UNDERGROUND LOAD AND HAUL
in its next incarnation. AutoMine Aura builds on the proven safety principles and access control systems used today, while 3D perception and adaptive intelligence enhance these capabilities. This improves safety in increasingly dynamic environments.
Operators also benefit through a wider, more intuitive interface that delivers full awareness of the mine environment. This enables remote supervision and control of multiple machines, reducing exposure to dust, noise, vibration and other on-site hazards. The enhanced operator experience strengthens both safety and productivity, while supporting workforce development by transitioning operators into more technology-focused roles.
AutoMine Aura launches initially on underground loaders, with the platform set to expand across additional Sandvik product lines over time.
“ AutoMine is already a world-leading solution, proven across over 140 mines globally,” David Hallett, Vice President – Automation at Sandvik, said.
“ With AutoMine Aura, we have not built the next version; we have built an entirely new platform. The navigation system with 3D perception is the first of its kind in the industry, and the productivity gains, including moving over 15 % more material, have been proven and validated at our customer sites. This confirms what this technology means for our customers and for the future of mining.”
One such customer site is the George Fisher mine in Queensland, Australia, owned by Glencore, which, according to Nicholas Pascoe, Mine Manager, has a history of putting new technology through its paces in what are“ challenging conditions.”
Raukawa Danklof, Automation Specialist at the mine, said:“ We’ re currently using AutoMine Aura in real life production cycles … It is currently digging multiple stopes in multiple areas, and is a very productive unit.”
He added:“ With AutoMine Aura, we’ ve noticed a 70 % increase in productivity; more material moved helps us make more money at the end of the day.”
Offering a flexible decarbonisation pathway
Komatsu is another OEM that has been refining its solutions in collaboration with clients.
In this pursuit, the OEM states that electrification, sustainability and productivity are no longer competing objectives, with all three converging into a single imperative. Komatsu’ s expanded hard-rock and industrial minerals mining product portfolio is supporting this transition through a combination of proven product platforms, new electrified solutions and close
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collaboration with customers, it says.
A key milestone in this journey was the recent presentation, together with K + S, of the WX14LPE tethered-electric loader at The Electric Mine 2026 conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
The WX14LPE represents a continuation of decades of tethered-electric experience, now brought into a modern, applicationdriven platform that, the OEM says, is optimised for industrial minerals and lowprofile environments.
The machine delivers a 14-t payload capacity in a compact, low-profile design, making it particularly suited to confined seam conditions where productivity, ventilation constraints and heat management are critical challenges. Its direct electric drive provides zero local emissions, reducing both mine ventilation requirements and operating costs, while improving working conditions at the face. The integrated cable reel and spooling device are engineered to maintain controlled cable tension and consistent spooling during tramming and loading cycles, supporting reliable power delivery, while minimising cable damage and unplanned interruptions. This further helps customers reduce maintenance interventions and total operating cost over the machine life cycle.
Complementing tethered-electric solutions, Komatsu’ s battery-electric roadmap is advancing rapidly, led by the introduction of the WX04B, a 4-t payload battery-electric LHD designed for narrowvein operations. The WX04B represents a significant step forward in electrification for smaller-scale underground operations, combining zero diesel emissions with a highly practical ground-level battery swap system that eliminates the need for complex infrastructure underground.
With up to six hours of run time on a single charge and class-leading energy density, the WX04B enables operators to maximise productive time while minimising downtime associated with charging cycles, the company says. Furthermore, batteryelectric operation reduces heat, noise and ventilation demand, delivering tangible cost benefits in addition to sustainability gains.
Recent trial work in Canada has demonstrated the practical value of this platform, where testing in real underground conditions enabled performance optimisation and ultimately supported customer confidence in adopting the technology.“ Industry collaborations, such as testing at facilities like NORCAT in Sudbury, are helping accelerate the validation and adoption of battery-electric equipment by
The WX14LPE represents a continuation of decades of tethered-electric experience, now brought into a modern, application-driven platform that, Komatsu says, is optimised for industrial minerals and low-profile environments
What differentiates the WX14LPE is not simply the technology itself, but the development approach, Komatsu says.
As highlighted in Portugal, the machine has been shaped through close OEMcustomer collaboration, with trials and validation carried out alongside mining partners to ensure the design aligns directly with real underground conditions and operating requirements.“ This collaborative development model is increasingly central to how new solutions are brought to market,” Komatsu says. bridging the gap between development and real-world deployment,” Komatsu says.“ While specific commercial details vary by operation, the outcome is clear: customers are increasingly moving from trials to fleet adoption as operational and economic benefits are proven.”
These electrified solutions sit within an underground hard-rock and industrial minerals portfolio that is designed to cover the full spectrum of mining applications – from low-profile to narrow-vein operations through to large-scale mass mining.
International Mining | JULY 2026