ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions opened a new service centre in Antofagasta, Chile, on 13 May 2015 to offer maintenance and repair services for customers from the local mining and raw materials industry.

Another service centre located in Santa Luzia, Brazil, is already in full operation providing refurbishment works and new components for the local market.

Thomas Oelschläger, CEO of the operating unit Services of the business unit Resource Technologies of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions commented: “With the expansion of our service portfolio in South America, we are continuing our strategy of establishing a stronger local presence in the growth regions. Thus, we are able to develop optimum solutions for specific market needs and local requirements to support our customers throughout the entire life cycle of a plant.”

Involving an investment of around EUR16m, the new centre includes workshops and warehouses to store and overhaul spare parts and components for plants and systems designed for mining, processing and materials handling. Equipped with CNC lathes, high-tonnage boring and milling machines as well as two 120-ton bridge cranes, the it specialises in the  overhauling of heavy duty wear parts in crushing, grinding, pyroprocessing and handling of raw materials and minerals.

One of the main service fields is the replacement and complete refurbishment of roller units such as the POLYCOM® high pressure grinding roll. In addition, the service center offers complete plant inspection and maintenance service packages including on-site inspections and repairs, shutdown management, machinery alterations, optimization and upgrades as well as transport logistics.

The new Chile service center was inaugurated by Juan Carlos Becerra, head of ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (Chile) who said during the ceremony: "I am excited about the opening of our new service center in Antofagasta and looking forward to support the Chilean mining and raw materials industry. Expanding our local service business will enable us to serve our client’s needs even better.”