PETRA Data Science
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersToowong, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What PETRA Data Science does
PETRA Data Science Pty Ltd is an Australian mining-software vendor founded in 2015 (Brisbane) that builds AI-driven "orebody learning" and mine-to-mill optimization software for large resource companies. Its MAXTA platform is a suite of modules covering the mining value chain, including MAXTADrill&Blast, MAXTAGeomet, MAXTALoad&Haul, MAXTAProcess, and MAXTAProdSpec, supplemented by ROCKRay for digitally augmented rock testing, FRAGx for AI fragmentation assessment, and FORESTALL for predictive maintenance, with MAXTAConnect providing API-based access. Underlying technology combines ML digital twins (supervised and unsupervised), proprietary data-fusion ore tracking, automated data-quality management, and a 10+ year corpus of reconciled orebody data collected across hundreds of mine sites globally.
The company sells enterprise SaaS subscriptions, typically on multi-year contracts, augmented by an advisory offering bundled through its AI Adoption Framework (Secure Data Uploader, Business Case, Insights, Value Capture). Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, and the platform is technology-agnostic, integrating with established mining software (Maptek Vulcan) and operational historians (AVEVA PI). PETRA is ISO 27001:2022 certified, holds offices in Brisbane, Perth, and Vancouver, and is led by founder/CEO Dr Penny Stewart. In March 2026, PETRA became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Maptek, having been a 25% Maptek-owned entity since 2019, and the MAXTA platform is being embedded inside the Maptek Vulcan ecosystem. Named customers include large iron ore operations in Western Australia, a large Cu-Mo porphyry operation in Chile, a large Cu-Au porphyry operation in Australia, Newcrest's Lihir operation (now part of Newmont), PanAust's Ban Houayxai, a Tasmanian manganese alloy smelter, and an underground mine in South Australia, with claimed outcomes such as a $450M+ annual benefit at a single iron ore operation, >5.5% plant throughput lift, elimination of SAG mill downtime at Lihir, and 82% accuracy in predicting arc furnace failure.
PETRA Data Science firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PETRA Data Science
- Legal name
- PETRA DATA SCIENCE PTY LTD
- Website
- https://petradatascience.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PETRA Data Science industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mining Software
- NAICS
- Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mining Automation, Telematics & Fleet Management Systems (IMAKANAK)
Keywords
Where PETRA Data Science is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toowong
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices3 records
Markets served
PETRA Data Science business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Platform Subscriptions: PETRA generates revenue primarily through enterprise SaaS subscriptions for its MAXTA platform and related applications (ROCKRay, FRAGx, FORESTALL). Pricing is tied to deployment scope (site-level, multi-site, enterprise), and implementation typically includes a business case study, onboarding, and value capture phases. The company also generates revenue through advisory and consulting services bundled with software implementation (AI Adoption Framework: Secure Data Uploader, Business Case, Insights, Value Capture).
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise SaaS platform with modular applications — pricing varies by scope and modules deployed |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
PETRA Data Science product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PETRA builds and sells enterprise software that uses proprietary orebody learning and data fusion to optimise the mining value chain from mine to mill to port. Its flagship MAXTA platform, plus standalone products ROCKRay, FRAGx and FORESTALL, predict drill and blast performance, plant throughput, recovery, fragmentation and equipment downtime for mining operators globally. The software is delivered as multi-year SaaS subscriptions bundled with implementation, business case and value capture advisory services.
Product overview
PETRA Data Science is a global leader in orebody learning software that builds mining software used by hundreds of sites worldwide. The company's flagship product is MAXTA, an enterprise-grade digital mine-to-mill and pit-to-port platform offering a suite of integrated modules: MAXTADrill&Blast for blast design simulation and optimisation, MAXTAGeomet for adding orebody learning variables to geological block models, MAXTALoad&Haul for material handling optimisation, MAXTAProcess for real-time process performance prediction and plant setpoint optimisation, and MAXTAProdSpec for product tracking from resource to plant output. PETRA also offers standalone products ROCKRay for AI-powered rock testing augmentation, FRAGx for automated fragmentation assessment, and FORESTALL for machine health and predictive maintenance. The portfolio is unified by proprietary data fusion ore tracking technology and machine learning digital twin models that connect geological variability to downstream operational performance. PETRA is a subsidiary of Maptek and offers its solutions as platform-agnostic software interoperating with existing mine planning and processing applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MAXTA Enterprise orebody learning platform that fuses operational performance data with geological block model variables via machine learning to predict and optimise plant throughput, recovery, dig rates, crusher downtime and blast outcomes across the mining value chain. For enterprise mining operators.
- MAXTADrill&Blast Module within MAXTA that simulates drill and blast designs on downstream processes and optimises blast design (burden, spacing, stemming, explosive density) for each geological domain to improve crusher throughput, dig rate and cost efficiency. For mining drill and blast engineers.
- MAXTAGeomet Module within MAXTA that adds orebody learning variables to the geological block model to predict plant throughput, metal recovery and comminution specific energy with high granularity. For mine planning and geometallurgy teams.
- MAXTALoad&Haul Module within MAXTA that tracks ore through the value chain and provides dig rate predictions to improve mine scheduling and dispatch, reducing over- and under-trucking from mine to plant. For mine scheduling and dispatch teams.
- MAXTAProcess Module within MAXTA that predicts and optimises plant process variables in real time and dynamically adjusts plant setpoints to ore characteristics for best performance, with warnings of poor plant performance. For plant operators and metallurgists.
- MAXTAProdSpec Module within MAXTA that builds a digital twin from historical mining data to track products from the in-situ resource through to plant, load out and tailings, predicting yield and plant throughput in the block model. For product quality and yield planning teams.
- ROCKRay Standalone machine learning solution that predicts rock properties (UCS, bulk density, recovery, BWi) along untested lengths of drill core from geochemistry and lithology data, delivering high-granularity 3D block models. For geologists, geotechnical and geometallurgy teams.
- FRAGx Standalone AI-powered fragmentation assessment tool that automates blast pile fragmentation measurement from fixed point and SLAM laser scans without personnel entering hazardous areas. For drill and blast and mine operations teams.
- FORESTALL Standalone platform-agnostic machine health and predictive maintenance software that predicts equipment breakdown events (mill overload, valve, pump and furnace failures) using anomaly detection, advanced feature engineering and ore-aware inputs. For maintenance and reliability teams in mining and oil and gas.
- AI Adoption Framework Advisory Services Advisory service bundle (Secure Data Uploader, Business Case, Insights, Value Capture) delivered alongside MAXTA implementation to help mining customers achieve ROI through change management and continuous improvement. For enterprise mining customers adopting PETRA software.
Quantifiable outcome
- Plant throughput lift: >5.5% overall improvement in downstream processes at a large iron ore operation in WA
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use PETRA Data Science
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
PETRA Data Science technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
AI capability9 records
Feature7 records
PETRA Data Science partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- MaptekcoreMaptek, the world's largest independent mining technology company (founded 40+ years ago), acquired PETRA in March 2026, increasing its shareholding from 25% to 100%. PETRA continues to operate as a standalone business retaining its strong brand, culture, and technology-agnostic approach. Dr Penny Stewart remains as CEO. The acquisition brings together two mining technology companies united by a commitment to unlocking value through deeper orebody knowledge. Integration opportunities include Maptek Vulcan integration with MAXTA products, and future enabling of MAXTA within Maptek's Vestrex platform for automated data management and workflow orchestration across the mining value chain. Atrico acted as PETRA's M&A advisor for the acquisition.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
PETRA Data Science competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Maptek: Parent company and world's largest independent mining technology company. Provides Vulcan mine planning software, PointStudio, and now the Vestrex automation platform. Direct overlap in mine planning, drill & blast design, and increasingly in optimisation software via PETRA integration.
- Hexagon Mining: Division of Hexagon AB offering mine planning, fleet management, and operational intelligence solutions (HxGN SDMine, MinePlan, MineOperate). Competes broadly with PETRA in mine-to-mill optimisation and digital twin analytics for large mining operators.
- Caterpillar MineStar: Caterpillar's mining technology platform offering fleet management, terrain, health, and command for autonomous hauling. Overlaps with PETRA's MAXTALoad&Haul and predictive maintenance use cases, but from a hardware-bundled equipment OEM perspective.
- Sandvik OptiMine: Sandvik's suite for mining automation and analytics, including equipment tracking, task management, and process optimisation. Competes in underground and surface mining optimisation, particularly with PETRA's MAXTALoad&Haul and FORESTALL capabilities.
- Komatsu Smart Mining: Komatsu's suite of mining automation solutions including FrontRunner autonomous haulage and Smart Construction. Overlaps with PETRA in load & haul, predictive maintenance, and digital twin applications for large mining operators.
Direct peers
- RPMGlobal: Australia-based mining software company providing mine planning, scheduling, and operational optimisation software (XPAC, AMPS, MinePlan). Closely comparable to PETRA in target customers (large mining operators), vertical SaaS model, and Australian roots.
- Deswik: Provider of mine planning and scheduling software (Deswik.Suite, Deswik.OP, Deswik.Sched). Targets mining consultants and operators with software for geological modelling, mine design, and production scheduling — overlapping with MAXTAGeomet and MAXTALoad&Haul.
- Micromine: Australia-based mining software vendor offering geological modelling, mine planning, and exploration tools (Micromine, Pitram, Beyond). Comparable in target market, vertical SaaS delivery, and mining-domain specialisation.
- Orica: Global mining services and technology company, explicitly mentioned as a competitor in PETRA's own comparison (their IES blast design tool versus MAXTADrill&Blast). Overlaps in drill-and-blast optimisation software for mining operators.
Emerging players
- Seequent (Bentley iTwin): Geoscience software company (Leapfrog, GeoStudio) acquired by Bentley Systems, now part of the iTwin platform for infrastructure digital twins. Adjacent in geological modelling and 3D orebody visualisation that intersects with PETRA's MAXTAGeomet capabilities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PETRA Data Science social profiles
Digital presencePETRA Data Science compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
PETRA Data Science financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PETRA Data Science leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
PETRA Data Science funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PETRA Data Science M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PETRA Data Science
What does PETRA Data Science do?
PETRA builds and sells enterprise software that uses proprietary orebody learning and data fusion to optimise the mining value chain from mine to mill to port. Its flagship MAXTA platform, plus standalone products ROCKRay, FRAGx and FORESTALL, predict drill and blast performance, plant throughput, recovery, fragmentation and equipment downtime for mining operators globally. The software is delivered as multi-year SaaS subscriptions bundled with implementation, business case and value capture advisory services.
Is PETRA Data Science a public or private company?
PETRA Data Science is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was PETRA Data Science founded?
PETRA Data Science was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is PETRA Data Science based?
PETRA Data Science is headquartered in Toowong, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does PETRA Data Science make money?
One revenue line is on record: software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Platform Subscriptions.
Who are PETRA Data Science's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Maptek, Hexagon Mining, Caterpillar MineStar, Sandvik OptiMine and Komatsu Smart Mining. Direct peers are RPMGlobal, Deswik, Micromine and Orica. Seequent (Bentley iTwin) is listed as an emerging player.
Does PETRA Data Science have an API?
Yes. MAXTAConnect API enables third-party integrations, workflow integration and agentic orchestration. It supports automated blast polygon optimization and interoperability with mine planning software including Maptek Vulcan. The API facilitates seamless data exchange between PETRA's MAXTA suite and existing mining software workflows, enabling automated import of AI-generated blast design parameters into Maptek Vulcan and automated decision support across the mining value chain. Developer documentation is at www.petradatascience.com/maxta.
What industry is PETRA Data Science in?
PETRA Data Science's product category is Mining Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKANAK, Mining Automation, Telematics & Fleet Management Systems. Its NAICS code is 541511 and its SIC code is 7370.