Several construction equipment manufacturers, including JCB, Case New Holland and Komatsu, have made significant contributions to relief efforts in Haiti after the recent earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince and other cities.
JCB is donating equipment worth $150,000 to help the disaster relief effort. The gift of two 3CX backhoe loaders is being made by JCB Chairman Sir Anthony Bamford in response to an appeal from relief agencies for foreign aid.
“The scale of the devastation is unimaginable and it’s heart-rending to see the human suffering caused by the disaster,” said Bamford. “There is clearly a lack of equipment on the island and I hope our gift of JCB machines will help in some small way to alleviate that suffering and in the rebuilding in the aftermath of the earthquake.”
The machines are being made available to the U.S. Government and its aid agencies. The earthquake, measuring 7.0 on the Richter Scale, damaged the port and has created a number of logistical challenges hindering supplies entering the island nation.
“We are working with the State Department and the United States Southern Command who are coordinating the massive relief effort in Haiti,” said John Patterson, chairman and CEO of JCB. “We want to utilize the most efficient channels available to ensure that the machines reach the agencies and the people that need them. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti.”
The contribution to the aid effort follows a series of other JCB machinery donations in recent years to other parts of the world hit by natural disasters, including the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan province in China, when six backhoe loaders worth more than $600,000 and a team of operators were sent from the company’s factory in Shanghai to help the clean-up effort in the region. JCB also donated machines worth more than $2 million to help in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami in 2004, with JCB diggers deployed to Thailand, southern India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Last year the company donated an excavator and a backhoe loader worth $250,000 to help the disaster relief effort in the city of Padang following the devastating earthquake that struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Komatsu America Corp., as a subsidiary of Komatsu Ltd., and on behalf of Komatsu Group, will donate $100,000 to the American Red Cross, a leading group assisting Haiti’s citizens in the wake of the earthquake devastation there. Komatsu America Corp. will also match dollar-for-dollar all contributions made by its employees to the American Red Cross.
Racine, Wis.-based Case New Holland is supporting relief efforts by providing Case, New Holland and Kobelco construction equipment and companywide monetary donations.
“Soged S.A., the Case dealer in Haiti, immediately deployed available excavators, wheel loaders and other equipment to assist in recovery efforts. And EDOM — Empresas Dominicanas C.A., a New Holland/Kobelco dealer in the Dominican Republic — was able to offer delivery of up to 10 machines within 24 hours,” said Jim McCullough, president and CEO, CNH Construction Equipment. “Our Case, New Holland and Kobelco brands will continue to support recovery efforts in the coming weeks.”
CNH has also offered several pieces of heavy construction equipment to Haiti, including crawler excavators ranging from 7 to 16 tons, a tractor loader backhoe and motor grader, through the United Nations.
To facilitate employees wishing to make a direct contribution to earthquake victims, CNH will match employee cash donations, in addition to making a company donation.
Port Orange, Fla.-based Thompson Pump & Manufacturing Co. is aiding disaster relief efforts in Haiti with company-wide monetary donations and supplies. The pumps are being made available to the U.S. government and its aid agencies, which are aiding in the relief effort on the Caribbean island.
The contribution to the aid effort follows a series of other Thompson Pump donations in recent years to other parts of the world hit by natural disasters, including the 2005 Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast of the United States, when the company sent more than 50 pumps and a team of people.
“Thompson Pump joins the world in prayer for those affected by the devastation in Haiti,” said Bill Thompson, president, Thompson Pump. “We are saddened by the significant devastation to individuals, residences, businesses and entire communities.”
