Mining Giant Hails Cost Savings With Prolong
World's Largest Underground Mine Expands Use of Prolong Grease
IRVINE, Calif., July 4 -- Prolong Super Lubricants, Inc., manufacturer and marketer of patented consumer automotive, commercial/industrial and household products and a wholly owned subsidiary of Prolong International Corporation (AMEX:PRL) , (http://www.prolong.com/), announced that the use of its Prolong Multi-Purpose EP-2 Grease is being expanded in the Codelco copper mine in El Teniente, Chile after operations management recorded significant increases in equipment longevity and reduction in servicing downtime.
Super Lubricantes Ltda., Prolong's distributor in Chile since the late 1990s and their associate distributor Ingemer, initially introduced Prolong EP-2 Grease to the El Teniente division of Codelco for use in their huge 10-ton loaders that scoop up loosened earth. Management was looking for a solution to the serious problem of inadequate lubrication of brass bearings at the pivot points of the scoops which were failing at a high rate, causing costly downtime and refurbishing. Since the introduction of Prolong's lubrication technology, the bearings have not been failing and intervals between maintenance work and downtime have more than doubled.
Success with the loader bearings led the mine management to try Prolong Grease in other applications with equally impressive results. During a recent visit to El Teniente operations, both management and line operators enthusiastically told Prolong's Vice President of Industrial Sales, Tim Wagner and International Sales Manager, Jeff Victer that Prolong EP-2 Grease is now being used for bearings in the massive grinders, some 30 feet across, which are used to break down the boulder-size ore for processing. These bearings were becoming so heated they failed, bringing the grinders to a complete and expensive halt, seriously backing up all mine operations. Prolong Grease has radically lowered the bearing temperatures, keeping the grinders operating efficiently and is also being used in the hydraulic lube network and in stand-alone applications on timing systems.
Codelco, the Corporacion Nacional del Cobre de Chile, a mining, industrial and commercial company owned by the Chilean State, is the main copper producer in the world. Its El Teniente division, located 80 kilometers south of Santiago and 2,500 meters above sea level, operates the largest underground mine on earth, producing 334,306 metric tons of copper a year. Codelco also has three other mining divisions, Norte, Salavador and Andina, all located in Northern and Central Chile.
"It is extremely satisfying to be able to demonstrate such significant savings in an operation of this scale, magnitude and technological level," stated Jeff Victer. We know that there are many more applications for our grease, hydraulic fluid and gear treatments to help Codelco's efficiency and profitability." Mining operations were among the original industrial applications for Prolong starting more than a decade ago, and Prolong lubrication products with patented AFMT(TM) (Anti-Friction Metal Treatment) continue to be used in South Africa's mines and other major mining concerns around the world.
Through Super Lubricantes Ltda., Prolong is aggressively expanding its Chilean business in both the retail and industrial sectors, a strong part of the company's long-term strategy for the Latin American market. Prolong also currently has distribution partners in Canada, China, Czech Republic, Guatemala, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, The Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, and the United Kingdom and is actively seeking well established international trading partners.
Prolong Super Lubricants, Inc. is an operating subsidiary of Prolong International Corporation. Prolong International Corporation (AMEX:PRL) , a consumer products holding company headquartered in Irvine, California, through its operating subsidiaries, manufactures, markets and distributes a complete line of patented lubricant and proprietary automotive, commercial/industrial and household products. The company's products are marketed and sold under the brand name Prolong Super Lubricants(R) and are used in automotive, industrial and consumer applications. More information about Prolong International and its products can be obtained at http://www.prolong.com/.