Case Study
Remote Mine Site Boosts Efficiency with Comprehensive Wash System Solution
Drive Through Haul Truck Wash System at Buenavista del Cobre Mine
Background
The Buenavista del Cobre mine, located in Sonora, Mexico. The is an expansive openpit site is known for its high volume of copper mining, with additional exports of silver and zinc also extracted from the region. Operated by Grupo México, the mine has undergone significant expansions and modernizations over the years to enhance its production capacity.
At A Glance
Client: Buenavista del Cobre, Sonora, Mexico
Industry: Copper Mining
Type: Open Pit
Challenge: Effective and efficient cleaning of a large, diverse fleet of vehicles and mining equipment operating in a harsh, high-demand environment.
The Challenge
To handle the continuous flow of vehicles and the buildup of heavy mud and corrosive materials on haul trucks, light vehicles, and other mining machinery, Buenavista needed a durable wash system. This system had to support their escalating production demands while aligning with environmental initiatives. It was critical that the solution operated efficiently and reliably for over 12 hours daily, ensuring that the vehicles stayed clean and functional without disrupting operations.
The Solution
InterClean responded with a custom-engineered mine wash solution tailored to meet the unique demands of the Buenavista del Cobre site.
The mining equipment wash solution features:
Automatic Drive-Through
Haul Truck Wash
6,4000 GPM of recycled water used to demuck 440 ton haul trucks:
Demucking Station
for Light Vehicles
- 15 ft heavy duty wheel wash cycling through 1,360 GPM of recycled wash water
- (4) front and rear tire and side spray bars
- Tire wash structures
Water Reclaim System
& Oil Skimmer
- EQ Module and bioremediation water filtration system
- Wash water reclaim pit
- Oil skimmer
- 300 GPM flow rate per unit
- Low maintenance
- No consumables
For a number of reasons including the equipment sizes, large volumes of water required, and the remote location, this system is designed to provide a thourough wash without chemicals or detergents.
Chassis Wash
Spray Towers
Water Cannons
Water Recycling
The Results
The installation and start-up, completed in just two weeks, marked a significant transformation at the Buenavista site, evolving it from a basic mining area to a fully operational maintenance facility. InterClean’s installation included an automatic drive-through haul truck wash, a manual wash bay, a light vehicle demucking station, and a reclaim pit for recycling used wash water.
The results were immediate, with improvements in operational efficiencies, such as faster and more frequent equipment cleaning, increased daily throughput, reduced maintenance time, and more vehicle uptime.
Learn more about InterClean’s Heavy Duty and Mining Equipment wash systems .
Optimized to fit the way you operate.
The Numbers
5 Minutes
Automatic haul truck wash time
10 - 15 Minutes
Average wash time for a 360 clean of a 440T haul truck with manual water cannons & hoses on site at the mine.
15 - 20 minutes
Total average wash times observed to completely clean a 440T Haul Truck using InterClean's wash gear.
Partner With InterClean for Your Next Wash System
Revolutionize your vehicle wash process with InterClean’s unparalleled expertise in heavy-duty vehicle washing. Fill out the form today and discover how our innovative wash systems can enhance your operations.
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