Page 14 - Construction_Opportunities_July_2026

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trucks, drills, loaders and crushers are increasingly becoming digitalisation a core operating lever rather than a technology
connected assets rather than standalone equipment. Sensors add-on.
and telematics provide real-time visibility into machine health and Connected equipment can provide a real-time view of fleet
performance, while analytics can identify emerging faults and health, utilisation and operating conditions, while predictive
optimise utilisation. Automation and autonomous systems are also analytics can identify potential failures before they translate into
beginning to transform how equipment is operated, improving unplanned downtime. AI is increasingly being applied to areas
consistency while reducing exposure to hazardous environments. such as equipment deployment, haulage optimisation, drilling
The mine is becoming smarter—and its machines have to and processing, while automation and autonomous systems can
become smarter with it. As mechanical engineering converges improve consistency and reduce human exposure in hazardous
with data, automation and electrification, the distinction operating environments. Gradually, the mine is evolving from
between mining equipment and mining technology is becoming a collection of machines into an integrated ecosystem of
increasingly blurred. equipment, people, data and decisions.
The scale of the opportunity underscores why this transition Electrification is adding another dimension to this transformation.
matters. According to IMARC Group, the global mining equipment Battery-electric and other lower-emission equipment are gaining
market was valued at US$162.9 billion in 2025 and is projected traction as miners look to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
to reach US$237 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 4.13% The opportunity is particularly relevant underground, where
between 2026 and 2034. Asia Pacific accounted for 61.9% of the reducing diesel use can also lower ventilation requirements and
global market in 2025, reflecting the region’s strong mineral base, improve working conditions. Increasingly, manufacturers are
industrial expansion and infrastructure investment. IMARC identifies looking to combine alternative powertrains with automation and
rising demand for minerals and metals, technological advances digital controls, creating equipment that is not only cleaner but
in AI, automation and IoT, the shift towards more energy-efficient also more productive and responsive.
equipment and growing sustainability requirements among the The result is a convergence of disciplines that is reshaping the
key forces shaping the market. equipment industry itself. Mechanical engineering remains
But the opportunity is not simply a function of more mines or larger the foundation, but it is increasingly being complemented by
equipment fleets. The nature of extraction itself is changing. As software, sensors, analytics, automation and energy technologies.
ore grades decline and deposits become more challenging to A modern haul truck, for instance, can simultaneously function
access, operators are under pressure to extract greater value from as a production asset, a connected data source, an increasingly
every tonne moved. Equipment must therefore deliver not just autonomous platform and a component of a mine’s energy
capacity, but higher availability, precision and productivity—while strategy.
controlling fuel, energy and maintenance costs. In a capital- That convergence is also changing what mining companies
intensive industry, even incremental gains in uptime or utilisation expect from equipment manufacturers. The purchase decision
can have a significant impact on mine economics. This is making is moving beyond machine specifications towards total lifecycle

14 CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITIES|JULY 2026