Russian Plane Delivers Massive American Pump To Japanese Nuclear Power Plant

[Purveyor]

ATLANTA – A massive Russian cargo plane roared into Atlanta on Friday to pick up one of the world’s largest concrete pumps, which has been retrofitted to pour water on a Japanese nuclear power plant stricken by an earthquake and tsunami.

The 190,000-pound pump designed by Wisconsin-based Putzmeister America Inc. comes mounted on a 26-wheel truck. Its extendable boom can reach more than 200 feet, and can be operated two miles away by remote control, making it possible to shoot water into hard-to-reach places at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan.

If necessary, the pump could also entomb a damaged nuclear reactor in concrete. After a 1986 disaster, Putzmeister sent 11 pumps to pour concrete over parts of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine.

“Our whole company feels hopeful that our equipment can be used to make a difference in helping solve the problem,” Putzmeister America CEO Dave Adams said.

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http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/09/1619190/russian-plane-delivers-american.html

[Sheepshank]

1. Hope for capping is as 'feel good'

as the international cooperation. See? It can be done when politicians butt out!

[postulater]

2. This might be that pump.

Their plant is in Sturtevant, WI.

http://www.putzmeisteramerica.com/products/boompumps/70z/index.cfm

[warren pease]

3. PUTZMEISTER AMERICA!! The perfect metaphor for our times.