Hexagon has announced the acquisition of indurad, a global leader in radar and Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS) technologies, along with its autonomous haulage subsidiary, xtonomy. It said: “This strategic move underscores Hexagon’s commitment to advancing mine productivity, safety, and autonomy through cutting-edge technology.”
Key cited benefits of the acquisition are enhanced mine safety using indurad’s advanced radar-based collision avoidance systems to mitigate risks in high-stakes mining environments; and increased productivity thanks to real-time ore tracking and measurement to help automate mine workflows, reducing downtime and inefficiencies.
It also brings future-ready autonomy – as indurad’s mobile machine automation expertise and OEM-agnostic autonomy platform combined with Hexagon’s existing technologies will help accelerate the shift to fully autonomous mines.
“This acquisition represents another step towards realising our vision of fully connected and integrated mine workflows,” said Norbert Hanke, Interim President and CEO of Hexagon. ”indurad’s radar technology aligns perfectly with our focus on safety and autonomy, and we are excited to integrate their capabilities into our portfolio to unlock its full potential.”
Based in Germany, indurad specialises in modular radar systems that deliver precise object location tracking, collision avoidance, and machine automation capabilities. These innovations will enhance Hexagon’s integrated life-of-mine portfolio, it adds “further solidifying its leadership in the mining industry.”
The transaction is expected to close in late November, at which point indurad will be fully consolidated into Hexagon’s Autonomous Solutions division. In 2023, indurad reported revenues of approximately €19 million, with profitability initially below Hexagon Group levels but expected to improve as synergies are realised. The company has 140 employees globally.
indurad recently introduced its latest collision avoidance innovation at MINExpo 2024: the Gen5 iProximity PDS/CAS solution, now with full ISO 21815 Level 9 support. A key component of this system is the flagship iRTT-LVU (Radio Transponder Tag – Light Vehicle Unit). The iRTT-LVU can be mounted swiftly on any light vehicle, using standard roof racks or magnet mounts for contractor vehicles. It connects wirelessly to an Android device, providing both graphical and acoustic feedback, while featuring Wi-Fi/BLE capabilities powered by a modern Intel chipset.
xtonomy has experience with running its agnostic AHS at several operations with ADTs – including a fleet currently running at Sibelco’s china-clay Cornwood quarry in Devon, UK – a project initially conceptualised by Chepstow Plant International (CPI) and ADT OEM Bell Equipment following long-term trials between Bell Equipment and xtonomy. This project followed an initial partnership between Bell and indurad (pre-dating the xtonomy 2022 spin off) with deployment of AHS on Bell ADTs at a voestalpine limestone operation from 2020.