Can you describe Hilti’s presence in Chile?

This year is Hilti’s 25th anniversary in Chile and mining is one of the pillars of our business. We have a strong presence here in Chile, with a team of over 180 people, including sales, consulting, engineering, and technical services that offer solid and personalized services to our clients. What core products does Hilti offer the mining industry?

We serve our clients with products, software and services through engineering and digital services (BIM / 3D modelling) during the design phase, until the construction with a unique solution in terms of power tools and accessories. We also provide solutions, including fire seals, steel fastening, and anchoring, which are very attractive to the mining sector due to their safety applications.

What trends in the mining industry have you observed?

Today, we see that the mining industry is digitizing quickly. This has led to a boom in extraction and productivity. Mining has advanced by leaps and bounds in technology, but the productivity of construction has not increased in the same way. We utilize digitalization to improve processes, helping our customers make their projects more efficient, productive, and, most importantly, safer. As far as demand goes, the other central trend is safety. Our systems are aimed at minimizing the exposure of the operator to risk.

What innovative services do you offer?

One of our central areas of development is the circular economy. We aim to transform the current situation in which a client changes a lithium battery and then disposes of it. In our business model, we tell our clients to use our tools as if they are rented, and when they are finished using the tool or the contract is over, we take the device back and extract every reusable element. These elements we then swap for new equipment. Hilti also offers solutions to reduce CO2 emissions, the usage of steel, and the need for welding. We have modular products that allow for assembly that reduce welding to a minimum.

Can you tell us about the benefits of your cordless products?

Recently we have announced the most important launch in the history of Hilti. Under the name of NURON, we launched more than 80 products at the same time, all of them battery-powered in a single 22 Volts platform. We have aimed to make an impact in areas where it was previously unthinkable to use battery-powered tools due to the required energy and performance.

We have demonstrated that even heavy applications like concrete demolition and cutting can be powered by batteries. We utilize a universal battery platform, which streamlines operations for clients.

What other technologies do you offer?

In terms of technologies, we are constantly incorporating new features to boost productivity and safety. As an example, we have implemented technology called Sense-Tech, which in the case the operator drops a tool (angle grinder), it stops immediately. Last, we implemented dust-absorption systems that help limit the exposure to silicosis for operators. The end result is an improvement in safety and a reduction in workforce costs.

In these new products we launched, with our digitization technology you can measure the use of your tools, track their location, and track the battery's usable life. By digitizing our clients' processes, they will see significant savings at the end of their projects.

What is your strategy for 2023?

First, we want to make construction better and through our solutions and services we are the best partner of our clients for productivity, safety, and sustainability.

This year we are inviting all our customers to have the opportunity to try our new battery platform called NURON. With this, they will be working safer, under one single platform, with a better performance and digitalizing their processes.

Second, we will continue reinforcing our maintenance, repair and operations strategy. Hilti seeks a better penetration in that market.

Third, diversifying our business areas, we are preparing to offer specialized solutions for growing sectors, such as solar energy, green hydrogen and data centers.

Finally, we will continue to focus on the development of our people, keep being a Great Place To Work to continue being attractive to our teams and the market and reinforce our diversity and inclusion strategy.