Customer stories

As underground mines continue to push deeper, ground stresses rise and so do the safety challenges that come with them. Operators are increasingly looking for monitoring solutions that are not only accurate and dependable, but also simple to deploy and safe to operate in demanding environments.

El Teniente, located in the Chilean Andes, is one of the largest underground copper mines on the planet. It is also one of the most complex, with many geotechnical challenges. By using automated solutions, the mine has significantly improved safety and productivity. Now, together with Sandvik, state-owned company Codelco is creating the mine of the future. In the next few years, the goal is for El Teniente to only have automated trucks and loaders.

Gilbert Lamarche, Chief Operating Officer, Foran Mining Corporation, sat down with Solid Ground to discuss Foran’s flagship McIlvenna Bay project, the company’s vision for sustainable, responsible mining and the benefits of going all in on BEVs.

In the heart of Transylvania, Romania, lies a groundbreaking venture that has redefined the salt mining industry in Romania. Nestled just 12 kilometers from Dej, the Romanian mining company Salzbergwerk Ressourcen und Investitionen (SRL) started a pioneering project to establish the first private salt mine in the country. This project broke ground and started with excavation in 2022, marking a significant milestone in Romania’s salt-mining industry.

Facing the challenge of acquiring expensive mining equipment for two short-term subway tunnel and station projects in Stockholm, Sweden, the Italian construction company Itinera found a solution with Sandvik’s rental offering; including equipment, parts and full-time service agreement. The result is a successful collaboration and partnership throughout the project.

Kitimat-Stikine, British Columbia. With more than 18,000 operating hours, underground mining’s largest battery-electric haul truck fleet is delivering marked productivity and environmental improvements for Newcrest’s Brucejack gold mine.

Kamloops, British Colombia. The industry’s first 18-tonne battery-electric loader is helping New Gold’s New Afton operation improve cycle times while reducing heat, noise and greenhouse gas emissions in Canada’s largest underground mine.

Veladero, Argentina. Five unstoppable Sandvik D90 crawler mounted blasthole drill rigs have been prospecting for gold in one of the world’s harshest environments – high up in the Andes – for over 16 years. With more than 100,000 hours on them each, these drills have been kept in top form, thanks to planning, parts and patience.

Kiruna, Sweden. The industry’s largest-capacity underground loader is helping the world’s largest underground iron ore mine stay at the forefront of technological development above the Arctic Circle in northern Sweden.

Sonora, Mexico. At La Herradura, a large open-pit gold mine in northern Mexico, employing intelligent surface drill rigs has increased productivity while improving safety and sustainability.