Epiroc has signed its first ground support partnership in Oceania and Indonesia with DYWIDAG Australia, giving it wider distribution for products such as rock bolts, mesh and dynamic ground support systems in hard‑rock underground mines. The agreement targets high-stress, deep mining environments in Australia and Indonesia, where squeezing ground, seismicity and corrosion demand integrated support packages rather than standalone consumables. For operators, the deal signals broader local availability, shorter lead times and potentially more standardised support designs across multi-mine portfolios in the region.

Huawei’s Mining Business Unit president Andy Wu claims the company is at least six months ahead of rivals in deploying 4G, private LTE and 5G connectivity tailored for mine sites, integrating networks with edge computing and cloud platforms. Solutions discussed include autonomous haulage over dedicated 5G slices, high‑definition video for crusher corridors and stockpile monitoring, and unified OT/IT architectures linking SCADA, fleet management and environmental sensors. For engineers, the message is that robust, low‑latency wireless backbones are becoming a prerequisite for scaling automation and data‑driven optimisation underground and in large open pits.

Emerson Crane Hire has taken delivery of the UK’s first Liebherr LTM 1400-6.1, a six-axle mobile crane with a 70-metre telescopic boom and 400-tonne safe working load on a chassis normally used for 300-tonne class machines. The unit is specified with an 80.5-metre luffing jib giving 120 metres maximum hoist height and 97 metres working radius, plus a 45.5-metre hydraulically adjustable jib with up to 40 degrees offset. Under UK STGO rules it travels at 16.5-tonne axle loads carrying its hook block, 10 tonnes of ballast and the Y-Guying system, which self-assembles via integrated hydraulic and electrical quick couplings.

Leading manufacturers of insulating glass units are adopting laser distance sensors to monitor and precisely adjust glass panel positioning during automated assembly. Dimetix D‑Series laser distance sensors, supplied locally by AMS Instrumentation & Calibration, provide non-contact measurement over several metres with millimetre-level accuracy, enabling closed-loop control of panel spacing and alignment. For mining and industrial plant glazing, this level of positional control reduces rework, improves seal integrity in multi-pane safety glass, and supports consistent thermal and acoustic performance in harsh environments.

Truflo Pumps, founded as a family agricultural pump service in regional New South Wales, has grown into a specialist supplier of high-capacity dewatering and slurry pumps for Australian mines. The company manufactures modular skid- and trailer-mounted units with wet-end stock tailored for abrasive mine water, and deploys diesel- and electric-driven pumpsets for pit dewatering, underground sumps and tailings transfer. For operators, the focus is on rapid mobilisation, standardised spares and robust materials selection to keep pits accessible and haul roads dry during high-rainfall events.

Tutt Bryant has launched a new range of Yanmar Compact Track Loaders in Australia, extending a 46‑year distribution partnership focused on compact earthmoving equipment for civil and infrastructure works. The loaders are engineered for high output in confined sites, with compact dimensions suited to urban road reconstruction, drainage corridors and services trenching where conventional skid steers and excavators struggle to manoeuvre. For contractors, the key implications are tighter working radii, reduced ground disturbance on pavements and verges, and better utilisation of small crews on multi-phase projects.

SandLix™, Anglo American’s novel heap leach process for low-grade copper ores, has reached a key milestone with a 15,000 t prototype heap now under operation, scaling up from earlier 100–1,000 t test pads. The technology targets finely ground, sand-sized material rather than conventional crushed rock, using controlled agglomeration and irrigation to improve percolation and copper recovery from ores that are currently marginal or sent to waste. If commercialised, SandLix™ could materially change mine planning by converting large tonnages of sub-economic material into leachable reserves with relatively low additional footprint.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise and STRACON Tech are expanding their strategic alliance to deploy artificial intelligence across STRACON’s contract mining operations, targeting real-time decision-making and more robust predictive models. The partnership will combine HPE’s edge-to-cloud infrastructure and AI platforms with STRACON Tech’s mine planning and fleet management solutions to support use cases such as predictive maintenance, dispatch optimisation and production forecasting. For geotechnical and operations teams, this signals more data-driven control of haul fleets and fixed plant, with AI models pushed closer to shovels, crushers and pit networks.

Epiroc has agreed to acquire the business of Eventspec Proprietary Limited, a Johannesburg-based mining aftermarket specialist that manufactures parts for drill rigs, mine trucks and loaders and provides rebuilds, repairs and field services. Eventspec brings more than 20 years of regional experience supplying components and overhaul support for mobile fleets operating in South African hard-rock and open-pit mines. The deal strengthens Epiroc’s in-country capability for life-cycle support of its drilling and loading equipment, potentially shortening lead times and improving availability of critical wear and structural parts for existing fleets.

OreNova Engineering in Perth is developing AI-based tools to compress the engineering schedule for new mineral processing plants, targeting faster concept-to-detailed-design workflows. By automating repetitive design tasks and drawing generation, and embedding process design rules for comminution and flotation circuits, the company aims to cut plant engineering time and reduce late-stage rework. For miners chasing shorter time-to-first-ore and quicker ramp-up to nameplate capacity, this could materially change how front-end engineering design and approvals documentation are produced.

Thiess, together with MACA and RTL Mining and Earthworks, has visited Norton Gold Fields’ Mulgarrie operation near Kalgoorlie, where an autonomous haulage system (AHS) trial using EACON Mining Technology’s retrofitted trucks is under way. The trial, run with Norton Gold Fields (owned by Zijin Mining Group), is testing retrofit autonomy on an existing truck fleet rather than deploying factory-built autonomous units. For mine operators, successful validation would support lower‑capex conversion of conventional haul trucks to AHS across similar Australian gold and bulk operations.

Plastic pipe manufacturer Polypipe Building Services has invested £1.5m in automation, £3m in moulding machinery and £2.5m in extrusion technology at its 24-hour, five-day Aylesford plant, moving key lines to fully automated operation. Six-axis and Cartesian robots now handle production and packaging, while an IV4 AI vision camera counts parts and flags dimensional variation, ovality and moulding defects before dispatch. Operator loading has shifted from one operator per machine to typically one per four machines, with staff redeployed and further automation planned in the fabrication department.

Weir has secured a contract to supply ENDURON® high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) for the tertiary crushing circuit in Ivanhoe Mines’ Platreef Phase 2 concentrator expansion in South Africa. The HPGR circuit will be integrated as part of the Phase 2 flowsheet rather than relying solely on conventional cone crushing, targeting improved energy efficiency and finer product for downstream milling. For process engineers, the move signals continued adoption of HPGR technology on large-scale PGM–nickel concentrators to cut specific energy and potentially reduce overall comminution footprint.

Cohda Wireless and Spectrum FiftyNine are deploying compact V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) modules at Rio Tinto’s Oyu Tolgoi underground mine in Mongolia to deliver real-time proximity awareness between heavy vehicles and personnel. The system integrates Cohda’s V2X software stack with Spectrum FiftyNine’s low-profile hardware, Roobuck cap lamps and Maptek’s mine planning and visualisation tools to create a unified situational awareness layer. For geotechnical and operations teams, this enables tighter traffic management in constrained headings and declines without relying solely on line-of-sight or radio voice calls.

SANY is using CONEXPO 2026 to showcase an AI Service Assistant and remote-control systems aimed at keeping large excavators, rigid trucks and quarry loaders operating closer to design performance. The AI platform supports predictive maintenance and fault diagnosis across mixed fleets, while remote-control kits allow operators to run machines from offsite control rooms in high-risk areas such as highwalls, stockpile edges and crusher feed zones. For mine and quarry owners, the focus is on reducing unplanned downtime and extending component life rather than adding new iron.

Codelco has signed an 18‑month memorandum of understanding with Microsoft to deploy artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, autonomous operations and strengthened cybersecurity across its copper mines, backed by joint strategic and operational governance. The collaboration targets intensive use of operational data for AI‑driven decision-making and automation of critical processes, with both parties committing to early testing of new digital solutions under strict data protection standards. The deal extends a 27‑year technical relationship and signals large‑scale digital integration across the world’s largest copper producer’s operations in Chile.

Codelco has signed a collaboration framework with Microsoft to evaluate joint initiatives in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, automation and digital security as part of its digital transformation strategy. The agreement, signed by Codelco CEO Rubén Alvarado and Microsoft President Brad Smith, will focus on applying cloud-based analytics and AI tools across mine planning, processing and asset management. For engineers, the deal signals more data-driven optimisation of concentrators and smelters, tighter cybersecurity around OT networks, and potential expansion of predictive maintenance on critical mobile and fixed plant.

Sandvik Mining’s Zeltweg plant has shipped the first Sandvik MC431 continuous miner to Australia after completing factory acceptance testing, extending the MC430 platform that has logged 13 years of mechanical cutting performance in South Africa. The MC431 is engineered for high-capacity roadway development in hard rock and coal, with upgraded cutting power and ground support integration aimed at improving advance rates and profile control. For Australian operators, the machine signals a shift towards more standardised, OEM-supported continuous mechanical cutting fleets in place of drill-and-blast in selected headings.

MacLean Engineering has delivered its first Volvo Penta-powered underground mining machine to a Quebec operation, using an industrial off-road diesel from Volvo Penta supplied through Canadian distributor Wajax. The deal follows the formalisation of the Volvo Penta–Wajax distribution partnership in Canada, targeting MacLean’s fleet of battery-electric and diesel support units such as bolters, shotcrete sprayers and utility vehicles. For mine operators, the move standardises powertrains around a globally supported engine platform, simplifying parts, service logistics and emissions compliance across mixed fleets.

Heathrow Airport has shortlisted five teams in its 2026 Early Careers Innovation Challenge, run with New Civil Engineer, to progress concepts aimed at improving airport infrastructure and operations. The finalists, drawn from early-career engineers, will now develop proposals that could influence future upgrades to airside pavements, terminal assets and landside transport interfaces at one of Europe’s busiest hubs. For consultants and contractors, the programme signals Heathrow’s interest in piloting novel civil and systems solutions from younger practitioners within a structured development framework.

Austmine and AusIMM, with Expande (Chile), Peru Mining Innovation Hub, CEMI (Canada) and Colab Partner Baker Hughes, have launched the Global Open Innovation Colab challenge “Critical Disruptors: From Discovery to Recovery” to run at the Global Resources Innovation Exchange 2026 (GRX26). The challenge targets technologies that compress exploration-to-extraction timelines, including concepts for faster orebody characterisation, integrated drilling-to-processing data streams and step-change recovery methods. For miners and METS suppliers, it offers a structured route to pilot novel sensing, automation and processing solutions with multi-jurisdictional partners.

Metso has secured orders worth about €39 million ($45 million) to supply crushing and grinding plant equipment for Artemis Gold’s Blackwater Mine Expanded Phase 2 (EP2) project in central British Columbia, supporting the next throughput step-up at the open-pit operation. The package includes a Superior MKIII primary gyratory crusher and Nordberg HP Series cone crushers, integrated into a new comminution line. For process engineers, the standardised Metso flowsheet should simplify spares, liner management and control integration across Blackwater’s staged expansions.

HBC Construction (formerly Henry Boot) has become the first major contractor to join MukAway, a digital spoil-management platform that matches sites with surplus soil to projects needing fill. The app, already used by major housebuilders including Vistry, Barratt, Bellway and Keepmoat, operates on a low subscription model to broker soil movements and cut waste to landfill. HBC managing director Lee Powell expects the platform to reduce muck-away costs and enable direct collaboration between contractors and housebuilders on bulk earthworks.

Rio Tinto has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Chinese battery manufacturer CATL to develop mine electrification strategies covering mobile equipment, fixed plant and supporting energy storage. The partnership will focus on integrating CATL lithium-ion battery systems into Rio Tinto’s operations, co-developing supply chains for critical battery materials and establishing circular-economy pathways for end-of-life cells. For engineers, the deal signals closer alignment between mine design and OEM battery platforms, with potential implications for fleet selection, power infrastructure and decarbonisation project timelines.

Overland Conveyor Company has returned to private ownership effective 12 February 2026, led by long-term employee and now shareholder-president Paul Ormsbee as it nears 30 years in the conveyor design and software market. The move separates OCC from its former corporate parent and positions its niche tools for complex overland conveyor analysis and optimisation, such as dynamic modelling and belt capacity studies, under tighter specialist control. For mine planners and materials handling engineers, this signals continuity of OCC’s technical direction with potentially faster decision-making on product development and support.

Maptek has acquired PETRA in full, increasing its stake from 25% to 100% and bringing PETRA’s orebody learning and data fusion technology fully in‑house. The deal consolidates PETRA’s AI‑driven orebody intelligence tools with Maptek’s existing mine planning and design platforms such as Vulcan and Evolution, aiming to link block models, drill‑and‑blast, and production data in a single decision‑support workflow. For geologists and mining engineers, this signals tighter integration of real‑time data analytics with long‑term resource and scheduling models.

Student licences for PLAXIS and GeoStudio now apply visible watermarks to outputs, with PLAXIS marking all plots and reports and GeoStudio watermarking only exported graphics, not on-screen views. The watermark text typically includes “Student Version” or similar, cannot be removed or hidden, and persists in printed or PDF deliverables, making results unsuitable for formal design submissions, commercial reports, or regulatory approvals. Educators and students are advised to use these licences strictly for teaching, coursework, and non-commercial research, switching to full licences for any professional geotechnical design work.

Sandvik is set to launch the Ranger DX1010i top hammer surface drill rig at CONEXPO‑CON/AGG 2026, targeting high‑productivity mining and quarry bench drilling. The DX1010i builds on the Ranger DXi platform with 290°–360° revolving superstructure coverage and an integrated Sandvik rock drill, enabling fewer set‑ups and faster drilling cycles on 76–127mm holes. For mine planners and drill‑and‑blast engineers, the extended reach and automated drilling controls are aimed at tighter pattern accuracy and reduced non‑drilling time on large benches.

Silo level measurement using Dimetix D‑Series laser distance sensors is being promoted for bulk materials handling in sectors such as mining, plastics and construction materials, offering non-contact measurement over long ranges with millimetre accuracy. The IP65/67-rated units can be mounted at the silo roof, measure through dust using visible red laser technology, and integrate via standard industrial interfaces (e.g. 4–20 mA, Profibus, Profinet) into existing PLC/SCADA systems. For mine sites, this enables continuous stock level monitoring in ore, cement or lime silos without intrusive radar probes or load cells, reducing maintenance in abrasive, dusty environments.

Modular bitumen storage systems from TEC Container Solutions are being adopted across Australian and New Zealand asphalt plants to handle speciality binders such as crumb rubber and polymer modified bitumen. The containerised tanks are supplied as plug‑and‑play units with integrated heating, agitation and level control, allowing rapid deployment on brownfield plant upgrades and new greenfield sites without major civil works. For pavement engineers, this supports more consistent binder temperature control and segregation management, enabling wider use of high‑performance surfacing mixes.

Volvo Construction Equipment has rolled out safety and productivity upgrades across its large wheel loader range at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas, targeting heavy quarrying and mining duty cycles. The updates, driven by customer feedback, focus on maximising uptime and jobsite safety for high-hour machines working in abrasive, high-load environments. For mine operators, the changes signal continued OEM emphasis on lifecycle performance and cost-per-tonne in primary loading fleets.

Finnish aggregate equipment manufacturer Metso has added machine-learning features to its support software to predict maintenance needs and cut crusher and screen downtime by analysing operating data in real time. The system relies on continuous collection of equipment performance and fault data, raising customer concerns over how these datasets are stored, who can access them, and whether they might be shared across fleets or sites. For plant owners, the trade-off is between higher uptime and potential loss of control over sensitive production and condition-monitoring information.

Michelin North America has launched the Michelin XHA3 earthmover tyre at CONEXPO 2026, targeting loaders and graders with higher load capacity and improved tonne-kilometre-per-hour (TKPH) performance over the XHA2. The XHA3 introduces a new, more aggressive tread pattern aimed at better traction and wear life in high-abrasion quarry and mine-floor conditions. For mine operators, the higher TKPH rating and payload capability offer scope to upsize buckets or extend haul cycles without overheating tyres, subject to site-specific duty calculations.

Worcester-based equipment dealer MSM/DRH has signed a distribution and service agreement with Merlo UK to supply Merlo telehandlers into construction, infrastructure, industrial and specialist sectors across its region. The deal covers machines widely used for materials handling on constrained sites, with MSM/DRH providing local aftersales support while drawing on Merlo’s factory technical staff. This is MSM/DRH’s second new OEM partnership in a week, following a distributor agreement with compact equipment manufacturer Takeuchi announced on Monday.

SGS has entered a long-term strategic collaboration with Quebec-based Exterra Technologies to develop new mineral processing solutions aimed at strengthening Canada’s domestic critical mineral processing capacity. Announced at the PDAC 2026 Convention, the partnership targets lower environmental footprints in mineral production, signalling a push for cleaner process flowsheets and more efficient use of reagents and energy. For operators, the move points to future access to SGS‑validated Exterra technologies within Canadian testwork, pilot plants and commercial operations.

Global Air Cylinder Wheels has completed extreme-condition validation of its patented Air Suspension Wheel (ASW) in Minnesota mining operations and is targeting commercial deployment in 2026. The ASW replaces conventional pneumatic tyres with a steel air-cylinder and suspension system designed to run cooler, resist blowouts and maintain performance in sub-zero winter conditions typical of iron ore and taconite sites. For mine operators, the technology aims to cut haul truck tyre failures and downtime on high-impact haul roads while enabling heavier loads without increasing rim size.

Sandvik has launched the CH442 and CH662 cone crushers at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas as the next evolution of its CH400 and CH600 series for hard rock and aggregates applications. The new models target higher uptime and reduced maintenance through upgraded hydraulic systems, improved liner configurations and optimised crushing chambers tailored for secondary and tertiary duties. For mine and quarry operators, the machines are positioned for tighter control of product size distribution and more stable performance in automated, high-throughput crushing circuits.

Komatsu has launched the HM460-6 articulated haul truck at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas, built around a new high-output powertrain and advanced traction control system to keep payloads moving over soft or uneven haul roads. The redesigned operator environment targets better visibility and control ergonomics, signalling a push towards higher cycle-time consistency on challenging ground conditions in quarrying and small to mid-scale mining. For mine planners and contractors, the focus is on more reliable material movement rather than simply higher peak capacity.

Efforts to cut comminution emissions are centring on flowsheet-wide changes such as higher-pressure grinding rolls replacing SAG mills, coarse particle flotation to allow coarser primary grind, and in-pit or near-pit crushing to reduce haulage energy. OEMs are pairing more efficient cone crushers and stirred mills with digital load monitoring, ore characterisation sensors and advanced process control to stabilise circuits and avoid overgrinding. For mine planners and process engineers, the direction of travel is towards fewer, more energy‑intensive unit operations run at optimised throughput rather than incremental tweaks to legacy multi-stage crushing.

Sandvik Rock Processing is running a dedicated Exciter Repair and Refurbishment Facility in South Africa to keep its vibrating screens operating at design stroke, speed and G-force for longer intervals between failures. Led by Aftermarket Manager for Screening Solutions (Africa), Sydney Baloyi, the in-house service focuses on OEM-spec overhauls of exciters, including bearing replacement, precision machining and dynamic balancing. For plant operators, this centralised facility reduces unplanned screen downtime and supports higher throughput on critical classification circuits.

Austmine has appointed Tony Davis as its new chief executive officer, tasking the former consulting and technology executive with steering Australia’s mining equipment, technology and services (METS) cluster through accelerating automation and decarbonisation. Davis is expected to focus on strengthening collaboration between mine operators, OEMs and digital solution providers, particularly around data interoperability and deployment of advanced analytics on brownfield sites. His leadership will likely influence how smaller METS firms commercialise niche technologies such as real-time ore characterisation and remote asset monitoring across major iron ore and coal operations.

Austmine is positioning Australian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) suppliers for global partnerships as countries seek new industry-building collaborations in exploration, extraction and processing. The organisation is leveraging its Australian Pavilion model at major international mining expos and trade missions to connect local OEMs, drill and blast specialists, and digital mining technology firms with overseas operators and governments. For engineers and contractors, this signals growing export opportunities for Australian-developed solutions in areas such as mine automation, ore characterisation and remote operations support.

Motion’s Wittenbaker Engineering Services in Mackay is expanding its role as a heavy-industry repair and fabrication hub, using advanced CNC machining centres and industrial knife-cutting systems to tackle complex mining components. The workshop focuses on refurbishing and custom‑manufacturing parts for conveyors, draglines and other large mobile plant, aiming to reduce lead times compared with OEM supply and extend component life in abrasive conditions. For site engineers, the capability to machine large, high‑tolerance parts locally offers more options for redesign, wear‑material upgrades and rapid failure response.

Sandvik has launched the Ranger DX1010i long-feed top hammer drill rig at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2026 in Las Vegas, extending the Ranger DXi family with up to 6.4 m single-pass drilling and a significantly higher onboard compressor output for demanding mine benches. The longer feed reduces collaring cycles and set‑ups per hole, while the upgraded air capacity supports larger hole diameters and more efficient flushing in hard, fractured ground. For mine planners and drill‑and‑blast engineers, the rig targets higher penetration rates and tighter pattern control on mid-sized production and pre-split drilling.

Shorter, more frequent commodity volatility cycles are eroding supercycle-based trading models and concentrating value among firms with advanced AI and strong control of physical flows, with sector-wide trading revenues at $69 billion in 2025, roughly double pre-pandemic levels. McKinsey estimates around $20 billion of optimisation value remains untapped in oil and gas products, and early agentic AI deployments are delivering 50–60% efficiency gains in support functions by automating post-trade operations and compressing deal cycles. In a January 2026 survey of 150 professionals, 49% favoured partnership-led expansion of trading capabilities, rising to 78% in Asia and 80% in the US, with metals, mining, oil and gas targeted for the largest investment increases.

Weir has acquired the remaining 50% of Chile-based ESCO Elecmetal Fundición Limitada (ESEL), taking full ownership of the ground engaging tools manufacturer previously operated as a joint venture. The deal, first announced on 12 December 2025, gives Weir direct control over ESEL’s foundry and wear parts production for mining buckets, shovels and loaders across South America. Full integration is expected to tighten supply chains for cast GET components and allow closer alignment of design, metallurgy and service support with Weir’s comminution and slurry equipment portfolio.

Rock Tech Lithium and Siemens Canada have signed a non-binding MoU to develop digitalised lithium conversion capacity for Rock Tech’s planned converter in Ontario, using Siemens’ Xcelerator portfolio, including COMOS, gPROMS and PCS 7 for integrated engineering and process control. The partnership targets model-based design, advanced process simulation and automation across multiple project phases, aiming to optimise energy use, reagent consumption and plant uptime. For engineers, this signals early integration of OEM-grade digital twins and control architecture into a greenfield lithium chemicals facility in Canada’s critical minerals supply chain.

Rio Tinto is proceeding with construction of a pilot plant in Quebec to extract primary gallium from its alumina refining process, backed by a conditionally approved contribution from Natural Resources Canada under the Global Partnerships Initiative. The project, developed with Indium Corporation, follows successful first gallium extraction in May 2025 using process streams from Rio Tinto’s alumina refineries. If scaled, the technology could turn refinery residue and intermediate liquors into a new critical metal stream without major changes to existing Bayer process infrastructure.

The British Board of Agrément has had its UKAS accreditation temporarily suspended from 26 February 2026, preventing it from issuing new certificates under accredited status for now. UKAS’ action stems from a 2025 change in the BBA’s corporate structure and relates solely to administrative documentation, not to technical competence or testing capability. Existing certification work, including BBA Agrément assessments used by product manufacturers to evidence compliance with UK and Eurocode-based standards, is continuing while the documentation issues are resolved.

The Construction Industry Council has updated its health & safety certification, delivered via Accredex, to embed the new dutyholder, competence and accountability requirements of the Building Safety Act for profession-specific roles across the built environment. Aimed at professionals who only occasionally visit site, the online course offers five CPD hours and is recognised as an approved route to AQP/PQP CSCS and SKILLcard, and to a CSCS Red Trainee Card for those on academic programmes. CIC will introduce the revised course in a free webinar at 12:30 on Monday 16th March.