Orica is targeting smaller North American mines and quarries with the same digital blasting toolkit used on large sites, including its BlastIQ cloud platform for blast design and performance tracking and on-bench digital loading systems. Area Business Manager Elliott Giles told IM that these operations, aggregated, form a major explosives volume market, and are now adopting electronic detonators and precise blast modelling to cut oversize and improve fragmentation. For geotechs and drill‑and‑blast engineers, the shift means more consistent burden control, tighter vibration management and better data for pit wall stability assessment even on “small” jobs.

Komatsu Germany Mining Division has launched the PC9000-12 hydraulic mining excavator globally, after an initial rollout in Canada, positioning it as the largest and most advanced unit in Komatsu’s surface mining fleet. The machine targets large-scale open-pit operations, pairing with ultra-class haul trucks and leveraging Komatsu’s global dealer network for deployment and support. For mine planners and maintenance teams, the PC9000-12 signals further upscaling of primary loading fleets, with implications for bench geometry, truck fleet sizing, and pit infrastructure design.

Vale Base Metals plans to deploy coarse particle flotation at the Salobo III copper operation in Brazil, with COO Alfredo Santana flagging the project during VBM Day on 31 March 2026 as a key example of its operational “excellence” drive. Coarse particle flotation typically targets significantly larger grind sizes than conventional cells, cutting energy use in comminution and improving water recovery, which is critical for large-scale copper concentrators. For Salobo, this points to potential debottlenecking of milling circuits and higher overall copper recovery without major new grinding capacity.

Metso has launched the Outotec Robotic Split Strip, a compact hydraulic‑robotic system for separating copper cathode sheets from mother plates in electrorefining circuits, designed for both greenfield and brownfield plants. The unit uses robotic handling and flexible tooling to improve stripping precision and reduce sheet damage and copper waste compared with conventional mechanical strippers. For plant engineers, the modular layout and automation focus allow retrofit into existing cells with minimal footprint, supporting tighter process control and more consistent cathode quality.

Nixon Hire has launched Pulse, a browser-based portal for its site cabins and solar assets that tracks real-time energy use, carbon impact and operating cost for off-grid renewable deployments. Developed over 18 months with a reported seven-figure investment in data infrastructure, Pulse provides asset-level performance diagnostics, flags energy generation issues and quantifies fuel and CO₂ savings. Users can benchmark efficiency across multiple sites and periods, export portfolio-wide reports in PDF or Excel, and access depot-level ESG and sustainability metrics for corporate reporting.

Tega Industries’ DynaPrime mill liner system targets large Australian SAG, AG and primary ball mills, where unplanned downtime can cost operators millions in lost production. The design combines customised composite lifter profiles with high-wear rubber or hybrid liners, engineered to suit specific mill diameters and charge trajectories rather than relying on standard liner geometries. For plant metallurgists and maintenance teams, the key promise is longer wear life and faster relines, directly affecting mill availability and throughput on constrained grinding circuits.

American rare earth refiner ReElement Technologies has secured a strategic investment and collaboration with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation to pair MMC’s feedstock sourcing and recycling network with ReElement’s patented chromatography-based separation and purification platform. The partnership targets US midstream bottlenecks by supporting ReElement’s Noblesville, Indiana refining operations via feedstock supply, tolling and offtake, and by jointly assessing rare earth and critical mineral recycling projects in Japan using MMC’s existing recycling infrastructure. ReElement’s modular, chromatography-based plants are designed to process recycled materials, mine waste and primary ores into high-purity oxides with lower capex and operating costs than conventional solvent extraction.

GeoPura has signed a 10‑year agreement with Forth Ports to install a commercial‑scale green hydrogen production plant at the Port of Tilbury in Essex, supporting construction of National Highways’ Lower Thames Crossing. The facility will use renewable electricity to produce hydrogen for GeoPura’s hydrogen power units, which are being deployed as an alternative to diesel generators on the scheme’s major temporary works. For contractors and plant suppliers, the deal signals growing demand for hydrogen‑ready equipment, on‑site storage, and revised logistics for fuel supply to large infrastructure projects.

Sandvik Mining has secured a large order from Aris Mining to supply underground loaders, trucks and multiple development, production and longhole drill rigs for the Marmato gold mine expansion in Colombia. The fleet will support deeper underground mining below the existing operation, where ramp haulage and high-intensity stope production will demand high-availability loading and haulage units. For mine planners and engineers, the deal signals a shift towards more mechanised, drill-and-blast stoping at Marmato, with corresponding implications for ground support, ventilation and power distribution design.

EPCA has signed an agreement to convert a Caterpillar 988 wheel loader to full battery-electric drive for EMJC, delivering a complete electric powertrain retrofit rather than a new OEM unit. The E-988 project will draw on EPCA’s prior experience electrifying large mining assets, targeting zero tailpipe emissions and reduced diesel-related maintenance on a high-duty-cycle load-and-haul machine. For mine operators, the conversion pathway signals growing options to decarbonise existing medium–large wheel loader fleets without immediate fleet replacement.

MMoC specialist Reds10 has restructured its leadership, with founder and chairman Paul Ruddick becoming CEO of Reds10 Group overseeing nine businesses, while Ryan Geldard, formerly Managing Director – Offsite, takes over as CEO of Reds10 to run day-to-day operations. The group reported 2024/25 revenue of £144.7m with a 4.8% operating margin and is targeting growth to £500m by expanding in healthcare, affordable housing and temporary accommodation. Reds10 currently manufactures all buildings off site in five factories totalling 300,000 sq ft at Driffield, East Yorkshire, using industrialised construction and AI-enabled processes.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks has appointed Lancashire-based Multevo as the sixth specialist Unimog sales dealer in the UK, adding to its role in the Unimog authorised repair network since May 2024. Multevo, which supplies multi-purpose equipment to more than 40% of local authorities, most major airports and Tier 1 contractors, recently expanded its headquarters to a 2.5-acre site with a dedicated service centre and employs over 400 staff. Unimog operators will now have sales support from Multevo and aftersales coverage from 24 authorised repairers nationwide.

Geoscience Australia has completed nationwide coverage of its AUSTopo 1:250,000 digital topographic map series, delivering free, regularly updated mapping for the entire continent. The vector-based datasets include elevation, transport, hydrography and infrastructure layers suitable for GIS workflows, replacing legacy paper and raster products. For mine planners, exploration geologists and infrastructure designers, the uniform scale and national consistency simplify regional targeting, haul road and access corridor planning, and early-stage terrain and drainage assessments.

Donaldson Filtration Solutions has launched the SSG+ Donaclone air cleaner, a high‑capacity pre-cleaner and filter unit designed for heavy-duty mining engines operating in extreme dust loads. The system combines axial seal primary elements with Donaclone pre-cleaner tubes to eject a large proportion of coarse dust before it reaches the filter media, extending service intervals on haul trucks, loaders and drills. For mine maintenance teams, the unit targets reduced unplanned downtime, more stable engine performance and lower filter consumption in high‑particulate pit and haul road environments.

NASA’s Orion spacecraft programme is driving demand for advanced alloys, with aluminium‑lithium in the crew module to cut mass, titanium for primary structural members, and nickel‑based superalloys in engines to withstand extreme thermal loads. These specifications exemplify how deep-space missions are tightening requirements on fatigue life, high‑temperature creep resistance and weldability in lightweight alloys. For miners and metallurgical suppliers, the mix of Al‑Li, titanium and high‑nickel feedstocks signals sustained demand for high‑purity ores and tightly controlled processing routes.

Santana Minerals has locked in build slots with Komatsu New Zealand for the Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project mining fleet, securing delivery of key mobile units ahead of a Fast-Track Approval decision due on 29 October 2026. The procurement followed a comparative assessment of conventional, electric and hybrid equipment options, with Komatsu units selected to meet the project’s construction and early production schedule. Early fleet commitment reduces lead-time risk for primary loading and haulage assets, giving mine planners firmer dates for pre-strip, waste movement and initial ore production.

Willowbrook Plant has expanded its Hyundai heavy line dealership for machines over 10‑tonnes operating weight to cover Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, adding to its existing territory across Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. The Corby-based dealer, established in 2008 and selling Hyundai since 2011, will scale up sales, service, parts and field support across this enlarged region. It is among the first in Europe to supply Hyundai Next Generation crawler excavators, alongside dozers, wheeled loaders and articulated dump trucks, giving contractors broader access to newer earthmoving fleets.

Johnson Matthey’s DPFi electrically regenerating diesel particulate filter has secured Canadian Standards Association (CSA) certification for underground mining and tunnelling, adding to existing approvals from Canmet Materials and a third independent body. The system uses active electrical regeneration rather than exhaust heat to burn off soot, enabling tighter control of backpressure and emissions on diesel equipment operating in confined headings. CSA certification gives mine operators a recognised safety benchmark for retrofitting diesel fleets to meet stringent underground particulate limits in Canada.

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.

Founders Factory and Rio Tinto have backed six new mining-technology startups through their accelerator, selected from more than 500 applications received in four months as demand for raw materials intensifies across exploration, processing and critical mineral recovery. The cohort targets digital and hardware solutions spanning orebody discovery, plant optimisation and recovery of low-grade or complex ores, signalling strong investor appetite for deployable tools rather than pure R&D. For mine operators, this points to a near-term pipeline of pilots and site trials, particularly around data-driven processing control and improved critical mineral extraction.

Gold Fields will pilot a prototype Sandvik 66‑tonne diesel‑electric underground haul truck at its St Ives gold operation in Western Australia, as outlined in its Sustainability Report 2025. The trial, to be conducted with mining contractor Byrnecut as “business partner”, will test high‑capacity diesel‑electric haulage in existing St Ives stopes and declines. Outcomes will inform fleet decarbonisation strategy, power demand planning and potential changes to ventilation design for future underground expansions.

Trafo Power Solutions is supplying seventeen specially engineered underground mini substations to a Zambian copper mine, comprising a mix of 800 kVA and 1,000 kVA units. The oil-cooled transformers are housed in compact, rugged enclosures designed for constrained haulages and high dust and moisture, with protection and switching gear integrated into each skid-mounted package. For mine electrical teams, the key impact is higher installed power density close to the working faces, reducing cable runs and voltage drop while keeping maintenance concentrated on modular units.

Rio Tinto and venture builder Founders Factory have picked six startups from over 500 applicants to advance AI, advanced chemistry and spatial-data tools for exploration and processing of copper, lithium, iron ore and other critical minerals. The cohort includes Foresight Spatial Labs’ 4D spatial data platform for engineering and autonomy, Voluna’s airborne neutron technology for real-time geochemical mapping, and Material Difference’s explainable AI for resource delineation, alongside Chemshift, Supra and Watergenics. The wider programme portfolio has already attracted more than US$120 million in follow-on funding, signalling growing commercial appetite for deployable mining tech.

Epiroc has introduced a 480 kW underground charging system designed for heavy‑duty battery‑electric fleets, combining ruggedised hardware with OEM‑agnostic interfaces so mixed‑brand loaders and trucks can use the same infrastructure. The system uses dynamic power distribution to allocate available capacity across multiple connected vehicles, reducing peak demand and improving utilisation of limited mine power. For mine planners and electrical engineers, this points to higher charger throughput per substation bay and simpler standardisation of charging bays in constrained headings.

Coyle Equipment Services has added two Isuzu rigids—a 13.5‑tonne F135.240(E) and a 7.5‑tonne N75.190(E)—supplied by Cordwallis Group and fitted with bespoke dropside bodies from TLC Auto Refinishing. The bodies are engineered for the uneven weight distribution and pressure points of heavy hydraulic attachments, with reinforced decks and multiple heavy‑duty lashing points for varied load configurations. Both trucks also incorporate a working‑at‑height fall restraint system, signalling continued emphasis on load security and operator safety in specialist equipment transport.

Dawsongroup Energy Solutions has taken delivery of JCB’s first hydrogen internal combustion engine-powered generator, configured to work alongside a battery system and three-phase grid supply. The unit is intended for top-up and peak power demands rather than continuous baseload, signalling early commercial deployment of hydrogen ICE technology in temporary and distributed power applications. For infrastructure contractors, the set-up points to hybrid site power schemes where hydrogen-fuelled generation covers short-duration peaks while batteries and grid handle steady loads.

Metso has signed a major agreement to deliver its modular VSF® solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) technology to Southern Peru Copper Corporation, one of the world’s largest copper producers. The package is expected to include Metso’s VSF® SX settlers, mixer–settlers and EW cells, integrated with process control systems to produce high-purity copper cathode from low-grade leach solutions. For process and project engineers, the deal signals continued uptake of large-scale SX-EW circuits in Peru’s heap leach operations, with implications for reagent management, phase disengagement design and long-term cathode quality control.

Liebherr Mining has launched the R 9100 Generation 8, a 100‑tonne class mining excavator positioned between the R 9600 and R 9150 in its large excavator line-up. The R 9100 G8 features an optimised attachment design, updated undercarriage and revised uppercarriage structure aimed at higher digging forces and reduced structural stress in typical hard rock and overburden applications. Liebherr is targeting truck pairings in the 50–65 tonne payload range, signalling a focus on mid-size load-and-haul fleets seeking higher pass-matching efficiency.

Durable bins for mining and industrial use are being promoted by Eco Pallets, featuring the Eco-Bin NV, a heavy-duty, reusable storage bin designed for harsh mine-site logistics. The unit is shown fully strapped for transport, indicating compatibility with standard pallet-handling equipment and tie-down systems commonly used on haul trucks and in laydown yards. For operators, the focus is on robust containment of consumables, spares and waste streams, reducing damage and replacement frequency compared with conventional single-use or light-gauge containers.

Australian social enterprise OC Connections Enterprises (OCCE) is supplying Australian-made recycled plastic bollards into road and transport projects while employing people with disability in supported manufacturing roles. The bollards are produced using locally sourced post-consumer and post-industrial plastics, embedding circular manufacturing directly into road furniture supply chains and diverting material from landfill. For asset owners and contractors, the product offers a stable domestic supply of standard traffic-control components with quantifiable recycled content and documented social procurement outcomes.

Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition (QME) will return to the Mackay Showgrounds from 22–24 July 2024, bringing together underground coal, METS and decarbonisation suppliers across more than 250 exhibitors. The event will feature live demonstrations of autonomous and battery-electric equipment, mine ventilation and dust-control systems, and digital fleet management platforms tailored to Bowen Basin operations. For geotechnical and operations teams, QME offers direct access to OEM engineers, case studies from nearby longwall and dragline sites, and cross-industry sessions on decarbonising diesel haulage and improving asset life.

BULK26 in Melbourne on 10–11 April will focus on predictive conveyor monitoring, next-generation transfer point guarding and dust control technologies across ports, terminals, stockyards and mine load‑out facilities. Exhibitors and speakers will cover condition‑based maintenance for high‑tonnage conveyor systems, advanced chute and liner designs to reduce impact wear, and engineered guarding solutions that maintain AS/NZS compliance while improving access. For plant, maintenance and materials‑handling engineers, the event offers direct exposure to vendors and case studies targeting common bottlenecks such as spillage, belt misalignment and unplanned conveyor downtime.

State Asphalts NSW is pivoting from being primarily a surfacing contractor to developing next‑generation bitumen binders, leveraging 56 years of mix design and pavement performance data across New South Wales networks. A fully commissioned production plant and recent successful binder trials position the company to supply customised polymer‑modified and high‑RAP compatible binders tailored to local traffic loading and climate conditions. For road authorities and civil contractors, this signals a growing local source of performance‑specified binders that can support longer‑life pavements and higher recycled content without major changes to existing asphalt plants.

Geothermal Engineering Ltd has begun commercial-scale production of zero‑carbon lithium carbonate at its United Downs geothermal power plant in Cornwall, using Watson‑Marlow 630 and Qdos peristaltic pumps for reagent dosing. The pumps provide sealed, low‑maintenance chemical transfer with precise flow control, supporting closed‑loop extraction from hot brines and reducing operator exposure to corrosive fluids. For process engineers, the choice of peristaltic technology signals a preference for accurate metering and simplified containment over more complex diaphragm or centrifugal dosing systems in geothermal lithium circuits.

Liebherr’s new 100 t R 9100 G8 mining excavator is moving into series production after pre‑series field validation and will replace the previous R 9100 G6 in the company’s 100 t class. The OEM is targeting the same deployment envelope as the G6 fleet while offering an updated eighth‑generation (G8) platform that standardises components with larger Liebherr mining excavators. For mine planners and maintenance teams, the key implication is a drop‑in successor for existing 100 t fleets with improved parts commonality and lifecycle support.

Metso has signed a major agreement to supply its VSF solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) technology to Southern Peru Copper Corporation’s Tia Maria greenfield project in Cocachacra, Arequipa. The SX-EW plant is designed to produce 120,000 t/y of high-purity copper cathode, using Metso’s modular VSF cells and integrated electrowinning circuits. For process and project engineers, the deal signals a commitment to heap leach–SX-EW flowsheets at Tia Maria rather than conventional concentrator–smelter routes.

ABx Group has progressed its hydrogen fluoride (HF) pilot plant at Bell Bay, Tasmania, positioning the facility near deep-water export infrastructure at Bell Bay port and the state’s existing hydro-powered industrial precinct. The project targets HF production from locally sourced feedstock rather than imported acids, aiming to supply high-purity HF for rare earths separation and advanced materials. For process engineers and metallurgists, the move signals potential domestic HF availability for leach circuits and fluorine-based reagents, reducing supply-chain risk for Australian critical minerals projects.

Bentley Systems has opened submissions for its 2026 Year in Infrastructure (YII) Awards, recognising projects that use its infrastructure engineering software portfolio, including PLAXIS, OpenRoads, and iTwin, across transport, energy, water, and building assets. The awards, building on a 20‑year programme, will honour digital twin deployments, 4D construction modelling, and advanced geotechnical simulations that improve design, construction sequencing, and asset performance. For practitioners, the event signals continued emphasis on model-based workflows, interoperable data environments, and quantified project outcomes rather than purely design aesthetics.

Sandvik has secured five orders from Byrnecut, the world’s largest underground mining contractor, to deploy its AutoMine automation system across multiple underground operations. The contracts cover AutoMine for both loading and hauling fleets and development drills, integrating with Sandvik’s existing underground loaders and trucks to enable tele-remote and autonomous operation from surface control rooms. For geotechnical and operations teams, the move signals further separation of personnel from high-risk headings and tighter control of ground exposure times around drawpoints and development faces.

AMS Instrumentation & Calibration has been appointed exclusive Australian distributor for ISOIL Industria’s magnetic and ultrasonic flowmeters, covering slurry, process water and reagent streams common in mineral processing circuits. The portfolio includes in-line electromagnetic meters and clamp-on ultrasonic units suited to abrasive, conductive slurries and large-diameter pipelines typically used in concentrators and tailings lines. The deal centralises supply, calibration and service support for ISOIL meters in Australia, simplifying specification and lifecycle maintenance for mine operators and engineering contractors.

Metso is upgrading its Grate Kiln pelletising system to produce higher-quality iron ore pellets tailored for direct reduction (DR) processes in green steelmaking, targeting tighter control of pellet size, strength and metallisation behaviour. The system integrates travelling grate, rotary kiln and annular cooler units, enabling consistent firing temperatures and uniform induration suited to gas-based DR furnaces and potential hydrogen-based reduction. For miners and pellet plants, the move signals growing technical pressure to supply DR-grade pellets with low gangue, high Fe content and predictable reducibility indices.

TECO Australia and New Zealand is promoting controlled conveyor motor starting to cut drivetrain stress in mining bulk handling systems, focusing on how torque and current ramps are managed under load. By using electronic soft starters and variable speed drives instead of direct-on-line starting, TECO aims to reduce shock loading on gearboxes, couplings and belts, particularly on long overland conveyors and high-inertia reclaim systems. The approach targets fewer mechanical failures, longer component life and more stable start-up on heavily loaded conveyors.

EnergyX has commissioned Project Lonestar in Hooks, Texas, the first US direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant processing local Smackover formation brines, with a 250 t/y lithium carbonate equivalent demonstration capacity and a US$30 million capex. The integrated DLE and refining facility will generate 5–25 t batches of battery-grade lithium for qualification, validate process economics and recovery performance at industrial scale, and de-risk a planned >US$1 billion commercial plant across EnergyX’s 47,500-acre position. Senator Ted Cruz framed the project as strengthening US energy security and reducing dependence on China’s 70–75% share of global lithium conversion capacity.

JCB will from June 2026 offer selected tracked excavators – the 140X, 145XR, 150X, 220X and 245XR – factory‑specified to run on 100% FAME B100 biodiesel derived from recycled vegetable oils, supplied by Syntech Biofuel and compliant with BS EN 14214 and ISCC certification. Machines ordered with a B100 pack and dealer B100 enhanced service contract retain full JCB warranty, and can be converted back to conventional diesel before resale to protect residual values. JCB claims up to 93% greenhouse gas reduction versus standard diesel with no performance loss, giving contractors an immediate low‑carbon option for heavy earthworks plant.

Paragon Advanced Labs has launched a British Columbia laboratory that combines Chrysos PhotonAssay™ with Veracio’s rapid, non-destructive core scanning to deliver near-real-time whole-rock geochemistry. The service targets BC’s tight exploration windows and assay backlogs by generating gold and multi-element data quickly enough for decisions while drilling is still under way. For geologists and drill planners, this enables dynamic hole steering, earlier vectoring towards mineralised structures, and reduced reliance on delayed conventional fire-assay workflows.

Antofagasta PLC is tying copper growth to innovation, reporting in its FY2025 results that fleet autonomy has been deployed at the Centinela mine since 2021 and is now central to scaling operations. The company frames autonomy as a way to manage increasingly complex open-pit operations, with larger truck fleets and more intricate dispatch requirements driving demand for digital control. For mine planners and operations teams, this signals continued investment in autonomous haulage, data-driven fleet management and process optimisation across Antofagasta’s Chilean assets.

EACON’s ORCASTRA® autonomous haulage system has been deployed on 120 Tonly TLE138 battery-electric wide body trucks, each with a 90 t payload, at the Zhundong Open-Pit Coal Mine in northwest China, forming one of the largest single-site battery-electric haulage fleets globally. The fleet-scale autonomy on BEVs targets lower diesel-related ventilation demand and reduced haul unit operating costs on the mine’s large waste and coal benches. For mine planners and geotechnical teams, consistent autonomous haul patterns on wide body trucks will influence ramp geometry, dump stability, and traffic management design.

PNG Expo 2026 in Port Moresby is planning an expanded floorplan and multi-stream conference programme to attract miners, contractors and OEMs across Papua New Guinea’s gold, copper and LNG sectors. Organiser Prime Creative Media is targeting larger equipment displays, including surface and underground fleets, processing plant technologies and mine services, with strong early exhibitor interest reported. For geotechnical and civil teams, the event is positioned as a regional hub to source pit slope monitoring systems, ground support products and infrastructure solutions for remote, high-rainfall sites.

OTR – Tyres Wheels Service is supplying heavy-duty off-the-road (OTR) tyres and wheel assemblies to Australian mine fleets operating from remote outposts to large open pits, aiming to cut unplanned downtime and tyre-related incidents. The company couples tyre and rim supply with on-site condition monitoring, rotation planning and repair services, enabling better management of haul truck and loader tyre life cycles under high-load, abrasive conditions. For operators, the integrated support model shifts focus from reactive tyre changes to planned maintenance, with direct implications for availability and pit productivity.

SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ SAMIGreen polymer modified binder has been used to produce a low‑carbon asphalt mix on the first Auckland Transport‑approved project to incorporate such an additive. The binder replaces part of the conventional bitumen with a sustainable polymer formulation, cutting embodied carbon in the surfacing layer while maintaining performance requirements for rutting, fatigue and texture depth. COLAS New Zealand and SAMI say the approval process and field performance data could form a template for wider adoption of low‑carbon binders across New Zealand’s state highway and local road networks.