MONDAY,  OCTOBER 11TH

There are several Fassi cranes employed at the forefront in San Jose. They equip the main drill, which on Saturday reached the 33 miners trapped 700 feet deep in the mine of San Josè, Copiapo, Chile.

These cranes are part of the equipment supplied by the company Geotec Boyles Bros. S.A., specialized in mine drilling. The American Layne Corporation, a world leader in the field of drilling and some Chilean investors form part of the partnership of this company operating in Chile as well as throughout the South American continent with over 100 drilling units.

Fassi Gru S.p.A through its local dealer Fassi Chile S.A., with its headquarters in Colina, Santiago, has been present in Chile for over 15 years and counts some international groups active in the mining sector among its clients. “Currently, Chile is one of the most important markets in South America", said Giovanni Fassi, chief executive of the industrial group with its headquarters in Albino. Fassi Chile S.A. also operates in the North of the country, in Antofagasta with a direct branch and also has a network of support and sales units throughout Chile.

“Just the day before the accident," says Germán Talavera, manager of Fassi Chile S.A., "the vehicle involved in equipping the pipes of the main drill had come to San Josè”. The vehicle is fitted with a Fassi crane model F170A.23 with a lifting capacity of 15.40 tm and a maximum standard reach of 10.40 m. In this case, the crane is also equipped with a kit including specific devices to operate according to the safety standards required by Geotec Boyles Bros. S.A. This crane configuration helps operator interventions in critical conditions and makes it more effective, especially during prolonged working cycles.
Currently, the Chilean drilling company has a fleet fitted with light range Fassi cranes, all equipped with specific devices developed in collaboration with Fassi Chile S.A.

“We are experiencing moments of feverish activity," said Walter Herrera Castillo, operational risk control manager at Geotec Boyles Bros. S.A., “and in any case, all teams involved in this rescue operation, although involved in a race against time, are trying to work on making the most of the tools and equipment”.