Intertek acquires mineral industry testing company VIGALAB in Chile
15 May 2012
Houston – Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world, has acquired VIGALAB, a highly regarded testing laboratory supporting the mineral and mining industry in Chile.
VIGALAB provides quality sample mineral preparation services and chemical analysis to the mining industry in Chile, including fire assay, trace metals analysis, geochemical tests and calibration standards preparation, among other value-added services.
The Chilean minerals industry is expanding due to increased development of copper, gold, silver, molybdenum, iron, zinc, lead and other mineral ores. Significant mineral and mining areas in Chile are located in the north, close to Antofogasta and Atacama. VIGALAB is located in the Atacama Region in Copiapó City.
Jay Gutierrez, Executive Vice President of Intertek's Commodities division, said "The acquisition of VIGALAB expands Intertek's global minerals services network into Chile, a region of strategic importance to the global mining industry. VIGALAB will enhance our capabilities in meeting the needs of existing and new minerals clients in South America and globally."
"With VIGALAB, Intertek extends its minerals testing geographic coverage to the Atacama region of Chile. It will also enable Intertek to deliver complementary new capabilities to clients in the area, such as industrial, environmental and non-destructive-testing (NDT) services from its wider portfolio of quality services."
Learn more about Intertek Mineral and Chile services:
www.intertek.com/petroleum/chile/
Contacts:
Carlos Velasco
Title: Business Development Manager – Latin America
Phone: +569-9886-5734 and +1 832-455-5736
Email: carlos.velasco@intertek.com
Alvaro Cusicanqui
Title: VIGALAB Laboratory manager
Phone: +569-9828-3985
Enir Coutinho
South America Minerals Director
Email: enir.coutinho@intertek.com
Tel: +55 11-23228030
Media Contacts:
Erik Holladay
Global Marketing Director, Commodities
Tel: +1 713 407 3533
Email: erik.holladay@intertek.com
About Intertek
Intertek is a leading provider of quality, safety, and sustainability solutions serving the minerals, petroleum, chemicals and a wide range of other industries around the world, including auditing, fuel testing, inspection and certification. Intertek people add value to customers' products and processes, supporting their success in the global marketplace. Intertek supports customers through its network of more than 1,000 laboratories and offices, and over 30,000 people in more than 100 countries. www.intertek.com
About VIGALAB
VIGALAB provides quality preparation services, mechanical and chemical analysis of mineral samples for the mining industry in Chile. www.vigalab.cl/home.htm