Chilean mining company Can Can replaces Air H185 VSD electric drive air compressor

Can Can Mining's underground mine, located at Petorca in the Valparaiso region of Chile, at an altitude of 1,200 metres above sea level, is extracting approximately 2,000 tonnes of minerals per month, with a need to increase this to 5,000 tonnes in the next six months, and is in urgent need of stable and efficient compressors to support its new drilling rigs. The confined conditions of an underground mine, with poor ventilation, high levels of dust and wide temperature variations, from 40°C in summer to below zero in winter, not only challenge the performance and operational efficiency of the equipment, but also its environmental friendliness.

All the application points fit in Atlas Copco, which employs two diesel air compressors and one electric drive air compressor to provide steady power for the hand drill rigs.

The Atlas Copco XAS range of air compressors delivers up to 5m³/min of compressed air and weighs less than 750kg, making it easy to haul in extreme conditions. No matter how much pressure is applied, it is key that the equipment remains safe to operate and that the operator is not put at risk.

The Air H185 VSD electric drive air compressor has zero emissions, low noise and is friendly to underground construction environments. The air compressor has been tested and certified with harsh environmental factors in mind, and has withstood a wide range of terrains to operate stably at high altitudes, in snow, mud or rain. Extreme low and high temperatures, from -20°C to 50°C, are among the challenges the compressors may face.

Both models are made from HardHat material, which is resistant to corrosion, impact and fading, ensuring stable operation even in harsh underground environments. The rugged body design and high quality durable components are critical to the machine's uptime.