The future of drill autonomy with Sandvik

Sandvik Mining continues to pioneer autonomous surface drilling with the launch of AutoMine Surface Fleet.

The solution delivers unprecedented flexibility, reduces downtime and improves productivity by enabling operators to manage more than 15 Sandvik surface i-series drill rigs from any connected site location.

The location-independent capabilities provide the flexibility required to drive continuous improvement and optimisation with both onsite and remote-control operations.

“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,” says Sandvik surface automation product line manager Severi Eerola.

“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 by automating processes such as stabilising, precise positioning, collaring, drilling, reliable pipe handling, hole finishing and tramming to the next hole.

Operators can manage individual autonomous rigs and oversee the entire bench, providing accurate positioning, automated drilling and obstacle detection for safe and efficient operations.

AutoMine Surface Fleet is designed to support operator development by enabling skill-building in real operational environments, reinforced through collaboration with experienced personnel.

Extensive field tests at Boliden Kevitsa, a multi-metal open pit mine in Northern Finland, have proven the solution’s operational benefits.

“The geological conditions at Kevitsa are highly complex, with mixed mineralogy, ductile rock and seasonal challenges such as water and frost, all of which affect equipment performance and drilling capacity,” says Boliden Kevista drilling development manager Juha Ranta.

“The AutoMine Surface Fleet solution has enabled us to optimize 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.”