Epiroc, the Swedish mining giant, has announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire AARD Mining Equipment, a South African mining equipment manufacturer.

Mining machinery equipment and manufacturing 

Specialising in low-profile, underground machines for mines with low mining heights, AARD designs, manufacturers, services and supports a wide range of mining equipment, including drill rigs, bolters, loaders and scalers. 

The company is based out of Johannesburg, South Africa and has approximately 200 staff. Its customers are mainly from the South African and Sub-Saharan African regions, though it does export products from its range into Canada, USA and Europe. 

“AARD has reputable and reliable products that complement our underground product portfolio well,” says Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO. “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.” 

Serving the mining and construction sectors

The deal comes as part of Epiroc’s strategy to increase its underground product portfolio and expand its presence in the African region. The Swedish firm recently completed a deal to acquire RNP México, which is based in Mexico and has branches in Chile and Peru. The company develops rock drills and related components, serving the mining and construction sectors in Latin America.

"We are excited about the prospect of continuing to grow the business within the Epiroc Group," added Mike Adendorff, AARD’s CEO.

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the next few months, the companies said. The transaction contains conditions normal for transactions of this nature, including regulatory approval from the competition authorities. It is not subject to a disclosure obligation pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation.