Sandvik Drives Somincor’s Underground Transformation with AutoMine Automation and Fleet Excellence

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is a global leader in underground mining technology, specializing in automation, loader and drill systems, and digital mine management. At Somincor’s Neves-Corvo mine—now operating under Boliden Somincor—Sandvik has been central to the modernization strategy, enabling higher production rates, enhanced safety, and operational resilience through its AutoMine automation platform and robust fleet equipment.

Role & Contribution at Neves-Corvo

Sandvik’s partnership with Neves-Corvo encompasses a multi-phased deployment of AutoMine Lite and Multi-Lite systems, integrating autonomous control over loaders and haulage in critical production zones. These systems allow the mine to automate mucking during blast clearance and shift changes, expanding into multi-machine remote operation and increasing utilization while removing operators from higher-risk environments.

Key equipment and capabilities provided include:

• Autonomous loaders (e.g., Sandvik Toro series) equipped with AutoMine for hands-free material movement, improving cycle times and reducing exposure to underground hazards.

• Drilling rigs and rock excavation solutions that support development and production drilling, enabling precise ore extraction and development advancement.

• Fleet management and diagnostics integrated into the mine’s digital operations, supplying real-time data on machine health, performance, and optimization opportunities.

Technical Differentiators

Sandvik differentiates itself at Neves-Corvo through the convergence of automation, safety, and data:

• AutoMine automation suite, which enables scalability from single-machine operations to fully coordinated multi-machine production systems with remote supervision.

• Real-time optimization of haulage cycles and energy use through predictive analytics tied to fleet telemetry.

• Integration with mine control systems, allowing Sandvik equipment to feed seamlessly into broader digital dashboards, supporting maintenance forecasting and strategic decision-making.

• Safety-by-design, where autonomous operation reduces human exposure in hazardous zones and integrated collision avoidance systems protect personnel and equipment.

Value Delivered

Sandvik’s technology has materially increased productivity at Neves-Corvo while lowering operational risk. By automating substantial portions of stope mucking and haulage—accounting for over 60% of such activity during key transitions—the mine has targeted higher ore hoisting volumes with a 2025 goal of over 3.1 million tonnes. The reduction in unplanned downtime, combined with improved operator efficiency and safety outcomes, has enhanced the mine’s cost control and throughput predictability.

Strategic Fit for Executives & Investors

For infrastructure and mining executives, Sandvik represents the premium partner that turns physical mining assets into digitally empowered, safer, and higher-yielding operations. The AutoMine integration at Neves-Corvo demonstrates how deploying automation not only improves margins but also strengthens environmental and social governance by minimizing the human footprint in hazardous tasks. Investors tracking productivity upgrades will see Sandvik’s systems as enablers of sustained performance uplift and lower operational volatility.

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Metso, now operating within the merged Metso Outotec legacy of mineral processing innovation, is a key strategic partner for Somincor’s Neves-Corvo mine, supplying the core technologies that enabled the dramatic scale-up of zinc processing capacity. As the primary equipment provider for the Zinc Expansion Project (ZEP), Metso’s systems underpin both the mine’s operational throughput and its environmental performance, making them indispensable to the operation’s modernization and competitive positioning in Europe.
 

Role & Contribution at Neves-Corvo

During the ZEP, Metso delivered a suite of integrated mineral processing solutions, including:

• High-capacity crushers to optimize feed preparation while improving wear life and reliability.

• Energy-efficient grinding mills designed to reduce power consumption while maintaining fine liberation of zinc and copper minerals.

• Advanced flotation cells engineered to maximize recovery rates, enabling higher concentrate grades with lower reagent use.

• Filtration systems to dewater tailings and concentrates effectively, supporting downstream logistics and minimizing water usage in processing.

These systems collectively allowed Somincor to double zinc processing capacity (from approximately 1.1 to 2.5 million tonnes per year) while improving energy intensity and recovery metrics. The deployment of Metso’s technology was a cornerstone in making Neves-Corvo one of Europe’s leading zinc producers, delivering both volume and quality in concentrate output.

Technical and Sustainability Differentiators

Metso’s process equipment emphasizes energy efficiency and lifecycle value—critical for a high-throughput operation in a region where operational costs and ESG performance drive investment decisions. Features include:

• Smart mill control systems that adapt to ore variability in real time, optimizing grind size versus energy use.

• Low-slurry recirculation designs that minimize water demand.

• Robust mechanical designs reducing unplanned downtime and maintenance interventions.

• Digital monitoring and predictive maintenance to foresee wear and adjust operating parameters, enhancing asset longevity.

These capabilities align tightly with Somincor’s sustainability ambitions: reduced electricity demand per tonne processed, optimized water usage, and consistent, high-quality output that minimizes waste.

Value Delivered

Metso’s involvement enabled Somincor to turn potential resource into reliable production growth. The ZEP’s success—evidenced by the surge in zinc concentrate output—was built on Metso’s hardware and process integration excellence. The increased capacity supports the mine’s economic resilience, while the energy and water efficiencies improve margins and fortify the operation’s environmental credentials.

Strategic Fit for Executives & Investors

For infrastructure investors and mining executives, Metso represents the kind of industrial partner that scales both performance and sustainability. Their solutions at Neves-Corvo demonstrate how capital investment in best-in-class processing technology pays back through higher throughput, lower operating costs, and stronger ESG alignment. Metso’s track record of collaboration, technical support, and system integration makes it a linchpin in the “Partners in Progress” ecosystem at Somincor.