Two problems related to the operational safety areas occurred at level 5 in El Teniente mine.
First, current rectifiers in the trolley line had flame shields made of low-quality resin. The result were constant fires in the material used to protect the equipment, putting maintenance personnel in danger and causing constant operational faults.
Second, in the trolley line section separations resin material were also used. These materials, as in rectifiers, caught fire and generated accidents and occupational hazards.
As a result, Prodin was commissioned to develop products to bear the temperature levels and the electric arc the equipment is submitted to.
As a solution, a research on new materials used abroad for electric and thermal insulation was carried out, importing a wide stock of raw materials and innovating in the development of products for operational and occupational needs in today’s mining. The products developed last up to 20 times the previous products, reducing occupational incidents and spare part rotation.
