IM July 2025 | Page 6

WORLD PROSPECTS
The‘ future of autonomous drill rig operation’
Sandvik Mining has introduced AutoMine ® Surface Fleet, a feature that, it says, enables operators to manage more than 15 Sandvik surface i-series drill rigs from any connected site location.
The new solution delivers unprecedented flexibility while reducing downtime and improving productivity during shift changes, the company says.
The new advanced FleetFlex functionality enables operators to seamlessly and simultaneously control the transfer of drill rigs between stations, significantly enhancing the ability to manage a large fleet of machines with unmatched ease and efficiency. Its location-independent capabilities provide the flexibility required to drive continuous improvement and optimisation across both on-site and citybased control operations, according to Sandvik.
“ The system is fully compatible with the AutoMine Universal Station, allowing the operation of both boom and rotary drills even in challenging environments, such as rock and weather conditions,” Severi Eerola, Product Line Manager, Surface Automation at Sandvik Mining, says.“ This ensures every shift can be run at optimal performance, regardless of the conditions, by providing a fully integrated solution that allows mining operations to run continuously and efficiently, even during blast breaks.”
AutoMine Surface Fleet also leverages AutoCycle capabilities for continuous rig operation with minimal human intervention, automating processes such as stabilising, precise positioning, collaring, drilling, reliable pipe handling, hole finishing and tramming to the next hole.
With AutoMine Surface Fleet, operators can manage individual autonomous rigs and oversee the entire bench, providing accurate positioning, automated drilling and obstacle detection for safe and efficient operations.
Extensive field tests at Boliden Kevitsa, an open – pit mine in northern Finland, have proven the solution’ s operational benefits, Sandvik says.
“ The geological conditions at Kevitsa are highly complex, with mixed mineralogy,
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ductile rock and seasonal challenges such as water and frost, all of which affect equipment performance and drilling capacity,” Juha Ranta, Drilling Development Manager at Boliden Kevitsa, said.“ The AutoMine Surface Fleet solution has enabled us to optimise our operations under these demanding conditions. The ability for operators to seamlessly switch to remote control, along with the strong aftermarket support from Sandvik, has been instrumental in maintaining high performance.”
Tom Söderman, CEO at Boliden Kevitsa, added:“ The partnership with Sandvik and the introduction of AutoMine Surface Fleet marks a significant step forward for our operations. Sandvik’ s continued support and expertise have been key in helping us unlock new levels of productivity and efficiency. We see this collaboration as a key enabler in driving the long-term success of our mining operations.”
AutoMine Surface Fleet is designed to support operator development by enabling skill-building in real operational environments, reinforced through collaboration with experienced personnel. www. mining. sandvik; www. boliden. com
Weir banks‘ single largest order’ for GEHO pumps
Weir has been selected by Codelco to supply the tailings transport solution for the Talabre tailings dam expansion project in the Atacama region of Chile.
The brownfield expansion project will combine the thickened tailings streams from three major mines in the area: Ministro Hales, Chuquicamata and Radomiro Tomic. The expansion is expected to have a total productive life of 20 years and handle a slurry thickened to circa-70 % solid content – creating the opportunity to reuse process water and increasing the safety and stability of the storage facility.
The Weir solution includes a combination of GEHO ® positive displacement pumps and WARMAN ® centrifugal pumps to handle the large volume and high solid content of tailings from the three mines. With the full process enabled with NEXT intelligent digital solutions, the combined equipment will transport over 10,000 t / h( dry) using less energy than other available solutions, Weir says.
The initial £ 40 million($ 54 million) contract awards will be booked in the June quarter.
In total, the contracts represent the single largest order for Weir’ s GEHO pumps, underlining the benefits of this technology for large scale, energy-efficient tailings transportation.
After commissioning of the equipment, aftermarket support will be provided locally via Weir’ s service centre presence in the region.
Jon Stanton, Chief Executive Officer, said:“ We are delighted to have secured these significant contracts for our tailings management solutions, which include both our market leading GEHO and WARMAN ranges that provide energy-efficient tailings transportation at scale. Our engineers have developed a differentiated solution, particularly addressing Codelco’ s stringent sustainability goals for operating in the water-scarce climate and geology of the Atacama region. Our proven experience on large scale tailings operations as well as local presence mean Codelco can come to expect the world class service Weir is known for.” www. global. weir; www. codelco. com
Allison Transmission to buy Dana’ s Off-Highway business
Allison Transmission Holdings has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Off-Highway business of Dana Incorporated, a leading provider of drivetrain and propulsion solutions, for approximately $ 2.7 billion.
This acquisition aligns with Allison’ s strategic priorities to expand its emerging markets footprint, enhance core technologies and deliver strong financial
International Mining | JULY 2025