MPM chooses Grove for specialized work at Chilean mine
· A five-axle Grove GMK5130-2 is the newest addition to Chile’s vibrant mining industry which calls for particular maintenance and assembly jobs.
· The GMK5130-2’s first task was to help expand the processing facilities at Minera Spence in the Antofagasta region.
· MPM was looking for a versatile high-capacity crane that can travel within and between job sites easily.
MPM Ltda. an equipment rental industrial assembly and general maintenance company based in Santiago Chile has added a new Grove GMK5130-2 to its fleet to help meet growing lifting demands in the country. After researching a number of all-terrain cranes the company opted for the 130 t (165 USt) GMK5130-2 believing it to be the best choice to meet its specific needs.
“We purchased the GMK5130-2 to work in a variety of construction and maintenance jobs in some of Chile’s largest copper and gold mines ” said Daniel Vega owner of MPM Ltda. “In fact as its first project the crane has been hard at work on the expansion of Minera Spence a copper mine in the Antofagasta region that produces hundreds of thousands of tons of raw materials every year.”
Having had a positive experience with its first Grove crane—a 120 t (130 USt) RT9130E-2 rough-terrain model purchased in 2012—MPM wanted a higher capacity crane that could easily travel through Chile’s high-altitude roads.
“We wanted a crane that could effortlessly move within and between job sites. Its fast highway speeds and good off-road performance make the Grove GMK5130-2 both efficient and capable ” Vega said. “Ever since we started working hand-in-hand with the Manitowoc representative here in Chile we have felt very satisfied – that satisfaction has only grown with the work the GMK5130-2 is accomplishing in the Spence mine.”
The five-axle crane’s 11 t (12 USt) counterweight is larger than any other equivalent machine in the market giving it an impressive load chart. The GMK5130-2 features a 60 m (197 ft) six-section main boom that can lift up to 10 t (11 USt) when fully extended. In addition the crane is engineered with Manitowoc’s Megatrak suspension and all-wheel steer system. This independent suspension allows each wheel to remain on the ground at all times greatly increasing stability.
An evolution of the popular GMK5130-1 the second generation GMK5130-2 has an improved cab that hydraulically tilts to 20°. The cab made of aluminum features all-round vision and safety glass for optimal operator safety. Adding to its set of qualities the five-axle crane can be moved on the job site with its full counterweight saving valuable project time that would otherwise be spent installing or removing sections.
“We are proud to have the GMK5130-2 already working in its first development ” Vega added. “Not only is this crane versatile and trustworthy but it provides many features which other cranes in its class do not.”
Created in 2008 MPM Ltda. provides expert lifting and industrial assembly services for Chile’s vast territory. The company offers crane and other equipment rentals and several mine-specific jobs such as anti-corrosion coating to prevent machinery deterioration and general maintenance.
