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Mining · head to head

Minemax Planner vs Wenco

Minemax Planner logo

Minemax Planner

Mining

Strategic mine planning and optimization software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wenco logo

Wenco

Mining

Fleet management and dispatch for open-pit mines, sold on an explicit open interoperability stance

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Minemax Planner minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com and no product named Planner is listed on the Datamine planning solutions page; Wenco wenco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, so the open interoperability position sits inside an equipment manufacturer and buyers should test the autonomy roadmap against that ownership rather than the marketing.
  • They diverge on capability: Minemax Planner covers Schedule optimization, Wenco covers Fleet dispatch.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Minemax Planner and Wenco actually diverge.

Attributes where Minemax Planner and Wenco differ
AttributeMinemax PlannerWenco
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindowsWindows, Web, In-cab hardware
Founded1997Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mining).

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 Minemax Planner

  • Schedule optimization
  • NPV maximization
  • Cutoff grade optimization
  • Pushback scheduling
  • Multi-scenario analysis
  • Vulcan
  • Surpac
  • Whittle

Only in Wenco

  • Fleet dispatch
  • Machine guidance
  • Asset health
  • Asset management
  • Stockpile management
  • Safety technology
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Open interfaces

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Minemax Planner

  • Mine production scheduling and plan trackingnot Wenco
  • Comparing life of mine scenarios against a base plannot Wenco

Wenco

  • An open-pit mine running trucks from more than one manufacturer that does not want dispatch tied to a single OEMnot Minemax Planner
  • A site replacing manual radio dispatch and paper cycle records with measured truck assignmentnot Minemax Planner
  • An operation adding machine guidance to drills and shovels alongside existing dispatchnot Minemax Planner
  • A group standardising fleet management across several pits with different equipment historiesnot Minemax Planner

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Minemax Planner

  • minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com and no product named Planner is listed on the Datamine planning solutions page
  • No pricing is published; licences require contacting the Datamine sales team
  • Planning capability is sold in role based bundles rather than as a single named planner licence

Wenco

  • Wenco is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Construction Machinery, so the open interoperability position sits inside an equipment manufacturer and buyers should test the autonomy roadmap against that ownership rather than the marketing.
  • It has the smallest installed base of the three fleet management vendors, so experienced dispatch engineers and superintendents are harder to recruit than staff trained on the larger competitor.
  • A deployment is a capital project covering in-pit wireless coverage, in-cab hardware and a dispatch control room, and the software licence is a minor line in a much larger number.
  • Underground coverage is weaker than surface, so an operation running both open pit and underground generally ends up maintaining two fleet management systems and two sets of skills.
  • The return depends on a permanently staffed and competent dispatch function, so mines that install the system and then leave it unattended see the productivity gain evaporate within months.

Pricing, plan by plan

Minemax Planner

On request
  • Minemax Planner$20000/year
    • Schedule optimization
    • NPV maximization
    • Cutoff grade analysis
  • Minemax Enterprise$40000/year
    • Multi-mine planning
    • Advanced optimization
    • Integration APIs

Wenco

On request
  • Wenco fleet management$undefined/year
    • Quoted per site by fleet size and modules
    • In-cab hardware and installation priced separately
    • In-pit network design and coverage usually a separate capital item

Which should you pick?

Choose Minemax Planner if

  • You need schedule optimization.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want npv maximization.
Minemax Planner review

Choose Wenco if

  • You need fleet dispatch.
  • You work on Windows, Web, In-cab hardware.
  • You also want machine guidance.
Wenco review

Questions people ask

Is Minemax Planner or Wenco better?
Neither clearly leads. Minemax Planner starts at On request and Wenco at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Minemax Planner or Wenco?
Minemax Planner starts at On request and Wenco at On request.
Does Minemax Planner or Wenco run on more platforms?
Minemax Planner runs on Windows. Wenco runs on Windows, Web, In-cab hardware.
What is Minemax Planner best used for?
Minemax Planner is most often used for mine production scheduling and plan tracking, comparing life of mine scenarios against a base plan. Of those, mine production scheduling and plan tracking and comparing life of mine scenarios against a base plan are not what Wenco is typically brought in for.
What can Minemax Planner do that Wenco cannot?
Minemax Planner covers Schedule optimization, NPV maximization, Cutoff grade optimization, Pushback scheduling. Wenco covers Fleet dispatch, Machine guidance, Asset health, Asset management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Minemax Planner: What discount do planning bundles offer compared to standalone Minemax licenses?

Minemax planning bundles save up to 33% versus purchasing standalone licenses.

Source
Wenco: Who owns Wenco?

Hitachi Construction Machinery. It is a wholly owned subsidiary based in Vancouver.

Minemax Planner: What are the three Minemax planning subscription tiers?

Strategic Mine Planner, Operations Planner, and Surveyor/Technician bundles.

Source
Wenco: Does it work with non-Hitachi equipment?

Yes, and mixed fleet support is the main reason mines shortlist it. Verify the specific interfaces for your equipment during evaluation rather than assuming.

Minemax Planner: How do I find pricing for Minemax Planner?

Specific pricing is not published on Minemax's website. You must contact the sales team directly via their contact form or book a consultation to discuss tailored solutions.

Source
Wenco: Does it cover underground mining?

Coverage is much weaker than surface. Underground operations usually select a different system.

Wenco: Is pricing published?

No. It is quoted per site by fleet size, modules and the hardware and network work involved.

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