HIGH PROFILE: Sandvik Mining / Universal Field Robots
In a project for a mine in Indonesia, UFR has fitted a non-iSeries mobile drill-and-charge unit, the DB331, with on-board hardware and integrated into the AutoMine software platform to enable teleremote operation from the surface or less-hazardous areas than the current status quo
of Sandvik Digital Mining Technologies that wasn’ t open prior to this transaction,” he said.“ We could see the huge opportunities that would come by making it an OEMagnostic platform.”
UFR-Sandvik AutoMine integrations opening up automation possibilities
Anyone tracking developments with Sandvik AutoMine ® over the last decade would not have been surprised by the OEM’ s move to acquire Universal Field Robots( UFR) in 2024; a move that further opens its renowned automation platform.
In fact, one could see such a transaction happening all the way back in 2018: the year Sandvik Mining released its Interoperability Policy, outlining the principles by which Sandvik systems can communicate within a digital ecosystem including data accessibility, fleet data compatibility, data rights and control, and data privacy.
In 2019, Sandvik followed this up with the release of the AutoMine Access API, a system server interface that includes hardware components and software functionality packaged by Sandvik. This allows non-Sandvik equipment to be connected to AutoMine via a standard structure in the control room environment as defined by Sandvik, with the API interface definition including a requirements specification for compatible third-party equipment.
Then, in 2023, the release of AutoMine Core provided, among other things, users with multiple levels of interoperability for Sandvik and third-party OEM fleets.
The OEM followed this up a year later with the AutoMine Interoperable ACS, which increased the flexibility between Sandvik automated equipment and third-party equipment by allowing access to a shared automated zone at different times. This allows each machine to be independently controlled by its own system while operating within the unified AutoMine Interoperable ACS system to maintain a safer working environment.
What was missing was the on-board infrastructure, mechatronics expertise and software integration piece to expand and open the AutoMine platform even further for any type of equipment, according to David Hallett, Vice President of Automation at Sandvik Mining. UFR provides exactly that. In the original press release announcing the acquisition in August 2024, Sandvik commented that UFR would significantly expand the number of compatible thirdparty equipment types, providing customers with flexible opportunities to optimise the performance of their full mining equipment fleets, regardless of the OEM.
Having visited the UFR facility just outside of Brisbane in mid-March, it became clear how this would work in practice.
“ We want to offer a seamless, one platform experience within AutoMine,” Hallett said.
This will see UFR – now a part of the Digital Mining Technologies division within Sandvik Mining – create the onboard infrastructure fitted on third-party – or non-iSeries Sandvik – equipment, plus the software and interface integration piece, to allow such machines to be visible in the AutoMine environment.
The ability to offer such an equipmentagnostic approach could see many more equipment types come into designated automation zones, interacting with Sandvik iSeries loaders, trucks and drills, plus allow Sandvik to enter new application offerings like low-profile mining.
Riku Pulli, President of Sandvik’ s Digital Mining Technologies division, said this represents a big strategic decision for the company.
“ AutoMine was, in theory, the only part
Zero-entry ambitions
Hallett said the key focus areas, as far as these opportunities go, are tied to expanding fleet coverage and establishing“ zero-entry applications” in underground and surface mining.
Elen Toodu, Director, Business Development for Sandvik’ s Digital Mining Technologies, explained that the company is taking a phased approach to the latter, recognising that the company cannot pursue all opportunities at once.
“ What we have started to do though, is map the various points where we feel we can make an impact towards zero-entry mining, with the understanding that no-one is going to be covering everything in the near term,” she told IM.
Dush Wimal, Director, Business Development( Acting) for Sandvik’ s Digital Mining Technologies, is confident that Sandvik can take a leadership position in the zero-entry market, automating equipment that the industry did not think was possible.
Referencing large mass mining applications, he pointed to increasing the level of automation to tackle hang-ups and secondary blasting needs.
“ The DB331 project we’ re working on currently is a good example of that,” he told IM.
This non-iSeries mobile drill-and-charge unit has been fitted with UFR on-board hardware and integrated into the AutoMine software platform to enable teleremote operation from the surface or less-hazardous areas than the current status quo.
“ This isn’ t a theoretical exercise,” he added.“ Two of these DB331 units have been commissioned at a customer site in Indonesia, with another two on their way, all of which will be integrated into the wider AutoMine ecosystem at site.”
Asked whether this is a cost-effective option for mine sites carrying legacy, noniSeries equipment, Wimal said:“ Absolutely. And it’ s not just cost-effective when it comes to our own non-iSeries equipment.
“ For example, one of the customers we have in Africa is currently running a fleet of iSeries trucks, and they wanted to extend this to also incorporate remote loading in a
International Mining | AUGUST 2026 17