The JCB 531-70 Loadall telescopic handler at the San Jose mine after delivering the rescue capsule.

JCB telehandlers had a role to play in the Chilean mineworkers' rescue drama last week.

Leading up to the rescue mission, which started last Tuesday, a JCB 531-70 Loadall telehandler, made at the company's world headquarters in Rocester, arrived at the rescue shaft to deliver the capsule which carried the miners back to safety.

Another Loadall played an equally important role underground while the miners were trapped. The miners used the telehandler for sleeping in and as a mode of transport around the mine.

"JCB's products were used on a daily basis for a variety of tasks at the mine and we are delighted they played a very small role in what was one of the most amazing rescue stories of our time," says Carlos Hernández, JCB's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean.

A fleet of about 10 JCB machines was operating at the San Jose copper and gold mine in Chile's Atacama desert where 33 miners were trapped more than 2,000 feet underground for 69 days after part of the pit collapsed on 5 August.

Separately, JCB has received compensation from an unnamed Asian backhoe loader manufacturer for copying its iconic 3CX backhoe loader. The amount awarded is confidential and the manufacturer has agreed to redesign its machine.

This is subsequent to court actions JCB undertook against three Asian manufacturers at the Bauma show in Munich in April regarding copying of JCB's backhoe loader and telehandler. JCB's Nigel Chell says the court action for the telehandler is continuing in Germany.