After 15 years of operation, Codelco's Gabriela Mistral Division (DGM) aligned with its sustainable objectives and without expanding its footprint, decided to modernize its two cathode stripping machines. The upgrade work was comprised of the assessment and recommendation work, the supply of components as well as related services by Metso Outotec. The service work included the installation, commissioning, and start-up of the Chiseling (knife unit), Down Ender (downer unit), DDU (deflector unit), and Rejected Unit.
The project began in August 2022, with the modernization of the first Cathode stripping machine, an initiative successfully led by the Gabriela Mistral staff and Corporate Maintenance Management with the support of local and global specialists from Metso Outotec, after more than six months of planning and technical discussions. During the pre-work period, Gabriela Mistral specialists together with Metso Outotec experts reviewed and verified the condition of the units that were being replaced as well as the site conditions, to define and coordinate the requirements needed to start the service work. In parallel, the division's maintenance area conducted a hazardous operations workshop to identify all operational risks associated with the upgrade, to be able to properly understand potential issues.