News & Events
Tecnologias COBRA Celebrating 25 years of innovation and client success
by Claudia Sanchez and John Jickling
Committed to exceptional, local service for its South American clients, The EPCM Group launched its Tecnologias COBRA division in 1998.
It all began in the heart of the copper belt in Antofagasta, Chile, with a small but driven team of employees. Their initial focus was on cathode repairs and cathode stripping machine parts — providing on-the-ground expertise for EPCM tankhouse clients, and servicing machinery throughout South America’s natural resource industry.
In no time, COBRA was awarded the manufacturing contract for 132,000 cathodes for Codelco’s Chuquicamata Modernization project — the most significant single order of cathodes in mining history. The Codelco project affirmed COBRA’s choice of headquarters close to our client in northern Chile. It also prompted substantial expansion with a new office and a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Antofagasta. It continues to be the largest cathode manufacturing and reconditioning centre in the world today.
In 2006 COBRA earned another groundbreaking contract with BHP Escondida in northern Chile to maintain its cathode stripping machines (CSMs). Claudia Sanchez, COBRA’s GM, explains, “BHP was the first client looking to outsource the maintenance of its equipment. Given our expanding success with tankhouse clients in South America, we were ready and excited to prove our capability. The project was highly successful and became an area of specialty for us — today, representing 30% of our business.”
COBRA’s team has grown to over 700 employees, with clients stretching from South America to North America, China, South Korea, Europe, South Africa and Australia. Recognized by clients for its excellence, the team has also played a pivotal role in EPCM Group’s expansion plans in North America, Europe and Asia. With a proven reputation as a strategic partner, COBRA remains steadfast in its pursuit of constant innovation — helping clients streamline processes, elevate safety, and reduce costs.
“We owe our success to our incredibly talented and hardworking team and the phenomenal support and trust we get from our clients. We’re energized by what the future holds — from clean and renewable energy to artificial intelligence, new and emerging technologies, and new markets,” Claudia adds. “We’re passionate about applying every tool, skill, and insight to help clients be industry leaders for another 25 years and more.”
About Tecnologias COBRA
Established in 1998 as the South American division of The EPCM Group, Tecnologias COBRA is a global engineering, automation and services company. A leading supplier to the electro-winning and electro-refining industries, COBRA is a pioneer in mineral processing and tank automation solutions. We tackle our customers’ most demanding manufacturing and operational challenges by applying our bold thinking, industry insights, comprehensive services and global capability.
