A LITTLE corner of Staffordshire is celebrating after helping to play a part in the rescue of the 33 trapped Chilean mine workers.
A fleet of around 10 machines manufactured by JCB operated at the San Jose copper and gold mine in Chile’s Atacama desert, where 33 men were trapped underground for 69 days.
In the minutes leading up to the successful rescue mission, a JCB 531-70 Loadall telescopic handler – a fork-lift style machine – delivered to the mine shaft the capsule which was used to raise the miners to the surface.
Another JCB Loadall played an equally important role in the underground drama. Millions of people watching around the world saw the trapped men use the machine for a dual purpose – as a method of getting around the mine and for sleeping in.
Carlos Hernández, JCB’s Regional Director for Latin America & Caribbean, said: “There’s obviously huge relief throughout Chile and the rest of world that all the miners were brought out safely after such a long ordeal.
“JCB’s products were used on a daily basis for a variety of tasks at the mine and we are delighted they played a very small role in what was one of the most amazing rescue stories of our time.”
The mine also used JCB 436 and 456 wheeled loading shovel models, made in Cheadle, a JCB 533-105 Loadall telescopic handler, a JCB JS200 tracked excavator, made in Uttoxeter, a JCB 3C backhoe, made in Brazil and a JCB VM115 roller made by JCB in Germany.
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