Sandvik has received five AutoMine® orders from Byrnecut, the world’s largest underground mining contractor. The orders, all of which include AutoMine® Multi-Lite systems, were booked in Q1 2026 for the Gwalia, Ulysses, Youanmi and Gossan Valley mine sites in Australia, as well as the Navachab mine in Namibia. With these latest orders, the majority of Byrnecut’s global operations now utilise AutoMine® for loading.
In addition, Byrnecut has acquired AutoMine® for Underground Drilling across four of these sites, further advancing its strategy to expand automation across its global fleet.
AutoMine® Multi-Lite is an advanced automation system that enables loaders to operate fully autonomously from the stope to designated loading or dumping points. This allows a single operator to control up to three loaders simultaneously from a safe, climate-controlled surface control room.
Shift changes are among the largest contributors to downtime in underground operations. Byrnecut is using AutoMine® to mitigate these disruptions by maintaining material movement and drilling progress during transition periods. As a result, downtime is reduced and production remains consistent.
Operators also benefit significantly from the system, as they can remotely supervise and control multiple machines, reducing exposure to dust, noise, vibration and other on-site hazards. This approach enhances safety for both operators and mine personnel, while also supporting workforce development by transitioning workers into technology-focused roles. In addition, real-time feedback helps build skills for an increasingly automated mining environment.
Luke Clements, Manager – Automation and Electrification at Byrnecut, said: “We now have the majority of our loaders running on AutoMine® across our global operations. Safety is Byrnecut’s number one priority, and AutoMine® helps ensure that our people get home safely, while also enabling high productivity through precise, consistent and repeatable operations.”
David Hallett, Vice President – Automation at Sandvik, added: “This deal highlights the growing recognition across the mining sector that Sandvik’s advanced automation solutions help mines operate more safely, efficiently and sustainably.
“Byrnecut and Sandvik have a long history of collaboration, and Byrnecut has been a key development partner in our suite of automation solutions. We are proud to continue supporting them as they expand automation across their global operations.”
Sandvik Group
Sandvik is a global, high-tech engineering group providing solutions that enhance productivity, profitability and sustainability across the manufacturing, mining and infrastructure industries. The company is at the forefront of digitalisation and focuses on optimising customer processes. Its offering includes equipment, tools, services and digital solutions for machining, mining, rock excavation and rock processing. In 2025, the Group had approximately 42,000 employees and revenues of about SEK 121 billion across more than 150 countries.
Business Area Mining
Mining is a business area within the Sandvik Group and a leading global supplier of equipment, tools, parts, services, digital solutions and sustainability-driven technologies for the mining and construction industries. Application areas include rock drilling, rock cutting, loading and hauling, tunnelling, ground support and quarrying. In 2025, sales were approximately SEK 69 billion, with about 18,000 employees. For further information, visit mining.sandvik.com.
For further information, please contact:
Julia McMurray
Director of Marketing and Communications, Business Unit Automation
Email: julia.mcmurray@sandvik.com
