Main image credit: © Messe München GmbH

bauma 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, construction vehicles and construction equipment, will be held in Munich, Germany from 7 to 13 April 2025.

This year’s event has a specific focus on exploring the challenges facing the global mining industry and will showcase some of the “innovative solutions [that] will be used to make mining even more efficient, safe and sustainable in the future”.

The bauma forum programme on day two (Tuesday 8 April) will focus specifically on the “mining challenge”.

Hildegard Bentele, Member of the European Parliament,  will present on the impact of the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and how its goals can be achieved. She will then join a panel discussion alongside other political representatives, mining companies and industry suppliers to explore the role of mining in the economies and societies of tomorrow.

Other presentations forming part of the “mining challenge” agenda will delve into topics such as decarbonisation, automation and digitalisation solutions.  

Meanwhile, the mining exhibition is expected to feature more than 200 companies, providing machinery or solutions for minerals extraction, raw materials handling and minerals processing.

With many mining companies focused on achieving ambitious emissions reductions targets – as well as reducing exhaust emissions in underground operations, – alternative drive technology is expected to be a major focus area at bauma 2025. 

Aramine is presenting its L440B underground load haul dump (LHD) truck, which it claims is the only battery-powered loader to date that does not require a fixed infrastructure for charging in the mine. Instead, it has an integrated charger that can be used anywhere a power connection is available.  

Equipment giant Liebherr will also be displaying the autonomous, battery-electric T 264 mining truck with both static and dynamic charging solutions.

Developed by Liebherr in collaboration with the Australian mining group Fortescue, T 264 has a payload of 240 tonnes and is equipped with a 3.2MW battery. It was first unveiled at MINExpo International in Las Vegas in September 2024.

Liebherr will also be displaying its innovative battery-powered S1 Vision haulage truck that transports materials autonomously – but in a different way. 

The new single-axle vehicle, which has been nominated for a bauma Innovation Award in the machine technology category, only has two tires,  making it ideal for use in confined spaces. It is scalable and can carry a payload ranging from 220kg to 131t.  

While Caterpillar won’t have any of its biggest mining trucks on display, the equipment manufacturer’s exhibit will feature 48 machines, including 17 new introductions or upgrades. 

“What we will show will be a fitting tribute to our heritage while demonstrating our commitment to building a safer, smarter and more sustainable world with our customers and dealers for the next 100 years,” explains Tony Fassino, Caterpillar Construction Industries group president.  

“Alternative power sources, reduced carbon options, and integrated technologies are the future, and Caterpillar is ready to deliver this in collaboration with our global dealer network,.” he adds.  

Komatsu, meanwhile, will be displaying 34 machines, including 13 models that are premiering at bauma. Notably, it will be offering live demonstrations of its electrically powered PC7000-11E hydraulic mining excavator. The machine, it says, “merges the powerful digging force of high-performance diesel machines with the lower carbon footprint of an electrically powered machine”.

Digital transformation plays an essential role in optimising mining processes. Several digital innovations will be on show at bauma 2025.  

In the underground mining space, Epiroc will be sharing its digital solution for tunnel construction projects:  - Underground Manager 2.0. The platform connects machine data from different units, supporting the management of drilling, grouting and anchoring works while acting as a centralised system for projects.  

It will also be displaying advanced geotechnical instruments, including ground movement sensors and telemetry solutions gained from its acquisition of YieldPoint in 2024.

Meanwhile, Paus will be showcasing its Universa 55 – its next smart generation compact carrier machine for various mining tasks. Utilising on-board diagnostics, the driver can monitor important operating data in real time. In addition, the vehicle is pre-equipped with an interface that connects to a cloud solution from Paus, which offers real-time monitoring, geofencing, statistical analyses and remote diagnostics and maintenance capabilities. 

For rock and mineral processing applications, Sandvik will be displaying its eco-efficient rock processing solutions in crushing and screening. bauma 2025 attendees will be able to experience ACS, Sandvik’s suite of automation, condition monitoring and connectivity systems. Sandvik will also have a broad range of solutions on display for infrastructure, mining and tunnelling applications, designed to address increasing demands for safety, reliability and cost-efficiency.

As an international meeting place for the industry, bauma is not only a showcase for the latest technologies, but also a platform for professional conversations and the discussion of key future topics.

“bauma is more than just a world-leading trade fair. It is the heartbeat of the industry. The impetus provided by bauma and its exhibitors has a decisive influence on the markets,” says CEO of Messe München, Stefan Rummel.

“We are delighted this year to welcome over 3,500 exhibitors from 57 countries to the exhibition center in Riem. The focus is on future guidelines for the industry: digitalisation and sustainability.”