Business
23 July, 2025
George Fisher Mine blazing the trail for innovation
Automation continues to grow in the mining industry to improve safety outcomes.
Mount Isa’s George Fisher Mine is pioneering the use of underground automation equipment with the roll-out of Toro trucks equipped with Sandvik’s AutoMine system.
Three automated Toro TH663i trucks (pictured above) joined operations at the Glencore-owned mine last year, following on from the successful implementation of an automated loader fleet.
“Safety is paramount to us,” said George Fisher production superintendent Manfred Drutschmann.
“With Sandvik AutoMine, we not only remove people from high-risk underground environments but also unlock new levels of efficiency and consistency in our operations.
“The automated trucks allow us to haul more material faster, without shift change delays, helping us optimise our overall production. That’s a major win.”
Sandvik’s technical support manager for automation Tommi Rautio said the success George Fisher Mine was seeing with AutoMine was triggering interest in automation technologies across the wider industry.
“This is the first time a Sandvik automated trucking solution has been implemented in a mine in Australia, and other mining operations have been watching closely,” he said.
“Now that they are seeing what automation can do, I expect a surge in interest.”
Mr Rautio said there was also plenty of scope for Sandvik and George Fisher mine to explore new opportunities.
Sandvik’s Fleet licence, for example, could empower the operation to operate automated trucks and loaders in proximity on the same level, thanks to advanced traffic management.
The roll-out of the autonomous underground trucking solution supports Sandvik’s wider supply of drills, loaders and trucks for Glencore’s metalliferous mines in the Mount Isa region.