Copper smelting operations at major Chilean plant, currently owned by a subsidiary of the oil company, Exxon, are able to run smoothly thanks to the use of Rammer hammers. The hammers, supplied by Sandvik Tamrock, prevent the Chilean furnaces becoming clogged with molten copper so halting operations.

The plant, operated by the company, Disputada de las Condes, has ten furnaces that heat the copper to a molten state prior to further processing. A crucial part of the operation is pouring the molten copper out of each furnace. As the molten copper leaves the furnace, it solidifies on contact with the air, so blocking the furnace opening.

Preventing copper build up
The company needed to find a solution to prevent copper build up which would disrupt the smelting operation. Miguel Angel Araya, maintenance manager explains, "This makes the furnace quickly inoperable. So it is vital that the furnace opening is cleared as soon as the contents are poured out. We have had previous experience with Rammer equipment in other applications and found it well capable of working in the toughest conditions". Two Rammer E64 hammers are mounted on excavators and keep the furnace opening free of solidifying copper.

Mr Araya says "The hammers have far exceeded our expectations and are working extremely well. It is very hard work but the high impact energy of the Rammer units is more than sufficient to do the job."

Rammer is part of Sandvik Mining and Construction, which operates globally through a sales and service organization coupled with network of more than 350 distributors. The Rammer brand covers a range of hydraulic hammers, pedestal boom systems, cutter-crushers and pulverizers used for rock excavation, demolition and crushing applications.



For more information contact:
Ms. Satu Rämö
Sandvik Tamrock Corp
P.O. Box 165
FIN-15101 Lahti
FINLAND
Tel: +358 205 44 151
Fax: +358 205 44 150
E-mail: satu.ramo@sandvik.com
www.rammer.com

Mr. Edmund Ludwig
Sandvik Tamrock Corp
Mombacher Strasse 13
D-65203 Wiesbaden
GERMANY
Tel: +49 611 18 20 313
Fax: +49 611 18 20 310
E-mail: edmund.ludwig@sandvik.com

Mr. Matti Aalto
Sandvik do Brazil S.A.
Av. das Nações Unidas 21732
BR-04795-914
São Paulo - SP
BRAZIL
Tel: +55 11 5696 5697
Fax: +55 11 5523 9676
E-mail: matti.aalto@sandvik.com

Mr. Rob Lackner
Sandvik Tamrock Australia
CNR, Warren & Percival Rds
Smithfield
NSW 2164 SYDNEY
AUSTRALIA
Tel: +61 2 9828 0596
Fax: +61 2 9828 0665
E-mail: robert.lackner@sandvik.com

Mr. Bob Allen
Sandvik Tamrock Canada Inc.
100 Magill St.
Walden Industrial Park
Lively, Ontario P3Y 1K7
CANADA
Tel: +1 705 692 7337
Fax: +1 705 692 5313
E-mail: bob.allen@sandvik.com

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