Sandvik Mining & Rock Solutions :: Equipment, Tools & Digital Technologies For The Mining & Rock Excavation Industries

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is a leading division of the global Sandvik Group, specializing in equipment, tools, and digital technologies for the mining and rock excavation industries. The company provides comprehensive solutions for underground and surface mining, focusing on productivity, safety, sustainability, and operational efficiency. With a strong emphasis on innovation, Sandvik integrates advanced automation, electrification, and digitalization to address the growing demand for minerals while tackling industry challenges like labor shortages, deeper/harder-to-reach deposits, and environmental requirements.

Sandvik’s robot-based products center on its AutoMine® platform, which enables remote and fully autonomous operation of mobile mining equipment. This technology allows operators to control multiple machines from a safe, remote control room, significantly reducing human exposure to hazardous environments while increasing productivity and fleet utilization.

Key robot-based and autonomous products:

• AutoMine® Autonomous: Offers full machine autonomy across underground and surface operations. It includes capabilities for loaders, trucks, drills, and more, with features like AutoCycle for continuous operation with minimal human intervention. Systems support multi-machine control, autonomous drilling cycles (including hole-to-hole tramming), and integration with third-party equipment.
• Autonomous Drill Rigs: Surface and underground drill rigs (e.g., i-series) with AutoMine® Surface Fleet and underground packages. These enable one operator to manage multiple rigs, automating stabilization, positioning, drilling patterns, pipe handling, and tramming. Recent advancements support fleets of over 15 rigs.
• Autonomous Loaders and Trucks: Battery-electric and diesel models capable of full production cycles (loading, hauling, dumping) with minimal intervention. Includes concept vehicles like the AutoMine® Concept Loader and Underground Drill designed from the ground up for autonomy.
• Enhanced Capabilities via Acquisitions: The 2024 acquisition of Universal Field Robots (UFR) adds OEM-agnostic autonomous solutions for trucks, loaders, and auxiliary equipment, expanding interoperability across mixed fleets.

Sandvik also invests heavily in next-generation concepts, including cabinless, battery-electric machines with advanced AI, sensing, and navigation. These solutions deliver measurable benefits: improved safety, higher productivity, lower operating costs, and better sustainability through electrification. The company supports customers with full digital ecosystems, including OptiMine® for monitoring and planning.