Geomechanics.io

Vistry Group’s combined chair and chief executive Greg Fitzgerald will retire, stepping down as chair at the AGM on 13 May 2026 and remaining CEO for up to 12 months while a successor is recruited. Fitzgerald, who previously led Galliford Try and drove the £1.1bn acquisition of its Linden Homes and Partnerships & Regeneration businesses in 2020 to create Vistry, also oversaw the later acquisition of Countryside and a pivot to partnerships-led, affordable, mixed-tenure housing. Vistry’s 2025 results show pre-tax profit up 87% to £196m despite a 4% revenue fall to £3.614bn, signalling a robust platform for the incoming leadership.

Kier Transportation, John Graham Construction and John Sisk & Son will share National Highways’ £968m legacy concrete roads reconstruction framework, targeting the 5% of England’s motorway and trunk network still built in 1960s–70s concrete. Running for six years to 2032, the programme covers full pavement demolishment and reconstruction, principal designer/contractor duties, and design of temporary traffic management on sections concentrated in the northeast, Yorkshire, East Anglia and the southeast. Contractors must record carbon, and recover, recycle and reuse arisings to minimise embodied emissions and support circular-materials use.

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.

Mineral Mining Services (MMS) has secured a comprehensive mining services contract from Ora Banda Mining at the Davyhurst Gold Project in Western Australia’s Goldfields, covering full load-and-haul, drill and blast, and associated open-pit mining activities. The award expands MMS’s portfolio from specialist services into full-scale contract mining, positioning it as the primary mining contractor across Davyhurst’s multiple satellite pits. For geotechnical and production teams, the single-provider model should streamline pit scheduling, drill-and-blast design and haulage fleet integration across the project’s dispersed ore sources.

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.

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.

Austmine has appointed Tony Davis as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2026, bringing more than 30 years’ senior executive experience across government and mining-related industrial, energy and advanced manufacturing sectors. Davis has a track record in building Australian mining equipment, technology and services (METS) capability in global markets, including export-oriented advanced manufacturing and energy technology projects. His appointment signals continued emphasis on technology-led productivity and supply-chain development for Australian METS companies serving large-scale open-pit and underground operations worldwide.

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.

Network Rail has awarded Arcadis a £100M programme delivery partner contract on the Transpennine Route Upgrade, a major rail modernisation between Manchester, Leeds and York. Arcadis will support integration of track, civils, structures and systems works across multiple work packages, coordinating interfaces between electrification, signalling and capacity enhancements. The appointment signals continued momentum on TRU’s complex multi-phase delivery, where tight possession windows, legacy Victorian structures and mixed-traffic performance requirements will drive demanding design, staging and constructability decisions for civil and rail engineers.

An artificial intelligence tool unveiled in Glasgow is being used by Network Rail to optimise overhead line equipment layouts and mast positions for rail electrification schemes, cutting design time and early-stage survey work. Developed with industry partners, the system rapidly tests multiple wiring configurations against gauge, clearance and structural constraints that would traditionally require extensive manual CAD work and site visits. Early deployment on UK route upgrades is already delivering measurable cost savings in design and enabling faster iteration of electrification options at GRIP/Project SPEED stages.

A campaign group has proposed a new metro-style rail system for the north‑west of Ireland, aiming to accelerate long-delayed cross‑border links and station upgrades promised in existing transport plans. The concept reframes current and planned heavy rail corridors into a higher-frequency, integrated network, rather than relying solely on new greenfield alignments. For civil and rail engineers, the shift implies prioritising corridor capacity upgrades, station reconfiguration and signalling modernisation to deliver earlier operational benefits within existing rights‑of‑way.

Mining equities sold off sharply as the Iran–US conflict escalated, with gold futures briefly nearing $5,000/oz before closing down 3.5% and silver trading around $83/oz, still 6% lower on the day, while copper slipped 2% to $5.83/lb. Newmont, Barrick and AngloGold Ashanti fell 7.9%, 8.3% and 10.4% respectively, Gold Fields dropped 11.6%, and platinum-focused Valterra Platinum slid 13.6% after intraday platinum price falls of up to 10%. Diversified and copper majors fared slightly better, with BHP down 5.6%, Southern Copper 5.8%, Rio Tinto 4.3% and Glencore only 2.1% helped by trading roughly 4 million boe/day of oil.

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.

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.

DIGITAL is committing C$4.0 million in co-investment to Novamera Inc. to advance the next phase of its Surgical Mining™ system, an AI-guided, narrow-vein extraction method aimed at low‑disturbance recovery of copper and rare earth element orebodies in North America. The funding will support field deployment of downhole sensing, directional drilling and real‑time orebody imaging to selectively mine steeply dipping, small‑scale deposits that are uneconomic for conventional stoping. Novamera will also work with Ontario regulators to create a First-of-a-Kind permitting pathway tailored to this minimal-footprint approach.

Eldorado Gold’s Lamaque Complex in Val‑d’Or, Québec has received the Mining Association of Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining Gold Leadership Award after achieving Level AAA, the highest rating across TSM performance protocols. The recognition covers site-level performance in areas such as tailings management, energy and greenhouse gas control, Indigenous and community relationships, and safety and health systems. For engineers and operators, Lamaque now serves as a benchmark operation for MAC’s TSM framework, particularly on integrated ESG governance at an underground gold complex.

Work to deliver the new elevated Melton Station in Victoria has installed all six lift shafts and four staircases, with glazing and cladding of the station structures scheduled over the coming months. A 16‑metre‑wide pedestrian thoroughfare beneath the viaduct is being formed as part of the grade separation, enabling removal of nearby boom gates and improving rail–road interface performance. For designers and contractors, the works signal continued rollout of elevated rail with multi-span structures and integrated vertical transport systems in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Heathrow Airport has appointed Turner & Townsend and AtkinsRéalis to provide portfolio management office services for its long‑term expansion programme, signalling a move into detailed, multi‑year delivery planning. The PMO mandate is expected to cover cost control, schedule integration and risk management across major airside and landside works, including future terminal, runway and surface access upgrades. Civil and geotechnical contractors should anticipate more tightly governed frameworks, standardised reporting and earlier integration of constructability and ground risk data into programme‑level decisions.

Rachel Reeves’ 2026 Spring Statement, centred on a message of macroeconomic “stability” and fiscal restraint, offered no new funding envelopes or timelines for major infrastructure beyond previously announced pledges. Contractors and consultants had anticipated clarity on delivery of schemes such as the £36bn Network North package and long-term settlements for the Road Investment Strategy and rail enhancements. The lack of detail on multi‑year capital budgets and pipeline phasing prolongs uncertainty for design teams, geotechnical investigations and supply-chain capacity planning.

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.

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.

Sunrise Energy Metals has completed the feasibility study for its Syerston scandium project in New South Wales, positioning the deposit as a potential large-scale, long-life source of scandium for global alloy and battery markets. The study confirms mine and process plant designs tailored to scandium recovery, including hydrometallurgical treatment of lateritic ore and downstream refining to high-purity scandium oxide. For engineers, the project signals future demand for scandium-bearing aluminium alloys and solid oxide fuel cell materials, with supply security moving from by-product to dedicated primary production.

Mineral Resources’ mining services division posted a record first-half result, with volumes and revenue boosted by strong external demand and ramp-up activity at the Onslow Iron project in Western Australia. The business expanded crushing and processing contracts across multiple iron ore hubs, while deploying additional mobile crushing plants and higher-capacity haulage fleets to lift throughput. For contractors and mine operators, the performance signals continued appetite for outsourced crushing, screening and haulage, particularly on large-scale Pilbara-style iron ore developments.