Sandvik partners with Vale Base Metals for autonomous surface drill fleet expansions
Published by Jody Dodgson,
Editorial Assistant
Global Mining Review,
The orders, which were mostly booked in 2Q25 and 3Q25, with the remainder in 2026, include nine Sandvik DR416i rotary blasthole drill rigs and seven Leopard™ DI650i down-the-hole (DTH) drill rigs, as well as multi-year service and rock tools supply. The rigs will be equipped for fully autonomous drilling with Sandvik’s industry-leading AutoMine® system.
Deliveries to site of the Sandvik DR416i rotary rigs began in 4Q25 and will continue into 2Q27. Four DI650i rigs will be delivered in 2026 and the final three in 2029.
The Sandvik DR416i is a powerful and technologically advanced drill rig, designed for drilling rotary from 269.9 – 406.4 mm (10 5/8” to 16 inches). The Leopard™ DI650i is a self-contained, crawler-mounted, intelligent DTH drill rig for demanding high-capacity production drilling and pre-split, covering hole diameters from 115 – 203 mm (4 ½” to 9 inches).
AutoMine® Autonomous package is the most advanced level of automation and includes the AutoCycle capabilities. The AutoCycle enables fully autonomous operation of the surface drilling fleet, allowing multiple drill rigs to be operated from a remote-control room. This enhances operational safety, increases productivity, and improves fleet utilisation.
Sandvik will supply equipment for the Salobo and Sossego operations. Located in Canaã dos Carajás, southeastern Pará, the Sossego Mining Complex was inaugurated in 2004 as Vale's first copper operation. The Salobo Mining Complex is located in Marabá, southeastern Pará. It holds the largest copper mineral reserve in Brazil.
“We’re excited to grow our surface partnership with Vale Base Metals, where we will provide our latest technologies and collaborate to optimise productivity and cost efficiencies,” said Mats Eriksson, President of Mining at Sandvik.
“This achievement also marks a significant milestone for Sandvik, Business Area Mining, demonstrating our ability to deliver a comprehensive portfolio of surface solutions across all divisions. Our journey with Vale Base Metals began in 2021 with the initial DR416i trial at the Sossego mine.”
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/finance-business/19012026/sandvik-partners-with-vale-base-metals-for-autonomous-surface-drill-fleet-expansions/
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