From SECAN to CANUN (1960-2026)

From its roots in the early 1960s with the original SECAN rock drill, CANUN has grown into a trusted name in underground mining across Canada and beyond. Through decades of innovation and continuous development, CANUN drills have powered operations from Sudbury to South America and Africa. More than 60 years later, CANUN continues to build on its legacy of reliability, performance, and commitment to the mining industry.

Here's a look back on the history of CANUN International :

1960s

In the early 1960s, a company called U&N Equipment, located in North Bay, approached a South African company known as SECO to produce a rock drill suited to the Canadian market. The SECAN drill was subsequently developed with U&N Equipment serving as the sole distributor of the drill in Canada.

Today, the cylinder from the very first SECAN drill in Canada is displayed on a stand in the CANUN office in Sudbury, Ontario :  

FIRST SECAN S-240 ROCK DRILL IN CANADA

SERIAL NUMBER #100 / ARRIVED AUGUST-1962

RETIRED JANUARY 1972

APPROXIMATE FOOTAGE DRILLED 150,000

1980s

In 1980, Boart Canada was acquired by Anglo American, the same company that owned SECO. Following the acquisition, it was decided that U&N Equipment would no longer represent SECO in Canada, and the distributorship was transferred to Boart.

U&N Equipment then approached a new manufacturer in Southern Ontario to produce the components required to manufacture the same rock drill previously supplied by SECO. U&N Equipment then launched a contest to create a new name for their drill. The name “CANUN” was selected, combining “Canada” and “U&N.” The drill series became known as the CANUN 260B drills.

By 1986, CANUN introduced a universal cylinder, allowing a single standard cylinder to be used across all CANUN drill models and in 1987, CANUN drills were being sold to mining operations in Peru.

1990s

CANUN International (960660 Ontario Limited) registers as a legal entity in 1991 with original partners Peter Cirelli and Alan French. CANUN International becomes the supplier of CANUN rock drills.

At this time, CANUN also developed a special model of drill to be used in Dimensional Stone Quarries.

CANUN International becomes ISO 9001 Registered in 1997.

2000s

CANUN 260B Drills were introduced into lnco Sudbury mines (now Vale) in 2002 and continue to be the drill of choice in Vale Sudbury mining operations.

The CANUN CANPUSH51 screen pusher was developed in 2003, and the first production run was successfully completed.

In July 2009, CANUN secured the contract to repair all jackleg and stoper drills used in Glencore’s Sudbury mining operations.

2010s

In 2012, Alan French retired. Peter Cirelli and family becomes sole owner of CANUN International.

By March 2014, the 10,000th CANUN drill cylinder supplied into the market as drill or replacement component.

In July 2015 CANUN secured the contract to repair Jacklegs and Stopers for Vale Sudbury operations.

2020s

In November 2021, CANUN International celebrated 30 years of operation.

By 2022, CANUN signs an exclusive agreement with Maruzen Kogyo Co., Ltd. to sell and rent the Maruzen line of handheld hydraulic construction equipment in Canada.

April 2023, Peter Cirelli retires. Doug Cirelli assumes day-to-day operations.

In March 2026, CANUN appointed Ryder Drilling Tools SAC as its new distributor across five South American countries: Peru, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia.

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Visit our Drills and Parts page for details on the drills and parts mentioned in this article.

Visit the FAQ page and other related latest news.

Learn about our drill repair program here.

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