Metso is promoting its Geminex™ digital twin platform as a way to move mineral processing plant control beyond traditional DCS screens towards predictive and proactive maintenance. Geminex™ integrates real-time sensor data with dynamic process models of grinding, flotation and filtration circuits to simulate plant behaviour, test “what‑if” scenarios and optimise setpoints before implementation. For operators, this signals deeper use of virtual commissioning, remote performance tuning and model-based failure prediction across comminution and concentrator lines.

M Resources has signed a binding MoU with Hazer Group to deploy Hazer’s methane pyrolysis technology, developed with KBR, at the Whyalla steelworks in South Australia if its planned acquisition of One Steel Manufacturing Pty Ltd proceeds. The process converts natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon rather than CO₂, offering a potential low-emission reductant and fuel source for iron and steelmaking. For plant engineers, this signals possible future integration of hydrogen-ready furnaces and on-site carbon handling infrastructure at Whyalla.

Weir is acquiring the remaining 50% of Chile-based ESCO Elecmetal Fundición Limitada (ESEL), a ground engaging tools manufacturer, for about $75 million, giving it full ownership of the joint venture. The deal consolidates Weir’s control over design and production of GET for large mining shovels and loaders in South America, tightening integration with its ESCO wear parts portfolio. Direct access to ESEL’s foundry capacity in Chile should shorten lead times and improve aftermarket support for high-abrasion ore and waste handling applications.

Rajant’s BreadCrumb wireless nodes are being promoted for mines as a fully mobile mesh, with each vehicle, shovel and drill carrying its own node to maintain line-of-sight connectivity as the pit face moves. Unlike fixed access-point Wi-Fi, the system uses multi-radio, multi-frequency links and self-healing routing so data can reroute around blocked paths caused by highwalls, stockpiles or moving plant. For engineers planning autonomous haulage, remote drilling or high-density telemetry, the approach reduces dead zones without constant re‑design of tower locations.

Mining services contractor G3 Mineração e Construção has completed assembly of Brazil’s first XCMG XDE130 diesel-electric rigid haul truck, marking the local debut of XCMG’s 130 t-payload class in the country. The company frames the investment as central to its 2025 growth plan, targeting higher fleet performance through large-capacity, diesel-electric haulage rather than conventional mechanical-drive trucks. For mine operators, the move signals growing competition to established OEMs in Brazil’s ultra-class segment and potential alternative sourcing for high-payload truck fleets.

Anglo Asian Mining has started production from two new larger filter presses and an associated thickener at its Gedabek flotation plant in Azerbaijan, following installation of a second press announced on 16 October 2025. The upgraded dewatering circuit is designed to handle higher concentrate throughput and produce drier filter cakes, improving water recovery back to the plant. For plant and tailings engineers, the changes point to tighter control of slurry densities and potentially lower tailings storage volumes per tonne processed.

Metso is launching a configurable Grinding classification system built from compact, pre‑engineered modules integrating pumps, hydrocyclones, product samplers, liquid resistance starters and particle size measurement. The modular skids are designed to shorten design and installation schedules for new and brownfield grinding circuits while standardising layouts, interfaces and safety provisions. For plant engineers, the approach simplifies layout planning, reduces on-site fabrication and should ease future debottlenecking or capacity upgrades by swapping or adding classification modules.

Metso executives David Tulloch, Duncan Wyatt and Guillaume Lambert outline how the company is targeting critical minerals flowsheets with integrated crushing, grinding and flotation circuits, combined with smelting test work at its Pori Research Centre. The approach uses ore-specific pilot campaigns, digital process control and modular equipment packages to raise recovery and reduce energy per tonne, particularly for complex nickel, lithium and rare earth ores. For mine planners and process engineers, the message is tighter ore characterisation upfront and more standardised, scalable plant designs across greenfield and brownfield projects.

Meridian’s Archer Guard system, a modular steel barrier designed for rapid deployment in fast-paced work zones, is being used on bridge decks, arterial roads and utility corridors to shield crews from live traffic. Proven in the United States and now deployed in Australia, the system can be installed and reconfigured with light plant rather than permanent anchoring, suiting short-duration lane closures and night works. For engineers and contractors, it offers a temporary protection option where conventional concrete barriers are too slow or logistically heavy to install.

ThoroughTec Simulation is promoting an integrated “training ecosystem” for mines, combining high-fidelity equipment simulators, remote learning platforms and data analytics to upskill operators on complex digital and semi-autonomous fleets. The approach targets remote operations centres and sites with limited instructors, using scenario-based training for OEM-specific systems such as autonomous haul trucks and advanced drill rigs, plus real-time performance tracking. For geotechnical and mining teams, this points to more standardised operator competence on critical tasks like slope loading, crusher feeding and underground navigation, with reduced reliance on traditional ride-along training.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co Ltd will establish LANDCROS Development Center Europe GmbH in Germany as a wholly owned subsidiary from 1 January 2026 to expand R&D for battery-powered excavators, ICT-enabled machines and digital solutions. The centre will focus on European requirements for zero-emission earthmoving, including high-capacity lithium-ion systems and grid/fast-charging interfaces, and on integrating machine control and remote monitoring. For mine operators, this signals faster localisation of electric excavator platforms and digital fleets tailored to EU regulations and site power constraints.

ABB is evaluating automated visual and LiDAR shaft scanning as an add-on to its hoisting service contracts, with Global Business Unit Manager John Manuell pointing to integration with existing ABB hoist control and condition monitoring systems. Technologies showcased at the “Shaft Inspections 4.0: A New Revolution” event included cage- or bucket-mounted scanners capturing high-resolution 3D profiles of shaft steelwork, buntons and guides in a single run. For geotechnical and mechanical teams, this could shift inspections from manual descent and point checks to trendable, full-length digital twins of deep shafts.

Mining productivity has halved since 1997 and has risen only about 1% per year since 2018, even as OECD data show manufacturing output per worker more than doubling and agriculture, forestry and fishing increasing 1.5 times. McKinsey’s “Performing under pressure” report links the slump to deeper pits, longer haul distances, declining grades and remote conditions that push operations below historic performance curves. The firm points to AI, robotics, advanced chemistry, always‑on connectivity and electrification as levers to unlock bottlenecks in loading, hauling, comminution and processing, provided miners build tight feedback loops between strategy and execution.

Chinese autonomous haulage systems supplier CiDi has launched a Hong Kong Stock Exchange IPO to raise over US$180 million via the sale of up to 5.4 million shares, following a lapsed application earlier in 2024. The company provides autonomous driving stacks and AHS kits for large mine haul trucks and auxiliary fleets across Chinese open-pit operations, integrating perception, positioning and fleet management software. Fresh capital is likely to fund further R&D, large-scale mine deployments and potential overseas expansion, intensifying competition with OEM-integrated AHS offerings.

REMA TIP TOP has launched MCube CAM, a smartphone-based system that uses AI-supported video analysis to inspect conveyor belt top covers, automating a task traditionally done by manual visual checks. The tool records belt surface condition in real time and feeds data into the company’s MCube monitoring ecosystem, enabling faster detection of damage, wear and splice issues. For mine operators, this points to more consistent inspection intervals, reduced downtime from unexpected belt failures, and better documentation of belt condition for maintenance planning.

Metso has agreed to divest its Häggblom-branded loading and hauling business in Finland and Sweden to Miilux Oy, a Finnish manufacturer of wear-resistant steels and personal protection solutions using its own proprietary brands and alloys. The deal, which follows a strategic review launched in August 2025, shifts Häggblom’s truck body and bucket operations to an owner focused on abrasion-resistant plate and liner systems. For mine operators, the move signals closer integration between mobile equipment attachments and high-hardness wear materials, potentially affecting lifecycle cost and maintenance strategies for truck fleets and loaders.

Volvo Autonomous Solutions has begun series assembly of its Volvo FH Autonomous mining trucks at Volvo Buses’ Säffle plant in Sweden, marking the shift from pilot builds to industrial production. The facility, long used for high-volume bus manufacturing, has been retooled to integrate V.A.S. autonomous hardware and software stacks directly into the FH platform on the main line. For mine operators, this signals impending availability of OEM-built autonomous haul trucks with factory-integrated perception, control and redundancy systems rather than retrofit kits.

Scottish Water has signed an advance market commitment to procure almost 20,000m³ of low carbon concrete over five years, equivalent to about 30% of its current annual concrete use. The Innovate UK and Carbon Limiting Technologies-led scheme, funded by the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, aims to aggregate up to 500,000m³ of demand to de-risk commercialisation of novel low carbon mixes. With Scottish Water investing over £1bn a year in infrastructure, the commitment signals material changes to mix design specifications and supply-chain carbon baselines on upcoming projects.

K-Briq, a masonry unit made from nearly 100% recycled construction and demolition waste, is now sold direct to consumers via B&Q’s diy.com online marketplace. Developed by Heriot-Watt University spin-out Kenoteq, the brick has already been specified by architects for commercial projects and award-winning festival installations, and is now being adopted for domestic renovations and garden walls. Wider retail availability signals growing client pressure for low‑carbon, circular materials in small‑scale builds as well as large commercial schemes.

Firebird Metals has reported manganese-iron phosphate (MFP) battery material results that exceed current Chinese industry purity standards, strengthening its case for high-spec cathode precursor supply. The high-purity MFP is targeted at lithium-ion battery applications, positioning Firebird’s planned production as a potential alternative to conventional manganese sulphate routes. For process engineers and metallurgists, the data point to viable upstream integration of manganese ore into value-added MFP with tighter impurity control than typical Chinese benchmark products.

Perpetua Resources has partnered with Idaho National Laboratory, under Battelle Energy Alliance, to host, commission and operate a flexible, modular pilot plant to process Stibnite project ore into military‑specification antimony trisulphide concentrate for munitions and advanced defence systems. The pilot forms part of a US Army Defence Ordnance Technology Consortium agreement, with Perpetua now holding up to US$22.4 million in DOTC funding to advance domestic critical mineral processing. It runs alongside early works on the US$1.3 billion Stibnite gold‑antimony mine in central Idaho, aimed at a fully domestic “ground‑to‑round” supply chain.

Pipe Tek has unveiled a dedicated inspection trailer for mining slurry and tailings pipelines, integrating in-line inspection tools, data acquisition systems and on-site reporting to reduce downtime on remote assets. The mobile unit is configured to support magnetic flux leakage and calliper tools, with power, lifting gear and climate-controlled workspace packaged on a single road-legal trailer for rapid deployment between sites. For operators managing long-distance HDPE and steel pipelines, the setup enables more frequent condition assessment, faster defect verification and better planning of targeted repairs.

LiuGong Australia is expanding its footprint in road construction and maintenance, with councils nationwide adopting its graders, loaders and rollers for local road networks. Flagship models include the 4230D motor grader, powered by a turbocharged 9-litre Cummins engine, aimed at heavy formation trimming and shoulder maintenance. A growing dealership network across major capital cities is reducing downtime for regional contractors by improving access to parts, service support and machine trials on live roadworks.

Liebherr-Components has inaugurated a new hydraulic cylinder production complex in Oberopfingen, completing a three-year construction and relocation programme that began with ground-breaking in December 2022. The facility consolidates and significantly expands capacity for hydraulic cylinders with integrated mechanical manufacturing, previously carried out at the original Kirchdorf an der Iller site. For mining and heavy civil equipment OEMs, the enlarged plant signals increased availability of large, high-load cylinders critical for excavators, haul trucks and cranes, with shorter lead times and more centralised quality control.

Perpetua Resources has signed an agreement with Idaho National Laboratory, operated by Battelle Energy Alliance, to host, commission and run a flexible, modular pilot plant to recover critical and defence-related minerals, including antimony, from Perpetua’s orebodies. The pilot is expected to test flowsheets for selective antimony recovery alongside other strategic elements, using containerised process modules that can be reconfigured for different ore types and chemistries. Outcomes will inform full‑scale processing design for the Stibnite Gold Project and potential US domestic supply chains for military‑grade antimony products.

Metso has opened a new engineering hub in Pittsburgh, USA, focused on bulk material handling and port solutions to support mines and terminals across North America. The office will concentrate expertise in conveyors, shiploaders, stacker-reclaimers and related wear parts and services, integrating with Metso’s existing grinding, pyro and smelting service lines led by Senior Vice President Jonathan Allen. Closer regional design and troubleshooting support should shorten turnaround for upgrades to high-capacity loading systems and brownfield materials handling retrofits.

Allison Transmission is expanding its Indian mining presence with automatic transmissions deployed on Shar Projects’ new XCMG haul truck fleet, supporting the government’s Make in India and industrial modernisation programmes. The move extends Allison’s propulsion solutions from defence and on‑highway commercial vehicles into heavy mining applications, pairing its fully automatic gearboxes with XCMG’s large-capacity trucks for overburden and ore haulage. For mine operators, the combination targets smoother torque delivery, reduced driveline shock and lower operator fatigue compared with manual or automated manual transmissions.

Brogan Group and Alimak Group have formed a global sales alliance under which Alimak will promote Brogan’s CAS Common Tower and Atlas Gantries through its international contracts and distribution network, integrating them with Alimak hoists and transport platforms into a single vertical access system. The CAS Common Tower, already deployed on complex high-rise schemes such as London’s Wood Wharf and Battersea developments, centralises multiple hoists to one access point to ease logistics, reduce crane reliance and free scarce ground space. Atlas gantries target low-rise industrial and data centre projects, offering a scaffold-free option where tie-in points are limited or large, fragile plant must be installed rapidly.

Case Construction Equipment has appointed HRN Tractors as its Scottish dealer, adding the family-owned group’s depots in Stirling, Insch, Balbeggie and Caithness to the Case UK network. HRN, formerly a John Deere dealer for 40 years and already representing Kubota, Mecalac and sister company Agritrac’s Hyundai Construction Equipment line, plans to use the tie-up to broaden its construction machinery portfolio and target more civil and groundworks contractors. Management is emphasising responsive sales support and parts-backed aftersales as the main lever to win market share.

Madison Technologies is deploying industrial-grade networking to keep remote, renewable microgrids online at Australian mine sites exposed to heat, dust and vibration that routinely defeat standard IT hardware. Its solutions combine hardened Ethernet switches, fibre backbones and wireless links to connect pit operations, processing plants and accommodation villages into a single operational technology network. For engineers, the focus is on deterministic communications for SCADA, power management and condition monitoring, with designs that tolerate brownouts, electrical noise and long cable runs typical of large open-cut operations.

Komatsu has launched the PC950-11 hydraulic excavator for large-scale earthmoving, pairing a high-capacity front shovel with a Tier 4 Final/Stage V-compliant engine to cut fuel burn against previous PC-series models. The machine targets ultra-class truck loading with an operating weight in the 90–100-tonne class and a bucket size suited to 40–65-tonne haul trucks, aiming to shorten cycle times on bulk overburden and ore movement. Komatsu is also pushing operator-focused design, with upgraded cab ergonomics, digital monitoring and optimised hydraulic controls for smoother, more precise digging.

Road maintenance planning in the City of Bendigo has been overhauled using GBM Konect integrated directly with the council’s asset management system, linking live field data from graders, patching trucks and concreting crews to central asset records. Crews now capture condition data, photos and completed works on mobile devices in real time, feeding GIS-based maps that prioritise pavement interventions and reduce duplicated site visits. For contractors and councils, the approach shows how tighter integration between field data capture and asset registers can sharpen programming of resurfacing and rehabilitation works.

Boart Longyear has launched the Stingray™ DHM/full face diamond bit, a US‑designed bit engineered specifically for downhole motor and full-face drilling in exploration applications. The bit uses a new crown geometry combined with Boart Longyear’s durable diamond technology to increase penetration rates compared with conventional diamond bits. For drill contractors, the design targets faster advance per hour and reduced bit trips, particularly in hard, abrasive ground where DHM systems are already favoured for directional control and high rotary speeds.

Aurora Innovation has signed a commercial deal with Detmar Logistics to run autonomous haulage of frac sand proppants 24/7 for a major multinational oil and gas operator in the US shale sector. Aurora’s Level 4 self-driving freight platform will be integrated into Detmar’s existing dry bulk truck fleet, targeting continuous shuttle runs between sand mines, transload terminals and well pads. For mine and wellsite operators, the move signals accelerating deployment of autonomy on repetitive, high-mileage proppant corridors where driver availability and cycle-time variability are chronic constraints.

JCB and Construction Edition have launched a UK and Ireland promotion hiding five “Golden JCB DIGatron” stickers in construction-themed sticker packs, echoing a Willy Wonka-style golden ticket hunt. Winners who find a DIGatron sticker can claim an exclusive JCB prize experience, with the campaign centred on JCB’s signature yellow branding and plant machinery imagery rather than chocolate. The initiative targets plant operators, apprentices and young enthusiasts, using low-cost sticker packs as a physical engagement tool for the construction community.

Scania and LKAB have deployed a new fully electric 8×4 heavy tipper with two steerable front axles into underground haulage at LKAB’s Malmberget iron ore mine in northern Sweden, the first truck of this configuration in Scania’s global fleet. The unit, nicknamed “Sleipner”, is being trialled in production conditions to handle heavy ore and waste movements on ramp and level haul routes traditionally served by diesel trucks. The collaboration is intended to validate battery-electric performance, charging logistics and driveline durability in deep, confined mining environments.

Spark NEL, the consortium delivering Victoria’s multi‑billion‑dollar North East Link road scheme, has appointed UK-based nPlan to provide AI-led schedule assurance and risk management as the project enters its final phases. nPlan’s platform will analyse thousands of historic construction programmes to stress-test the remaining schedule, flagging high‑risk activities and likely delay chains across tunnelling, major interchanges and arterial road upgrades. For contractors and clients, this signals growing use of data-driven schedule forensics to manage programme risk on large, complex highway PPPs.

Henkel Australia is using AIMEX to showcase LOCTITE protective coatings, structural adhesives and rapid repair compounds designed to extend service life of high-wear mining assets such as chutes, pumps and conveyors. The polymer-ceramic coatings and epoxy-based rebuild systems target abrasion, impact and chemical attack on steel and concrete, aiming to reduce unplanned shutdowns and rebuild frequency. For maintenance and reliability engineers, the focus is on in-situ application, shorter cure times and compatibility with typical iron ore and coal handling conditions.

Australian Power Equipment is designing mine-wide electrical ecosystems for underground electrification, supplying modular substations, flameproof switchgear and high-voltage distribution tailored to remote, hot and dusty headings. Co-directors Andrew Cockbain and Abby Crawford emphasise integration of variable-speed drives, soft starters and real-time protection relays to manage high inrush currents from battery-electric loaders and jumbo chargers. The approach focuses on IEC-compliant, arc-fault-contained enclosures and condition monitoring to cut unplanned outages and support staged transition from diesel to fully electric fleets.

Rio Tinto’s first Pilbara-made iron ore rail car has rolled off the production line in Karratha, built under a local manufacturing partnership with Gemco Rail. The project aims to replace imported rolling stock for Rio’s 1,700km Pilbara heavy-haul network, which routinely runs 2–3km-long, 30,000+ tonne trains from inland mines to coastal ports. Local fabrication is expected to shorten maintenance and refurbishment lead times for high-axle-load wagons and create a regional supply chain for wear components and structural repairs.

Metso has launched its Grande Series of high-performance mining screens, engineered for heavy-duty classification in large-capacity crushing and screening circuits. The range targets high-throughput operations with optimised stroke, speed and deck configurations to increase screening efficiency and uptime compared with conventional units. For plant designers and process engineers, the new series offers a standardised yet scalable platform aimed at simplifying flowsheet design, reducing maintenance intervals and improving overall circuit performance in hard-rock and ore applications.

Atlas Copco’s X-Air 410-12 PACE portable compressor, distributed by CEA, targets road and infrastructure works with a single unit delivering variable pressure via its PACE (Pressure Adjusted through Cognitive Electronics) control system. The machine is fitted with a Stage IIIA Caterpillar engine to cut fuel consumption and operating costs while maintaining high free air delivery for applications such as pavement breaking, shotcreting and sandblasting. For contractors, the key gain is higher utilisation from one compressor across multiple pressure/flow regimes instead of running several fixed-pressure units.

Vale, Caterpillar and dealer Sotreq have agreed to expand the fleet of autonomous haul trucks at Vale’s Northern System iron ore operations in the Carajás region of Pará, Brazil, building on trials already under way with Cat Command for hauling. The deal, flagged earlier by Caterpillar Resource Industries President Denise Johnson at an Investor Day, signals a larger deployment of OEM-autonomy rather than retrofit kits in one of the world’s highest-grade iron ore districts. For mine planners, this points to increased focus on haul road design, traffic management and maintenance regimes optimised for fully autonomous Cat fleets.

Metso has signed a contract to supply a compact travelling grate iron ore pellet plant to Greta Energy Limited’s Chandrapur project in Maharashtra, India, its second such compact plant order in the country after a similar deal announced in November 2025. The plant will use Metso’s travelling grate induration technology, tailored for smaller-scale pelletising compared with conventional large-capacity units. For Indian iron ore producers, compact plants of this type can be integrated into constrained brownfield sites and support incremental pellet capacity without the footprint of full-scale installations.

Glencore Technology has partnered with XPS in Falconbridge, Ontario, to expand Jameson Cell flotation test work coverage across North America, using XPS’s piloting facilities and state-of-the-art mineral processing laboratories. The multidisciplinary XPS team will run laboratory and pilot-scale campaigns for operations and projects, integrating metallurgical test work with consulting and flowsheet development. For concentrator engineers, this should simplify scale-up of Jameson Cell applications in brownfield and greenfield plants, potentially shortening test programmes and de-risking circuit design changes.

XCMG Machinery has begun shipping a fleet of 230 t-payload XDE260 diesel-electric haul trucks from its Xuzhou intelligent manufacturing base to the SimFer-operated Simandou Blocks 3 & 4 iron ore project in Guinea. The 240 t-class trucks will support large-scale open-pit development at Simandou, where haul profiles, ramp geometry and crusher feed rates demand high-capacity, long-haul units. Deployment of diesel-electric drives at this scale signals continued preference for trolley-ready, high-efficiency truck fleets on West African greenfield iron ore projects.

Custom steel bushings engineered for excavators, loaders, rope shovels, dozers and drill rigs are being tailored to withstand high-load, abrasive and shock-intensive mining conditions. Supplier Sibo is focusing on precision machining and finishing of steel bushings to control clearances, surface hardness and lubrication behaviour, aiming to reduce wear in pivot points and boom joints. For maintenance and reliability teams, the move towards application-specific bushing geometry and metallurgy signals more scope to extend component life and lengthen shutdown intervals in heavy mobile fleets.

Sandvik has broken ground on an C$85 million, state-of-the-art facility at 2555 Maley Drive in Greater Sudbury, with construction formally launched at a ceremony on 5 December 2025. The project, backed by up to C$4 million in provincial grant funding, will consolidate and expand Sandvik’s Canadian operations hub for underground mining equipment and services. For mine operators in the Sudbury Basin and across Canada, the site is expected to shorten supply chains for OEM parts and support, and increase local capacity for equipment rebuilds and technology upgrades.

Haver & Boecker has marked 50 years in Brazil, with Sales Manager for Mineral Processing Equipment Denilson Moreno outlining at Exposibram 2025 how the company is expanding its Latinoamericana footprint in screening, washing and pelletising systems for iron ore and other bulk commodities. He points to Brazilian demand for high-capacity vibrating screens and modular screening media tailored to wet, abrasive ores, plus local manufacture of key components to cut lead times. For plant designers, the message is tighter integration of classification, dewatering and pellet feed preparation to stabilise throughput and product quality.

Capacity concerns around the UK Infrastructure Pipeline are shifting from labour shortages to whether suppliers can deliver standardised, factory-made components at scale for major road, rail and water schemes. The commentary argues for a product-based approach using platform design, repeatable bridge and tunnel elements, and offsite-manufactured M&E modules, rather than bespoke, project-by-project solutions. For engineers and contractors, this signals growing pressure to adopt design-for-manufacture, common specifications and long-term framework agreements with Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers.