How breakthrough tech is transforming mining

The importance of research and development

At the heart of research and development at Sandvik lies a strategic balance between short-term needs and long-term vision. While product development teams focus on delivering reliable, market-ready equipment, the team in Research and Technology Development tackles the unknowns: new technologies that could redefine the industry.

“Our job is to reduce the technology risk,” Jussi Puura explains. “We develop and prove new concepts so that our divisions can adopt them without having to start from scratch.”

Puura has spent nearly two decades at Sandvik, heavily involved in long-term technology strategy across all nine divisions within business area Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions. His work focuses on disruptive technologies; innovations that don't just improve mining but redefine it.

The work includes everything from full autonomy to electrification and AI, and it's not about innovating for innovation's sake. It’s about understanding the real-world problems that miners face and creating technologies that solve them in smarter ways.

The AutoMine® Concept Underground Drill: the future underground

One of the most innovative and widely discussed developments at Sandvik is the AutoMine® Concept Underground Drill, a fully autonomous, self-planning, cabinless underground drill rig, internally nicknamed “Amelia.” Developed as a concept vehicle, Amelia is not for sale, but the breakthrough technologies it was designed to test will soon be integrated across the Sandvik product portfolio.

What makes Amelia truly unique is that it was built for autonomy from the ground up. Unlike existing systems, which are typically pre-programmed or remotely controlled and unable to adapt their missions, Amelia can independently plan, execute, and adjust tasks in real time, without a human driver or even a cabin. It is the first autonomous face drilling machine designed specifically for development drilling in constantly changing environments.

“Once we achieved full autonomy, the machine felt like a co-worker. That’s when we knew it needed a nickname,” says Puura.

The goal behind the project was to enable fully autonomous operations in unpredictable environments, such as the development phase of underground mining, where conditions are constantly changing. The project spanned two years and required the creation of dozens of groundbreaking technologies. Amelia represents not just a technical achievement, but also a shift in how machines are viewed: no longer just tools, but intelligent collaborators in the mining process.

“The best part personally was when we were showing Amelia to customers in live demonstrations,” Puura recalls. “Hearing their feedback on our vision, and learning which features they wanted and needed first, really confirmed that we were aligned with what the customer base is actually looking for.”

BEVs: When green becomes disruptive

Another clear example of disruptive tech is battery-electric vehicles (BEVs). While they offer performance on par with diesel machines, what makes them transformative is something else entirely: regulation, health, and sustainability.

“In some regions, if you don’t have electric machines, you’re out of the market,” Puura explains. “It was critical that we invested early, and that’s a big reason why we now have the best offering available.”

That early investment didn’t happen by chance. The decision to research and develop battery-powered equipment long before demand peaked allowed Sandvik to be ready when the transformation came.

“It’s really good for Sandvik that we had a longer-term vision and researched this topic early on,” Puura says. “We were ready for this kind of transformation when it happened. But if you miss these trends, then it might take you years to gain the expertise and the capability to stay on the market.”

BEVs not only reduce diesel emissions but also future-proof mining operations against tightening environmental demands. It’s a case where technology and market forces align, and where long-term vision pays off.

AI will be driving the next decade

Looking ahead, Puura is certain that data and AI will be the biggest game changers in mining.

“You can't control what you can't measure. Data and AI will help us understand mining processes better and make more informed decisions. That means big productivity gains.”

Importantly, AI won’t make mining more complex but rather the opposite. As systems become more advanced, the user experience will become simpler, more integrated, and more insightful.

Mining for the modern world

Jussi Puura notes that many people overlook how essential mining is to modern life. From solar panels to electric cars, none would exist without the minerals extracted from the ground. And while mining enables technological progress, it is also being transformed by that very progress.

As Puura puts it: “There’s no modern technology without mining. Solar panels, electric cars, mobile phones, none of them exist without the minerals we extract.”
At the same time, he emphasizes, it’s modern technology that is transforming mining itself, making it safer, cleaner, and more efficient.

“It’s a great time to be a tech enthusiast,” Puura says with a smile. “Because science fiction is becoming reality.”