Going deeper underground
October 1st 2006

In August 2005 Minosus began its hazardous waste underground permanent storage operation within a worked out area of the 1844 rock salt mine in Middlewich, Cheshire.

To carry out this operation efficiently, Minosus needed reliable materials handling equipment both on the surface and in the mine itself; it selected Barloworld Handling.

Minosus was formed in 1997 in anticipation of the introduction of the Landfill Directive banning the codisposal of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.

The underground disposal area has a capacity of two million cubic metres and the operation can accept 100,000t of waste a year. To ensure the operation runs as smoothly as possible each unit from Barloworld has an all-in maintenance package.

The ability of Barloworld engineers was proved as each underground truck had to be dismantled before it was sent down in the lift cage and then rebuilt in the mine.

Paul Campbell, Minosus operations manager commented: "The trucks we have working here are very comfortable with excellent visibility making them easy to operate. We have been very impressed with the way Barloworld was able to provide a solution to all our operating requirements and we look forward to a long and productive partnership with them."

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