Major Drilling Group International is entering 2026 with a larger fleet, expanded geographic presence, and new technology initiatives after a year of significant growth and operational milestones. The company became the world’s largest mineral drilling contractor by meters drilled following the integration of Explomin Perforaciones and is now registered in more than 20 countries around the world.
A legacy of specialized expertise
Major Drilling was established in 1980 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, as a regional drilling contractor. Over time, the company expanded operations beyond Canada to multiple continents, including North and South America, Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Its growth has involved taking on technically demanding drilling projects such as high-altitude programs, deep-hole drilling, and directional drilling.
In 1995, the company joined the Toronto Stock Exchange as ticker symbol MDI, and has operated through various economic and commodity cycles, maintaining a focus on specialized drilling services. Its current offerings include reverse circulation, surface and underground coring, sonic drilling, geotechnical and environmental drilling, and percussive longhole drilling. These services are supported by technology-based tools for data capture and analytics.
President and CEO Denis Larocque celebrated 31 years with the company in 2025. He said the biggest changes he has observed during his tenure are the many major safety improvements, technology advancements and commitments to sustainability—all of which have strengthened the business.
Mr. Larocque says Major Drilling’s development has relied on factors such as trained personnel, specialized equipment, safety systems, financial management, and long-term client relationships. These elements have contributed to its ability to expand service capabilities and update its fleet. As mining projects increasingly target deeper and more complex deposits, and as sustainability considerations become more prominent, the company’s historical approach to adaptation and technical capability continues to influence its operations.
‘Our track record of successfully maneuvering the company through mining cycles while effectively continuing to invest in innovation, and execute on acquisitions while maintaining our operational and financial integrity, is a testament to the strength of our management teams and hardworking teams in the field,’ Mr. Larocque said.
Safety and fiscal strength: The core of growth
Throughout its recent period of expansion, Major Drilling has continued to focus on specialized drilling—deep‑hole, high‑altitude, underground, directional, and heli‑supported work—areas where it has built a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality geological data. In fiscal 2025, the company reported CAD 727.6 million in revenue and invested CAD 72.5 million in fleet modernization. It also recorded a Total Recordable Incident Frequency Rate (TRIFR) of 0.74, the lowest in its 45-year history, a result management attributes to operational discipline and the rollout of hands‑free technologies across the fleet.
‘We’ve expanded our global footprint, taken on bigger, more complex projects, and continued to earn the trust of the biggest names in mining while posting some of the strongest safety performance in our history,’ Mr. Larocque emphasized.
A major driver of the company’s recent growth has been the integration of Explomin, announced in November 2024. The acquisition brought 92 drills into the business, increasing Major Drilling’s fleet to more than 700 rigs and significantly expanding its presence in Peru, Colombia, and other South American markets. It also increased the company’s exposure to copper‑focused regions such as Peru, which Major Drilling says strengthens its ability to support complex drilling programs across multiple jurisdictions. The acquisition further added Explomin’s expertise in specialized services and a stable underground drilling division, diversifying Major Drilling’s revenue streams and expanding its influence in the competitive mining sector.
Explomin’s leadership team, including Executive Director Noe Vilcas and founder Carlos Urrea, has remained in place to support continuity during the transition. The company reports that customer response has been positive, reflected in a 78.5% rise in South and Central American revenue in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025.
Advancing drilling innovation
‘Major Drilling is an innovative company, and we want the world to know it,’ Marc Landry, Major Drilling Chief Technology Officer, explained.
Alongside its geographic expansion, Major Drilling has continued to invest in technology aimed at improving drilling efficiency and geological insight. Its newly evolved Major+ innovation platform combines drilling services with imaging, surveying, and AI‑assisted logging. In collaboration with KORE GeoSystems and DGI Geoscience, Major Drilling’s Innovation Team has developed a drillside imaging unit that captures high‑resolution core photos and uses AI to produce quick logs, including RQD measurements. Early pilots at G Mining Ventures’ Tocantinzinho project in Brazil have shown improvements in decision‑making and data consistency.
‘It’s exciting to finally see meaningful innovation coming from a drilling company,’ said Julie Anaïs Debreil, VP Geology & Resources at G Mining Ventures, citing the benefits of real‑time imaging and automated logging.
Case study: Core logging with AI
Major Drilling partnered with G Mining Ventures at the Tocantinzinho Gold Project in Brazil to pilot a groundbreaking drillside imaging system developed with KORE GeoSystems. The unit captures high-resolution core photos at the rig with integrated access to Kore GeoSystems’ AI to depth-reference, segment, and calculate quick logs like RQD—delivering auditable geodata within seconds.
This innovation enables real-time decision-making, reducing delays and improving program agility. Geologists now have a built-in link to modeling software and can validate the geologic model from anywhere in the world. They can make agile decisions on whether to extend or cut drilling while holes are still in progress.
Images once stored as files in folders on a server are now searchable, indexed, depth referenced and able to be viewed online anywhere in the world within seconds.
Ms. Debreil said, ‘Real-time core photos and KORE’s logging automation are letting us run a more responsive, efficient drill program.’
Major Drilling has also advanced its in‑house analytics system, Rock5, which monitors drill pressures, water usage, and performance metrics in real time. The company reports that the system is helping reduce non‑productive time and standardize best practices across rigs. Safety‑related innovation has continued as well, particularly in rod handling, a long‑standing concern in the industry. The company has introduced semi‑autonomous rod handling systems for both surface and underground operations, including a robotic arm with magnetic lifts now in use in the field, including one in operation at Rio Tinto’s Kennecott Copper Mine in Utah, US.
Automation in practice: Robotic rod handling at Kennecott Copper Mine
At Kennecott Copper Mine, Major Drilling has introduced a robotic rod handler mounted on a Smart 8 underground drill. The system uses magnetic technology for hands-free rod handling and is part of the company’s efforts to incorporate automation into underground operations to improve safety and operational efficiency.
The robotic rod handler is a recent development in underground drilling automation. Developed in Utah and refined through rigorous testing, the semi-autonomous system uses magnetic technology to lift and position drill rods without manual intervention. By removing manual rod handling, the system reduces operator exposure to repetitive tasks in confined spaces, a common safety concern in underground drilling.
The electric design removes the need for hydraulic components, reducing maintenance and eliminating hydraulic leak risks. The system can be adapted for use on different underground drill platforms, allowing flexibility across various applications.
Driving innovation through collaboration
The development of this robotic arm was spearheaded by Major Drilling’s US operations team, under the leadership of Vice President Kevin Slemko. Early prototypes were introduced in 2024, with demonstrations to key mining partners later that year. These collaborative sessions provided valuable feedback, ensuring the technology met the practical needs of drill sites while aligning with broader industry goals for automation.
Slemko noted that customer input guided the development process to improve safety and productivity while maintaining reliability. The robotic rod handler and Rock5 analytics were designed to address these priorities.
‘Customer expectations have always pushed us to lead change,’ Slemko explained. ‘Our partners want solutions that improve safety and productivity without compromising reliability. This robotic rod handler, combined with our Rock5 drill analytics platform, delivers exactly that.’
Rock5 analytics provides real-time drilling data to support operational decision-making. Combined with the rod handler, these tools reflect an industry trend toward automation and data integration in underground drilling.
Safety and productivity at the forefront
Hands-free rod handling addresses current safety standards and workforce requirements in underground mining. Mining companies are increasingly prioritizing solutions that reduce human exposure to hazardous tasks, and automation plays a central role in meeting these objectives.
Deploying semi-autonomous systems underground aims to improve operator safety and reduce cycle times compared to manual handling. The robotic arm’s precision and consistency reduce downtime associated with manual handling, while its electric design minimizes environmental impact.
Shaping the future of underground drilling
The introduction of robotic rod handling reflects a broader industry movement toward automation in underground drilling. As mining operations seek greater efficiency and sustainability, technologies like these are becoming increasingly common. Continued collaboration between Major Drilling and mining companies will likely shape how automation is applied in future projects.
Tools and people together: Defining the future of mining
Supporting these operational changes is a workforce of more than 6000 employees worldwide, including drillers, mechanics, geologists, engineers, and data technicians. Major Drilling continues to invest in workforce development through its Core College leadership program and training in new technologies such as Rock5. Mr. Larocque emphasized the role of employees in the company’s performance, noting that teams across the organization remain central to its success.
‘Whether they’re on a rig, in the office, or supporting operations from afar, our teams continue to adapt to changes within our industry and are the reason we’re so successful,’ said Larocque. ‘They’re why Major Drilling has achieved so much, and they make me incredibly optimistic about what’s next for the company.’
The company’s sustainability framework, formalized in 2020, also continues to evolve. Its latest Sustainability Report outlines progress in greenhouse gas tracking, water stewardship, and community engagement, including partnerships with Indigenous groups. A new idling policy introduced in 2025 aligns with broader industry efforts to reduce emissions.
For investors and mining company executives, Major Drilling highlights three areas it believes will shape its competitive position:
- Scale combined with specialized expertise;
- Integration of data and analytics into drilling workflows;
- Safety and sustainability performance that align with the expectations of major mining companies.
As exploration programs increasingly target deeper and more remote deposits—driven by demand for copper, gold, and critical minerals—the company expects its specialized drilling capabilities and data‑driven services to play a growing role in project execution.
In an industry where accuracy, safety, and verifiable data increasingly define success, contractors capable of integrating technology with skilled execution can best serve mining partners. For Major Drilling, this means turning the drillside experience into a source of insight alongside its legacy of leading in meters drilled, aligning its role with the future of mining.
Major Drilling returns as Premier Sponsor of PDAC 2026
See demonstrations of key technologies from the Major+ innovation suite, including the Drilllside Imaging Unit and Rock5 drill data analytics system at Booth 330.
For more information: Visit majordrilling.com
