Snap-On Industrial, the tooling solutions specialist, is to sponsor Sir Randulph Fiennes‘ Coldest Journey across Antarctica and support the mission with its products.
Snap-On industrial officially announced its sponsorship of Sir Randulph’s latest extraordinary mission today.
The journey across Antarctica has never before been attempted in winter and will represent an extreme test of endurance, both for the expedition members and their equipment.
Sir Ranulph will commence his 2,000 mile journey on 21st March 2013 accompanied by six fellow explorers. Temperatures on the trip are expected to drop as low as minus 90 degrees centigrade.
Snap-on Industrial will support this incredible attempt with specialist tooling to maintain the two Caterpillar D6N track-type tractors which have been fully customised by Caterpillar distributor Finning UK and Ireland for the arduous journey.
The D6N’s are designed to cope with the extreme temperatures of the harsh Antarctic environment and will tow specially designed cabooses and fuel sledges.
A mobile fully enclosed workshop has been developed for maintaining the tractors and equipment as the exhibition progresses. The workshop is equipped with an extensive general maintenance tool kit provided by Snap-on Industrial and fitted with Snap-On’s patented ‘lock and roll’ storage system.
The tools were chosen for their quality and reliability in what will be the most punishing and harsh environment.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes, leader of The Coldest Journey emphasized the importance of confidence in equipment for an explorer like himself on a mission like The Coldest Journey.
“During our first ever crossing of Antarctica in the winter, we have to be entirely self-sufficient, there is no hope of rescue,” he said. “It is therefore vital for us to take the best tools of all to maintain our equipment and Snap-on were the obvious choice. They use the best quality steels in their products which reduces the likelihood of the extreme sub -70 temperatures causing them to fail when we need them the most.”
