“At Atlas Copco, our mission is to achieve a sustainable, profitable growth, seeking to empower our customers and drive society towards a better tomorrow”
Atlas Copco, worldwide group leader in compressed air, vacuum, energy, and industrial tool solutions, has operations in over 180 counties around the globe. Its customer center in Peru, that along with Bolivia are known as the Andean region, was the first office of the Group in Latin America and has been working in the development and execution of industrial projects since 1950. Julio Hernández, new General Manager for the Compressor Technique Business Line at Atlas Copco Peru and Bolivia, tells us more about the vision and development plans for the division in the region.
Industrial development and innovation
During 2021, Atlas Copco experienced a growth in the demand of compressed air technologies for the development of projects in different markets; from applications in new mining seams and expansions, to industrial installations for penumatic transport and wastewater treatment plants.
Aside from providing the latest in compressed air technological innovations, Atlas Copco advises its customers in the choice of the best solution from its wide equipment portfolio. “Our business is always focused on operational efficiency, sustainability and the responsible use of resources. Therefore, the correct choice of a compressor for an air installation is key for energy savings and the reduction of the carbon footprint at any operation” says Hernández.
“We advise our customers about the difference between a 4-bar pressure blower, versus a 5 to 11 bar pressure compressor, and how with the choice of the right equipment according to a particular application, they can get up to 50% of energy savings”.
Usually, these low-pressure solutions are recommended due to its high efficiency and low energy consumption for wastewater treatment plants, flotation processes and pneumatic transport.
Atlas Copco always looks to provide added value to its customer during their project development process. The accompaniment during the implementation of such projects goes beyond the installation itself, focused on prevention and energy efficiency. “We have seen growth in the awareness about the importance of preventive maintenance, which goes hand in hand with energy efficiency. Keeping a machine in peak operational performance turns into energy savings. To achieve this, we have intelligent central controllers that regulate the demands and fluctuations of compressed air machines connected to our network, thus increasing their efficiency”.
The industry 4.0 and connectivity tools are not foreign to the compressed air world. Due to the confinement situation caused by COVID-19, remote monitoring platforms have been key for Atlas Copco customers to anticipate their maintenance needs. “All of our compressors come with remote monitoring technology or can be easily connected to our worldwide network through SMARTLINK. This tool supports us with preventive maintenance since it helps reduce possible failures that may cause production losses to our customers. Also, it allows us to be proactive towards any alert sign the machine may send, which goes straight to our customer and our specialists”.
“Industrial innovations, like our third-generation variable speed drive technology VSDs and SMARTLINK for remote monitoring of compressed air installations, allows our customers to maximize their investment and optimize the operational times at their installations in a responsible way with the environment”, says Julio.
Commitment with the society and the environment
Sustainability and innovation are key for the Atlas Copco Group. Its sustainability strategy is focused on providing its strategic partners with added value, not only through its products and services, but also through responsible actions with the environment and society in general. “At Atlas Copco, our mission is to achieve a sustainable, profitable growth, seeking to empower our customers and drive society towards a better tomorrow”, says Julio.
And so, the Atlas Copco Group in Peru and Bolivia contributes with sustainable development through corporate projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and its commitment with science-based targets. Julio tells us more about one of their initiatives: “Water for All is a corporate global initiative that develops projects to provide access to drinkable water in places where is needed. This initiative was born from a project promoted by our own staff, to later be adopted by the Group and executed worldwide through strategic partners and Atlas Copco volunteers in every country”.
Our vision for the region in 2022
For Julio, this 2022 arrives with several growth and project development opportunities that will need Atlas Copco solutions. “We are in a highly dynamic market that has increased its demand for products and services that, aside from having a differential value from other offers, are sustainable, efficient and can generate saving in the short, medium and long term”. This year, an organic growth in the business volume is expected for the division in the region, based on tailor-made solutions for the customer and intelligent connectivity tools for service proactivity.
“Solutions based in innovation and advanced technology will be key this 2022, and at Atlas Copco we are more than ready to take on these new challenges the market has for us. With nearly 150 years of experience in compressed air technologies worldwide, our machines have proved to be efficient and sustainable no matter the industrial project they operate in”.
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