Komatsu Europe International has donated a new HB215LC-1 hybrid excavator to the International Polar Foundation. The excavator which is being transported by sea on the ‘Mary Arctica’ ship is due to arrive in Antarctica on January 15th, six weeks after leaving the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium. Once landed it will be transported 150 miles inland to the Princess Elisabeth Station.
Komatsu Europe CEO and Managing Director Keiko Fujiwara, hands over the Hybrid Excavator
he International Polar Foundation was founded in 2002 by Belgian polar explorer Alain Hubert, Prof. Hugo Decleir and Professor André Berger. The foundation and seeks to bring about a keener appreciation of the role of science, particularly research in the Polar Regions. It supports polar scientific research for the advancement of knowledge, the promotion of informed action on climate change, and the development of a sustainable society.
The Princess Elisabeth station is a Belgian scientific polar research station, that was opened in 2009. The station, designed, built and operated by the International Polar Foundation, is the first polar base that combines eco-friendly construction materials, clean and efficient energy use, optimization of the station’s energy consumption and clever waste management technique is the only zero emission base on the Antarctic. It runs entirely on solar and wind energy through the use of a number of wind turbines and solar panels. It can house up to 16 scientists.
The Hybrid Excavator being loaded onto the transport ship at Zeebrugge
The Komatsu HB215LC-1 hydraulic excavator is a second generation hybrid machine fitted with cutting-edge Komatsu technology. It boasts an average of 25% less fuel consumption and CO2 emissions than a traditional excavator. These huge savings made it a natural choice to compliment the operations of the base.
Please note this is not the latest model of the HB215LC-1. Please view our current range of hybrid excavators here.
