 BTU/h per sq ft
• Tight, finished structure: 30–50 BTU/h per sq ft

Cold-weather sizing runs roughly 25–50% higher than the equivalent construction-jobsite calculation. Call a Cantherm specialist for the final size — wind exposure, structure tightness, and the difference between “comfortable to work in” and “keep the pipes from freezing” all change the answer.

How do I plan fuel logistics for a remote drill camp?

For most drill camps, bulk on-site fuel storage is the right answer. A 1,000-gallon Western Global tank paired with a PHOEN 400 HC running on low stage gives you roughly 500 hours of heating per fill — about three weeks of continuous operation. Pair the tank with a FuelCub refueling system to distribute diesel to the heaters and generators around the camp without truck-handling at each unit.

What if my drill site has no grid power?

The Cantherm catalogue assumes off-grid is the default for drilling and mining. EC line heaters run on 120V (single Yanmar YDG generator handles it). TITAN line needs 240V single-phase (TecnoGen Enermax or larger). Cantherm quotes the generator with the heater so the package is matched.

What’s the warranty on Arcotherm heaters in mining conditions?

Same Arcotherm warranty as other applications. Cantherm handles warranty work directly — no shipping units back to Italy. For mining operations running multiple units, Cantherm walks through service intervals so the warranty stays valid through the season.

Can you ship equipment on a winter road or air cargo?

Yes. Many drilling and mining customers are shipping into locations where conventional ground freight isn’t an option. Cantherm handles the logistics — winter road windows, air cargo brokerage, customs paperwork for cross-border destinations. Tell us the destination and the timeline, and we will route the shipment.

What if a heater fails at a remote camp?

Cantherm tech support is the same Winnipeg phone line as the sales conversation — call and we troubleshoot the issue. For most field failures, the resolution is replacing a high-turn part (igniter, motor, fuel pump) — and those parts ship same-day or next-day from the Winnipeg warehouse. For complex situations, Cantherm has a direct line to Biemmedue’s engineering team in Italy for the Arcotherm products.

Outfitting a Drill Camp or Mining Operation? Let’s Scope It.

Tell us the type of operation (exploration drill program / development drilling / active mine / camp expansion), the structures you’re heating (drill shacks, core tents, equipment shelters, crew quarters), the location and conditions, the grid-power situation, and the timeline. A Cantherm specialist will narrow the equipment, quote the heater-generator-fuel-tank package, and arrange logistics into the site.