Mining Automation Market

According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Mining Automation Market is accounted for $4.26 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $6.88 billion by 2028 growing at a CAGR of 8.3% during the forecast period. Mining is the second-most important and ancient endeavour of humankind after agriculture. The two industries are ranked as the primary industries of early civilization. Mining is the foremost source of mineral commodities, and all countries find it essential for maintaining and improving their standard of living. In recent years, automated mining has gained importance due to better awareness of the application of advanced technology. Previously, mining activities involved a lot of manual work that posed a risk to personnel who were working in a dangerous environment. A lot of human resources are required for achieving higher productivity, which involves providing safety equipment and high remuneration that increase the overall production cost. To avoid such high costs and risks to personnel, many companies are implementing automation in their mining processes.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2040 the mineral requirements for renewable energy technologies will have to quadruple to meet the objectives set by the Paris Agreement.



Market Dynamics:

Driver:

Rising focus on reducing operating costs

Constantly fluctuating commodity prices in recent years have put additional pressure on the profit margins of mining companies. Increasing expenses on exploration activities and the need to carry out non-stop production to meet the global energy demands have encouraged mining companies to embrace innovative technologies. To maximize productivity gains, companies are directing their investment towards advanced automation technologies, such as AHS for driverless trucks, automated drilling systems (ADS), and real-time monitoring of assets. By using advanced automation technologies for mining, companies are witnessing a significant fall in their operating costs. Thus, mining companies are focusing on deploying automation to reduce operating costs, which will accelerate market growth over the course of the forecast period.

Restraint:

High Initial and Maintenance Costs

The high expenses of purchasing and maintaining automated equipment and solutions can hinder market growth. Aside from the high cost, the necessity for more experienced employees to handle automated systems and sufficient training for automotive engineers can increase the overall cost. Furthermore, even after buying automated equipment, many machines require extensive maintenance. Such factors can adversely impact market expansion, which are projected to impede the fog computing market's growth.

Opportunity:

Evolution of smart connected mines

Connected mining refers to the application of technology to achieve better productivity and safety as well as reduce operational costs for a mine site. Thus, connected mining, a combination of IT, automation, and instrumentation technologies, is a result of the advancements in the existing technologies present in the mining industry. This integrated operations technology makes the process of mine surveying, planning, exploration, extraction, and analysis faster and easier with software providing real-time information, thereby providing a realistic image of the mine environment and the availability of resources.

Threat:

Infrastructure limitations

Effective mining automation relies on robust and reliable connectivity infrastructure to transmit data and enable real-time communication between various automated systems. However, in remote mining locations or areas with limited network coverage, access to reliable high-speed internet or communication networks may be challenging. Inadequate connectivity can hinder the seamless operation of automated mining systems, limiting their effectiveness and compromising the overall automation strategy. Moreover, mining automation often involves the integration of various sensors, devices, and equipment to enable seamless operation and data exchange. However, outdated or incompatible infrastructure can make it challenging to integrate new automation technologies with existing mining systems. This can lead to compatibility issues, higher implementation costs, and delays in deploying automation solutions, which will impede the market growth over the forecast period.

Covid-19 Impact:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the mining industry. Mineral and metal demand dramatically decreased, and many commodity prices plunged to historic lows due to the outbreak. The pandemic also affected the mining equipment supply chain, making it harder for enterprises to obtain the necessary supplies. As a result of these issues, several mining businesses resorted to automation. Automation can help mines run more effectively and safely while also saving money. For example, the deployment of self-driving vehicles assisted in limiting the number of individuals working close to one another, lowering the danger of virus transmission. With the emergence of automation in the mining industry, the mining rate and output have increased dramatically. The use of automation in critical areas of mining improves efficiency and precision.

The Mineral mining segment is expected to be the largest during the forecast period

During the anticipated timeframe, the mineral mining segment's market share will expand significantly. The metal mining application is presumed to show significant growth over the forecast period. The growth can be attributed to the increased convention of autonomous technology in metal exploration activities. Moreover, the rising demand for metals, such as copper, zinc, lead, and nickel, by application industries is expected to contribute to revenue growth. Furthermore, metal mining witnessed a surging demand for automated solutions to meet the rising demand for base metals. Over the course of the projected period, the aforementioned reasons are anticipated to propel segment growth.

The Equipment automation segment is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period

Over the projection period, the equipment automation segment is predicted to develop at the fastest and high revenue growth rate over the forecast period. The growth of the segment is expected to be driven by the development of durable technology-based vehicles such as automated trucks, remotely controlled equipment, and teleoperated mining equipment. Rapid developments in hardware automated systems are also expected to continue streamlining the global large-scale mining industry. Various product launches and innovations in existing product lines are also being made by major firms, which are fostering the expansion of the global market.

Region with largest share:

Asia Pacific leads the mining automation market, accounting for a revenue share. This is due to the surging adoption of technologies for mining automation by various countries in the region. For instance, Australia is acknowledged as a global pioneer in mining automation technologies that allow resource firms to work more securely and effectively in difficult environments. In addition, the rising cost pressures that the mining industry is currently experiencing can be relieved owing to automation advancements, which are driving the demand for Mining Automation in the region.

Region with highest CAGR:

North America is expected to witness the fastest growth rate over the forecast period. North America has been a prominent region in the mining automation market, exhibiting significant growth and adoption of automation technologies in the mining industry. The Region is known for its strong technological capabilities and innovation. The region is home to several leading automation technology providers, research institutions, and mining companies focused on developing and implementing cutting-edge automation solutions in mining operations. Moreover, North America has a substantial mining industry, encompassing various minerals, including coal, gold, copper, and iron ore. The region's rich mineral resources and the demand for these minerals drive the need for efficient and productive mining operations, making it an ideal market for automation technologies and are also expected to fuel market growth in North America over the forecast period.



Key players in the market:

Some of the key players in Mining Automation Market include Atlas Copco AB, Autonomous Solution Inc., Caterpillar, Epiroc AB, Hexagon AB, Hitachi, Ltd., Komatsu Ltd., Liebherr Group, MST (Mine Site Technologies), Rio Tinto, Rockwell Automation, Inc., RPM Global Holdings Ltd., Sandvik AB, SANY Group, Siemens and Trimble Inc.

Key Developments:

In September 2022, Caterpillar introduced the 789 mining truck to provide enhanced efficiency, improved cab comfort, and better connectivity. The new model offers the ability to move more material with up to 9% less fuel consumption.

In August 2022, Epiroc AB acquired RNP Mexico, which develops, manufactures, and sells rock drills and related components to customers in the construction and mining industry in Latin America.

In June 2022, Liebherr Group announced the unveiling of a new model of mid-class mining excavator, namely, the T 274, at Bauma 2022. The T 274 displayed Liebherr Mining’s new Technology Product Portfolio, which was launched at MINExpo in 2021. The T 274 features Liebherr’s Trolley Assist System and is expected to provide benefits such as fast cycle times, low fuel consumption, and higher productivity.

In June 2022, Hexagon AB introduced the Life-of-Mine smart platform, which connects sensors, software, cloudware, and infield applications. The platform helps in connecting the mine to a boardroom through a single onboard ecosystem comprising an antenna and a smart computer. The solution is aimed to connect key mining workflows together to promote digital transformation for enhancing safety and productivity

Types Covered:
• Equipment Automation
• Software Automation
• Services
• Communication System

Technologies Covered:
• Robotics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Internet of things
• Other Technologies

Techniques Covered:
• Surface Mining
• Underground Mining

Automations Covered:
• Assistive Automation
• Partial Automation
• Conditional Automation
• Full Automation

Applications Covered:
• Mine Development
• Mining Process
• Mine Maintenance

End Users Covered:
• Metal Mining
• Mineral Mining
• Coal Mining

Regions Covered:
• North America
o US
o Canada
o Mexico
• Europe
o Germany
o UK
o Italy
o France
o Spain
o Rest of Europe
• Asia Pacific
o Japan
o China
o India
o Australia
o New Zealand
o South Korea
o Rest of Asia Pacific
• South America
o Argentina
o Brazil
o Chile
o Rest of South America
• Middle East & Africa
o Saudi Arabia
o UAE
o Qatar
o South Africa
o Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:
- Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments
- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants
- Covers Market data for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2025, and 2028
- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)
- Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimations
- Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends
- Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments
- Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements

Free Customization Offerings:
All the customers of this report will be entitled to receive one of the following free customization options:
• Company Profiling
o Comprehensive profiling of additional market players (up to 3)
o SWOT Analysis of key players (up to 3)
• Regional Segmentation
o Market estimations, Forecasts and CAGR of any prominent country as per the client's interest (Note: Depends on feasibility check)
• Competitive Benchmarking
Benchmarking of key players based on product portfolio, geographical presence, and strategic alliances