Sandvik introduces LFP battery technology for its BEV underground drills at MINExpo INTERNATIONAL® 2024

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is introducing Lithium Iron-Phosphate (LFP) technology for its battery-electric underground drills at MINExpo INTERNATIONAL® 2024.

LFP batteries combine significantly improved Sandvik drill performance with mining’s most stable battery chemistry. LFP batteries are robust and purpose-built for harsh mining environments while retaining the same level of safety as Sandvik’s existing battery technology.

“Sandvik has been the leader in battery-electric underground drilling since launching the industry’s first BEV – Sandvik DD422iE – in 2016,” said Marko Roivas, Product Line Manager, Underground Drilling at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions. “Now, we are introducing a significant development in underground drilling technology with this new LFP battery.”

During field testing at Agnico Eagle’s Kittilä mine in northern Finland, operators were able to tram 50 percent further and achieve 20 percent more speed in uphill tramming. The two onboard battery packs offered 36 percent more usable energy than the existing battery technology, and charging time was reduced by 55 percent during the testing period.

“We saw remarkable improvements in performance during field testing, including significant increases in battery tramming distance and speed, which has been one of the biggest hurdles to implementing BEVs in operations with long declines,” Roivas said. “LFP batteries are known for their high safety margins, tolerance for thermal runaway, longevity, durability and abundant availability of cell metals. LFP batteries also do not require pre-heating prior to use.”

When paired with Sandvik underground drills, miners will continue to enjoy the established benefits of battery-electric drilling, including zero-emission operations, Sandvik’s Charging While Drilling technology, off-grid drilling and bolting and reduced heat and noise generation.

In addition to the health and environmental benefits of battery-electric drilling, miners can also reduce operational costs by using their existing ventilation and electrical infrastructure.

LFP battery technology will be available first on Sandvik DD422iE development drills, with testing underway for Sandvik DL422iE production drills and Sandvik DS412iE bolters. Sandvik expects to offer LFP batteries as standard from 2025.

Sandvik will also introduce LFP battery retrofit kits for Sandvik BEV underground drill customers operating equipment with the current Sodium Nickel (SoNick) batteries.

The new LFP battery technology and retrofit kit is on display this week at MINExpo INTERNATIONAL® 2024 in Las Vegas at Sandvik’s exhibit at Central Hall 3, booth #7415. Sandvik’s underground drilling product experts will be on hand to provide more information about the batteries and their usage.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, September 24, 2024

For further information, please contact:
Emily Neil
Marketing Manager, Underground Drilling
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions
email: emily.neil@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.