Reliable Hitachi equipment and trusted Rotator support help Terrafame to meet its mining challenges

The largest fleet of Hitachi mining equipment in Europe has proved to be one of the vital ingredients in the success of Terrafame’s nickel-cobalt-zinc mine in Sotkamo, Finland. The site at Kuusilampi is home to Europe’s most significant nickel and cobalt ore reserves, as well as three Hitachi ultra-large excavators and 16 rigid dump trucks. The reliable orange machines are being used to dig, load and haul the total designed mining volume of 52 million tonnes per year.

In recent years, Terrafame has gained a strong reputation for producing high-purity nickel and cobalt sulphates that are used as battery chemicals for electric vehicles. To continue to meet increasing demand for its raw materials from European automakers and battery manufacturers, the company has invested in expanding production capacity while enhancing efficiency. In addition, its primary focus for growth is new products, with battery grade nickel, cobalt and copper critical and strategic raw materials for the EU’s green transition.

Long-term support

To achieve its future targets and ambitions, Terrafame has also been strengthening its relationships with Hitachi Construction Machinery (Europe) NV (HCME) and its authorised dealer in Finland, Rotator since 2015. The first Hitachi rigid dump trucks and ultra-large excavators were delivered to the mine’s previous operator in 2008, and Rotator’s on-site parts and technical support team have been responsible for maintenance and service ever since.

Today the Terrafame fleet includes two EX3600-7 excavators (delivered in 2022 and 2023, now with 20,000 and 14,000 hours respectively) and one EX3600-6 (2018, over 40,000 hours). The three machines are used for loading the blasted materials into the 16 Hitachi dump trucks – eight EH3500AC-3s (2022-2024, 11,000-19,000 hours) and eight EH3500ACIIs (2009-2017, 52,000-82,000) – in four to five passes.

High utilisation and availability

The biggest challenge facing the Kuusilampi open-pit mine is the freezing cold and wet weather conditions, as Antti Lakkala, Terrafame’s Head of Production – Mining, explains: “With rain, winter and hard frost, our working conditions change all year round. It challenges our road maintenance and therefore the use of dump truck tyres, and usability of the dump trucks. Cold winters also challenge us with the use of the excavators.

“Rotator and Hitachi have met our challenges, and high utilisation and availability are being achieved. We have aimed for better efficiency with the dump trucks and large excavators, and the goal is to increase loading capacity and utilisation. We have dump trucks and loading excavators of various ages, but our operators generally prefer newer equipment – they like the tools they operate with.”

Safe and comfortable

One of Terrafame’s most experienced operators is Kosti Jokelainen, who has driven both the EH3500AC3 and EH3500ACII since 2015: “I think the new cab is more spacious and larger than the previous truck. It feels more comfortable with being less cramped, and safer with the stronger pillars. The gear lever and the dump lever are better, much more convenient, and easy to use. The most useful feature is the retarder button – it’s incredibly important that you can slow it down with a button.”

Similarly, Aki Anttonen has been a Terrafame operator for ten years: “I operate an excavator the size of an apartment block, the best that money can buy! The cab is very comfortable in the new machines, even after 12 hours of operation. The most important feature I like about my working environment is that it is quiet and no dust can get in there. The cameras are also important when visibility to the sides and rear is non-existent in places. Filling the bucket is easy and there are some differences from the old machine, such as the hydraulics, and the digging power is significantly higher.”

Trust through cooperation

In 2025, the Kolmisoppi deposit – part of Terrafame’s wider resource base – was granted strategic project status under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and there are plans to open this deposit by 2028. Together with the successful cooperation with Rotator, and the proven high utilisation, reliability and uptime of the Hitachi fleet, the future looks bright for the integrated mine and battery chemicals plant.

“Over the years we have gained extensive experience with the same equipment, our operating conditions and our challenges,” says Antti. “It has brought know-how on both sides, as well as trust through cooperation. It is vital that the teams work closely together, and I can see that this will be even better in the future. In this way, we are developing in the right direction.”