Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In
Built byBoxcut Studio

Geomechanics.io

Geomechanics, Streamlined.

© 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

Geomechanics.io

CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

Industries

MiningConstructionTunnelling

Company

Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Contract Award

    McHale Komatsu fleet for Hemerdon: haulage and pit design notes for mine planners

    April 16, 2026|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    McHale Komatsu fleet for Hemerdon: haulage and pit design notes for mine planners

    First reported on International Mining – News

    30 Second Briefing

    McHale Komatsu has secured an agreement to supply a large Komatsu mining fleet to Tungsten West PLC for the restart of the Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine in Devon, one of the world’s largest tungsten resources. The deal supports redevelopment of the open-pit operation, which previously used large-scale truck–shovel mining and extensive waste stripping. For geotechnical and mine planners, the new fleet specification will influence haul road geometry, pit slope performance under renewed traffic loading, and scheduling for high-volume tungsten and tin ore movement.

    Technical Brief

    • Agreement scope covers supply of a dedicated Komatsu mobile mining fleet for Hemerdon’s redevelopment phase.
    • McHale Komatsu will act as the primary OEM-support partner for Tungsten West’s restart programme.
    • Fleet supply contract is structured specifically around Hemerdon’s open-pit operating conditions in Devon.
    • Komatsu equipment package is intended to align with Tungsten West’s revised mine plan and sequencing.
    • OEM-backed maintenance and parts support from McHale Komatsu will be critical for fleet availability.
    • Contract award timing is coordinated with Tungsten West’s restart schedule to avoid delaying initial production.
    • Hemerdon’s classification as one of the largest tungsten resources globally underpins the scale of fleet required.

    Our Take

    McHale Komatsu’s role at Hemerdon comes as McHale Plant Sales is set to become sole UK distributor for Komatsu construction and utility equipment (per the November 2025 acquisition of Marubeni-Komatsu Ltd), which should simplify OEM–operator interfaces for Tungsten West in Devon over the life of the fleet.

    Within our mining coverage, tungsten and tin appear far less frequently than bulk commodities, so a sizeable fleet contract at the Hemerdon tungsten and tin mine signals that niche critical-metal operations in the UK are moving from care-and-maintenance or study phases into capital deployment and execution.

    For a Devon-based open pit like Hemerdon, standardising on Komatsu equipment via McHale Komatsu is likely to improve parts availability and maintenance response compared with mixed fleets, which is important for a tungsten–tin operation where ore value is high but throughput disruptions quickly erode margins.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Mining
    about 4 hours ago

    Integrated Pump Technology in Central Africa: dewatering design notes for mine engineers

    Integrated Pump Technology is expanding dewatering support in Central Africa’s mines as more erratic, climate-driven rainfall increases pit flooding and sump inflows, deploying Grindex submersible units and Godwin diesel-driven surface pumps for both open-pit and underground operations. The company is pairing high-solids, high-head pump selections with local distributor partnerships and on-site application audits to match pump curves to specific shaft depths, static heads and slurry loadings. For mine operators, the focus is on maintaining pumping capacity during peak storm events and reducing unplanned downtime from flooded haul roads, declines and pump chambers.

    Mining
    about 4 hours ago

    Sandvik Rock Processing Reborn in Africa: retrofit economics for mine engineers

    Sandvik Rock Processing’s Reborn programme is gaining uptake at African mines and quarries seeking higher throughput from existing primary and secondary crushers while limiting capex. The scheme replaces ageing crusher cores with new Sandvik units in the original frames and foundations, allowing plants to retain chutes, civils and conveyors while upgrading to current crusher technology and automation. PC Kruger, Business Line Manager Crushing, positions Reborn as a step beyond standard refurbishment, targeting faster installation, reduced downtime and predictable lifecycle costs.

    Mining
    about 4 hours ago

    Cementation Africa in deep underground mining: design and risk insights for engineers

    Africa’s push into deeper, more complex underground orebodies is driving demand for specialist contractors such as Cementation Africa, which combines shaft sinking and raiseboring capability with in‑house engineering and risk management. The contractor is focusing on technically challenging work, including high-stress rock mass conditions, complex ground support regimes and critical‑path access infrastructure for new critical minerals projects. For mine owners, the key shift is from pure construction procurement to integrated delivery models where design, construction methodology and risk allocation are tightly coupled.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Construction

    Quality control software for construction companies with material testing, batch tracking, and compliance management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalInfrastructureHazardsEnvironmental