Sandvik Expands Digital Mining Capabilities with ThoroughTec Acquisition
Sandvik has taken a significant strategic step in strengthening its position within digital mining and aftermarket services by signing an agreement to acquire ThoroughTec Simulation, a South Africa–based company widely recognized as a leading global provider of advanced equipment simulators and simulator-based training solutions for the mining industry. The acquisition reflects Sandvik’s broader ambition to integrate cutting-edge digital technologies, intelligent training systems, and productivity-enhancing services into a unified ecosystem designed to support modern mining operations. Once finalized, ThoroughTec will be incorporated into the Parts and Services division within Sandvik’s Mining business area, reinforcing the company’s lifecycle service offering and deepening its commitment to safety, efficiency, and operational excellence across global mining environments.
Strategic Rationale Behind the Acquisition
The decision to acquire ThoroughTec aligns closely with Sandvik’s long-term strategy of expanding its digital and service-driven capabilities while creating measurable value for mining customers. Modern mining operations are increasingly shaped by automation, data analytics, and workforce training technologies that improve safety outcomes and productivity levels. By integrating ThoroughTec’s simulation expertise with Sandvik’s existing digital solutions portfolio, the combined offering is expected to enable mining companies to implement data-driven operator training programs tailored to real-world machine performance and site-specific conditions. This strategic fit not only enhances Sandvik’s competitive positioning in the mining technology landscape but also supports customers seeking scalable, future-ready training infrastructures capable of adapting to rapidly evolving operational demands.
Overview of ThoroughTec’s Technology and Expertise
ThoroughTec has built a strong global reputation through the development of OEM-agnostic training simulators designed to replicate real mining equipment behavior with high fidelity and operational realism. These simulators allow operators to gain practical experience in safe, controlled virtual environments before handling actual machinery in the field. In addition to simulation hardware and software, the company provides a comprehensive training management system that enables mining organizations to monitor operator progress, assess competency levels, and optimize workforce readiness. The ability to deliver consistent, repeatable, and measurable training outcomes has made ThoroughTec a trusted partner for mining companies aiming to improve operational discipline, reduce human-error-related incidents, and extend equipment life cycles through better operator performance.
Enhancing Productivity and Safety Through Simulation
One of the most compelling aspects of simulator-based training lies in its direct impact on both productivity and safety—two critical performance indicators in the mining sector. Operators trained through advanced simulation platforms can develop situational awareness, machine handling precision, and hazard response skills without exposure to real-world risk. This reduces the likelihood of accidents, minimizes equipment misuse, and shortens the learning curve for new personnel. When combined with Sandvik’s digital analytics and machine data insights, simulation training can evolve from a generic instructional tool into a highly customized performance optimization system. Such integration allows mining companies to align training scenarios with actual operational challenges, ultimately improving throughput, lowering downtime, and reducing maintenance costs associated with improper equipment handling.
Strengthening Sandvik’s Aftermarket and Service Portfolio
Sandvik has consistently emphasized lifecycle services as a cornerstone of its value proposition to mining customers. The addition of ThoroughTec is expected to significantly enhance this offering by embedding advanced training technologies directly into the aftermarket ecosystem. Rather than focusing solely on equipment supply, Sandvik is positioning itself as a comprehensive solutions partner capable of supporting customers from operator onboarding through long-term operational optimization. This service-oriented approach reflects broader industry trends in which mining companies seek integrated partners who can deliver measurable efficiency gains, safety improvements, and cost reductions across the full equipment lifecycle. Through simulator-based training and performance analytics, Sandvik can further differentiate its aftermarket services while strengthening long-term customer relationships.
Leadership Perspective on the Transaction
Sandvik President and CEO Stefan Widing has highlighted the strategic importance of the acquisition, emphasizing how ThoroughTec’s solutions complement Sandvik’s vision for advanced, technology-enabled mining operations. According to Widing, the integration of simulation-driven training with Sandvik’s digital capabilities will empower customers to enhance productivity and safety simultaneously—an outcome that aligns closely with the company’s broader sustainability and operational excellence goals. Leadership confidence in the transaction also reflects the growing recognition that workforce capability development is just as critical as equipment innovation in shaping the future of mining. By investing in training technologies, Sandvik is addressing a foundational element of operational performance that influences safety culture, efficiency metrics, and long-term profitability.
Company Footprint and Operational Strength
Headquartered in Durban, South Africa, ThoroughTec operates with a workforce of more than 200 employees and maintains an extensive global sales and support network serving mining regions across multiple continents. This international presence enables the company to deliver localized training solutions while maintaining consistent technology standards worldwide. In 2025, ThoroughTec generated revenues of approximately SEK 170 million and achieved a strong EBITA margin, underscoring the commercial viability and operational efficiency of its business model. From Sandvik’s perspective, the acquisition is expected to be accretive to EBITA margin performance, meaning it should contribute positively to profitability metrics following integration. Such financial strength reinforces the strategic logic of the transaction and signals confidence in sustained demand for simulator-based training solutions within the mining sector.
Financial Considerations and Transaction Timeline
While the parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price, the financial structure of the deal appears aligned with Sandvik’s disciplined acquisition strategy, which prioritizes value-creating investments that enhance technological leadership and service capabilities. The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and is anticipated to close during the second quarter of 2026. Once completed, integration efforts will likely focus on aligning digital platforms, expanding joint customer offerings, and leveraging Sandvik’s global distribution channels to accelerate the adoption of ThoroughTec’s simulation technologies. The expected timeline suggests a carefully managed transition designed to preserve operational continuity while unlocking synergies between the two organizations.
Broader Implications for the Mining Industry
The acquisition highlights a broader transformation underway in the mining industry, where digitalization, automation, and workforce development are converging to redefine operational best practices. Simulation-based training is increasingly viewed not merely as an optional enhancement but as a critical component of safe, efficient, and sustainable mining operations. As regulatory expectations rise and productivity pressures intensify, mining companies are turning toward technology-enabled training systems that deliver measurable performance improvements. Sandvik’s move to integrate ThoroughTec’s capabilities positions the company at the forefront of this shift, enabling it to support customers navigating the complexities of modern mining while advancing industry standards for safety and efficiency.
Future Outlook and Integration Potential
Looking ahead, the combination of Sandvik’s digital mining ecosystem with ThoroughTec’s simulation expertise presents significant opportunities for innovation. Potential developments could include real-time feedback loops between operating equipment and training simulators, predictive performance analytics guiding operator instruction, and expanded remote training capabilities supporting geographically dispersed mining sites. Such advancements would further embed training within the operational intelligence framework of mining organizations, transforming workforce development into a continuous, data-driven process rather than a one-time instructional event. As mining operations increasingly adopt autonomous and semi-autonomous technologies, the need for sophisticated training environments capable of simulating complex machine interactions will only grow stronger.
A Strategic Step Toward Intelligent Mining
Sandvik’s agreement to acquire ThoroughTec Simulation represents more than a conventional corporate transaction; it signals a strategic commitment to shaping the future of mining through digital integration, advanced training, and lifecycle service excellence. By combining simulation technology with machine data insights and global service infrastructure, Sandvik is positioning itself to deliver holistic solutions that address the industry’s most pressing challenges—safety, productivity, cost efficiency, and workforce readiness. As the transaction moves toward completion in 2026, the mining sector will be watching closely to see how this integration influences operational standards and accelerates the adoption of intelligent training technologies worldwide.
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