Peter Söderman has been appointed Managing Director for LKAB Wassara effective from September 1st. LKAB Wassara is a wholly owned subsidiary to LKAB that delivers the unique water powered drilling system used in LKAB’s underground mines and sold externally across the world.
“Peter has extensive experience from leading successful teams in LKAB, I look forward to welcoming him to this business. At the same time as Peter steps into the role on September 1 st, our current MD, Stefan Swartling, will assume a business development role. I am very pleased that Stefan will be responsible for and able to fully focus on this key area, a role he was originally recruited to manage. This will strengthen Wassara and our development of the future generation of drilling systems for LKAB as well as our external sales development for construction and civil engineering projects around the world” says Leif Boström, Vice President for the LKAB’s Special Products Division that LKAB Wassara is part of.
Peter Söderman has been employed within LKAB since 1991 in different roles, working with Research & Development and managed the beneficiation plants in Kiruna. Since 2007 Peter has been Managing Director of LKAB Berg & Betong, a group of companies consisting of LKAB Berg & Betong (full service solutions for the mining and construction industries), LKAB Kimit (explosive products) and LKAB Mekaniska (mechanical engineering). These companies are important internal suppliers to LKAB and are to a large extent exposed to competition and also handles external sales. The recruitment of a replacement for Peter as MD for LKAB Berg & Betong has been initiated.
“I look forward to leading LKAB Wassara, it is a high tech organisation with competent co-workers and the water powered drilling systems are strategically very important for LKAB’s production. In addition it is a very exciting product with many environmental benefits for drilling in other civil engineering and construction projects, something I believe has a bright future” says Peter Söderman.
LKAB Wassara develops and supplies LKAB with water powered drilling technologies that enables extremely long and straight holes. This is a pre-requisite for efficient underground mining and was when developed a great efficiency improvement for LKAB. Today LKAB Wassara is working on the next technology leap that will increase efficiency further, provide lower production costs and increase LKAB’s competitiveness. Besides this LKAB Wassara markets their water powered drilling solutions to mining operations around the world but also for ground engineering such as geothermal drilling, drilling in sensitive areas as well as drilling grout holes in dams to name a few examples. Benefits of water powered drilling includes less vibrations and sound, long straight holes, safe and benign drilling.
“There are many similarities to my previous assignment. Understanding LKAB’s process and needs is obviously one of them. With regards to external sales there are also many similarities, such as being able to demonstrate total cost concepts, high quality and environmental benefits of the unique products developed within LKAB. LKAB Wassara is different though in terms of its more international outlook with a big potential market we can develop going forward” says Peter Söderman.
