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Latin America’s mining sector is undergoing a major transformation. Across Chile and the broader region, site operators are shifting toward safer, cleaner and more efficient operational standards. As emphasis builds around occupational health, preventing respirable dust exposure has become a top priority for leading mining operations.
In June 2026, Mideco’s Operations Manager, Yuri Campos, headed to Antofagasta, Chile, to represent Mideco at EXPONOR 2026, one of Latin America’s top international mining exhibitions. Held in the heart of Chile’s mining region, the trade show provided a world-class platform to demonstrate how Mideco’s engineered dust control solutions protect personnel and raise site health and safety standards.
Meeting the Chilean Mining Community
A successful expansion depends on trusted local expertise. Ahead of the exhibition floor opening, Mideco connected in Santiago with our long-standing Chilean partner, Rost y Cía. Ltda. Working alongside key team members, including Rodolfo Castro, allowed us to align our regional market strategy and arrive in Antofagasta operating as one cohesive team.
The momentum began at an industry networking night before the main gates opened, giving exhibitors and mining equipment, technology and services (METS) suppliers the opportunity to connect with regional mining stakeholders and government representatives.
Yuri Campos shared:
“The event is massive! I’ve been incredibly impressed by how receptive everyone is on the trade show floor, and it’s been so easy to talk and share ideas.”
Four Days on the Exhibition Floor
Spanning four days, EXPONOR 2026 drew major site operators, port authorities, contractors and global technology suppliers.
Throughout the event, our team focused on how targeted dust control technologies address critical site challenges:
- Personnel Cleaning (The Bat Booth®): Reduces secondary contamination by removing hazardous dust, including respirable silica, coal dust and mineral fines, from clothing and PPE. The automated 10-second cycle removes up to 88% of respirable dust from clothing. Unlike traditional compressed air methods that blow toxic particles back into the breathing zone, the Bat Booth keeps that dust out of clean zones such as break rooms, offices and vehicles.
- Room Pressurization (The Bat Vent®): Protects control room operators, site offices and equipment cabins from dust exposure. The system draws in outside air, filters it through a three-stage filtration system and maintains stable positive pressure inside the room, creating a continuous barrier that keeps unfiltered airborne silica and process fines out.
- Bulk Material Dust Control (Burnley® Baffles): Prevents heavy dust clouds at hoppers, receiving pits and transfer points during high-volume bulk unloading. The modular baffles eliminate up to 80% of dust on their own, or up to 100% when paired with a dust collector. The simple, low-maintenance design improves visibility, retains valuable light product and reduces airborne dust exposure.
Industry representatives across Latin America showed strong openness to new methods and technologies. A key takeaway from the exhibition floor was a clear market gap: while general industrial equipment suppliers were well represented, very few providers specialized in targeted personnel cleaning and dedicated dust control engineering. That specialized focus positions Mideco well to meet strict health requirements across Latin American mining sites.
Numerous evening networking events and industry functions hosted by international delegations provided further opportunities to engage with decision-makers outside exhibition hours.
Key Takeaways
Our presence at EXPONOR 2026 proved to be a valuable investment. The Latin American mining industry continues to prioritize worker health, which aligns closely with Mideco’s mission to reduce occupational dust hazards.
The trip reaffirmed that our specialized health and safety technologies resonate strongly with South America’s evolving industrial standards. Mideco remains dedicated to supporting cleaner, safer operations across Chile and the wider Latin American region.
Looking to reduce dust exposure on your site? Talk to our team about the right dust control solution for your operation.
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