Underground mining carries enormous risk. Rock falls, unstable ground, and exposure to hazardous chemicals sit at the top of every safety checklist on Australian mine sites. Now, Sandvik has launched a next-generation resin injection pump that takes direct aim at those dangers, and the industry is paying close attention.
A Major Leap Forward in Underground Ground Support
Sandvik officially introduced the HPA20 Automatic Injection Pump in March 2026, positioning it as a step-change solution for resin-based ground support in hard-rock mining and civil engineering.
Figure 1: Sandvik’s HPA20 Automatic Injection Pump features a fully sealed 2 × 300-litre dual-container system housed within a compact, lift-ready frame designed for underground deployment. [Sandvik Mining]
The name stands for Hydraulic Power Automatic, and it lives up to the billing. The system supports both manual and fully automated injection of two-component silicate and polyurethane resins, the kind of materials that stabilise rock formations, secure anchors, and hold tunnel walls in place deep underground.
For operators working with mining equipment Australia-wide, the HPA20 addresses a long-standing problem: manual resin injection is inconsistent, exposes workers to chemical contact, and leaves quality control largely up to human judgement. The HPA20 replaces guesswork with automation.
The Team Driving the Change
Sandvik, a global high-tech engineering group headquartered in Sweden, developed the HPA20 through its Mining and Rock Solutions business area. The company employs around 18,000 people in its mining division and recorded sales of approximately 69 billion SEK in 2025.
Anssi Kouhia, Sandvik’s Product Manager for Ground Support, confirmed the intent behind the launch.
Kouhia said the HPA20 delivers a flexible alternative to manual injection methods by combining automation, intelligent monitoring, and enhanced safety features in a single platform, a combination he described as an important step forward in automated resin injection technology.
Sandvik has built a strong reputation supplying mining equipment Australia operations rely on across drilling, bolting, ground consolidation, and haulage. This latest launch adds another layer to that portfolio, particularly for sites where onboard bulk resin systems aren’t an option.
Launched at the Right Moment for Australian Mining
Sandvik timed this launch well. Australia’s mining safety regulations underwent significant updates in 2025, including requirements for more frequent proactive risk assessments, real-time data integration across underground operations, and stricter documentation standards.
Those regulatory pressures created a clear demand for automation tools that can log, verify, and export performance data. The HPA20 answers that call directly.
The Australian mining sector has long pushed for better ground support technology. Conferences, including the Underground Operators Conference and events hosted by AusIMM, continue to spotlight ground support as one of the highest-priority areas for improvement, particularly in hard-rock environments where resin injection underpins daily safety.
Why Manual Resin Injection Was Overdue for a Rethink
Manual resin injection systems carry risks that most miners understand intuitively but few have had easy tools to address. Among the most pressing concerns:
- Operator chemical exposure during filling and injection cycles
- Inconsistent mixing ratios that compromise bond strength and rock stability
- Poor documentation, making QA/QC compliance difficult to demonstrate
- Human error in pressure and volume control during high-stress underground conditions
- Blockages from inadequate flushing between injection cycles
These aren’t minor inconveniences. Poorly injected resin can mean the difference between a stable heading and a ground fall event. For Australia’s underground sector, already operating under tightening safety regulations, better control isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Sandvik’s pumpable resin system for the DS412i bolter already showed what was possible when resin handling and drilling automation converge. The HPA20 builds on that foundation and widens the scope to sites that use different rig configurations.
How the HPA20 Actually Works
The engineering behind the HPA20 is where things get interesting.
Intelligent, Self-Calibrating Control
At its core sits a self-calibrating control system that continuously monitors and adjusts mixing ratios, pressure, flow, and volume in real time. The pump delivers up to 200 bar of resin pressure and up to 10 litres per minute per component — figures that put it well ahead of conventional manual units used across mining equipment Australia fleets today.
In automatic mode, the system logs detailed session data including actual versus target volumes, cumulative resin pumped, and pressure profiles. Operators export that data via USB and feed it directly into site QA/QC workflows.
Sealed System, Safer Operators
One of the most significant safety features is the fully sealed 2 × 300-litre resin container system. It eliminates direct operator exposure during both filling and injection — a meaningful change for sites running multiple injection cycles per shift.
The system also includes automatic and manual flushing options to prevent blockages and reduce operator errors. Separate access levels for operators and supervisors lock critical functions behind controlled permissions.
Flexible Deployment Underground
The HPA20 operates as a standalone unit or integrates directly with underground drill rigs — using onboard hydraulics or an optional 22 kW power pack with a 60-litre tank for sites needing extra capacity.
Its compact footprint, roughly 2.8 × 1.4 × 1.6 metres and 1,275 kg, makes placement in constrained underground environments manageable. It handles operating temperatures between 10°C and 45°C, covering the full range of conditions found in Australian underground operations.
Where the HPA20 Fits in Sandvik’s Broader Strategy
The HPA20 doesn’t arrive in isolation. Sandvik has pursued a consistent strategy of integrating automation, data, and safety across its underground portfolio.
The company’s investment in data-driven mining technology reflects a broader push to give mine operators real-time visibility into ground conditions and equipment performance. The HPA20 extends that logic into ground support — an area that has historically lagged behind drilling and haulage in terms of digital integration.
Beyond ground support, Sandvik continues to sharpen its edge across other equipment categories. Its new generation jaw crushers demonstrate the same focus on performance and reliability, while its Glencore-backed Newtrax collision avoidance system signals how seriously the company takes zero-harm underground environments.
Taken together, these developments paint a clear picture: Sandvik is building a connected, automated, safety-first underground ecosystem, and the HPA20 is one of its newest and most important pieces.
For mine operators across Australia evaluating ground support technology, the HPA20 represents one of the more complete answers to a problem that has cost the industry time, productivity, and in some cases, lives. It won’t replace good geotechnical judgement — but it will make acting on that judgement far more precise and far safer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the Sandvik HPA20 and what does it do?
Ans: The Sandvik HPA20 is an automatic hydraulic injection pump designed for underground resin-based ground support. It automates the mixing and injection of two-component silicate and polyurethane resins used to stabilise rock formations, secure anchors, and consolidate tunnel walls in hard-rock mining and civil engineering environments.
Q2: How does the HPA20 improve safety for underground mining operators?
Ans: The HPA20 features a fully sealed 2 × 300-litre resin container system that eliminates direct operator exposure to chemicals during filling and injection. It also includes automatic and manual flushing to prevent blockages, separate operator and supervisor access levels, and a self-calibrating control system that removes the guesswork from pressure, flow, and mixing ratio management.
Q3: Is the Sandvik HPA20 suitable for Australian underground mining operations?
Ans: Yes. The HPA20 suits a wide range of Australian underground operations, particularly hard-rock mines where onboard bulk resin systems aren’t viable. Its compact dimensions, flexible hydraulic integration options, and built-in data logging for QA/QC compliance align closely with Australia’s tightening underground mining safety regulations and documentation requirements.
Sources
- Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology
- Construction Equipment International
- Geomechanics.io
- Farmonaut
- Jennmar Australia
- Mining Safety News (AMSJ)
