Normet opens Pirkkala tech centre to test autonomous, battery-electric mining machines

The centre, opened on 4 September in Pirkkala, will develop autonomous technologies, robotics, software and battery-electric equipment for mining and tunnelling, Business Tampere said.

It combines research and product development with a demonstration environment where customers can test remote-controlled and autonomous machines as well as battery-electric solutions. Manufacturers and operators can try systems in realistic conditions before deployment.

Autonomy and electrification, the organisation said, are operational necessities in modern mines. Many sites are in extreme environments where temperatures can reach about 80°C, conditions that require minimising human presence and place new demands on vehicle design and controls to keep operations safe and productive.

Business Tampere credited the Tampere region’s dense technology ecosystem for Normet’s choice of location, noting the presence of global players such as Sandvik, Metso and Robit alongside a cluster of some 12 original equipment manufacturers. "Connections between different ecosystems are particularly valuable for companies looking for development partners, pilot customers, or a location for their R&D and manufacturing operations," said Pertti Aimonen, Chief Operating Officer at Business Tampere.

The new centre underlines Tampere’s broader strengths in mobile machinery and mechanical engineering, leveraging Nokia’s technology legacy and local higher education institutions to attract new businesses and support continued innovation.

The opening follows recent regional innovation activity, including the launch of Tech Hub Finland in Tampere, which named Normet an anchor partner earlier this month when Tech Hub Finland opened in Tampere.