Swedish mining giant Epiroc has signed an agreement to acquire AARD Mining Equipment, a South African manufacturer that specialises in low-profile underground machines for mines with low mining heights.
Based near Johannesburg, AARD designs, manufactures, services and supports a wide range of mining equipment including include drill rigs, bolters, loaders and scalers.
The acquisition is part of Epiroc’s strategy to increase its underground product portfolio and expand its presence in the Africa region.
“AARD has reputable and reliable products that complement our underground product portfolio well,” said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO in a statement. “This acquisition will further strengthen our growth ambitions in Africa and beyond. We are looking forward to welcoming the great team at AARD to Epiroc.”
“We are excited about the prospect of continuing to grow the business within the Epiroc Group,” added Mike Adendorff, AARD’s CEO.
The deal comes on the back of another acquisition, of RNP México that was completed by Epiroc at the beginning of last month. RNP México is based in Mexico with branches in both Chile and Peru. The company develops, manufactures, and sells rock drills and related components, serving mining and construction customers mainly in Latin America.
