Master Drillers
Master Drilling Group is a South Africa-headquartered specialized drilling contractor operating the world's largest raise boring fleet, providing mechanized rock excavation, exploration drilling, and mining services to major mining companies across 29+ countries on five continents.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersFochville, South Africa
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Master Drillers does
Master Drilling Group Ltd (JSE: MDI) is a South Africa-headquartered specialized drilling contractor founded in 1986 and listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange since 2012. The company provides mechanized rock excavation and drilling services to the global mining, civil engineering, and energy sectors, with operations in 29+ countries across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East and a workforce of approximately 3,000 globally. Its service portfolio is anchored by raise boring — where it operates the world's largest raise boring fleet of 150 raise-bore drills with 35+ years of operational experience — supplemented by exploration drilling, mining services, and an emerging portfolio of new technologies including shaft boring systems, mobile tunnel boring machines, and a specialized reef borer achieving 100% extraction with zero dilution in thin mineralized zones. The RBR 900 machine is currently engaged in the world's longest raise bore hole project at 1,550 meters depth at Northam Platinum's Zondereinde mine.
Revenue is generated through contract and project-based professional services delivered directly to enterprise mining customers including Agnico Eagle, Anglo American, Glencore, Gold Fields, Codelco, Vedanta, and Newmont. FY2024 revenue was a record $292 million, up 7.8% year-over-year, supported by a $371.4 million order book for 2026 and beyond. The company maintains a Digital Solutions division — expanded through the 2024 acquisitions of A&R and Konec — that tracks approximately 60,000 personnel and 1,000 pieces of heavy equipment globally, and holds a strategic partnership with Element Six (part of De Beers Group) to integrate polycrystalline diamond cutting technology, achieving a 17% reduction in waste rock generation versus traditional tunnelling. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and South African B-BBEE certifications and operates from 11+ dedicated regional offices across all major mining jurisdictions.
Master Drillers firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Master Drillers
- Legal name
- Master Drilling Group Ltd
- Website
- https://masterdrilling.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Master Drilling Group is a South Africa-headquartered specialized drilling contractor operating the world's largest raise boring fleet, providing mechanized rock excavation, exploration drilling, and mining services to major mining companies across 29+ countries on five continents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Master Drillers industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mining Drilling Services
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114), Support Activities for Mining (213)
- SIC
- Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Exploration & Production Drilling Services (RC, Core, Directional, Sonic, Auger) (IMAKAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mine Operations Contracting (Open-Pit & Underground Development, Production, Load/Haul) (IMAKAKAD), Drilling & Rock Excavation Equipment (Rotary/Top-Hammer, Jumbos, Raiseborers) (IMAKANAC)
Keywords
Where Master Drillers is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fochville
- HQ country
- South Africa
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices11 records
Markets served
Master Drillers business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Drilling Services Revenue: Contract and project-based drilling services for mining, civil engineering and energy sectors. Revenue generated from specialized raise boring, exploration drilling, and mechanized rock excavation services delivered to mining companies globally.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Master Drillers product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Master Drilling Group provides specialized drilling and mechanized rock excavation services to the global mining, civil engineering, and energy sectors. The company's core offerings include raise boring, exploration drilling, mining services, new technology development (including shaft boring systems and mobile tunnel boring machines), and a Digital Solutions division that tracks personnel and heavy equipment worldwide. Master Drilling operates the world's largest raise boring fleet and serves major mining companies across 29+ countries.
Product overview
Master Drilling Group is a specialized mining drilling solutions provider offering a portfolio of mechanized rock excavation services. The core offerings include Raise Boring, Exploration Drilling, Mining Services, and New Technology divisions. The company operates the world's largest raise boring fleet with over 35 years of experience. Advanced technologies include the RBR 900 drilling machine (world's longest raise bore project at 1,550m depth), a new shaft boring system, mobile tunnel boring machine, and specialized reef borer achieving 100% extraction. A Digital Solutions division tracks approximately 60,000 people and 1,000 pieces of equipment globally. The company serves mining, civil engineering, and energy sectors across Africa, Americas, Europe, India, Australia, and Middle East.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Digital Solutions: Division tracking approximately 60,000 people and 1,000 pieces of heavy equipment globally
- Master Drilling Australia
- Master Drilling Europe
- Master Drilling North America
Products and services
- Raise Boring Core drilling service using specialized raise bore machines to create vertical or inclined excavations for mining and civil engineering applications; Master Drilling operates the world's largest raise boring fleet and provides the service to major mining companies globally.
- Exploration Drilling Drilling services for mineral exploration and resource assessment, enabling mining companies to evaluate potential mining sites. Provides precision core sampling and accurate drilling for resource evaluation.
- Mining Services Comprehensive drilling and excavation services for active mining operations, including mechanized rock excavation and specialized drilling solutions delivered to mining companies.
- New Technology Innovative drilling technologies developed through R&D investments, including shaft boring systems, mobile tunnel boring machines, specialized reef borers, and synthetic diamond-enabled cutting technology integrated via partnership with Element Six.
- Digital Solutions Technology division providing digital monitoring and management capabilities, tracking approximately 60,000 people and 1,000 pieces of heavy equipment globally; supports personnel and equipment tracking across mining operations worldwide.
Quantifiable outcome
- 17% reduction in waste rock generation compared to traditional tunnelling operations
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Master Drillers
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Master Drillers technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Master Drillers partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and minor.
- Element SixflagshipStrategic partnership combining Element Six's patented polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting technology with Master Drilling's mechanized services. The collaboration delivers synthetic diamond-enabled tunnelling solutions achieving 17% reduction in waste rock generation. Technology tested in UK and South Africa underground and surface conditions with mining and infrastructure industry users. Applications span mining, energy, transportation, and urban planning across global markets including Australia.
- Pamicor LimitedminorPartnership between Master Drilling Ghana and Pamicor Limited, a Ghanaian firm, to empower Master Drilling Ghana to deliver comprehensive turnkey solutions to the underground mining sector and promote the government in the local mining sector.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Master Drillers competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Boart Longyear: Global drilling services and equipment provider with leading raise boring, exploration drilling, and production drilling offerings to mining customers. Directly competes for raise bore and exploration contracts with majors similar to Master Drilling's clientele.
- Foraco International: Worldwide drilling contractor offering raise boring, exploration, and geotechnical drilling services to the mining industry. Competes directly with Master Drilling in raise bore contracts across Africa and the Americas.
- Perenti Global (Barminco / Ausdrill): Australia-based diversified mining services contractor with underground hard-rock mining and raise boring capabilities through Barminco. Compares to Master Drilling in integrated underground mining service delivery to majors.
- Major Drilling Group International: Canadian-based specialty drilling contractor providing raise boring, exploration, and underground production drilling services globally to mining companies. Closest publicly-listed pure-play comparable in service mix and customer base.
- DMC Mining Services: Canadian mine contracting firm providing raise boring, shaft sinking, and underground mining services to mining customers. Operates in similar service categories and competes for the same raise boring projects in the Americas.
Broad incumbents
- Epiroc (Atlas Copco): Major mining and infrastructure equipment manufacturer with a growing drilling services and automation offering. Overlaps with Master Drilling in raise boring equipment supply and integrated drilling services, and is a deeper-pocketed competitor.
- Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Provides underground drilling equipment and automation solutions to mining operators. Competes indirectly through equipment sales and increasingly through service offerings to the same blue-chip miners Master Drilling serves.
Regional players
- Macmahon Holdings: Australian mining contractor offering underground and surface drilling services primarily to Australian gold and base metals miners. Provides a regional comparable for Master Drilling Australia operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Master Drillers social profiles
Digital presenceMaster Drillers compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Master Drillers financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Master Drillers leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Master Drillers subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Master Drillers funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Master Drillers 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 Master Drillers
What does Master Drillers do?
Master Drilling Group provides specialized drilling and mechanized rock excavation services to the global mining, civil engineering, and energy sectors. The company's core offerings include raise boring, exploration drilling, mining services, new technology development (including shaft boring systems and mobile tunnel boring machines), and a Digital Solutions division that tracks personnel and heavy equipment worldwide. Master Drilling operates the world's largest raise boring fleet and serves major mining companies across 29+ countries.
Is Master Drillers a public or private company?
Master Drillers is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Master Drillers founded?
Master Drillers was founded in 1986. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Master Drillers based?
Master Drillers is headquartered in Fochville, South Africa, in the Africa region.
How does Master Drillers make money?
One revenue line is on record: drilling Services Revenue.
Who are Master Drillers's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Boart Longyear, Foraco International, Perenti Global (Barminco / Ausdrill), Major Drilling Group International and DMC Mining Services. Broad incumbents are Epiroc (Atlas Copco) and Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions. Macmahon Holdings is listed as a regional player.
Does Master Drillers have an API?
No public API is recorded for Master Drillers.
What industry is Master Drillers in?
Master Drillers's product category is Mining Drilling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAKAB, Exploration & Production Drilling Services (RC, Core, Directional, Sonic, Auger), with a secondary code of IMAKAKAD, Mine Operations Contracting (Open-Pit & Underground Development, Production, Load/Haul). Its NAICS code is 213114 and its SIC code is 1600.