"The investment is a key step toward ensuring that this first-class manufacturing site remains as productive and competitive as possible for the long term," said Helena Hedblom, Epiroc's senior executive vice president Mining and Infrastructure.

The new heat treatment plant - which will be built through an expansion of the current workshop building - will further boost rock drill quality and performance. It will also lower customers' total cost of ownership and enable higher production volumes.

Automation at the 1,400m² heat treatment plant will allow production to run 24 hours a day. It is expected to be up and running by late 2020. Energy efficiency is a key focus for the design; for example, residual heat will be recycled internally to heat buildings.