Swedish engineering group Sandvik is establishing a new production site in Malaysia for the manufacture of underground loaders and trucks in its effort to meet demand for battery-electric vehicles in the mining industry, the company has announced in a statement.
Production of equipment is planned for commencement in the fourth quarter of 2023 following upgrades to its factory as well as other site improvements, and the investment for this exercise is expected to total SEK 350 million over the coming three years, it said., the facility is located in the Sendayan TechValley business park in Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan, and the new factor will span more than 8,000 sq m and include 15 versatile assembly bays.
“Malaysia is among the most technologically developed countries in Southeast Asia and has abundant skilled labour, strong local industrial suppliers and reliable infrastructure. Our mining customers in Asia Pacific will enjoy shorter lead times for equipment manufactured to the same Sandvik standards for quality and safety,” said Sandvik president Mats Eriksson.
“Demand or our loaders and trucks is exceeding our current production capacity at our existing factories. The establishment of our new production unit in Malaysia will enable flexible manufacturing of both conventional diesel and battery-electric mining equipment,” said Sandvik load and haul division president Patricio Apablaza.