Weekly recap: Epiroc’s battery-electric surface drill rig trial, Brandt to build manufacturing facility in Moose Jaw, and more

Electric equipment is becoming more common in the mining industry as job sites move to reduce emissions. Epiroc is one of the companies developing electric mining equipment and the Swedish construction company Skanska is testing an Epiroc battery-electric drill rig for surface operations. Also this week, Volvo CE will see forestry equipment integrated into the Farming Simulator 22 video game series and Brandt will open a new utility trailer manufacturing facility in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Frontline Machinery continues to expand with the acquisition of Chieftan Equipment and Tornado Global Hydrovacs will supply Ditch Witch with customized hydrovac trucks. Here are five articles from this week you won't want to miss.

Epiroc to trial battery-electric, zero emission surface drill rig

Epiroc has agreed with Swedish construction company Skanska to field test a battery-electric drill rig for surface operations, the SmartROC T35 E. The trial is a milestone in the journey towards zero-emission drilling in surface mines and quarries. The design of the battery-electric rig is based on Epiroc's SmartROC T35 surface drill rig. The SmartROC T35 E is designed to enhance the environmental standards of quarries and larger construction sites.

Learn more about Epiroc's battery-electric surface drill rig in the full article.

Frontline Machinery continues to expand with the acquisition of Chieftain Equipment

Frontline Machinery has acquired Chieftain Equipment and its aggregate processing equipment lineup. Founded in 1991, Chieftain Equipment is a well-established and widely respected aggregate equipment dealer based in Edmonton, Alberta, representing Astec Group of Companies, Sandvik, Vale Industries, and more. This strategic acquisition increases Frontline Machinery's infrastructure and personnel, allowing for continued growth in the province of Alberta.

Read more about Frontline Machinery's Alberta expansion in the full article.

Brandt to open new utility trailer manufacturing facility in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

The Brandt Group of Companies will be opening a new utility trailer manufacturing facility in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, with production expected to commence in the late summer of 2022. The company plans to create up to 200 positions over the next three years. Brandt has long-term plans for additional expansion and more equipment purchases to outfit the plant to produce utility trailers for North American distribution.

Learn more about Brandt's utility trailer manufacturing facility in the full article.

Tornado Global Hydrovacs and Ditch Witch begin hydrovac truck strategic supply agreement

Tornado Global Hydrovacs Ltd. has entered into a product supply and development agreement for the co-development and supply of customized hydrovac trucks with Ditch Witch. The supply contract contains a commitment for the delivery of a number of proprietary hydrovac trucks to Ditch Witch. It also requires Tornado Global Hydrovacs to co-develop a customized, Ditch Witch branded hydrovac truck and supply the hydrovac trucks to Ditch Witch, starting in 2022 and ending in 2025.

Find out more about the Tornado Global Hydrovac and Ditch Witch supply agreement in the full article.

Operate Volvo CE forestry equipment from your living room

Users will be able to operate Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) machines from the comfort of their living room, thanks to a new partnership with Farming Simulator 22, a simulation-based video game. Volvo CE's role in the game will be to provide players with the opportunity to experience a true-to-life logging and forestry job site through a number of gamified Volvo CE machines – most notable among them will be the new Volvo L200H High Lift wheel loader. The wheel loader will be featured in Farming Simulator 22, alongside other soon-to-be-revealed Volvo machines.

Watch the video teasing Volvo CE's entrance into Farming Simulator in the full article.