A prototype quantum navigation system has been tested on a UK mainline train, claimed as the first deployment of quantum inertial sensing on a national railway network. Developed to provide ultra-precise positioning without GPS, the system uses quantum accelerometers and gyroscopes to track train movement through changes in atomic states. For rail engineers, successful adoption could tighten headways, support more accurate signalling and traffic management, and maintain navigation resilience in tunnels, deep cuttings and urban canyons where satellite signals are unreliable.

Sumitomo Heavy Industries and NEC are jointly developing an AI and computer vision system that uses camera feeds from hydraulic excavators and SHI’s SHICuTe ICT/IoT platform data to automatically detect “risk scenes” and generate structured near-miss reports. NEC’s 2023 video recognition and generative AI technology, previously used for road traffic accident analysis, will fuse time- and location-stamped video with machine operating logs as multimodal data to characterise hazardous and prohibited behaviours. Following a successful proof of concept in September 2025, full development starts April 2026, with global deployment targeted for broader construction-site safety management.

Datamine has acquired Mineware Africa and Mineware Consulting to expand its mine management software suite and in‑house advisory capability across exploration, resource modelling, mine planning and operations control. The deal adds Mineware’s production accounting, dispatch and short-interval control tools, along with its implementation consultants, into Datamine’s existing end-to-end digital mining platform. For engineers, the move signals tighter integration between planning, fleet management and production data, potentially simplifying brownfield system upgrades and multi-site standardisation.

Sandvik has secured five AutoMine orders from Byrnecut, deploying AutoMine Multi-Lite systems at the Gwalia, Ulysses, Youanmi and Gossan Valley underground mines in Australia and the Navachab gold mine in Namibia. The contracts extend Sandvik’s automation platform across multiple jurisdictions and orebody types, enabling tele-remote and multi-machine control of Sandvik loaders and trucks from centralised control rooms. With these installations, most of Byrnecut’s global underground operations will now run Sandvik’s AutoMine architecture, simplifying fleet standardisation, training and support.

CW Plant Hire has expanded its fleet with 20 additional Kubota U50-5 compact excavators, each weighing 4,775 kg and offering a 3,370 mm maximum digging depth and 5,850 mm forward reach. The five-tonne, zero tail swing machines, powered by 40.4 kW diesel engines and equipped with full-width dozer blades for added lifting stability, target confined urban construction sites. Supplied by Boss Plant Sales, the deal takes CW’s Kubota count to around 300 within a UK fleet of more than 1,000 excavators ranging from 800 kg to 22 tonnes.

3ME Technology has secured IECEx hazardous area certification for its BladeVOLT® lithium-ion battery system to the IEC 60079 series, enabling use on electric mobile equipment in gassy underground mines previously limited to diesel or tethered power. The intrinsically safe design targets Group I mining atmospheres, allowing OEMs to integrate high‑energy battery packs into flameproof or explosion-protected platforms without separate local certification. This opens a compliant pathway for battery-electric loaders, trucks and utility vehicles in coal and other gas-prone operations seeking to cut diesel emissions and heat load.

Kal Tire’s Mining Tire Group has partnered with Australian mining technology firm Decoda to deploy a real-time haul road hazard detection system for large open-pit haul trucks. Using on-board sensors and analytics integrated with fleet management platforms, the system flags issues such as potholes, spillage, standing water and excessive grade or crossfall as trucks travel, rather than relying solely on periodic road inspections. The approach targets reduced tyre damage and unplanned downtime, and gives mine planners continuous data to prioritise road maintenance and adjust haul profiles.

More than 10 kilometres of noise walls on Victoria’s North East Link are being built using a new recycled plastic formulation developed through a design–delivery collaboration between Kyriacou Architects and BKK Architects. The system replaces conventional precast concrete panels with modular recycled plastic elements, cutting virgin material use and embodied carbon while meeting acoustic and impact performance requirements for a major urban motorway. For civil designers, the project provides an in-field precedent for large-scale use of recycled polymers in roadside barrier infrastructure.

Hydration that holds up focuses on Neverfail Spring Water’s approach to supplying potable water to remote mine sites using bulk 15L and 19L returnable bottles, integrated filtration units and scheduled delivery to crib rooms and processing areas. The company uses a multi-stage production process with high-frequency microbiological and chemical testing to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, targeting contaminants such as dissolved metals, pathogens and suspended solids common in mining regions. For site managers, the system reduces reliance on trucked single-use bottles, simplifies water-quality compliance, and supports fatigue management and heat-stress controls in high-temperature pits and plants.

Caterpillar has introduced a next-generation Cat 6040 hydraulic mining shovel in the 400 t class, targeting mines needing higher material movement with tighter fuel budgets and labour constraints. Building on the existing 6040 platform, the new model focuses on productivity-enhancing features and increased structural durability to support longer uptime in high-hour, hard-rock applications. For mine planners and maintenance teams, the key implications are higher payload capability per pass and potentially reduced unit cost of material moved, subject to site-specific haulage and bench geometry.

Fenner Conveyors, a Michelin Group company, has launched its INFINITYSERIES range of recycled‑content conveyor belts for Australian heavy industries after previewing the line at its K‑MIX Material Innovation Hub Open Day. The belts incorporate reclaimed materials to cut lifecycle environmental impact while targeting the same mechanical performance envelope as conventional Fenner products used on high‑load mining and bulk‑handling conveyors. For operators, the move signals growing availability of circular belt options without major changes to existing conveyor design, splice practices or maintenance regimes.

IAMGOLD has installed a private 4G/5G network at the Côté Gold open-pit mine between Timmins and Sudbury, using Ambra Solutions’ mining-focused design and Nokia industrial-grade wireless equipment to modernise all site communications. The LTE/5G system is intended to support autonomous haulage, high-precision drilling and real-time fleet monitoring across the large greenfield pit and associated process plant. For engineers, the move signals growing expectation that new Canadian gold operations will be built around low-latency, high-bandwidth wireless backbones rather than legacy leaky-feeder or Wi-Fi.

Rapid adoption of electric vehicles is creating a growing stream of “nearly new” traction batteries, and a specialist firm is repurposing these packs into temporary power units for construction sites. The systems aggregate multiple second-life EV modules into containerised battery energy storage, capable of running site cabins, tower cranes and small plant that would traditionally rely on 100–300kVA diesel generators. For contractors, this points to lower fuel logistics, reduced local emissions and quieter operation, but also raises questions on battery health monitoring, fire safety strategy and end-of-second-life recycling routes.

The Electric Mine 2026 conference will run from 5–7 May in Lisbon, Portugal, as its sixth edition convenes miners, OEMs and power suppliers against a backdrop of heightened energy security concerns linked to the evolving war in the Middle East. Delegates are expected to focus on mine-wide electrification roadmaps, high‑power charging for large haul fleets, and grid‑constrained operations. For engineers, the event signals growing pressure to integrate trolley-assist, battery‑electric and hybrid power systems into brownfield pits while managing power quality and network stability.

Austrian crane and access manufacturer Palfinger has appointed APS as exclusive UK distributor for its aerial work platforms, replacing CPL (Cumberland Platforms Ltd.), which held the role since 2021. APS will handle distribution, sales and after-sales support nationwide, leveraging its 35 years’ experience and existing national service network to support Palfinger’s truck-mounted and self-propelled access equipment. The move is positioned as a core element of Palfinger’s 2030 strategy, signalling stable long-term product support for contractors and plant hire fleets specifying Palfinger platforms on UK infrastructure and construction projects.

Outokumpu’s Kemi chrome mine in Finland is launching what it calls a European-first, data-driven circular economy ecosystem with the EU-funded Lapland Mining Hub and local industrial cluster Digipolis to convert mine side streams into saleable materials. Digital tracking and analytics will be used to characterise and route waste rock, tailings and process residues to regional processors, cutting reliance on virgin raw materials in Outokumpu’s stainless steel value chain. For mine planners and process engineers, this signals growing pressure to design flowsheets, stockpiles and permits around secondary material recovery from the outset.

Flender has launched the N‑ZAPEX gear coupling series as a new standard for heavy-duty drive applications in steel, cement, mining, and oil and gas plants operating under harsh conditions. The couplings target lower lifecycle costs by combining high torque transmission with misalignment tolerance and long service intervals, aiming to reduce unplanned downtime in critical drives such as mill, conveyor, and crusher systems. For mining engineers, the key implication is a standardised coupling platform that can simplify spares strategies and maintenance planning across multiple drive trains.

Viridien has launched a Global Tailings Monitoring Service (GTMS), an automated, remote platform for continuous surveillance of tailings storage facilities (TSFs) across single or multiple mine sites. The service integrates multi-sensor data into “actionable intelligence” for engineers and operators, aiming to standardise TSF condition tracking and anomaly detection without relying solely on on-site inspections. For geotechnical teams managing large TSF portfolios, GTMS signals further movement towards centralised, portfolio-level monitoring and earlier warning of stability or performance issues.

High‑altitude installation of two CITIC Heavy Industries HPGR units at Zijin Mining’s Julong copper mine in Tibet is reported as successfully commissioned, replacing conventional cone crushing of hard SAG mill pebbles. Operating at over 4,000 m elevation, the HPGRs are designed to treat very hard porphyry copper ore, improving pebble‑crushing capacity and generating finer product for downstream ball milling. The project signals growing confidence in HPGR performance under low‑oxygen, low‑temperature conditions, with implications for power draw, wear behaviour and maintenance planning at high‑altitude sites.

First Quantum Minerals has filed a new NI 43-101 Technical Report for its Taca Taca porphyry copper-gold-molybdenum project in Argentina’s Puna region, again incorporating the option of trolley-assist haulage for the open pit. The study continues to evaluate overhead electric trolley lines on key ramp segments to cut diesel consumption and unit costs for large ultra-class haul trucks. For mine planners and electrical engineers, the report signals ongoing commitment to high-capacity pit electrification rather than a purely diesel truck fleet.

Nordic–Dutch startup Paebbl is producing an olivine-based cement substitute via accelerated CO2 mineralisation in low-energy reactors, claiming a net negative footprint of –14.4kg CO2‑equivalent per tonne (cradle-to-gate) and storage of about 21kg CO2 per m³ of concrete at typical replacement rates. The material has moved from gramme-scale tests to an operational pilot in 18 months and has already been used in a Rotterdam quay wall grout by Hakkers, the 1917 Veerhuis restoration, and a 7m-span “carbon-neutral” concrete footbridge by Heijmans. Classified as CCUS, the process permanently binds captured industrial CO2 into stable carbonate minerals that remain locked in even after demolition, offering structural-grade, carbon-storing concrete mixes rather than purely low-embodied-carbon variants.

Plug-in balcony solar panels will go on sale in Lidl stores across Great Britain within months, following government moves to modernise regulations for “plug-and-play” devices that connect via a standard mains socket without formal installation. The UK is drawing on continental experience, where Germany alone adds around 500,000 such micro-PV units a year, to cut household grid demand and exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices linked to the Iran war and wider Middle East conflict. In parallel, the new Future Homes Standard will require most new low-rise homes to incorporate on-site renewable electricity generation, predominantly roof-mounted PV, alongside low-carbon heating such as heat pumps or heat networks.

Waiting weeks for critical crusher and drill components due to fragile global supply chains is forcing mines into unplanned downtime that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour in lost production. MASPRO is pushing a reliability model based on locally manufactured, fully traceable wear parts and spares for primary crushers and production drills, with short lead times and stock held close to major Australian mining hubs. For maintenance and reliability engineers, the shift places new emphasis on inventory strategy, supplier proximity and verified component performance over lowest unit cost.

Panasonic’s latest TOUGHBOOK range is being deployed on Australian mine sites where devices must survive dust ingress, vibration and extreme temperatures that routinely destroy standard laptops. Units are tested to MIL-STD-810H and IP65–IP66 levels, with magnesium-alloy chassis, daylight-readable touchscreens usable with gloves, and hot-swappable batteries to support 12–20-hour field shifts. For geotechs, surveyors and maintenance crews, the key gain is reliable digital access to pit-wall monitoring, equipment diagnostics and mine-planning data directly at the face or on mobile plant.

Caterpillar has renewed its agreement with Fortescue to continue deploying Cat MineStar Command autonomous haulage and drilling systems across the miner’s Pilbara iron ore operations. The deal extends support for existing autonomous truck fleets and remote operations centres while enabling further integration of fleet management, high-precision guidance and collision avoidance on Caterpillar 793 and 789-class haul trucks. For geotechnical and mine planners, the expanded automation framework means tighter control of haul profiles, bench geometry and traffic interactions, with data streams feeding back into pit design and road maintenance strategies.

The National Transport Research Organisation is upgrading and expanding its fleet of pavement survey vehicles, with Chief Technology Officer Russell Gallagher leading several systems claimed as world firsts for the transport sector. The refreshed fleet integrates multi-sensor platforms on single vehicles, combining high-speed laser rut and texture measurement with continuous ground penetrating radar and high-resolution imaging. For asset owners, this enables network-level structural and surface condition data to be collected in fewer passes, improving calibration of pavement performance models and targeting of rehabilitation budgets.

USA Rare Earth has signed a non-exclusive mutual sales and distribution deal with Arnold Magnetic Technologies, linking USAR’s processed and refined neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) feedstock and mine-to-magnet pipeline with Arnold’s samarium-cobalt (SmCo) and NdFeB permanent magnet manufacturing. The partnership is anchored by USAR’s planned Round Top rare earths deposit in Texas (targeting production in late 2028) and a Stillwater, Oklahoma magnet plant designed for 5,000 tonnes per year, due online this year. Both firms aim to supply “compliance-ready” magnets for aerospace, defence, semiconductor and EV applications within a US-aligned supply chain.

Caterpillar has renewed its agreement with Fortescue’s Chichester Metals Ltd and FMG Solomon Pty Ltd to continue deploying Cat MineStar Command for hauling across three iron ore operations in Western Australia, including the Chichester Hub. The extension keeps Caterpillar’s autonomous haulage system integrated with Fortescue’s existing truck fleets and mine control infrastructure, rather than shifting to an alternative OEM platform. For mine planners and engineers, the deal signals continued standardisation around Cat’s autonomy stack for haul route design, traffic management and fleet productivity analytics at these sites.

Mac’s Truck Rental has supplied a 32‑tonne Volvo FMX 8×2 low‑profile beavertail on long‑term hire to X‑Hire Platforms, its first Volvo FMX chassis, selected for higher payload capacity and durability across mixed-access construction sites. Over the past year Mac’s Truck Sales has also delivered 12 DAF trucks to Eagle Plant Hire, including four new DAF XF 480 32‑tonne 8×2 rigid crane trucks with Fassi F710RA.2.26 cranes and DAF XD450 26‑tonne 6×2 flatbeds with Fassi F545RA.2.25 cranes, all with twist‑lock layouts engineered in‑house to secure 10–32 ft cabins and welfare units.

Volvo Autonomous Solutions’ Volvo FH autonomous truck fleet at Brønnøy Kalk’s Velfjord limestone mine in Norway has expanded from a single shift to three shifts, now hauling all production from the pit to the crusher. The driverless trucks operate on a dedicated 5 km haul route through a tunnel to the processing plant, using GPS, lidar and radar for navigation and obstacle detection. For mine planners, the move signals growing confidence in fully autonomous, round-the-clock haulage on fixed routes with clearly defined geofences and traffic controls.

Epiroc Ground Support has formed a strategic partnership with Master Builders Solutions to co-develop next-generation chemical technologies for underground mining, combining Epiroc’s ground support systems with Master Builders’ concrete admixtures and shotcrete/underground construction products. The collaboration targets improved performance of rockbolts, mesh and cable support when used with high-performance sprayed concrete and grouts, particularly in deep and highly stressed ground conditions. For mine operators, the move signals closer integration between support hardware and tailored chemical formulations, with potential gains in early strength, adhesion and durability of ground support systems.

CAPS Australia is deploying modular nitrogen generators and compressed air systems from global OEM partners to support underground mining maintenance in Australian operations. The skid-mounted nitrogen units are engineered to match site-specific pressure, purity and flow requirements for tasks such as tyre inflation, longwall equipment servicing and inerting, reducing reliance on delivered gas cylinders. For mine operators, the key shift is towards on-site, containerised utilities that can be scaled or relocated between declines and workshops as production layouts change.

Deswik has opened a new office in Jakarta, Indonesia, backed by a local consulting team to support deployment of its mine planning and scheduling software across the country’s open-pit and underground operations. The company will host Deswik Exchange Jakarta on 16 April to showcase practical workflows and case studies drawn from real‑world mining projects. A permanent in‑country team should shorten implementation cycles, improve on‑site training and support, and allow closer integration of Deswik tools with Indonesian regulatory, geotechnical and production planning requirements.

Rapid drawdown in earth and rockfill dams is modelled in Rocscience’s Slide2 by separating gradual, fully transient seepage analyses from a dedicated Rapid Drawdown option that embeds hydrogeologic assumptions directly into limit equilibrium slope stability. Engineers can define initial and final water tables, including partial drawdown lines, and apply four established methods – Effective Stress (B-bar), Duncan–Wright–Wong (1990), USACE (1970) two-stage and Lowe–Karafiath (1960) – to estimate post-drawdown pore pressures and factors of safety. The B-bar approach allows material-specific drainage behaviour to be varied, supporting sensitivity studies where low-permeability cores retain elevated pore pressures after reservoir lowering.

Hitachi Construction Machinery has shortlisted 10 global start-ups, including Australian firm LANDCROS, to pitch mining technologies at its Mining Innovation Challenge in Brisbane on 27 March. Finalists will present solutions spanning AI-based fleet optimisation, autonomous haulage support and predictive maintenance for ultra-large excavators and rigid dump trucks used in large open-pit operations. For mine operators, the event signals where OEM-backed innovation is heading on topics such as interoperability with existing fleet management systems and reducing unplanned downtime on high-capex mobile assets.

Metso is reporting strong early uptake of its performance-based Life Cycle Services (LCS) contracts for slurry and process pumps, bundling condition monitoring, wear-part supply and remote performance management into multi-year agreements. The model shifts customers from ad hoc maintenance to guaranteed availability and efficiency targets, with Metso using installed sensors and analytics to optimise impeller, liner and seal replacement intervals. For mine operators, the approach concentrates risk and accountability with a single OEM, with potential to stabilise pump uptime on critical dewatering, tailings and mill-circuit duties.

WAMGROUP is expanding its Australian footprint, with WAM Australia opening a new facility showcased by managing director Alex Rebecchi to support local bulk solids handling for mining and quarrying. The global specialist, known for screw conveyors, dust collectors and rotary valves, is positioning the site as a hub for faster supply of wear parts and customised handling systems. For plant engineers, local stockholding and service should cut lead times on critical components and simplify upgrades to existing transfer points, bins and silos.

Putzmeister Oceania is ramping up its SANY road machinery division as a core growth area, with Head of Road Construction Ryan Van Den Broek driving an expanded line-up of pavers, rollers and stabilisers for Australian conditions. The business is leveraging its 40-plus years in concrete pumping to build local capability in aftersales support, parts and service coverage across key road-building corridors. For contractors, the move signals more competition in heavy road plant supply and potentially shorter lead times for high-spec compaction and paving equipment.

Mining companies are redrawing 2026 technology roadmaps around cloud ERP platforms such as SAP, shifting from legacy spreadsheets and siloed systems to a single financial and operational backbone spanning finance, capital management, procurement, supply chain and maintenance. Clean-core architectures with extensibility and open interfaces are being used to plug in geology asset management, environmental monitoring and safety applications without heavy customisation, cutting technical debt and easing upgrades. With harmonised master data and automated consolidations delivering near real-time views of cash, capex and asset performance, miners can support AI-driven predictive maintenance and tighter working-capital control across multi-jurisdictional portfolios.

Echion has launched a commercial range of fast-charging, high‑power lithium‑ion batteries using its niobium‑based XNO® anode technology, produced in partnership with GUS Technology at GUS’s Zhongli manufacturing facility in Taiwan. The XNO® chemistry targets applications needing very high charge rates and power density, such as mining haul trucks, drills and underground fleets where current graphite‑anode packs struggle with rapid cycling and peak load demands. For mine electrification projects, the move signals growing availability of alternative anode chemistries that can better tolerate high C‑rates and harsh duty cycles.

SANY Group has signed a CHF 100 million, five-year procurement framework with Holcim in Guangzhou to supply a 100-strong fleet of electrified construction machines and commit to 20 autonomous mining trucks. The deal centres on large-scale deployment of battery-electric equipment and autonomy-ready haulage, targeting Holcim’s quarrying and aggregate operations where high-duty cycles and short-haul profiles favour electrification. For mine and quarry operators, the agreement signals accelerating OEM support for full electric fleets and integrated autonomous haul systems in brownfield materials operations.

Epiroc has secured a SEK380 million (US$40.7 million) order in Africa for a fleet of autonomous, cable-electric Pit Viper 275 E blasthole drill rigs, booked in Q1 2026. The Pit Viper 275 E platform supports fully autonomous drilling and high-precision blasthole control, with electric drive reducing diesel use and associated ventilation and fuel logistics. The deal signals accelerating deployment of large-scale electric drill fleets in African surface mines, with implications for mine power distribution design and autonomous drill–fleet integration.

Researchers at ETH Zurich and Empa have developed a recyclable sawdust–struvite composite board that is stronger in compression perpendicular to grain than spruce and shows cone calorimeter ignition times of 45 seconds, around three times longer than untreated timber. The material uses an enzyme from watermelon seeds to control crystallisation of struvite from newberyite, forming large crystals that infill voids between sawdust particles and act as an inorganic flame retardant, potentially matching cement‑bonded particleboard fire classes with only 40% binder by weight. Panels can be mechanically ground, heated to just over 100°C to release ammonia, and fully separated for reuse or as a phosphorus fertiliser, with future cost reductions possible by sourcing struvite from sewage treatment plant deposits.

Loop Hydrometallurgy has unveiled a new copper processing technology aimed at replacing parts of conventional smelting–refining flowsheets with a hydrometallurgical route, targeting lower-temperature leaching and electrowinning rather than high-energy flash smelting. The process is designed to treat complex copper concentrates and potentially higher-arsenic feeds that challenge traditional smelters, using closed-loop reagent recovery to cut reagent consumption and waste volumes. For mine operators and project designers, this signals growing scope to permit smaller-footprint plants and reconsider concentrate transport versus on-site refining economics.

Machine Logic’s Asset Monitoring Tool (AMT) is giving mine operators real-time visibility of operational technology by tagging and tracking individual vehicles, fixed plant and field devices across complex networks. The browser-based interface aggregates data from PLCs, SCADA systems and industrial switches, allowing technicians to pinpoint failed nodes, misconfigured VLANs or offline assets within seconds instead of manually tracing cables. For brownfield sites with legacy control hardware, AMT reduces unplanned downtime and simplifies fault-finding during network changes, equipment moves and expansion projects.

MASPRO is supplying engineered wear parts and crusher components to Kingston Resources’ Mineral Hill copper–gold mine in central New South Wales, targeting higher uptime on critical assets such as cone crushers and feeders. The partnership focuses on rapid local manufacture, stocking and on-site support, with MASPRO technicians working directly with Mineral Hill’s maintenance superintendent to optimise liner profiles and materials selection. For site engineers, the key shift is moving from generic OEM spares to application-specific designs aimed at longer wear life, fewer shutdowns and more predictable maintenance planning.

Glencore Technology’s Jameson Cell is now operating at Anglo American Platinum’s Mogalakwena North Concentrator, enabling Valterra Platinum to fully implement a low mass pull strategy in the PGM flotation circuit. By targeting a smaller, higher-grade concentrate stream, the Jameson Cell’s high-intensity aeration and fine bubble generation are being used to lift recovery while cutting circulating loads, reagent consumption and overall energy use. The move signals wider interest in compact, low-footprint flotation technology for brownfield PGM concentrators constrained by existing plant layouts and tailings capacity.

An Ammann eABG 4820 electric paver has been deployed on National Highways’ A47 upgrade between Acle and Great Yarmouth, laying asphalt with over 90% recycled content alongside an electric Ammann eARX 26-2 tandem roller. The paver, claimed as the largest electric unit on the market, delivers up to 1,200 tonnes per day at 500 t/h with a 70% CO₂ reduction versus diesel, typically finishing night shifts at around 40% battery from a 95% start while placing 500–600 tonnes. Heidelberg Materials supported the trial by installing a nearby recycling plant that both supplied reclaimed material and provided daytime charging, with low-carbon hydrogen low loaders handling transport.

Atlas Copco has launched QHS integrated hybrid generators that combine battery storage and a diesel genset in a single canopy unit, capable of grid charging, self-charging via the engine, and optional solar panel input. The system automatically manages multiple energy sources to minimise engine runtime, claiming up to 80% fuel and CO₂ reductions and more than 95% less engine operating time versus diesel-only sets at low or variable loads. Rental-focused features include multiple socket configurations, external fuel connections, a terminal board and FleetLink telemetry for remote monitoring, diagnostics and fleet management.

The World Gold Council has launched “Gold as a Service”, an open, shared infrastructure concept co-developed with Boston Consulting Group to link vaulted physical custody directly with digital issuance and management of gold-backed products. The proposed platform standardises custody coordination, reconciliation, compliance and redemption to support scalable, interoperable tokens and other digital gold instruments that can plug into modern trading, clearing and recordkeeping systems. WGC is inviting banks, fintechs, custodians and other market participants to help design the “trusted rails” needed to operate digital gold at market scale without compromising bar-level integrity.