Sandvik (STO: SAND) has announced two new digital ground support solutions. The xCell Banshee and the xCell Hydra are designed to provide mining companies better insight into rock-bolt performance and ground behavior.
Both tools use the company’s digital ground support platform to collect and analyze real-time performance data. The key difference is the type of bolts each solution is designed to monitor. The Banshee uses a measurable version of Sandvik’s standard MD and MDX bolts and requires no additional hardware or changes to the standard bolt installation process. The Hydra uses instrumented bolts and a battery-powered data logger. This solution extends digital monitoring capabilities through faster data speeds.
Osvaldo Vallati, Sandvik’s product manager for digital products and ground support, said, “With xCell Banshee and xCell Hydra, customers gain access to valuable data that enables proactive decision-making, improved workforce utilization and a deeper understanding of underground conditions.”
The new products were announced at the 2026 ACG caving conference in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Sandvik says the launches represent an important step in its ongoing strategy to enhance mine safety. “Digitalization is transforming the way mines manage ground support,” Vallati said.
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