Sandvik partners with Vale Base Metals for autonomous surface drill fleet expansions

Sandvik will supply 16 surface drills with AutoMine readiness for Vale Base Metals’ copper operations in Brazil.

The orders 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.

Sandvik DR416i is a powerful and technologically advanced drill rig, designed for drilling rotary from 269.9 to 406.4 millimeters (10.625 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 to 203 millimeters (4.5 to 9 inches).

AutoMine 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 utilization.

The equipment will be used at the Salobo and Sossego operations. Located in Canaã dos Carajás, southeastern Pará, the Sossego mine complex was inaugurated in 2004 as Vale’s first copper operation. The Salobo mining complex is located in Marabá, also in 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 optimize productivity and cost efficiencies,” said Mats Eriksson, president of mining at Sandvik.

“This achievement also marks a significant milestone for Sandvik … 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.”

The orders were mostly booked in the second and third quarters of 2025, with the remainder in 2026.

Deliveries of the Sandvik DR416i rotary rigs began in the fourth quarter and will continue into Q2 2027. Four DI650i rigs will be delivered this year, and the final three in 2029.