Juan Cruz Igualada of PAP highlighted the development of two generations of 4x4 chassis in partnership with Agrale and Megacar to improve safety and comfort in high-altitude mining transport. The latest model, fitted with a Marcopolo body, has been operating for two years with satisfactory results under extreme conditions.
The company has more than 20 vehicles operating at the Vicuña project, offering improvements in stability, suspension and passenger comfort.
By Panorama Minero
As the mining industry develops in the province, safety and comfort in personnel transport are determining factors in operational efficiency. In this context, Juan Cruz Igualada, a representative of the San Juan-based company PAP, detailed the technical and industrial developments undertaken by the company to transform passenger transport in high-altitude environments.
With a history dating back to the construction of the access road to the Veladero mine in 2003, followed by operations at various mining sites across Argentina, the company has focused its efforts on overcoming traditional approaches to transport in the Andes. Igualada recalled that PAP was the first mining transport company to reach the Veladero road construction project during its initial stages.
Historically, personnel transport to mountain mining sites relied on adapted trucks fitted with rear passenger compartments, commonly known in the industry as perreras. Although these vehicles met the demands of the terrain, their rigid suspension systems did not provide adequate shock absorption or suitable levels of comfort for workers.
To address this issue, the company undertook the development of specialised vehicles built on factory-manufactured chassis.
According to Igualada, PAP has led the development of two generations of 4x4 chassis throughout its history. The first was introduced in 2012 with the design of an adapted minibus, while the second prototype was designed and implemented two years ago, representing a significant advance in engineering, stability and overall safety.
This second development, which has been in operation for two years, was designed directly on the production lines of chassis manufacturer Agrale, eliminating the need for any custom modifications in external workshops.
The chassis was combined with an internationally manufactured Marcopolo body, equipped with high-performance climate control, toilets and hermetically sealed luggage compartments to prevent the entry of dust from the Andean environment.
The results achieved by this latest vehicle have been highly satisfactory, demonstrating outstanding performance in extreme conditions involving mud, snow and thawing.
The company currently operates more than 20 of these vehicles in San Juan for the Vicuña project, where they have demonstrated excellent technical performance in absorbing impacts from uneven terrain while providing a high-quality passenger experience.
Igualada emphasised that neither of these two stages of chassis innovation would have been possible without long-term strategic partnerships.
From an industrial and commercial perspective, the support of dealership Megacar and manufacturer Agrale was essential in adapting vehicle design to the actual requirements of transport in the Andes.
Furthermore, to participate in large-scale tenders and meet the operational volumes required for employee transport at major developments such as Vicuña, PAP established a temporary business consortium (UTE) with established transport companies including 20 de Junio and Grupo Flecha Bus.
This collaborative approach enables PAP to strengthen its technical capabilities, ensure operational support and maintain high service standards in high-altitude environments.
