Glencore doubles down on safe, productive operations with automated Sandvik trucks
Glencore’s George Fisher Mine (GFM) at Mount Isa is continuing to pioneer the use of underground automation equipment with the roll-out of Toro® trucks equipped with AutoMine® by Sandvik.
Three automated Toro® TH663i trucks joined operations in 2024, following the successful implementation of an automated loader fleet with the AutoMine® system a little over four years ago.
The automated loaders and trucks are now successfully utilised around the clock on separate levels of the mine, with major benefits for safety and efficiency.
“Safety is paramount to us,” says George Fisher Mine Production Superintendent Manfred Drutschmann. “With Sandvik AutoMine®, we not only remove people from high-risk underground environments but also unlock new levels of efficiency and consistency in our operations. The automated trucks allow us to haul more material faster, without shift change delays, helping us optimize our overall production. That’s a major win.”
Glencore Automation specialist Raukawa ‘Sonic’ Danklof says productivity has also seen major benefits. “Our operations were already efficient but following the automation of the Sandvik trucks we have further enhanced productivity and operational efficiency. I would say automation and the increased uptime that it provides are a big part of the reason for that achievement.”
Auto-loading and traffic control
Located 20 kilometres north of Mount Isa, George Fisher Mine is one of the largest zinc, lead and silver mines in the world. Part of mining giant Glencore’s Mount Isa Mines complex, the mine produces some three million tonnes of ore annually and undertakes up to 12 kilometres of underground development.
The mine’s operators have long been interested in increasing safety by removing humans from the underground environment. Following an agreement with Sandvik, the AutoMine® Multi-Lite system was introduced for use with five Toro® LH517 loaders in July 2020. At the time, the loaders were capable of tramming and dumping entirely independently, with human operators on the surface only required to take charge during loading.
In recent times, the mine has trialed and implemented Sandvik’s AutoLoad 2.0 feature, with the loaders now successfully running complete cycles without the need for human intervention. As part of its Gold-Level automation subscription for AutoMine®, George Fisher Mine is also able to access traffic control features which allow multiple loaders to operate in close proximity on the same level at the same time. A total of ten automated Toro® loaders are in operation as of 2025.
Mining sector paying attention
Sandvik Technical Support Manager for Automation Tommi Rautio says the success George Fisher Mine is enjoying with AutoMine® is triggering widespread interest in automation technologies across the wider industry.
“This is the first time a Sandvik automated trucking solution has been implemented in a mine in Australia, and other mining operations have been watching closely,” he says. “Now that they are seeing what automation can do, I expect a surge in interest.”
Tommi says there also remains plenty of scope for Sandvik and George Fisher Mine to explore new opportunities. Sandvik’s Fleet licence, for example, could empower the operation to operate automated trucks and loaders in proximity on the same level, thanks to advanced traffic management.
The roll-out of the autonomous underground trucking solution supports Sandvik’s wider supply of drills, loaders and trucks for Glencore's metalliferous mines in Mount Isa, Queensland.
About George Fisher Mine
The George Fisher Mine is located about 20 kilometres north of Mount Isa in Queensland and is one of world’s largest zinc, lead and silver mines. Sub-level open stoping is used for extraction and the mine produces three million tonnes of ore and undertakes 11-12 kilometres of development each year. It forms part of Glencore's Mount Isa Mines.
About Sandvik AutoMine®
The Sandvik AutoMine® product group takes in a diverse range of autonomous and remotely operated mobile equipment. It allows operators to simultaneously control and monitor multiple underground machine operations in the comfort and safety of a remote-control room. It enables customers to scale up automation at their own pace.
For further information, please contact:
Kate Bills
Kate Bills, General Manager – Sustainability, Marketing and Communications
Tel: +61 459 810 317