Industrias Peñoles Voices Interest in Potential Epiroc Plant

The Mexican mining sector is welcoming the possibility of Sweden-based mining equipment assembler Epiroc opening an assembly plant in Mexico. Industrias Peñoles showed its interest in the matter and said it is proof of the La Laguna region’s attractiveness to businesses. 

During a panel on security issues, Rafael Rebollar, Director General, Industrias Peñoles, said that it is positive that the La Laguna Region, located in northern Mexico, is taken into consideration as an investment destination since it is a key region for the mining industry in Mexico. Rebollar said that the possibility of companies like Epiroc assembling equipment in the region would be “interesting.” “[Epiroc] assemble 100 percent of their vehicles in Sweden and then distribute them all over the world. Therefore, they are analyzing five regions for vehicle assembly, original and brand new equipment, and one of these regions is Mexico,” Rebollar added.

Rebollar did not provide detailed information on the potential new plant. However, he mentioned that Epiroc just signed an agreement with the Technological University of Torreon (UTT), which establishes that the company will consider UTT students to work and intern at the company. Rebollar remembered that in July 2022, the Governor of Coahuila, Miguel Riquelme, and representatives of Grupo Peñoles were present during the inauguration of Epiroc offices at the Torreon Innovation and Technology Park. 

According to Rebollar, the installation of an Epiroc assembling plant would benefit Mexico since it would create over 120 jobs for highly qualified engineers. Rebollar said that the Mexican plant could replicate the Chilean technological development center and added that the company could take Mexican engineers to Chile for training to further develop Torreon, which would then become Epiroc’s technological hub for the mining industry in Mexico and Latin America.

Epiroc was part of Atlas Copco, a leader in industrial equipment manufacturing. On Jan. 16, 2017, Atlas Copco’s Management Board announced a proposal to divide the group into two different companies: Atlas Copco, which was to maintain an industrial focus, and Epiroc, which focused on civil engineering and mining clients. “This is a great opportunity. With this new company exclusively focused on mining and civil engineering we can give a better service to our clients. From the operational point of view, there will be no changes. We have solid client centers professional employees, as well as superior products and services,” said Helena Hedblom, President and CEO, Epiroc.