By: Sudbury Northern Life Staff

Crossworks Manufacturing Limited in Sudbury has signed a contract with De Beers to cut and polish a portion of the diamonds from the company's northern Ontario Victor Mine from 2012-15.

The contract, also known as an “allocation of diamonds,” is submitted for tender by the Diamond Trading Company to qualified companies every three years.

The Diamond Trading Company is the rough diamond sales and distribution arm of the De Beers Family of Companies.

Crossworks will increase employment at the facility from 29 employees currently to about 50 people over the next three years.

New jobs will be in special skilled diamond cutting trades, as well as administrative and maintenance positions.

Subject to specific agreements regarding the diamond supply, this will mean that an estimated $35-million worth of rough stones will be processed annually at the company’s facility in Sudbury.

Under an agreement with the Ontario government, De Beers Canada is making 10 per cent of its annual rough diamond production from the Victor Mine, by value, available for cutting and polishing activities in Ontario.

“It is an honour to have the opportunity to purchase the Victor mine diamond allocation for the second time through 2015,” Uri Ariel, president, Crossworks Manufacturing Ltd., said in a press release. “The past three years has laid the groundwork to truly develop a vibrant diamond industry in Ontario.”

“This latest allocation of rough diamonds from the De Beers Victor mine will create jobs and continue promoting the development of value-added industries here in Sudbury,” Bartolucci said.

Posted by Heather Green-Oliver

Read More: Home > Sudbury News