Sandvik has added “electrification competence and know-how in battery analytics” to its mining and rock solutions business in the form of Finland’s Akkurate, a 2016 start-up established by former members of a Nokia/Microsoft lithium-ion battery R&D team.
The acquisition of Akkurate, closed last week, would speed Sandvik’s “expansion into battery-electric vehicles” by enhancing its current offering, the Swedish equipment maker said, and strengthen its position as “the strongest in-house developer of BEV technology in the industry”.
Akkurate’s 12-strong team, head office and battery laboratory is in Kaarina near Sandvik’s Turku plant.
“Strengthening our position within electrification is one of the key priorities within Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions,” Sandvik CEO Stefan Widing said.
“Whether it’s about battery auto-swap technology, increasing voltage, extended battery life or equipment capability and reliability, we aim to lead the industry into the electrification era,” Sandvik mining load and haul president Mats Eriksson said.