For more than 20 years, URI-SA has built a reputation for vehicles designed to operate where conventional vehicles simply cannot. At Electra Mining Africa 2026, ProAgri visited the South African manufacturer to learn more about the company’s history, its focus on safety, and the technology that will drive the next generation of URI vehicles.

URI’s origins are deeply rooted in the mining industry. The original design dates back to 1995 and was developed in response to the challenging conditions at a Namibian salt mine. The objective was simple: to build a strong, practical vehicle capable of withstanding Africa’s harsh operating conditions. André and Raymond Squire later acquired the intellectual property and established URI-SA in George in the Western Cape.

“That experience gave us something extremely valuable: decades of practical knowledge about what vehicles really need to survive in Africa,” Raymond explains.

That experience is still evident in URI’s approach to vehicle design. The company does not simply take a standard vehicle and modify it for mining applications. The URI platform was purpose-built from the outset, featuring a robust steel body and the ability to be adapted according to the requirements of a specific application.

Safety that goes beyond robust steel

A significant part of URI-SA’s development today focuses on safety and technology. Roll-Over Protective Structure (ROPS) and Falling Object Protective Structure (FOPS) protection form part of this approach and are intended to protect occupants during rollover incidents and from falling objects. URI’s company profile also includes certification for ROPS and FOPS testing of its mining vehicle.

The development of Proximity Detection Systems (PDS) and Level 9 intervention has further transformed vehicle safety in South African mining. Level 9 involves applicable vehicles being able to detect a pedestrian or another vehicle, issue a warning, and ultimately brake automatically if the operator does not respond in time.

This technology forms part of a broader safety approach in which the vehicle and its systems are adapted to the demanding environment in which they need to operate.

“We want to build the vehicles that Africa truly needs. Vehicles that are exceptionally strong, adaptable and sustainable, and designed around their specific application, while still being proudly developed and manufactured in South Africa,” says Raymond.

More than just a mining vehicle

Although URI-SA’s origins lie in mining, the company is now also focusing on other sectors.

“Today, URI-SA no longer simply manufactures a mining vehicle. We are developing into a specialist OEM that manufactures vehicles for several other sectors,” says Raymond.

The company is now using its proven URI platform and years of engineering experience to develop solutions for mining, security, agriculture, tourism, conservation, industry and recreation.

The company’s existing profile already demonstrates how the same core platform can be adapted for a wide variety of applications.

Electrification is also an important part of URI-SA’s expansion plans. The company has already undertaken significant development work on a fully electric URI platform, with the aim of combining modern electric technology with the strength, serviceability and long service life for which URI has become known.

Raymond sums up the company’s vision:

“URI started with a single exceptionally tough vehicle. The future is about using that DNA to develop an entirely new generation of specialised African vehicles.”

URI-SA’s presence at Electra Mining Africa 2026 therefore reflects a company that is proudly building on its mining roots while simultaneously looking towards the future.

The URI of the future continues to build on the same original principle: a vehicle should not only look tough; it should be built to deliver the performance Africa demands from it.

Want to learn more about URI-SA’s purpose-built vehicles and how the company is developing technology for Africa’s unique challenges? Visit URI-SA and discover a South African vehicle built to perform at its best, whatever the conditions.