Recent market analysis has identified the manufacturers of an estimated 30,000 trucks, LHDs, drills and bolters that are being used in underground hard-rock mining. The report, which follows a two-year study, concludes that Atlas Copco and Sandvik are the clear market leaders, each with over one-third of the overall sector. Caterpillar has a significant share of the LHD and truck markets, making it the most viable competitor. The other equipment suppliers are mostly regional and niche players, according tot the report. Researched and written jointly by Stockholm-based Raw Materials Group (RMG) and The Parker Bay Company, the Underground Mining Mobile Equipment Report draws on a database of the world’s largest 950 underground hard-rock mines.

Equipment data is available for half of these operations, and the report identifies approximately one-third of the mobile equipment being used in the world’s underground hard-rock mines. Supporting data on mineral production is taken from the RMG database that covers global metal output. Commenting on the release of the report, Commercial Manager for IntierraRMG Europe, Malin Stein said, “Examining the market for wheel loaders/LHDs, mining trucks, drills (development and production) and bolters, this report is not only unique in the industry, but also has extraordinary depth and breadth in its coverage and conclusions.”