Hitachi Construction Machinery and Pronto have entered into a strategic partnership to speed-up open-mine automation solutions by means of a memorandum of understanding – MoU. The partnership will see the two companies combine to offer standard automation solutions to customers with a wider range of choice to solve problems ranging from enhancing mining operations to adjusting to evolving business settings.
It is well to be noted that mining companies are increasingly looking for feasible and scalable methods to boost safety and efficiency and to deal with labor shortages. They are particularly interested to speed-up open-mine automation solutions, which can be easily applied depending on the operational circumstances of every mine while maximizing current equipment and technologies from various manufacturers without being overly dependent on one technology platform or vendor infrastructure. Hitachi Construction Machinery and Pronto contend that an open framework that combines professional knowledge in mining equipment, mining operations, digital technologies as well as automation technologies to adapt flexibly solutions to the particular requirements of each mine is the solution to meeting these demands.
This partnership, apparently, will play to the advantages of both companies. Hitachi Construction Machinery has been supporting mining activities around the world for a long time by means of the supply of mining equipment and has extensive experience in mining activities along with a global customer base. In preparation for its transition to the LANDCROS brand in April 2027, Hitachi Construction Machinery is advocating co-creation by publicly connecting products and technologies as well as partners to provide new value to customers.
Pronto, on the other hand, is the world’s leading OEM-agnostic Autonomous Haulage System – AHS. Its market-leading, tiered AHS range upgrades standard haul trucks from any brand and scales from regional mines to ultra-class, deep-pit activities. The systems from Pronto have self-sufficiently moved millions of tonnes when it comes to commercial mixed-fleet operations with installations on three continents. The mission of the company is to make fully autonomous haulage practical, cost-effective, and accessible to every single mining operation across the entire world.
Both the companies will combine their knowledge in mining operations and mining equipment as well as automation technologies in order to generate new opportunities for mining clients.
According to Hitachi Construction Machinery President and Executive Officer Masafumi Senzaki, “For decades, we have worked alongside mining customers around the world and have developed a deep understanding of their diverse needs and the challenges they face. Through our collaboration with Pronto, we will combine Hitachi Construction Machinery’s equipment expertise with advanced automation technologies to provide customers with greater flexibility and options in adopting automation solutions. This partnership represents an important step in realizing the desire embodied in the “O” of LANDCROS—to openly co-create new businesses and value with customers and partners across the mining industry and to grow together.”
Anthony Levandowski, Pronto Chief Executive Officer, says that “mine operators have been clear: they want automation that works with the fleets they already own, not another closed, single-vendor ecosystem. Pronto has proven OEM-agnostic autonomous haulage at commercial scale, and Hitachi Construction Machinery brings decades of mining equipment leadership, a global customer base, and an open autonomy vision that we share. Together, we can give every mining operation a practical, affordable path to autonomy.”