SK Rentals targets mining projects

One of South America’s largest rental companies, Chile-based SK Rental, is targeting the region’s mining sector as part of its growth strategy.

Luis Rodríguez, head of rental at SK Rental’s Peruvian business, writing on the company’s website, said SK Rental’s medium and long-term vision is to support the transormation of the mining sector “with a flexible, technologically and financially efficient model.

“We envision ourselves as partners in operational continuity, guaranteeing modern, well-maintained equipment adapted to the real-life cycle of each mining project. We don’t just seek to rent machinery, but also to guarantee productivity and minimize risks in highly demanding environments.”

He said that the equipment most in demand was earthmoving and mine support equipment, including front-end loaders, excavators, backhoes, motor graders, articulated trucks, among others.

“Logistics and auxiliary equipment also stand out”, he said, “LED lighting towers, generator sets, articulated cranes, water and fuel tankers. Regarding complementary services, comprehensive on-site maintenance, telemetry monitoring, fleet control, and spare parts management are required.

“The trend is to outsource all non-strategic services, delegating full operational responsibility for the equipment to specialized partners.”

Rodríguez said the company - which operates in Chile, Peru and Colombia - had implemented advanced telemetry for real-time monitoring of performance, fuel consumption, alerts, and location; “We also offer predictive maintenance, which reduces failures and anticipates replacement of critical components.”

The main challenge, he said, was “the cultural shift toward a zero-ownership model, where the priority shifts from physical assets to availability and productivity. We also face challenges in approval and bidding processes designed for purchasing, not leasing.

“Leasing will be a key catalyst in the modernization of the sector. It will allow mining companies to adopt new technologies more quickly and without their own investment. It will also digitize asset management, integrating fleets with monitoring and analytics systems.”

Earlier this month, Pablo Lam, general manager of SK Rental, told Peruvian newspaper El Financiero that mining was a real target for the business; “The world has changed, and mining must overcome development and productivity barriers. Significant investments are on the way, but more is needed to grow as a country and for companies like SK Rental to do the same.”

SK Rental is part of the Chile-based Sigdo Koppers industrial conglomerate. Its sister company SKC sells multiple construction and agricultural equipment brands in Chile, including Manitou, New Holland Construction and SDLG.