Sandvik (SAND.ST) will provide 16 surface drills equipped for autonomous operation under its AutoMine® system to Vale Base Metals’ copper projects in Brazil. The order, mostly booked in the second and third quarters of 2025, with the remainder scheduled for 2026, includes nine DR416i rotary blasthole rigs and seven Leopard™ DI650i down-the-hole (DTH) rigs, along with multi-year service and rock tools supply agreements.
Delivery Schedule
Deliveries of the DR416i rotary rigs began in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will continue into the second quarter of 2027. Four DI650i rigs are expected in 2026, with the remaining three scheduled for 2029.
Drill Rig Capabilities
The DR416i is designed for rotary drilling with hole diameters ranging from 269.9 to 406.4 mm (10 5/8 to 16 inches). The Leopard DI650i, a self-contained crawler-mounted DTH rig, supports demanding high-capacity production drilling and pre-split applications, covering holes from 115 to 203 mm (4 ½ to 9 inches).
Both rigs are prepared for Sandvik’s AutoMine® Autonomous package, which includes AutoCycle capabilities. AutoCycle allows fully autonomous operation of multiple drill rigs from a remote control room, improving safety, productivity, and fleet utilisation.
Target Operations
The drills will be deployed at Vale’s Salobo and Sossego operations in Pará, Brazil. The Sossego Mining Complex, inaugurated in 2004, was Vale’s first copper project, while the Salobo Mining Complex, located in Marabá, holds the largest copper mineral reserve in Brazil.
Strategic Partnership
Mats Eriksson, President of Mining at Sandvik, commented:
“We’re excited to grow our surface partnership with Vale Base Metals, providing our latest technologies to help optimise productivity and cost efficiency. This also marks a milestone for Sandvik’s Business Area Mining, highlighting our ability to deliver a full portfolio of surface solutions. Our collaboration with Vale started in 2021 with the initial DR416i trial at Sossego.”
