Epiroc and Luck Stone launch first fully autonomous SmartROC D65 drill rig in U.S. aggregate market

Epiroc, a leading productivity and sustainability partner for the mining and infrastructure industries, has partnered with Luck Stone, one of the nation’s leading producers of crushed stone, to deploy the first fully autonomous SmartROC D65 drill rig in the United States. This marks a historic milestone, as it is also the first fully autonomous surface drill delivered to the quarry market worldwide.

The SmartROC D65 MKII is equipped with Epiroc’s advanced automation technology and is capable of executing complete drill patterns without an operator in the cab. Compliant with the Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) Level 4 standard for full autonomy, the rig operates under remote supervision via Epiroc’s Common Automation Panel (CAP) and Link Open Autonomy (LinkOA) platform, enabling seamless data integration and fleet management.

“Luck Stone’s leadership and commitment demonstrate that autonomy in quarries isn’t future vision – it’s current reality,” said Ron Hankins, Business Line Manager at Epiroc USA. “Our partnership is not about a proof-of-concept, it’s about meaningful operational gains that the next generation of drilling will bring in the U.S.”

Luck Stone, known for its early adoption of autonomous plants and autonomous haulage systems (AHS), continues to set the pace for innovation in the industry, and the company views automation as a strategic investment in safety, operational excellence, and talent attraction.

“Our philosophy has always been about doing the work in the best possible way,” said Chuck Stilson, Senior Director of Engineering at Luck Stone. “Partnering with Epiroc on autonomous drilling aligns perfectly with that vision. We’re not only improving productivity and safety, we’re providing new opportunities for our associates and rethinking what’s possible in aggregates.”

James River Equipment, a trusted Epiroc dealer, played a key role in facilitating delivery of the SmartROC D65 MKII and will be instrumental in providing the ongoing local service, training, and technical support that are essential to ensuring the project’s long-term success.

 

The U.S. aggregate market is the largest globally and presents significant growth potential for autonomous technologies. Utilizing the same automation platform proven in mining, the SmartROC D65 MKII makes it easy for any operation to scale toward full autonomy. By enhancing operational safety, optimizing machine fleet size, and addressing skilled labor shortages, this deployment represents a transformative shift in how quarries can operate.

Both Epiroc and Luck Stone have committed to sharing performance data following the implementation period, offering valuable insights for the broader industry and paving the way for future advancements in automation.

Epiroc is a global productivity partner for mining and infrastructure customers, and accelerates the transformation toward a sustainable society. With ground-breaking technology, Epiroc develops and provides innovative and safe equipment, such as drill rigs, rock excavation and construction equipment and tools for surface and underground applications. The company also offers world-class service and other aftermarket support as well as solutions for automation, digitalization and electrification. Epiroc is based in Stockholm, Sweden, had revenues of around SEK 64 billion in 2024, and has around 19 000 passionate employees supporting and collaborating with customers in around 150 countries. Learn more at www.epirocgroup.com.

Epiroc’s Surface division develops, manufactures and markets a wide range of rock drilling equipment and solutions for use in surface mining, construction, quarries, as well as water well applications worldwide. It also provides customers with exploration equipment, tooling and advanced orebody data analysis. The division has production in Sweden, the United States, Canada, China, India, Australia and South Africa. Please see www.epiroc.com for product offerings.

About Luck Stone

Through four generations of family leadership, Luck Stone has been building strong communities for over 100 years. Luck Stone, a division of Luck Companies, is the nation’s largest family-owned and operated producer of crushed stone, sand and gravel. A responsive and creative partner to the construction, civil engineering and environmental industries, Luck Stone provides consistent, quality aggregate materials and services that serve as the foundation of roads, bridges and buildings.

 

Driven by our values of Integrity, Commitment, Leadership and Creativity, we believe in providing our associates with the tools and support to perform and lead at their best so they can ignite the potential in themselves and others. Our company is a community of people, utilizing the power of values and customer inspired relationships to redefine what’s possible for an industry and make a positive and enduring impact. With operating locations in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, Luck Companies is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, where it was founded by Charles Luck Jr. in 1923. To learn more, visit www.luckstone.com