Hitachi Construction Machinery: Optimising Mining Using AI

Hitachi Construction Machinery has committed US$3m to Rithmik Solutions, a Canadian mining technology company, as it looks to apply advanced artificial intelligence (AI) to mining site operations.

The Tokyo-based manufacturer says the investment strengthens its digital mining strategy and supports more productive, efficient and sustainable mineral extraction.

Rithmik Solutions, based in Canada and led by CEO Ross Barichievy, develops AI tools that analyse machine data in real time. The tools detect abnormalities in equipment before failures occur, allowing proactive maintenance and reduced downtime. The company runs field demonstrations to test its models against operational data and refine predictive insights.

Masafumi Senzaki, President and Executive Officer at Hitachi Construction Machinery, confirms the group is aiming to "deliver mining solutions that increase productivity and reduce environmental impact at mining sites" using Rithmik's analysis platform.

AI tools to interpret real-world operating conditions

Rithmik's specialism lies in analysing large-scale operational data sets to improve the health monitoring of mining machines.

In a year-long demonstration that ran from August 2024 to July 2025, the company gathered data from 40 dump trucks and six ultra-large hydraulic excavators. The test evaluated how Rithmik’s models compare real-time operational conditions against design-based benchmarks.

The comparison allowed Rithmik to assess how precisely it can identify machine anomalies. Early identification enables site teams to intervene before damage escalates, helping reduce fuel use and unplanned downtime. The firm reports that this "contributed to improved productivity and reduced environmental impact."

Hitachi Construction Machinery sees this AI-based analysis as a next step in digital mining. Instead of relying on design values alone, the AI sets reference points based on live operating data.

The approach uses real conditions to define what is optimal for each individual machine, which is not possible with static benchmarks. This evolution in asset monitoring supports higher accuracy across both health and performance insights.

The investment aligns with Hitachi Construction Machinery's digital platform LANDCROS Connect Insight, which it launches in April 2025. LANDCROS collects near real-time machine data from mine sites and uses it to support operational decisions. By integrating Rithmik’s AI tools into platforms like LANDCROS, Hitachi aims to offer more intelligent, tailored solutions.

Strengthening sustainability and global presence

The strategic investment also strengthens Hitachi Construction Machinery’s ambitions to expand digital solutions globally.

The organisation has outlined plans to "provide more flexible solutions to our customers as well as contribute to increased productivity and reduced environmental impact at mining sites" through this partnership.

Eiji Fukunishi, VP and Executive Officer and President of the Mining Business Unit at Hitachi Construction Machinery, says: "This investment marks an important step towards Hitachi Construction Machinery's goal of building open digital platforms with various partners."

He adds that the integration of Rithmik's AI capabilities with Hitachi's mining data platforms will support a wider range of applications and customer requirements.

For Rithmik, the partnership opens the door to international scale. Ross expresses alignment with Hitachi’s digital vision, stating: "We’re honoured to collaborate with Hitachi Construction Machinery, a company that shares our dedication to innovation, operational excellence and collaboration.

"By leveraging HCM’s global presence with Rithmik’s expertise in mining analytics, we aim to deliver unprecedented performance, reliability and sustainability to customers worldwide. This partnership marks a significant step toward the advancement of smart mining."

Digital-first mining strategies

Mining operations rely heavily on heavy equipment such as excavators, trucks and loaders – all of which generate volumes of sensor data during operation. Analysing this information in context allows operators to predict equipment failure, understand inefficiencies and manage energy consumption more effectively.

With tools like LANDCROS Connect Insight and Rithmik's AI models, Hitachi Construction Machinery sets out to give mining firms real-time insight into equipment conditions, which traditionally rely on time-based servicing or failure detection after breakdowns.

The company positions itself as part of a digital ecosystem that includes external partners, enabling it to develop solutions faster and deploy them more flexibly across mine sites worldwide.

Hitachi Construction Machinery says it will continue to invest in technology to improve both the economics and environmental footprint of mining activity. Through AI-driven health monitoring, reduced fuel consumption and tailored performance analytics, the company looks to support miners in managing rising costs and stricter environmental regulations.

By applying machine learning directly to operating data, Hitachi Construction Machinery and Rithmik work to move the sector away from standardised assumptions and towards condition-based optimisation that reflects real-life use at mine sites.

As the mining industry increasingly focuses on digital transformation, AI-based partnerships are reshaping how operators manage risk, efficiency and sustainability at scale.