Sturtevant-based Putzmeister America Inc. is providing concrete boom pumps to the disaster response team attempting to limit the damage caused by the damaged nuclear reactors at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant.
Putzmeister is the manufacturer of the world’s largest concrete boom pumps.
The company is sending four additional boom pumps to join the one already working to cool Fukushima’s reactor No. 4.
“Like many people all over the world, our thoughts have been with the people of Japan as they deal with this unprecedented crisis,” said Dave Adams, president and chief executive officer of Putzmeister America. “Fortunately, we make a piece of equipment that is working to help cool Japan’s nuclear reactors, so we’re moving full speed ahead to send additional pumps to help sustain the effort.”
Upon seeing successful results from the first concrete boom pump, which arrived in Japan on March 21, Putzmeister America worked to identify two additional pumps that could be sent to Japan to aid in cooling the reactors. The two pumps are tentatively scheduled to depart on Saturday, April 9.
Each pump is 70 feet long and has a boom reach of 227 feet. They are being flown to Japan via two Russian Antonov AN-225 Mriya Super Heavy Transport planes, the world’s largest aircraft, which was initially designed to transport the Russian Space Shuttle.
The concrete boom pumps – normally used to pour concrete for bridges and high-rise construction projects – are well-suited for the task because of the pin point accuracy of the machine’s reach. The pumps are able to feed water over the destroyed buildings to the exact place of the hotspots within the reactors. In addition, because the pump is operated via radio remote control, allowing the operator is be 1.2 miles away while maneuvering the boom pump.
