The WipWare and Tecnoil partnership has helped bring fragmentation measurement and process analysis technology to mining operations throughout Peru for more than 25 years. WipWare is proud to recognize this longstanding relationship as Tecnoil S.A.C. and the Vega family celebrate the company’s 30th anniversary.
Tecnoil was founded in September 1996 by Luis Vega, who drew upon 25 years of experience with Halliburton in Peru and other countries. The company was established to serve Peru’s growing oil and gas sector and its established mining industry, building its reputation as a dependable supplier of specialized equipment, technical expertise and field support.
How WipWare and Tecnoil Began Working Together
The relationship between Tecnoil and WipWare began in 2000, when Luis Vega met WipWare founder Tom Palangio at a mining seminar in Arequipa. WipFrag represented a pioneering, data-driven approach to blast assessment, offering mines and explosives companies an objective way to quantify blast fragmentation, compare performance and identify opportunities for improvement — capabilities WipWare has continued to advance ever since.
WipWare’s guiding principle — “Because you can’t manage what you can’t measure”— immediately resonated with Tecnoil.
WipFrag had been developed from the need to put reliable numbers to blast fragmentation and explosives performance. Rather than grant exclusive rights to a single mining company or explosives manufacturer, WipWare chose to make the technology broadly available through trusted representatives with strong technical knowledge and established reputations in their respective countries.
A Partnership Built on Trust and Friendship
“From the beginning, we wanted WipFrag represented internationally by honest, dependable and knowledgeable people who understood their markets,” said Tom Palangio, founder and CEO of WipWare. “The Vega family and Tecnoil had already earned an excellent reputation for dependability and integrity in Peru’s oil and gas industry. Once we experienced their warmth and friendship, we knew we had found the right partner. Together, we introduced WipFrag to many of Peru’s leading copper operations. I am proud of what our families have built together and congratulate the Vega family on Tecnoil’s 30th anniversary.”
Some of the partnership’s earliest projects included the introduction of WipFrag at Southern Peru’s Cuajone Mine and a Momentum system at Antamina, expanding the use of fragmentation measurement within the country’s mining industry.
Over time, the relationship grew beyond commercial representation. The Vega and Palangio families visited one another in Peru and Canada, forming friendships that extended across generations. Members of the Vega family who have contributed to Tecnoil over the years include Luis Vega, Nelly Velarde, Luis Vega Jr., Roberto Vega, Marco Vega and Karla Vega.
Supporting Mining Operations Across Peru
“Partnering with WipWare has transformed the way we help mining operations measure and understand their processes,” said Marco Vega, Manager of Tecnoil. “Because you can’t manage what you can’t measure, WipWare’s photoanalysis technology gives our customers timely, fact-based information they can use to optimize performance, reduce downtime and make better decisions from pit to plant.”
Tecnoil continues to represent WipWare in Peru, supporting access to WipFrag software as well as WipWare’s Solo conveyor and Reflejo vehicle-mounted analysis systems. Together, the companies provide Peruvian operations with local knowledge backed by WipWare’s specialized particle analysis technology and international experience.
WipWare congratulates the entire Vega family and the Tecnoil team on 30 years in business. WipWare and Tecnoil look forward to continuing a partnership founded on trust, technical knowledge and enduring friendship.
About Tecnoil
Founded in Peru in 1996, Tecnoil S.A.C. supplies specialized equipment, technical services and industrial solutions to the oil and gas, mining and related sectors. The family-led company represents international technology manufacturers and supports customers through technical advice, field experience and localized service.
About WipWare
Founded in Canada in 1986, WipWare develops photoanalysis software and automated systems that measure particle size, shape, volume and colour. Its technologies support blast assessment, process monitoring and operational decision-making in mining, aggregates and other industries through field, conveyor and vehicle-based applications.
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