Normet opens technology centre in Finland to advance underground mining autonomy
A new technology centre in Pirkkala, Finland, is intended to accelerate Normet's work on autonomous and robotic systems for underground mining, built to expand the company's research, development, and testing…
Key takeaways
- Normet has opened a new technology centre in Pirkkala, Finland, to accelerate its development of autonomous and robotic systems for underground mining.
- The centre focuses on autonomy, robotics, software development, and digital systems, and will host live customer demonstrations of autonomous functions, tele-remote operation, and battery electric equipment.
- Normet has hired more than 50 people in Finland this year, mostly in manufacturing, and expects the centre to create additional high-value technology roles over time, though no target, timeline, or investment figure was disclosed.
- Normet conducts more than 95% of its business outside Finland, operates across roughly 50 locations in 30 countries, and manufactures mining equipment in Chile, Finland, and India.
- In April 2025, Normet won a contract to supply an ancillary underground equipment fleet for South32's Hermosa project in southern Arizona, signaling the kind of deep underground project the Pirkkala centre is built to serve.
A new technology centre in Pirkkala, Finland, is intended to accelerate Normet's work on autonomous and robotic systems for underground mining, built to expand the company's research, development, and testing capabilities across digital technologies. The private company conducts more than 95% of its business outside Finland, operates across roughly 50 locations in 30 countries, and manufactures mining equipment in Chile, Finland, and India. President and CEO Ed Santamaria called the opening an important milestone, citing growing customer demand for technologies that address safety, productivity, and sustainability underground.
The centre's scope covers autonomy, robotics, software development, and digital systems more broadly. Normet frames those areas as increasingly central as mining operations push to deeper levels and more demanding conditions. The further underground operations reach, the greater the need for systems that remove workers from hazardous environments. Santamaria said customer demand for advanced mining technologies continues to grow, and the centre is intended to help accelerate development of the solutions that address it. The Pirkkala site will host live demonstrations for customers, covering autonomous functions, tele-remote operation, and battery electric equipment. The location was selected for its established ecosystem of electrified mobile work machines and mining technology.
Numbers and the hiring signal
Normet has hired more than 50 people in Finland this year, the company said, with the bulk of those roles in manufacturing. Santamaria said the new centre is expected to create additional high-value technology positions over time. No specific hiring target was provided, and the company disclosed neither a timeline for those roles nor the capital invested in the facility.
Commercial context and what to watch
The April 2025 contract to supply an ancillary underground equipment fleet for South32's Hermosa project, in the Patagonia Mountains of southern Arizona, is the most recent public signal of where demand for Normet's equipment is landing. That win points to the type of deep underground project the Pirkkala centre's research is built to serve. The company attributes broader demand to the green transition, urbanisation, and rising investment in critical minerals, though it released no shipment volumes or forward revenue guidance.
The next development to track is the start of customer demonstrations at Pirkkala, where autonomous and tele-remote systems will be shown to buyers.
Related reading
Filed via finance.yahoo.com