en.Wedoany.com Reported - Komatsu and global mining company Anglo American recently successfully converted two Komatsu 930E-3 mining trucks, originally scheduled for retirement, into water trucks with a capacity of 70,000 gallons (approximately 265,000 liters) at the Los Bronces copper mine, located about 65 kilometers northeast of Santiago, Chile. Komatsu Chile stated that this is a first in Chile and globally. The capacity is three times that of traditional water trucks, enabling continuous watering operations for up to one hour without refilling, thereby significantly improving dust suppression efficiency and operational continuity on mine haul roads.
Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Komatsu is one of the world's leading manufacturers of construction and mining equipment. Its 930E series mining trucks have a payload capacity of approximately 290 tons and are widely used in large open-pit mines. Anglo American, founded in 1917 and headquartered in London, UK, is a globally leading mining company with operations spanning copper, platinum group metals, diamonds, and iron ore. The Los Bronces copper mine is one of Anglo American's core assets in Chile, producing approximately 300,000 tons of copper concentrate annually. The retrofit project was led by the consumables management team of Komatsu Chile's mining parts division, in collaboration with multiple internal departments and strategic supplier Mega, a water truck specialist, achieving zero accidents throughout the process. Each truck is equipped with a Mega MTT70 water tank.
Alvaro Pantoja, Deputy Manager of Commercial Services at Komatsu Chile, stated that this milestone demonstrates Komatsu's ability to integrate technology, operations, and safety solutions as a strategic partner, proving that collaboration with customers can develop innovative solutions that lead industry change. Mauricio Fenieux, Director of Transport and Service Maintenance at Anglo American's Los Bronces mine, noted that the retrofit enhances dust control, safeguards employee health and safety, while extending asset lifespan and maximizing capital efficiency. Roberto Valera, Product Manager for Undercarriage and Mega Water Systems at Komatsu Chile, said this is the result of perseverance and teamwork.
Mega is a specialized manufacturer of water tanks for Komatsu off-highway trucks, producing a full range of tanks for both rigid and articulated trucks. In January 2026, Mega was acquired by Ground Force Worldwide, a subsidiary of Federal Signal, integrating Mega, Ground Force, and TowHaul under the same group. This successful retrofit demonstrates the potential for recycling mining equipment, providing a replicable practice for unlocking the value of aging assets in mines worldwide.
This article is compiled by Wedoany. All AI citations must indicate the source as "Wedoany". If there is any infringement or other issues, please notify us promptly, and we will modify or delete it accordingly. Email: news@wedoany.com
