Sandvik Mining & Rock Solutions says to strengthen its position as ‘underground mining’s leading battery-electric innovator,’ the OEM is further expanding its battery center of excellence in Camarillo, California. Sandvik opened the state-of-the-art battery system facility in February 2021 to grow its production and testing capabilities for batteries and battery-electric loaders and trucks.

The company is now nearly doubling its footprint on the California premises to more than 90,000 sq ft (8,400 m2). The phased expansion will primarily increase space for battery production and testing. It will also add 2,500 sq ft (230 m2) of R&D space for Sandvik to improve development of its battery and charger technology. The expansion will also add warehouse and office space and increase the site’s training and touring capabilities for customers.

The California investment follows the ongoing expansion of the company’s plant in Turku, Finland, to enable BEV manufacturing and the establishment of a new load and haul production unit in Malaysia that will primarily manufacture BEVs and assemble battery cages.

“This natural expansion of our Camarillo facility complements the other recent global BEV investments and strengthens our position as the mining industry’s leading in-house battery developer,” said Ville Laine, Vice President, Batteries and Chargers at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions.