Komatsu’s Mine 4D technology offering real-time visibility at Kevitsa operation
In the frozen expanse of Finland, the relentless pace of 24/7 mining operations places high demand on equipment and technology. Temperatures plunge to –40°C, working patterns stretch long and machinery is pushed to its limits in one of Europe’s most challenging mining environments.
At Kevitsa, a major nickel and copper mine in northern Finland, it’s not just the machines that need to perform under pressure – the technology deployed must be resilient and reliable.
For Vilppulan Kivijaloste Oy, a subcontractor of Boliden Kevitsa currently operating the mine, maintaining operational control across a fleet in these conditions is no small task. The team delivers the auxiliary operations at the mine, spanning essential tasks such as continuous reinforcement of one of Finland’s largest tailings ponds.
In a high-demand environment where both machines and margins are under constant strain, manual reporting can struggle to keep pace and risks creating inefficiencies and uncertainty.
This was a particular concern for the team around validating billing data for payload and haulage distances. To overcome this challenge, the team deployed Mine 4D, a digital solution from Komatsu, to replace guesswork with real-time visibility, strengthening operational control and boosting commercial confidence.
Turning data into a dependable operator
To meet this challenge, Vilppulan Kivijaloste Oy deployed Mine 4D from Komatsu to introduce real-time, automated data capture that can be used to provide operational insights.
Just as haul trucks and excavators must withstand sub-zero temperatures and continuous use, Mine 4D has been implemented to deliver consistent, reliable performance regardless of conditions, providing a live view of operations as they happen.
The system tracks critical metrics including load, haulage distances, machine utilisation and cycle times, while also improving site safety and supporting operator coaching towards safer working practices – replacing manual processes with a continuous stream of data.
In an environment where stopping to check, record or validate information isn’t always practical, this shift has transformed how decision makers at Vilppulan Kivijaloste Oy understand and manage operations.
Built for long hours and longer nights
With limited daylight during winter months and operations running 24/7, both physical and operational visibility is critical.
Mine 4D enables site managers to remotely monitor fleet activity in real time. From a central dashboard, decision makers are able to track performance, replay events and quickly identify issues, such as bottlenecks or idling, as they arise.
Kari Mäkipää, CEO & Founder at Vilppulan Kivijaloste Oy, explains: “At Kevitsa, maintaining a high level of oversight is essential for safe operations in an environment where conditions can change rapidly.
“Since implementing Mine 4D, we have improved how we monitor and manage production, gained a clearer view of operations, and made load tracking easier and more efficient. The system has also proven highly reliable, with responsive support that has helped ensure it continues to meet our operational needs.”
Alongside performance tracking, integrated tools support daily equipment checks, defect reporting and maintenance follow-up, ensuring machines remain operational despite the strain of continuous use in extreme cold.
The same data-driven approach also supports ongoing safety improvements. By helping teams identify patterns such as speeding, harsh braking, fatigue-related behaviour and high-risk interactions between machines, Mine 4D makes it easier to take corrective action early, reinforce safe operating practices and reduce avoidable incidents.
Suomen Rakennuskone Oy, Komatsu’s official distributor for Mine 4D in Finland, supplied and installed the system and continues to provide technical support to the operation. Andrei Dianoff, Engineer of Record at Boliden, added: “In challenging conditions, reliable data matters.
“The system is used in an environment that is constantly changing. It strengthens visibility, supports safer working conditions, and improves the quality of information provided to the client.”
At Kevitsa, commercial performance is directly tied to operational output, meaning the kilometres driven and material moved form the foundation of invoicing.
By capturing this data automatically and in real time, Mine 4D provides a single, trusted source of information which creates greater transparency and increased trust from the client towards the service provider.
From endurance to optimisation
While the technology was expected to deliver improvements in reporting accuracy and operational visibility, successful adoption at Kevitsa relied on close collaboration between Komatsu, Suomen Rakennuskone Oy and the Vilppulan Kivijaloste Oy team.
Wouter Boon, Digital Solutions Production Manager at Komatsu, said: “The deployment of Mine 4D was supported through our hybrid care approach, combining training, hardware integration and ongoing technical support to ensure the system was fully embedded into daily operations. Early results at Kevitsa include reduced administrative workload, improved visibility of fleet utilisation and clearer identification of inefficiencies such as idle time.”
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