Integrated System to Digitize Mining Operations
Piklema, a Russian developer of industry-specific IT systems, and the Partnerstvo, Investitsii, Razvitie Group (abbreviated as PIR) have signed an agreement to jointly digitize and automate mining operations.
Under the partnership, Piklema will serve as the technology core, supplying its products and technical expertise. As SANY's official distributor in Russia, PIR will handle the commercial side, including product promotion and engagement with mining companies that operate SANY equipment. This arrangement will allow the partners to integrate their technologies more deeply into the machinery ecosystem by using built-in SANY interfaces, adapting software to factory protocols, and moving more quickly through pilot operation. The partners plan to develop software, telematics systems, dispatch platforms, production data analytics, and autonomous control technologies.
For their first commercial project, the companies will form a joint team to survey sites, develop the technical configuration, organize testing, train employees, and provide technical support and maintenance services. They then plan to prepare a standard deployment roadmap that will allow the systems to be scaled quickly.
Partnership as the Foundation
For Piklema, the partnership with PIR offers an opportunity to expand its market presence by gaining access to the distributor's customer base and testing its technologies directly on SANY machinery under real operating conditions. PIR, meanwhile, is building its own expertise: in addition to supplying customers with modern equipment, it can now address the next stage of the lifecycle – intelligent operation.
Over time, Piklema technologies adapted to the SANY ecosystem will allow PIR customers to realize the benefits of digitalization more quickly, from reducing fuel and lubricant consumption to moving toward fully autonomous mining operations.
The companies will focus on an integrated approach built around software and telematics. Piklema systems will collect and analyze machinery data in real time, including fuel consumption, component condition, and geolocation. That will help predict failures and reduce downtime. Dispatch platforms will provide a complete view of the fleet, allowing operators to plan routes, monitor task completion, and optimize equipment utilization. Autonomous control technologies for mining vehicles, including haul trucks and loaders, will reduce the impact of human error, improve safety, and allow machinery to operate in difficult or hazardous areas.
Extensive Experience in Modernizing the Mining Industry
Piklema, a Russian developer of IT systems for mining, was founded in 2016. Its team includes mining and IT professionals with more than 15 years of experience digitizing mining operations. The company is part of the KAMA FLOW and Osnova Capital portfolios and is a resident of Skolkovo. In 2024, Piklema raised more than 1 billion rubles (approximately USD 12.5 million) to scale its business and expand its AI portfolio. Its products include an integrated mining management platform, a system for optimizing wheeled equipment operations, and computer vision technologies. For example, CVision.PitFace analyzes the particle-size distribution of rock at the mine face: a neural network determines fragment sizes from photographs, helping mining companies plan drilling and blasting more accurately, reduce explosives consumption, and increase excavator productivity.
Partnerstvo, Investitsii, Razvitie has operated since 2010. It initially focused on fleet management but shifted direction in 2021, becoming the official Russian distributor of heavy SANY mining equipment and, later, SINOMACH machinery. PIR does more than supply equipment. It manages the full lifecycle, including logistics, commissioning, operator training, warranty and post-warranty service, and the development of a network of service centers and regional spare-parts warehouses. In 2025, the company expanded its product range to include bulldozers, loaders, graders, and new SINOMACH excavator models.
Riding Demand for Domestic Software
The agreement between the two companies reflects a broader Russian trend toward digital transformation in mining. Demand for automation and robotics continues to grow as mining companies seek higher productivity, lower operating risks, and reduced costs.
Since 2022, Russian developers have been moving beyond individual autonomous vehicles toward integrated systems that combine onboard computers, lidar, cameras, navigation equipment, communications channels, and dispatch centers. This year, government agencies further strengthened support for robotics and autonomous transport. Minpromtorg (Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation) and the State Transport Leasing Company reached a cooperation agreement during the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
