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Brazilian granite quarry relies on Atlas Copco compressors’ rock-solid reliability

Brazil: that is coffee and carnival. But also natural stone of the highest quality. DAPAZ natural stones is a family-owned company that has been quarrying high-quality granite for over 50 years. Atlas Copco has been at their side since the very start. With some 40-year old machines still soldiering on, even in the harsh conditions of an open-pit quarry. Reliability, service-friendliness, and fuel efficiency: Atlas Copco’s compressors are the rock-solid solution DAPAZ needs or its daily operations.

Compressors offering rock-solid reliability for quarrying

Throughout 3 generations, DAPAZ Natural Stones quarries and processes thousands square meters of natural stones every month. They are renowned for their “Imperial Coffee Granite”, a beautiful kind of natural stone that is chosen for kitchen and bathroom design the world over.
A quarry of that size requires lots of compressed air, which is supplied by 8 different Atlas Copco portable compressors in its main quarry plus several others in smaller mines.

Compressed air plays a fundamental role in a quarry and DAPAZ has always been relying on Atlas Copco’s equipment. Their oldest compressor dates back to 1982, and is still performing. DAPAZ uses compressed air at different pressure settings, depending on the type of application. The smallest compressors power pneumatic hammers, also by Atlas Copco, and the medium-sized compressors are used for cutting and high-pressure compressor for rock drilling. Atlas Copco generators supply electricity for wiring cutting machines. From site preparation to the finishing of the stone slabs, compressed air serves multiple purposes.
DAPAZ has some good reasons for relying on Atlas Copco, as Lídia Pontes, DAPAZ’s General Manager comments: “Some of the reasons why we use Atlas Copco equipment are its durability, easy handling for operators, and daily maintenance.” Some compressors have 14000 running hours on the counter, that’s years of trouble-free operation. Reliability goes beyond steady performance, for DAPAZ it’s also about safety: “we have never encountered occupational accidents with any of these compressors”.

Some of the reasons why we use Atlas Copco equipment are its durability, easy handling for operators, and daily maintenance.

Lídia Pontes , General Manager DAPAZ Natural Stones

Lower fuel and air consumption

With such intensive use, DAPAZ counts on its compressor to be fuel-efficient and its tools to be economic in their air consumption. Lídia Pontes: “We usually have fuel savings from our compressors and also a chain of savings due to lower air consumption in the network, or faster and better drilling.” The oldest compressors bear testimony of reliability, but the newest compressors show how Atlas Copco improves the fuel efficiency and carbon footprint with every new product release.

We usually have fuel savings from our compressors and also a chain of savings due to lower air consumption in the network, or faster and better drilling.

Lídia Pontes , General Manager DAPAZ Natural Stones

Beyond supplying equipment

The Brazilian Atlas Copco team has partnered up with DAPAZ to help them get the most out of their operations. From generally advising on how to save fuel, to helping out with specific questions. When DAPAZ encountered lots of broken bits and rods, Atlas Copco analyzed the full compressed air network and investigated the perfect air flow and pressure required for the various tools. Together, DAPAZ and Atlas Copco redesigned the compressed air network to overcome the problem. Both companies have more similarities: like a shared focus on inclusion and diversity. DAPAZ’s management is run by women and also the commercial team is all female. Reliable and safe equipment, expert advice and shared values and legacy: for their growing natural stone business, DAPAZ found in Atlas Copco a likeminded partner that is happy to grow along with them.

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Brazilian granite quarry relies on Atlas Copco compressors’ rock-solid reliability

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