Underground mining contractor Byrnecut has committed to a significant underground mining equipment fleet investment, ordering 20 Sandvik underground drills, loaders and trucks alongside five raiseboring systems. The orders, booked during June 2026, will see equipment deliveries continue through June 2028, with machines destined for operations across Australia, Canada, West Africa and Southern Africa.
The investment reinforces Byrnecut’s position as one of the largest underground mining contractors globally and underscores its ongoing relationship with Sandvik as a preferred equipment supplier. The underground mining equipment fleet will support both new and existing underground mining projects across the four regions.
Byrnecut Expands Underground Mining Equipment Fleet
The fleet order comprises a broad spread of underground mining machinery. It includes four Sandvik DD422i development drills, four Toro LH621i loaders equipped with Sandvik’s AutoMine automation technology, and four Toro TH663i underground trucks. The order also covers two Sandvik DL432i longhole drills and one Sandvik DL422i longhole drill, providing Byrnecut with additional production drilling capacity.
On the raiseboring side, Byrnecut has ordered four Rhino 100 mobile raiseboring machines and one Rhino uphole module. These five raiseboring systems add to the contractor’s capability for ventilation raises, ore passes and other vertical and inclined excavations required in underground operations.
The scale of this underground mining equipment fleet order reflects the breadth of Byrnecut’s international workload and its need for modern, reliable machines across multiple project sites simultaneously.
Sandvik Equipment Supports Multiple Mining Operations
Byrnecut’s decision to standardise on Sandvik equipment across its international operations draws on the manufacturer’s global support network. With projects spread across Australia, Canada, West Africa and Southern Africa, access to consistent parts supply, technical support and service capability is a practical consideration for any underground mining contractor running large fleets.
The underground mining equipment fleet is not assigned to a single project. Instead, Byrnecut will deploy machines across its portfolio of contracts as operational requirements dictate. This approach allows the contractor to maintain equipment availability and respond to project demands without delays caused by sourcing machines individually.
Sandvik’s global presence enables Byrnecut to access local support in each of the four regions where the equipment will operate, helping to reduce downtime and maintain productivity across the fleet.
Fleet Investment Extends Automation and Productivity
A notable feature of this underground mining equipment fleet is the integration of automation technology. The four Toro LH621i loaders are equipped with AutoMine, Sandvik’s autonomous operation system, which enables remote and automated loader operation underground. This capability supports Byrnecut’s focus on increasingly automated underground mining operations.
Beyond automation, the investment reflects Byrnecut’s broader priorities around equipment availability, productivity and reliability. Running a standardised fleet of modern machines helps reduce maintenance complexity and improves fleet management across geographically dispersed operations.
With deliveries scheduled through June 2028, the equipment will progressively enter service as Byrnecut continues to expand and sustain its underground mining activities internationally.