News

Arctic conditions place exceptional demands on heavy haul roads. At the Terrafame open-pit mine, the main roads are constantly under the load of massive dump trucks, and especially during the winter season, road surface maintenance is a critical part of safe and efficient production.

As temperatures drop and snowfall begins, the crushed aggregate surface can freeze quickly. Even though new aggregate is regularly applied, the surface may become slippery and uneven. The solution is the MeriGrader, whose primary purpose in grading is to loosen and remix the aggregate layer in time—before it freezes onto the road surface.

Preventive maintenance under heavy load

With the MeriGrader, the aggregate surface is kept active and grippy. When the layer is loosened and mixed at the right time, the road maintains its friction and does not harden into a single icy layer. This significantly reduces the need for new aggregate and lowers overall maintenance costs.

At the same time, grading allows the road to be reshaped and uneven sections to be removed. A smoother surface enables dump trucks to maintain a more controlled and consistent driving speed, which directly reduces strain on the equipment and, above all, improves occupational safety.

A compact and agile solution for the mining environment

Working among large machines on haul roads requires maintenance equipment to be agile. The tractor-mounted MeriGrader, attached via the three-point linkage, is a compact solution capable of operating efficiently alongside heavy machinery. Turning and moving aside can be done quickly even in busy traffic, reducing risk situations and improving overall site safety.

In arctic conditions, proactive maintenance is key. With the MeriGrader, the road remains stable, level, and safe—even when temperatures drop and loads are at their highest.

Thank you for the cooperation Veljekset Toivanen Oy and Terrafame Oy.