ApplicationStockholm, SwedenFounded 1931· One of 381 Application companies tracked by AMPulse
Utilizes metal additive manufacturing to produce on-demand spare parts for mining operations, reducing lead times and supply chain carbon footprint.
CEO / Founder
Mikael Staffas
Team Size
5001-10000
Stage
Public
Total Funding
Publicly Traded
Key Investors
Alecta, Swedbank Robur, Nordea Funds, Fjärde AP-fonden
Technology & Products
Key Products
3D printed bushes; 3D printed brackets; 3D printed drill rig components
Technological Advantage
Decentralized production of spare parts via partner-managed AM facilities (BEAM-IT) to support 3,000-4,000 hour maintenance cycles.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Enables on-demand production of mining components, reducing the need for physical inventory and long-distance shipping while maintaining 3,000-4,000 hour service life.
How They Differentiate
Boliden differentiates by transitioning from a physical to a digital inventory model, partnering with OEMs like Sandvik to print parts on-demand. This reduces lead times for critical components (e.g., drill rig brackets) from 12+ weeks to under 72 hours and eliminates the carbon footprint of long-distance logistics, a strategy more advanced than peers still reliant on traditional centralized warehousing.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Internal mining operations
Industry Verticals
Mining
Competitors
Rio Tinto, Anglo American, Fortescue Metals Group
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Parts for 3,000-4,000 hour maintenance cycles; potential for reduced transport/storage, shorter delivery times, lower carbon footprint
Major Milestones
2022: Proof-of-concept trial with Sandvik; 2022: First 3D printed components installed in Garpenberg mine
Boliden, a Swedish mining and metals company founded in 1931, is applying metal additive manufacturing to transform its spare parts supply chain. Rather than stockpiling physical inventory in centralized warehouses, Boliden produces components on demand using laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) at partner-managed AM facilities. This shift from a physical to a digital inventory model is a first-of-its-kind trial in active underground mining environments, specifically at its Garpenberg mine.
The core technology is metal LPBF, used to produce bushes, brackets, and drill rig components that must withstand 3,000 to 4,000 hours of service life in harsh underground conditions. Boliden partners with Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions for part design and qualification, and with BEAM-IT for decentralized AM production. This approach reduces lead times for critical components from 12 or more weeks to under 72 hours and eliminates the carbon footprint of long-distance logistics.
Boliden's target customer is its own internal mining operations, but the model has broader implications for the mining industry. Notable customers of Boliden's broader metals business include ABB, Alfa Laval, Tata Steel Nederland, Volvo Trucks, and Luvata. Competitors such as Rio Tinto, Anglo American, and Fortescue Metals Group remain reliant on traditional centralized warehousing, giving Boliden a strategic advantage in supply chain resilience and sustainability.
The key open question is whether the 3,000-4,000 hour service life of AM parts can match or exceed that of traditionally manufactured equivalents across a wider range of mining components. If successful, Boliden's digital inventory model could become a template for the industry, but scaling beyond proof-of-concept trials will require further qualification and cost validation.
Competitive Intelligence
Competitors, SWOT analysis, and investment insights