Normet Technology Center in Finland: safety and automation takeaways for mine engineers
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Normet has opened a new Technology Center in Pirkkala, Finland, dedicated to research, development and testing of advanced underground mining technologies. The facility will act as a central hub for autonomy, robotics and mining-specific software development, supporting projects such as automated concrete spraying, mechanised scaling and digital fleet management. For mine operators and contractors, the centre signals faster deployment of field-tested solutions for harsh underground conditions, with a focus on improving safety-critical tasks and reducing manual exposure at the face.
Technical Brief
- For other underground projects, such integrated test centres can de-risk adoption of remote and automated mining systems.
Our Take
Normet’s new Technology Center in Pirkkala sits alongside a stream of recent product launches in our database – such as the HX-Bolt hybrid rock reinforcement system and Spraymec 2100 sprayer – signalling a deliberate push to integrate R&D, prototyping and field feedback for underground safety solutions under one roof.
The centre’s location in Finland gives Normet a European base to support its growing battery-electric underground fleet, which is already being proven at scale at Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi and trialled at Boliden’s Somincor operations, likely shortening iteration cycles on charging, ventilation and maintenance concepts.
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.
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