Placer Dome (PDG) is the fifth largest gold mining company in the world. Its silver and copper mining assets also contribute to its global profile. With a market capitalization of US$4.7 billion, PDG, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada holds interests in 17 mines employing 12,000 staff in six countries worldwide. Production of 3.5 million ounces of gold, 427 million pounds of copper and 4 million ounces of silver are underway in 2003.
In December 1999, one of the largest copper mines in Latin America at Zaldivar was wholly acquired by PDG, further exploiting the proven and probable rich mineral reserves containing 3,123,000 tonnes of copper as of Dec 2002.
The Zaldivar Mine is located in the Andean Precordillera in Region II of northern Chile, approximately 1,400 km north of Santiago and 175 km southeast of the port city of Antofagasta. The property is within a 1,240-hectare claim area covered by 247 exploitation concessions.
CHALLENGES IN MINE TRANSPORTATION
Zaldivar used twelve Komatsu 830E electric drive trucks to transport 147,800 tonnes of copper in 2002. Komatsu 830E is a very powerful truck offering a payload of 260 tonnes and a Flywheel HP of 2,500. The highly demanding loads and vehicle usages had caused serious wear to the engines in Komatsu 830E trucks, despite their robust and durable design. Undoubtedly, even the toughest machine needs proper maintenance and lubrication.
The ordinary engine oil applied alone had not delivered the needed lubrication and protection to the Komatsu 830E truck engines. Due to the inadequacy in viscosity, oil vaporization and oxidation, there was a frequent need of top up and oil change. Oil change intervals were as short as 50 to 100 operating hours. Given that each truck operated 20 hours a day, one can imagine the great hassle the truck drivers and maintenance engineers at Zaldivar were facing.
Expenditure in truck engine lubrication was the highest among all other maintenance items. This was not incomprehensible when a diligent cost analysis including the man hours spent in top up and oil change, premature wear, overhaul to the engines and the excessive depreciation of the Komatsu trucks was concluded.
Maintenance engineers and managers at Zaldivar needed a real solution from a real professional lubricant expert.
OMEGA – THE ANSWER
Southern California Servicios Ltda, distributor of the world renowned Omega Lubricants, Greases & Additives in Chile had the answer for Zaldivar.
With the in-depth study of the specific requirements, Mr. Manuel Gonzalez, Sales & Technical Manager of Southern California Servicios Ltda and Mr. Carlos Terrones, Marketing Consultant, Magna Industrial Co. Limited (supplier of Omega) recommended Omega 909 Super Engine Oil Additive.
Earlier, the iron content in the original oil after 50 hours of operation was among 30 to 40 ppm, which was high but nevertheless accepted by Zaldivar with no alternative. After the application of Omega 909 Super Engine Oil Additive, the iron content of the oil had significantly dropped to 7 to 7.5 ppm.
Based on the oil analysis conducted by the original oil supplier, oil change interval could be extended from 50 – 100 operating hours to 700 hours. Though under the very prudent management of Zaldivar, 400 hours were maintained as an upper limit, leaving a strong buffer for the performance of the original engine oil.
As soon as Omega 909 was applied, no engine failure whatsoever taking place was attributed to the scope of lubrication. This was verified by 4 credible oil analyses conducted on the engine oil added with Omega 909.
SAVINGS BROUGHT BY OMEGA 909
The savings in an extended oil change interval were three-fold. First, the overall oil consumption was lowered with performance enhancement by Omega 909. Second, the man hours expensed in frequent oil top up and oil change were significantly lessened. Third, the downtimes incurred to the trucks were minimized, eliminating the wastages from idled production and suspended operation. More importantly, Omega 909 saved the replacement of the prematurely worn out truck engines. Unplanned downtime which was a detrimental cost to the mine could also be avoided.
DESIGNED TO BE THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION – OMEGA 909
Omega 909 Super Engine Oil Additive is the “Proven Improver” that modern engines demand for top performance and older engines need to run efficiently. It features a super and unique package of 22 additives scientifically blended to prolong engine life. A main additive is Omega V.I.I. (Viscosity Index Improver) included for unmatched lubrication characteristics.
Omega 909 is specifically formulated to keep engines at their peak efficiency for extended operation – even under continual heavy loads. It coats and lubricates even the “neglected” engine parts including valve guides, timing chains and piston rings.
Omega 909 is ideal for diesel as well as gasoline (petrol) engines and other diesel-powered equipment that uses recirculating engine oil.
Talk to your Omega expert today.
