Sandvik"s acquisition of Australian SDS Corporation and Swedish-Japanese Hagby-Asahi has elevated the company into offering a fully comprehensive exploration service to add to its already well established, construction, mining and mineral processing business.

SDS Corporation was consolidated into Sandvik on June 1 and will be delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange by the end of this month.

The purchase of Hagby-Asahi AB was undertaken last month with an agreement for the purchase signed with the Asahi Diamond Industrial Co of Japan for a total purchase price of 135 million Swedish Kroner.

 In conjunction with the signing of the purchase agreement, a long-term delivery agreement was also signed for diamond drill products and services from Asahi to Sandvik Mining and Construction, further strengthening Sandvik's product offering within the mineral exploration industry.