What LK Wassara does

LKAB Wassara (operating under the brand LK Wassara) is a Swedish drilling-technology company headquartered in Huddinge, Sweden, founded in 1988 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the state-owned mining group LKAB (Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB). The company develops, manufactures, and sells a patented water-powered Down-The-Hole (DTH) percussion hammer technology in which high-pressure water — up to 180 bar — drives a two-moving-part piston and valve assembly to deliver percussive energy directly to the rock face. The core product line comprises ten hammer models spanning 2-inch to 12-inch diameters (W50 through W280), supported by proprietary drill bits with dedicated water channels, a WASP water-pump series (80–200), the single-pass W100 JG jet-grouting hammer, and the Wassara Explorer gyro-based borehole surveying system with its companion Wassara Navigator software.

Wassara monetizes through direct enterprise sales and a global distributor/channel-partner network that includes Eurodrilling (Sweden), Ripamonti (Italy), HPE (Africa), Styrud, Wessman, Skånska Energi, WeBuild SpA, Züblin, Kiewit-Shea Constructors, Treviicos Soletanche JV, and Pilotes Terratest. Revenue streams consist of hardware sales (hammers, drill bits, pumps, surveying instruments), spare parts and service kits, and — since 2021 — a professional borehole surveying service delivered directly by LKAB Wassara technicians. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. End markets are organized into five business areas: Mining (underground and open-pit blast holes, long hole rises, degasification), Tunneling (anchor, grout, drainage, and TBM-related drilling), Ground Engineering (casing advancement, jet grouting, urban drilling), Dams (foundation grouting and rehabilitation), and Geo-drilling (geothermal heating and cooling). Wassara technology is specified in marquee projects including LKAB's Kiruna iron ore mines (100% of production drilling), the Brenner Base Tunnel, the Delaware Aqueduct bypass, Wolf Creek Dam rehabilitation, and urban geothermal installations across Scandinavia.

Name

LK Wassara

Legal name

LKAB Wassara

Website

https://wassara.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LKAB Wassara, a Swedish subsidiary of state-owned LKAB, manufactures patented water-powered Down-The-Hole drilling hammers (2"–12"), drill bits, pumps, and gyro surveying systems sold globally to mining, tunneling, dam, and geothermal customers via direct sales and distributors, complemented by a borehole surveying service.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Drilling Equipment

NAICS

Mining and Oil and Gas Field Machinery Manufacturing (33313)

SIC

Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532)

akta.pro primary industry

Rock Drilling & Blasthole Drilling Equipment (IMAHAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Drill Tools, Bits & Downhole Equipment (IMAHAMAB), Drilling & Rock Excavation Equipment (Rotary/Top-Hammer, Jumbos, Raiseborers) (IMAKANAC)

Keywords

• Water-powered drilling hammers
• Down-the-hole equipment
• Borehole surveying systems
• Jet grouting solutions
• Mining drilling technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Huddinge

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Water-Powered DTH Hammers and Drill Bits: LKAB Wassara manufactures and sells a full product line of water-powered DTH hammers (W50 through W280), drill bits optimized for the water-powered drilling technology, and spare parts/service kits. Products are sold directly and through a global distributor network.
2. Borehole Surveying Services: Since 2021, LKAB Wassara has been performing global borehole surveying services using the Wassara Explorer gyro instrument. Services are offered globally with technicians available for on-site projects in Scandinavia and Finland with short notice. Documentation and borehole measurements are provided within 24 hours of completion.
3. Water Pumps (WASP Series): Wassara offers a range of water pumps including WASP 80, WASP 100, WASP 120E, and WASP 200 series to support the water-powered drilling system. These are sold as part of the complete drilling system offering.
4. Wassara Explorer Surveying Instruments: Sale of the Wassara Explorer gyro instrument system and the Wassara Navigator software. Available in different diameters (40mm and 25mm), powering options (Wireline and Battery), and with a range of accessories.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

LK Wassara designs, manufactures, and sells water-powered Down-the-Hole (DTH) percussion drilling hammers and accessories used for blast-hole and production drilling in mining, tunneling, ground engineering, dam construction, and geothermal applications. The proprietary system uses high-pressure water (up to 180 bar) instead of compressed air to drive the hammer, enabling accurate, straight boreholes with substantially reduced energy consumption and no oil-mist contamination, and is complemented by borehole surveying systems, jet-grouting hammers, water pumps, and drill bits.

Product overview

LKAB Wassara (LK Wassara) is a manufacturer of patented water-powered Down-The-Hole (DTH) drilling products and systems. The core product line consists of ten water-powered DTH hammer models ranging from W50 (2") to W280 (12"), each designed for different drilling depths and applications. Supporting products include optimized drill bits, WASP water pumps, and the specialized W100 JG jet grouting hammer for ground stabilization. The portfolio is complemented by the Wassara Explorer™ gyro-based borehole surveying system and its companion Wassara Navigator™ software, which together enable accurate survey measurements in magnetically disturbed environments. The company also offers global borehole surveying services and an online Wassara Training Center for product education. Applications span mining, tunneling, ground engineering, dams, geo-drilling, and construction drilling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• W50 DTH Hammer (2") 2-inch water-powered Down-the-Hole percussion hammer for small-diameter blast-hole and production drilling, used in mining and ground engineering applications.
• W70 DTH Hammer (2¾") 2¾-inch water-powered DTH percussion hammer for narrow-diameter blast-hole and production drilling in mining and construction.
• W80 DTH Hammer (3") 3-inch water-powered DTH percussion hammer for small-diameter production drilling applications in mining and ground engineering.
• W100 DTH Hammer (4") 4-inch water-powered DTH percussion hammer used for medium-diameter blast-hole drilling in mining and tunneling operations.
• W100 JG Jet-Grouting Hammer 4-inch water-powered jet-grouting hammer for combined drilling and grouting operations in ground engineering and foundation stabilization projects.
• W120 DTH Hammer (5") 5-inch water-powered DTH percussion hammer for medium-to-large diameter blast-hole drilling in mining and construction.
• W120.G3 DTH Hammer (5") Third-generation 5-inch water-powered DTH percussion hammer delivering enhanced performance over the earlier W120, used for medium-to-large diameter drilling.
• W150 DTH Hammer (6") 6-inch water-powered DTH percussion hammer for large-diameter blast-hole and production drilling in mining and tunneling.
• W200 DTH Hammer (8") 8-inch water-powered DTH percussion hammer for very large-diameter drilling in mining, quarrying, and heavy civil construction.
• W280 DTH Hammer (12") 12-inch water-powered DTH percussion hammer, the largest in the Wassara range, designed for very large-diameter drilling applications in mining and heavy infrastructure.
• DTH Drill Bits Range of Down-the-Hole drill bits designed for use with Wassara water-powered hammers, available in sizes matched to the W50–W280 hammer range for mining, tunneling, and ground engineering drilling.
• Wassara Explorer Borehole Surveying System Gyro-based borehole surveying instrument that measures deviation, inclination, and azimuth of boreholes, paired with the Wassara Navigator software for survey planning and analysis; used by mining and exploration surveyors.
• WASP Water Pumps High-pressure water pump packages designed to deliver water at the pressure required (up to 180 bar) to operate Wassara water-powered DTH hammers in the field.
• Borehole Surveying Services Contracted borehole surveying service delivered by Wassara using the Explorer system, providing deviation and directional data for mining, tunneling, and exploration customers.
• Wassara Training Center Training program provided by Wassara to instruct customers and operators on the safe and effective use of Wassara water-powered DTH hammers and surveying equipment.

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EurodrillingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish distributor for Wassara products. Eurodrilling's CEO Christer Wretman personally picked up the W280 hammer delivery from Wassara's Stockholm production facility. Eurodrilling represents Wassara in the Swedish market.
• RipamonticoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian distributor for LKAB Wassara. Located 3km from the DIVE project drilling site in the Italian Alps. Ripamonti and LKAB Wassara collaborated on the international DIVE project for borehole surveying.
• DIVE Project (Drilling the Ivrea-Verbano Zone E)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational scientific drilling project in the Italian Alps. LKAB Wassara offered surveying services using the Wassara Explorer, demonstrating the technology on a 300m deep vertical research hole.
• Wessman Drilling SolutionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish drilling contractor that used Wassara's W100 water-powered DTH hammer for geo-energy heating and cooling installation in the heart of Stockholm. CEO Per Wessman cited safety, quality, environmental friendliness, and hole straightness as reasons for choosing Wassara.
• Skånska EnergicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish energy company and contractor performing geothermal drilling projects. Used W120 Hammer for Kristallen municipal office in Lund and energy storage project in Lund, with strict environmental requirements on water returned to sewage system.
• StyrudcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwedish contractor for geothermal drilling near Malmö harbor at Malmö Live complex. Chose Wassara's W120 hammer after air-powered DTH drilling caused problems with water in the formation.
• San Geronimo MinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnderground copper mine in Chile that modified an Atlas Copco Boomer 281 rig to utilize Wassara's W70 and W100 DTH hammers for long hole rise opening slots. Replaced traditional air leg raise miner method.
• Lubambe Copper MinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnderground copper mine in Zambia using W150 hammer with HPE's water-powered drill rig. Combined equipment achieved optimal drilling conditions under the mine's 'Target Zero' / 'Pantu Tulasakamana' (Because we care) safety and environmental program.
• HPE (High Performance Equipment)coreTechnology or IntegrationContractor providing water-powered drill rigs and high-pressure pumps for Lubambe Copper Mine. Provided the complete water-powered drill rig and pump solution combined with Wassara's W150 hammer for optimal drilling conditions.
• PEABminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSwedish construction company and contractor for Bergendahl Foods storage building in Hässleholm. Used Wassara W100 Jet-Grout hammer for ground stabilization with 288 jet-grouting columns.
• WSPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy that evaluated and concluded water-powered drilling was the most appropriate technology for the ground stabilization project in Hässleholm, Sweden.
• WeBuild SpAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor international construction company (formerly Salini Impregilo) responsible for the Brenner Base Tunnel project. Used Wassara W120 hammer with integrated check valve for jet-grouting columns up to 40m in one pass.
• Kiewit-Shea ConstructorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint venture contractor for the Delaware Aqueduct bypass tunnel in New York. Used Wassara W50 hammer on Robbins TBM machine for exploration drilling up to 100 meters under the Hudson River.
• NYCDEP (New York City Department of Environmental Protection)minorOthersClient/owner of the Delaware Aqueduct project requiring bypass tunnel construction due to leakage. Commissioned Kiewit-Shea Constructors who selected Wassara technology for exploration drilling.
• Züblin Spezialtiefbau / Züblin Scandinavia ABcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist civil engineering company (subsidiary of Strabag) for tunneling and underground works. Used W100 and W150 hammers for anchoring the City Line railway tunnel in Stockholm. Also used W120.G3 hammer for Södertälje Canal widening project.
• Treviicos Soletanche JVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint venture contractor for the Wolf Creek Dam rehabilitation in Kentucky, USA. Used W80 and W150 hammers for grout and pilot holes under contract from the US Army Corps of Engineers.
• US Army Corps of EngineersminorOthersFederal agency responsible for Wolf Creek Dam rehabilitation. Classified the dam as 'high risk for failure' in 2007 and commissioned the grout curtain construction using Wassara water-powered drilling technology.
• Changuinola Civil WorkscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorConsortium responsible for Changuinola I RCC Dam construction in Panama. Used W80 hammer for ~30,000 meters of foundation drainage and grouting holes. Key stakeholders Golder Associates and the consortium selected Wassara technology.
• Golder AssociatesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy that established Wassara technology as the only feasible drilling choice for the Changuinola I dam project grout and drainage holes.
• Pilotes TerratestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist geotechnical contractor for Angostura Hydroelectric Plant in Chile. Used W50 and W80 hammers for waterproofing and drainage drilling in confined dam galleries. Project delivers power to ~300,000 households.
• Wassara Training Center PartnersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEnd users, distributors, and partners who access the Wassara Training Center online education platform for technical knowledge on water-powered drilling. Contact for registration: [email protected]

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mincon Group: Mincon is an Irish-based pure-play DTH hammer and bit manufacturer serving mining, construction, and water-well markets globally; it competes directly with Wassara in the air- and water-powered DTH hammer category across blasthole and exploration drilling.
• Epiroc: Epiroc (spun out of Atlas Copco in 2018) is the world's largest mining and infrastructure equipment manufacturer, including a full range of DTH hammers, bits, and drilling rigs that compete head-to-head with Wassara's water-powered DTH hammers in blasthole, exploration, and production drilling.
• Boart Longyear: Boart Longyear is a global drilling services and equipment provider offering DTH hammers, bits, and drilling consumables to mining and exploration customers, overlapping Wassara's mining and exploration end markets with both products and contract drilling services.
• Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Sandvik's Mining and Rock Solutions division offers a comprehensive DTH hammer and bit portfolio (e.g., Sandvik RH/PH series) used in blasthole, production, and exploration drilling, directly competing with Wassara's water-powered DTH range in mining, tunneling, and ground engineering.
• Robit: Robit is a Finnish manufacturer of drilling consumables including DTH bits, hammers, and top-hammer tools for mining, construction, and geothermal drilling; its product range overlaps with Wassara's bits and hammer accessories across the same end-markets.
• Imdex (Reflex Instruments): Imdex's Reflex Instruments business produces borehole survey instrumentation and software (e.g., Reflex EZ-SHOT, SPRINT) for mining and exploration — directly comparable to the Wassara Explorer gyro and Navigator software product/surveying-service stack.
• Numa (Numa Rock Tools): Numa is a US manufacturer of DTH hammers and bits (e.g., Numa Champion, Numa Super Jaws) for mining, construction, and water-well applications, supplying direct DTH hammer competition to Wassara, particularly in North American hard-rock drilling markets.
• PDF Drilling Australia: PDF Drilling manufactures DTH hammers, bits, and drilling consumables for mining, construction, and water-well applications across Australia and APAC; an emerging direct peer to Wassara in the specialty DTH category.

Broad incumbents

• Caterpillar (Cat Mining): Caterpillar's Resource Industries division offers large mining trucks, shovels, longwall systems, and underground drilling equipment. While not a DTH hammer specialist, its installed-base leverage, dealer network, and broad mining portfolio exert competitive pressure on specialty equipment makers like Wassara.
• Komatsu Mining: Komatsu Mining offers surface and underground mining equipment, including blasthole drills that compete with the broader drilling systems in which Wassara's DTH hammers are deployed; as a diversified OEM, it competes for the same drilling equipment budgets on mine sites.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lkab-wassara-ab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LK Wassara