SOURCE: Quarry | May 15, 2026
Heidelberg Materials plans to ramp up its use of autonomous heavy mobile equipment across Australia, Europe and North America.
The move is part of Heidelberg Materials’ broader strategy to introduce more than 100 autonomous vehicles by the end of 2028.
Heidelberg Materials chief technical officer and member of the managing board Axel Conrads said the systems are scalable and cost efficient and can be integrated easily into already existing fleets.
“Advancing automation and AI applications is a key pillar of our technical excellence agenda as we look to constantly raise the bar for our processes and equipment,” Conrads said.
“With a strong global autonomous deployment team working closely with best-in-class technology partners, we are now focused on scaling the technology in a disciplined, results-driven way.”
According to a recent press release, the company plans to deploy up to 30 autonomous vehicles in 2026 following the successful deployment of an autonomous haulage system at the company’s Lake Bridgeport quarry in Texas, USA.
Heidelberg Materials is currently expanding its autonomous haulage system programme throughout North America, including sites based in Indiana and Texas.
In Australia, the company is launching its first autonomous haulage system projects at quarries in New South Wales and Western Australia. In Europe, Heidelberg Materials is premiering an autonomous wheel loader trial at a sand and gravel pit in Northern Germany.
“Implementing the latest technologies across our production sites is an important driver of operational excellence and digital innovation at Heidelberg Materials,” Conrads said.
“We will deploy a scalable solution to our fleet of haul trucks that will contribute significantly towards our production efficiency, safety, and sustainability efforts.”
Heidelberg Materials is an integrated manufacturer of building materials and solutions in cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete.
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