How does Tecnokor serve the Brazilian mining sector?

MA: Tecnokor was founded in 1990, at first under the name of Tecnometal. We initially made components, and then equipment, larger equipment, and even entire installations. In 2007, we acquired Koch do Brasil, which provides complete systems. We incorporated a pipe conveyor technology and we are the leading supplier for that technology in Brazil. Recently, we launched the Tecnokor brand. Currently, we are in the process of merging the two companies, although at the moment, we operate in the market with both Tecnometal and Koch do Brasil. There are still some steps left in the integration process regarding legal and taxation issues.

Tecnokor has an in-house engineering team, a contract management team, and our own factory. There is a synergy between the two brands. Tecnometal seeks to integrate all the services that mining companies need. Some clients require technical assistance or maintenance service, and we also provide that. For example, we sometimes supervise belt changes. We also offer a own wear materials and components, such as pulleys.

Can you describe a recent project you carried out?

MR: We recently constructed the largest conveyor belt in terms of capacity, with the ability to transport thirty thousand tons a year. It is a ship loading regularization system for Vale. It is the largest conveyor Vale has. There is a huge silo of seven hundred and sixty cubic meters, that receives from this conveyor and loads other conveyors that goes to the ship loader, assuring regularity in the loading process. The silo design and size of the project made it particularly challenging to engineer. Still, we constructed an well designed system that can load ships to the maximum without interruption by regularizing the load and minimizing differences in loading time.

One of our jobs is to work within what is safe but what is necessary to perform the function. When you oversize everything, you spend more than necessary to do the same task. Proper equipment sizing is critical to avoid over-dimensioning the equipment and ending up with installed machinery significantly greater than required to do and perform the task. This is the challenge for our engineering team, ensuring correctly sized equipment without spillage of materials.

What tendencies in demand have you observed?

MA: Fundamentally, clients demand reliability, as they are investing significant sums in the solution. The equipment has to be durable and reliable. There is a notable demand for autonomous operation, and more and more customers expect their equipment to work completely monitored with sensors as an interface.

We need to design systems with redundancies, as zero risk and zero accidents are major themes. If a system fails, there must be an auxiliary system to correct the system failure and to prevent any unpleasant surprises in the equipment that could impact production. It is essential to deliver volumes on schedule.

Another significant trend is the demand for reduced energy consumption. Mines need efficient equipment to reduce their carbon footprints. Meeting ESG demands for us means ensuring that the solution does not contaminate the product, the environment, or experience wind drag, and for that, pipe conveyor is the best solution and we are a Brazilian leader in this technology.

Brazil had two major accidents, and now there is a push to move away from tailings dams. The question becomes how a mine can achieve efficient production without using dams and without producing waste. That requires the industry to develop new technology.

Similarly, the production of green steel is an area of importance. These are technological paths that must be taken to meet the environmental need. And more and more all the suppliers are been asked to show actions to reduce their carbon footprint.

What are the strengths of Brazil as a jurisdiction?

MR: Brazil is a country that is very open to exchange. Being welcoming is a cultural characteristic of Brazil, making it easy to establish cooperation in the business world. For example, on the issue of rare earths, battery production is derived from processes we do not yet have here, but it is simple to bring technology and find skilled workers from our strong pool of experienced professionals.

Brazil has a strong base of industry and workforce. If you want to build a mining plant, you can produce it 100% in Brazil, without requiring imported items. We have a group of suppliers established in Brazil, both up and downstream. All products that are demanded in mining are available in the Brazilian market.

What is your focus for the coming years?

MA: There is stiff competition from imported Chinese products, so our goal is to beat the Chinese and increase our market share in the Brazilian market.

A core part of our strategy is obtaining greater penetration in the market of mobile machines, such as stackers, reclaimers, stacker reclaimers, ship loaders and ship unloaders, car dumpers, to complement our existing line for mining market. We have been working together with Bardella, a century-old Brazilian company which is a reference in the machinery supply market in Brazil. We made a cooperation agreement with them to approach the market jointly in the coming years.

In addition, we are entering the agribusiness, which has equipment similar to our conveyor systems. We already supplied some equipment and we are aiming to increase our market share.