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  • Pages
  • Editions
01 Cover
02 Welcome Letter / Sections
03 Article & Interview Directory
04 Section 1: Introduction
05 An Evolving Constitutional Landscape
06 Chile Ministry of Mining Interview
07 Consejo Minero Interview
08 APRIMIN Interview
09 Expert Opinion Article: Francisco Acuña, CRU
10 Expert Insights: Chile’s Evolving Sociopolitical Landscape
11 ESG & Renewable Energy
12 ICMM Interview
13 Aggreko Interview
14 Mining Investment Climate
15 Appian Capital Advisory Interview
16 Expert Insights: Attracting Sustainable Investment
17 Section 2: Production & Development
18 Copper Production & Development
19 BHP Interview
20 Antofagasta PLC Interview
21 Freeport McMoRan Interview
22 Teck Resources Limited Interview
23 Amerigo Resources Interview
24 Precious Metals
25 Kinross Interview
26 Rio2 Limited Interview
27 Lithium
28 SQM Interview
29 Albemarle Interview
30 Section 3: Junior Exploration
31 Study-stage Copper Projects
32 Expert Insights: Chile's Junior Exploration Community
33 World Copper Limited Interview
34 Early-stage Opportunities
35 ATEX Resources Interview
36 Torq Resources Interview
37 Pampa Metals Interview
38 VerAI Discoveries Interview
39 Lithium Exploration and Development
40 Lithium Chile Interview
41 Wealth Minerals Interview
42 Monumental Minerals Interview
43 Section 4: Engineering, Construction & Consultancies
44 Engineering & Consultancies
45 Water and the Environment
46 JRI Interview
47 Wood Interview
48 SRK Consulting Interview
49 Construction & Contractors
50 Sigdo Koppers Interview
51 Züblin Strabag Interview
52 Echeverría Izquierdo Interview
53 Thiess Interview
54 Going Underground
55 Master Drilling Interview
56 Robbins Interview
57 INCIMMET Interview
58 Section 5: Equipment & Technology
59 The Evolution of Mining Equipment
60 Scania Interview
61 Expert Insights: OEMs on Sustainability and Innovation
62 Comminution & Material Handling
63 Metso Outotec Interview
64 ME Elecmetal Interview
65 TAKRAF Interview
66 Haver & Boecker Interview
67 Innovation & Technology
68 Hexagon Interview
69 DSI Underground Interview
70 Dingo Interview
71 Pipes, Valves, Components & Wear Protection
72 Hofmann Engineering Interview
73 Expert Insights: The Benefits of AI and Automation
74 Section 6: Services
75 Drilling & Blasting
76 Geotec Boyles Bros Interview
77 Enaex Interview
78 Services
79 SGS Interview
80 Section 7: Sponsored Company Profiles
81 FreePort-McMoRan Profile
82 Rio2 Company Profile
83 Lithium Chile Profile
84 Metso Outotec Company Profile
85 SGS Company Profile
86 Credits

Simao Antunes, General Manager – South America,

HOFMANN ENGINEERING

"We are constantly looking at what are the current performances and failure modes of the OEM product and with our own design department, we carry out investigations and engineering analysis to come up with better features to improve our products."

Can you give an overview of the range of mobile mining and fixed plant equipment Hofmann Engineering designs and manufactures and the company’s competitive advantages?

The most important product areas we have are Mobile Mining Equipment, including Electric Rope Shovels, Haul Trucks, Hydraulic Excavators, Rotary Blast Hole Drills, Wheel Loaders - and for fixed plant equipment HPGRs, Mill Gearing, Crushers, Stackers, Reclaimers and Shiploaders.

What are some of the standout projects and clients Hofmann Engineering has worked with in South America?

In South America, we have seen great demand for our HPGR components and Hofmann Engineering has been the first after-market non OEM Company to supply replacement HPGRs for change outs for Chilean, Mexican and Peruvian mining operations. These operations, by having an alternative (and competition), have decreased production costs and achieved better performance.

In SMCV in Peru we have the best performant tyres in operation. In Chile with Sierra Gorda our HPGR rollers performed very well. We continue to assist the customers with ongoing, multiple requirements.

On the MME side our transmissions have an excellent reputation with long service performance and a very fast repair service catering for customers that want a quick turnaround and we assist on a regular basis big customers such as Escondida, Collahuasi, Los Bronces, AMSA, SPCC and Antamina, as a few examples.

Another success story is the trackpads for 7495 Shovels where we have the record performance in a copper mine exceeding 35,000 hours of operation, which has brought many more business opportunities with new customers and markets recently.

How do the company’s solutions reduce downtime and operating costs through improved service life?

Our strategy to reduce downtime and operational costs is to provide product improvements for all our components. We are constantly looking at what are the current performances and failure mode of the OEM product and with our own design department, we carry out investigations and engineering analysis to come up with better features to improve our products. This includes using better materials, better heat treatment, fabrication and machining processes using state of the art technology to make sure we produce the best components with the aim to improve the service life and therefore reduce maintenance requirements and downtime for our customers. In the South American market, we have also identified that we need to have a stock of products on hand to be able to quickly assist with service exchanges or repairs.

What is Hofmann Engineering’s strategy for growth in South America for the coming years?

We are fortunate to have an excellent and dedicated team of managers and skilled technical professionals in South America. With our local capabilities and strong commitment, together with the support from our headquarters in Australia, we have witnessed excellent results in diversifying our product lines, and we expect to continue on this upward trajectory in the years ahead.

It is very important to successfully assist our customers, as a result we feel that they trust in our capability and request our assistance in more challenges and requirements.

Our strategy moving forward is to double the size of both of our workshops in Chile and Peru, as well as installing selected machinery at both of the sites. We also want to start manufacturing HGPRs locally in Chile, as we do in Peru, and are looking to diversify into new product areas in South America such as truck final drive repairs and to carry out structural repairs of heavy components including stress relieving.

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Expert Insights: The Benefits of AI and Automation