Boliden Kevitsa, Sandvik to jointly test battery-electric concept surface drill rig

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and Boliden’s Kevitsa mine have signed a collaboration agreement to test and develop Sandvik’s battery-electric concept surface drill rig in order to gain real-world data on its operation and performance.

Boliden Kevitsa, a multi-metal open-pit mine in Sodankylä, Northern Finland, is known for efforts to minimize environmental impact while maximizing the energy efficiency of the operation. The mine invests constantly in automation, electrification and remote-control systems, all standout features of the Sandvik battery-electric concept surface drill rig.

The modern infrastructure at Kevitsa makes it an ideal field-testing lab for the new concept drill rig, which Sandvik introduced in November 2023. The lessons learned jointly during the testing period will be used to further develop the concept machine. The harsh Arctic conditions and Kevitsa’s strict mining standards will ensure a demanding trial environment for the concept rig’s productivity, safety and sustainability features.

“Sandvik’s battery-electric concept surface drill rig is a testament to our mission to gear our value chain towards net zero emissions,” said Lauri Laihanen, Vice President, R&D, Surface Drilling, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions. “Most of the emissions generated in the Sandvik value chain come from the use of our products, so minimizing these emissions is a priority that will contribute both to the sustainability of the end-products and global sustainability efforts overall.”

The battery-electric concept surface drill rig combines the flexibility of battery operation with the endurance of a power cable. The battery pack, which lasts for up to one hour of drilling or up to seven hours of tramming, is primarily intended for tramming and drilling individual holes, while the bulk of production relies on more than 590 feet (180 meters) of tethered cable. In addition to increased freedom of movement and flexibility, the benefits of battery operation also include higher utilization rates because the rig can immediately start drilling at a new location while the cable is still being set up. The more manageable tether, thanks to its simple setup with automatic tightening and smaller cable diameter, serves to make the cable operation as effortless as possible.

For further information, please contact:

Lauri Laihanen
Vice President, R&D, Surface Drilling
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions
email: lauri.laihanen@sandvik.com

Sandvik Group
Sandvik is a global, high-tech engineering group providing solutions that enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability for the manufacturing, mining and infrastructure industries. We are at the forefront of digitalization and focus on optimizing our customers’ processes. Our world-leading offering includes equipment, tools, services and digital solutions for machining, mining, rock excavation and rock processing. In 2023 the Group had approximately 41,000 employees and revenues of about 127 billion SEK in about 170 countries within continuing operations.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is a business area within the Sandvik Group and a global leading supplier of equipment and tools, parts, service, digital solutions and sustainability-driving technologies for the mining and construction industries. Application areas include rock drilling, rock cutting, loading and hauling, tunneling and quarrying. In 2023, sales were approximately 66 billion SEK with about 17,000 employees.