Hexagon strengthens underground technology roadmap through new partnership with Montana Technological University
TUCSON, AZ, UNITED STATES – Hexagon’s Mining division has signed an agreement with Montana Technological University granting Hexagon access to the university’s Underground Mine Education Center (UMEC), including its facilities, training drifts, and specialised mining equipment.
The partnership provides Hexagon with a unique, real-world test environment to accelerate development of its next-generation underground solutions, particularly technologies for collision avoidance, operator safety, and advanced underground simulation.
As mines continue to expand deeper in pursuit of scarcer deposits, operators face tightening spaces, reduced visibility, and escalating safety challenges. Hexagon’s underground portfolio already includes market-leading solutions that address fatigue, situational awareness, and underground development optimisation, as seen in recent deployments at operations worldwide. The new collaboration with UMEC elevates Hexagon’s ability to prototype, validate, and refine these technologies in conditions that closely mirror modern, high-risk underground environments.
“As the industry pushes deeper beneath the surface, the risks to people and equipment only increase,” said Dave Goddard, President, Hexagon’s Mining division. “Our agreement with Montana Technological University provides the perfect proving ground to accelerate life-saving innovation. By combining UMEC’s world-class facilities with Hexagon’s expertise in safety, automation, and sensor fusion, we can bring underground solutions to market faster, and with greater confidence in their ability to protect miners and sustain productivity.”
UMEC’s full-scale underground mine environment enables comprehensive testing of sensors, algorithms, and operator-machine interactions. Hexagon will use the site for simulation, validation, product training, and customer demonstrations, helping bridge the gap between laboratory testing and operational deployment.
The partnership aligns with Hexagon’s long-standing commitment to improving underground safety, following advancements such as fatigue-monitoring technology, integrated underground safety platforms, and real-time alertness solutions highlighted in recent customer case studies and field results.
Hexagon’s work at UMEC will support the development of its underground collision avoidance system, helping ensure that underground workers and machines operate safely, regardless of depth, fleet size, or geological complexity.