In buying Deswik, Sandvik gets a supplier of integrated software platforms that support digitalisation through mine planning stages with more than 10,000 licences.

Deswik will fill a value chain gap in Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions' offering, increasing upstream mining coverage and providing opportunities for end-to-end optimisation solutions. That includes incorporating electrification at the mine planning stage.

Its core software suite includes computer-aided three-dimensional mine design, scheduling, operations planning, mining data management and geological mapping.

Deswik also offers a range of consultancy services including mine planning, scoping, software implementation and training.

Sandvik president and CEO Stefan Widing said mine planning and operations management were key growth opportunities.

He said the acquisition and the Digital Mining Technologies business would strengthen Sandvik's digital offer and allow it to give customers a more comprehensive suite of technologies.

Deswik will form one of three cornerstones in the Digital Mining Technologies business, which was created to accelerate the execution of Sandvik's aim to lead the industry development of underground sustainability and productivity solutions in electrification, automation, digitalisation and end-to-end optimisation.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions president Henrik Ager said Deswik's software suite combined with Sandvik's digital and automation offering created a world leader in digital solutions for mining.

"Combining Deswik's skills in mine planning and scheduling with our equipment and automation expertise will open new opportunities for optimising our customers' mining value chains," he said.

Privately-owned Deswik, established in 2008 and headquartered in Brisbane, has about 300 employees and operates in 14 offices in 10 countries.

As at October, Deswik's revenue on a rolling 12-month basis was A$79 million, of which about 45% was recurring revenue. On that revenue the company had earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation margin of about 30%.

On November 30 Deswik announced it extended the digital capabilities of its mining operations through the acquisition of mobile applications developed by Mineops Software.

Rebranded Deswik.Apps, the suite of apps is designed to let operators access critical, task specific data on a tablet or mobile device while offline working in underground operations.

The apps, the vision of Mineops director Joanna Martyr, were born of real-world mining experience where she identified the opportunity to digitise the way mine operators executed their daily tasks.

The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022.