Epiroc has opened its new Surface Mining Automation Center in Providence, Utah, USA, dedicated to developing autonomous haulage solutions.

Epiroc celebrated the grand opening of this new facility last week. It is dedicated to the former ASI Mining team, following Epiroc’s acquisition of the remaining stake in the company. The OEM say it represents a significant investment in developing OEM-agnostic autonomous haulage solutions for the mining industry.

The grand opening on September 4 included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, guided tours and demonstrations of advanced automation technologies, showcasing how these innovations will enhance safety, efficiency and sustainability in surface mining operations, Epiroc said.

The centre will serve as a hub for developing, testing and deploying OEM-agnostic autonomous haulage solutions for surface mining, offering a valuable resource for customers seeking to integrate the latest breakthroughs in mining autonomy.

“This facility represents an important milestone in Epiroc’s journey to lead the industry in surface mining automation,” José Sánchez, President Surface division, Epiroc, said. “It also demonstrates our investment and commitment to develop advanced autonomous haulage solutions for the mining industry.”

Diederik Lugtigheid, General Manager Surface Mining Automation – Haulage, said: “The technology developed here will challenge what’s possible in surface mining autonomy, thanks to the skill and expertise of our new team. Their commitment to developing the most effective autonomous solutions for our customers is the key to driving innovation.”

Local authorities, community leaders and general public attended the event, including Mayor of Providence, Kathleen Alder; Cache County Executive, David Zook; and President of the Cache Chamber of Commerce, Jamie Andrus.