Multinational engineering group Sandvik has highlighted its ongoing operations in Zimbabwe, including an automation project where five automated trucks have been deployed at an underground room-and-pillar mine in the country.

Sandvik territory manager: Zimbabwe Brian Chitenderu explains that collaboration with a progressive mining customer allowed the ambitious project to begin a few years ago. The trials focused on testing the 45 t Toro TH545i underground dump trucks in certain main haulages of the mine. According to Chitenderu, an important milestone was achieved in early 2024 – with a fully automated loop that includes an underground crusher.

“The years leading up to this point saw a great deal of R&D work from our Finland factory, especially regarding the traffic management system,” he says. “This complex system manages five of our TH545i trucks, to which another five may still be added.”

Chitenderu notes an important factor that had to be considered is that the mine runs mainly manual trackless equipment, which must interact with the automated units.

“The success of these trials makes this intervention the first automated trucking loop in a low-profile, room-and-pillar environment,” he asserts. “The next step in this phased automation approach will be to have a matching loader, and then go through the various stages of automation for the drills.”

Chitenderu highlights that the Sandvik operations in Zimbabwe include a full remanufacturing service for its underground equipment, enabling customers to have trucks, loaders or drills remanufactured in-country.

“The advantage of this model is that we can make a complete original equipment manufacturer’s assessment of what work needs to be done, and then return the machine to our stringent specifications,” he explains. “This also means we can give that machine the same warranty as a new unit – as we know the standard to which it has been rebuilt.”

A new automated rock drill testing facility was installed in November 2023 and the company also offers a range of customer-support packages, from on-site expertise to full maintenance contracts.

In addition to supporting the offerings that fall under the Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions business area, the Zimbabwe operation also serves Sandvik Rock Processing’s range of crushers, screens and feeders. This enables resources to be developed in-country, to work in close collaboration with the Sandvik Rock Processing team in South Africa, with the aim of ensuring shorter lead times on technical assistance for customers, as local expertise grows.  

Chitenderu highlights the company’s skills development programme, noting that its apprenticeship programme includes more electronics in the traditionally mechanical content – leading to training that is more focused on mechatronics and data analysis.

“We have even developed a new qualification and curriculum – in collaboration with the national ministry of education – which will be available at technical colleges,” he says.

Underpinning its service levels to customers in Zimbabwe is the ready availability of spare parts, Chitenderu concludes. These are offered through over-the-counter sales and also through vendor-managed inventory or consignment stock.