How Will Caterpillar's Acquisition Impact Mining?
The acquisition adds near-real-time spatial data and AI capabilities to Caterpillar's mine planning and execution offerings.
Caterpillar announced on July 7, 2026, that it has acquired Skycatch, a provider of spatial data capture, processing and analysis solutions for the mining industry. The move follows Caterpillar's recent acquisition of RPMGlobal and expands the company's portfolio of data-driven mining technology.
Denise Johnson, group president of Caterpillar Resource Industries, said the acquisition aligns with the company's strategy to address customer challenges. "By integrating near-real-time, high-resolution spatial data into both RPM and MineStar solutions, we can help customers improve mine site performance by enhancing safety, productivity and predictability across their operations using both staffed and autonomous fleets," Johnson said.
Caterpillar said the deal strengthens its ability to integrate near-real-time, high-resolution spatial data into both its RPM and MineStar software solutions. The integration is designed to help mining customers improve safety, productivity and predictability across operations that use both staffed and autonomous fleets, the company added.
Digital Twin Integration
Skycatch's platform captures high-frequency, high-precision spatial data and combines it with AI tools that identify, measure, and analyze mining operations. Caterpillar said the technology provides customers with a more current view of mine sites, enabling faster and more accurate operational decisions.
The platform creates a near-real-time digital twin of a mining site and integrates it into existing software workflows, allowing operators to use up-to-date spatial data for planning and execution. Caterpillar said the technology is expected to improve decision-making, reduce operational delays, and increase confidence in day-to-day mine management.
"We're incredibly proud of what Skycatch has built over the past decade and excited for this next chapter with Caterpillar," said Christian Sanz, Founder and CEO of Skycatch. "This next step strengthens our ability to support our customers while increasing the value we can deliver."
"Skycatch's ability to process large volumes of spatial data at dramatically improved speeds opens up a fundamentally different way of operating," said Richard Mathews, CEO of RPMGlobal. "With a near real-time spatial view of the operation, miners can adjust plans as conditions change, improve alignment between planning and execution, and deliver more predictable outcomes."
Caterpillar reported 2025 sales and revenue of $67.6 billion. The acquisition expands the company's technology portfolio for mining and supports its broader strategy to strengthen data, automation, and digital capabilities across its Resource Industries business.
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Key Takeaways
- Caterpillar acquires Skycatch to enhance AI and spatial data capabilities in mining solutions.
- Integration of Skycatch's technology aims to improve safety, productivity, and predictability in mining operations.
- New digital twin technology provides real-time spatial data for better operational decision-making.
- Acquisition follows Caterpillar's previous purchase of RPMGlobal, expanding data-driven mining technology portfolio.
- Skycatch's platform enables faster, more accurate planning and execution for both staffed and autonomous fleets.