Welcome to the MineWarp Podcast where global thought leaders discuss mining's digital transformation with your host Empie Strydom.
We talk with the INNOVATORS pushing the boundaries of what is possible, the INVESTORS funding them, the IGNITORS bringing new technology to the market, and the mining IMPLEMENTORS ultimately unlocking business value through innovation.
#Mining #LetsTalkDigital #MineWarp
S2E026 Mining’s Open Future - Mikael Ramstrom, GMG Chairman on how Miners help Miners
Mining is undergoing one of its biggest technology shifts in decades. Automation, electrification, digitalisation and connectivity are changing not only the equipment used in mines, but how an increasingly complex ecosystem of technologies needs to work together.But how does an industry learn from those already leading the change — and turn individual experience into knowledge that benefits everyone?In this episode of MineWarp, Empie Strydom talks with Mikael Ramström, Chair of the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG), about the role industry collaboration plays in accelerating technology adoption across mining.Mikael describes GMG simply as “helping miners help miners”: bringing together mining companies, OEMs, technology providers and passionate industry professionals to share practical experience and turn lessons learned into guidelines that others can use.The conversation explores the relationship between innovation, interoperability and standardisation, including why Mikael believes technology companies confident in their own solutions should embrace open ecosystems rather than rely on proprietary lock-in. They also discuss the complementary roles of GMG and formal standards bodies such as ISO — with GMG capturing practical industry experience and helping create the foundation from which future standards can develop.They also look at what really makes industry collaboration work: not simply large organisations or membership structures, but the passionate individuals willing to contribute their experience for the benefit of the wider mining community.Finally, Mikael discusses GMG's plans to strengthen regional participation around the world and why mining professionals don't need to wait for somebody else to contribute.Topics💠What is the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG)?💠“Helping miners help miners” — sharing mining technology experience and best practice💠Mining's evolution from mechanisation to automation, electrification and digitalisation💠How mining companies can learn from technology leaders and early adopters💠Why GMG is fundamentally a member-driven organisation💠The importance of passionate individuals in driving industry collaboration💠Why aren't more miners, OEMs and technology companies contributing?💠Interoperability vs proprietary technology — can openness create competitive advantage?💠Why technology providers shouldn't need to lock competitors out💠The role of neutral industry organisations in enabling multi-vendor ecosystems💠GMG guidelines vs ISO standards — and how the two can complement each other💠Why mining companies can play a particularly important role in defining practical guidelines💠How guidelines become industry benchmarks through adoption💠Why developing meaningful guidelines can take years💠Sharing proven experience rather than trying to predict technology from the “bleeding edge”💠GMG's growing regional model and plans for Europe, Africa, Australia and North America💠Collaboration with universities, mining associations and governments💠Why mining professionals should contribute rather than wait for somebody else to do it💠Mikael's journey from computers for spacecraft to technology underground💠And, finally, Mikael's other passions: food, cooking, travel and wine
5 Aug 2026
S2E25 Building the Digital Mine: Lessons from Three Decades at Maptek | Eduardo Coloma, CEO
Maptek has spent 45 years helping shape modern mining technology. But how does a company with that legacy continue to innovate in an era of AI, digital transformation, and rapidly evolving customer expectations?In this episode of the MineWarp Podcast, Eduardo Coloma, CEO of Maptek, shares his journey from a young mining engineer in Chile to leading one of the world's most respected mining technology companies.Together, we explore Maptek's evolution, the future of digital mining, AI, SaaS, leadership, organisational change, and why successful transformation is ultimately about peopl, not technology.Useful Links===================- Eduardo's LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eduardo-coloma-a054884/- Maptek Website: https://www.maptek.com/- Maptek on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maptekTopics include:===================- Eduardo's journey to CEO- Maptek's 45-year evolution- Digital transformation and leadership- AI and the future of mining- SaaS and customer value- Staying innovative in a changing industry
5 Aug 2026
S2E024 David Hallett, Sandvik VP Automation: Unlocking 15% Productivity Leap with AutoMine® Aura
Twenty years after introducing AutoMine®, @SandvikMining1 didn't just update the platform, they rebuilt it from the ground up. In this episode of MineWarp, David Hallett, VP of Automation at Sandvik Mining, explains why a "next version" wasn't enough and what AutoMine® Aura actually changes: A shift from 2D to 3D perception, AI-assisted muck pile detection for autonomous loading, faster mapping and deployment, and a benchmarked 15%+ productivity gain over the legacy system at @GlencoreVideos's George Fisher Mine. We also dig into Sandvik's OEM-agnostic strategy following the 2024 acquisition of Universal Field Robots, how AutoMine® now integrates with the Deswik digital suite (OPS for task allocation, ORB for block cave draw optimization), the real gap between surface and underground automation maturity, and why David thinks AI is still underestimated while quantum computing is overhyped - for now.Topics covered:
Why Sandvik built an entirely new automation platform instead of upgrading AutoMine®
Surface vs underground automation: the communications bottleneck and how underground is catching up
The automation maturity ladder - from assistive features to fully autonomous fleets
Going OEM-agnostic: the Universal Field Robots acquisition and mixed-fleet reality
AutoMine® Aura results at Glencore's George Fisher mine: 15%+ productivity gain in stoping
2D to 3D sensing, faster mapping kits, and reduced deployment timeIntegrating automation with mine planning: Deswik OPS and ORB
Safety: 9 million+ LTI-free hours and the shift toward mixed manual-autonomous zones
The skills gap, deeper deposits, and why automation is becoming a necessity, not an option
Rapid fire: most overhyped (quantum computing) and most underestimated (AI) tech in mining automation
Who has been a guest on MineWarp
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Adriaan Davidse
Cameron Stevens
Frederik Oberg
Hakan Bolsoy
Anton Lourens
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