Customer results at the heart of mining's future

Patrick Murphy has been with Sandvik for more than two decades. In that time, he has held leadership roles across Canada, Australia, India, Finland, the US and now at Sandvik headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Having led several Sandvik Mining divisions before becoming President, he has seen firsthand how the industry has evolved. Today, he believes mining's long-term success will depend on delivering measurable improvements in safety, reliability and productivity while embracing new technologies.

You've recently stepped into the role of President of Business Area Mining. Tell us a little about your journey.

I joined Sandvik in Canada in 2001 and have had the opportunity to work in a variety of roles worldwide. Before my current role, I led the Rotary Drilling, Underground Drilling and Rock Drills & Technologies divisions. Throughout that journey, one thing has remained constant: the industry's focus on improving productivity while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Stepping into the Business Area President role, my job is now more about empowering our organization to help our customers achieve their results. I focus more on setting the overall direction, providing the resources and empowering the teams to an even greater extent than before. We operate a decentralized organization because we believe that’s the best way to drive results and accountability and stay close to our customers.

We're hearing a lot about the future of mining. What does that mean to you?

Three themes stand out: electrification, automation and digitalization. Those are not new ideas, but the conversation is evolving. Today, the focus is less on introducing technologies for their own sake and more on understanding how to apply and scale them to deliver measurable value.

What is the biggest opportunity for Sandvik Mining over the next few years?

Sandvik is a recognized leader in mining technology, and our customers increasingly want a partner that can help them navigate the future. Many of the solutions shaping tomorrow's mines are being developed around electrification, automation and digitalization. Our opportunity is to work alongside customers to co-develop those solutions and help them solve real operational challenges while maintaining a strong focus on safety.

How do you balance innovation with the practical realities customers face every day?

It starts with customer results. For us, that means focusing on three fundamentals: reliability, availability and productivity. Reliability is about keeping equipment running. Availability means having the parts, services and support needed to maximize uptime. Productivity comes from designing machines and systems that help customers get more from their operations. New technologies are important, but we can never lose sight of the fundamentals. If innovation doesn't improve customer outcomes, we have missed the point.

What would you say to customers who are just beginning their technology journey?

The first step is to start the conversation. Every mining operation faces different challenges and opportunities. We want to understand what matters most to each customer, share what we have learned from other projects and work together to build a roadmap that delivers value. Technology adoption is a journey, and our role is to help customers solve their toughest problems along the way. So, let’s talk.