Software · head to head
Deswik Suite vs Caterpillar MineStar
Deswik Suite
Software
Integrated mine planning and design software
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Caterpillar MineStar
Software
Integrated technology for mining fleet management
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Deswik Suite deswik publishes no price, no licence term and no cost driver for the suite; the only routes given are a demo request or contacting the company; Caterpillar MineStar requires significant capital investment and integration with existing fleet infrastructure
- They diverge on capability: Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design, Caterpillar MineStar covers Fleet management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Deswik Suite and Caterpillar MineStar actually diverge.
| Attribute | Deswik Suite | Caterpillar MineStar |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | subscription | Unknown |
| Platforms | Windows | Cloud-based, Remote operation stations |
| Founded | 2007 | 1925 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Deswik Suite
- 3D mine design
- Resource scheduling
- Geological modeling
- Pit optimization
- Underground planning
- Surpac
- Vulcan
- Datamine
Only in Caterpillar MineStar
- Fleet management
- Real-time tracking
- Terrain management
- Equipment health monitoring
- Autonomous haulage
- Drill guidance
- CAT Equipment
- Third-party OEM
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Deswik Suite
- Mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operationsnot Caterpillar MineStar
- Reserve reporting and life of mine planningnot Caterpillar MineStar
- Connecting mine plans to production execution and material trackingnot Caterpillar MineStar
Caterpillar MineStar
- Fleet optimizationnot Deswik Suite
- Autonomous operationsnot Deswik Suite
- Equipment monitoringnot Deswik Suite
- Production trackingnot Deswik Suite
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Deswik Suite
- Deswik publishes no price, no licence term and no cost driver for the suite; the only routes given are a demo request or contacting the company
- The suite is sold as separate modules grouped under Design and Reserving, Planning, Operations and Mine to Market, so a full workflow requires buying several products
- Software downloads and support are gated behind a client portal available to existing customers
- The product formerly sold as Deswik.CAD is now named Deswik Spatial, so older documentation and job listings refer to a name the vendor no longer uses
Caterpillar MineStar
- Requires significant capital investment and integration with existing fleet infrastructure
- Complex implementation requiring specialized training for operators and management personnel
- Primarily designed for large-scale mining operations; less suitable for smaller mines
Pricing, plan by plan
Deswik Suite
On request- Deswik.CAD$5000/year
- 3D mine design
- Geological modeling
- Drill hole analysis
- Deswik.Sched$8000/year
- Mine scheduling
- Resource optimization
- Gantt charts
- Enterprise Suite$25000/year
- Complete platform access
- All modules included
- Priority support
Caterpillar MineStar
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Caterpillar MineStar review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Deswik Suite if
- You need 3d mine design.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want resource scheduling.
Choose Caterpillar MineStar if
- You need fleet management.
- You work on Cloud-based, Remote operation stations.
- You also want real-time tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Deswik Suite or Caterpillar MineStar better?
- Neither clearly leads. Deswik Suite starts at On request and Caterpillar MineStar at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Deswik Suite or Caterpillar MineStar?
- Deswik Suite starts at On request and Caterpillar MineStar at On request.
- Does Deswik Suite or Caterpillar MineStar run on more platforms?
- Deswik Suite runs on Windows. Caterpillar MineStar runs on Cloud-based, Remote operation stations.
- What is Deswik Suite best used for?
- Deswik Suite is most often used for mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operations, reserve reporting and life of mine planning, connecting mine plans to production execution and material tracking. Of those, mine design and scheduling for open pit and underground operations and reserve reporting and life of mine planning are not what Caterpillar MineStar is typically brought in for.
- What can Deswik Suite do that Caterpillar MineStar cannot?
- Deswik Suite covers 3D mine design, Resource scheduling, Geological modeling, Pit optimization. Caterpillar MineStar covers Fleet management, Real-time tracking, Terrain management, Equipment health monitoring.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Caterpillar MineStar: Does MineStar work with equipment from other manufacturers?
Yes. MineStar Solutions work with all types of assets and integrate with any brand of equipment, sharing data across existing machines, systems and technologies.
SourceCaterpillar MineStar: What are the main components of MineStar?
MineStar comprises five configurable features: Fleet for equipment tracking, Terrain for haul path optimization, Detection for safety monitoring, Health for equipment maintenance, and Command for autonomous operations.
SourceCaterpillar MineStar: Can MineStar be used for underground mining?
Yes. MineStar Solutions are available for both surface and underground mining operations, with dedicated technology offerings for underground safety and productivity.
SourceCaterpillar MineStar: Is MineStar a cloud-based or on-premises solution?
MineStar is a cloud-based, subscription-managed application that reduces costs of deployment, service, and training by allowing customers to select offerings by role, function, or task.
Source