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    Sandvik’s 13 Toro LH515i loaders for Chuqui Underground: fleet planning notes for engineers

    March 31, 2026|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    Sandvik’s 13 Toro LH515i loaders for Chuqui Underground: fleet planning notes for engineers

    First reported on International Mining – News

    30 Second Briefing

    Sandvik has secured an order from Codelco for 13 Toro® LH515i load–haul–dump loaders for the Chuquicamata Underground copper operation in Chile, with deliveries starting in March 2026 and running through to November 2027. The 15 t capacity LH515i units, designed for 4.5 m x 4.5 m headings, will support production ramp-up and fleet expansion for a new mining panel as Chuquicamata continues its transition from open pit to large-scale block caving. For mine planners and maintenance teams, the staged delivery allows progressive integration of the new LHD fleet into existing development and production schedules.

    Technical Brief

    • Loader design targets high breakout forces for drawpoint mucking in caving fragmentation conditions.
    • Common fleet type across the new panel simplifies spares, component rebuilds and operator training.
    • Staggered deliveries allow maintenance planning around major component change-outs and mid-life rebuilds.

    Our Take

    Sandvik’s multiple recent automation and equipment wins in our database – from AutoMine deployments with Byrnecut in Australia to diesel‑electric truck trials at St Ives – suggest the Chuquicamata Underground loader order further entrenches it as a preferred underground OEM for large-scale hard‑rock operations.

    For Codelco’s Chuquicamata Underground in Chile, standardising on a 13‑unit fleet from a single supplier like Sandvik typically simplifies spares, training and potential future automation upgrades, which is consistent with how other tier‑one underground fleets in our coverage are being configured.

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    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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