Metso, a Finnish industrial machinery company, has introduced a significant upgrade to its service centre in Antofagasta, Chile, with the installation of an overhead crane capable of lifting up to 140 tons.
This crane, noted as one of the largest in South America, enhances the centre’s ability to service large-scale mining equipment by reducing transport needs and turnaround times.
Situated in the La Negra industrial district, the service centre has expanded by 1,200m2, bringing its total operational area to 4,800m2. This facility plays a vital role in supporting Chile’s mining industry by providing efficient equipment repairs and refurbishments.
Alongside the new crane, Metso has installed a high-precision vertical lathe that can handle parts up to 5m in diameter. The combination of these technologies enables the centre to manage complex repairs for High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) units, Vertimill grinding technology, and other mining equipment.
Metso South America services project delivery vice president Leonardo Osorio said: “Our service centre in Antofagasta, which has been operational since 2013, has become a benchmark in technical support for large-scale mining in northern Chile. The expansion enables us to work on multiple critical pieces of equipment, reduce lead times and improve availability for our customers.
“The investment, which was announced in 2023, is a testament to our commitment to staying close to our customers and providing concrete solutions to the address the mining industry’s needs.”
Metso’s Antofagasta centre offers comprehensive services including reconditioning, repair, assembly, and parts manufacturing under stringent OEM standards. Its dedication to safety and quality is demonstrated by the achievement of completing 100 screen repairs without accidents, according to the firm.
Across its global network, Metso maintains over 3,700 field service professionals and more than 140 service locations on six continents. The company provides installation, commissioning, inspection, and maintenance services worldwide.
