Local Heroes to Reveal their Experiences in Chilean Mine Drama on Nov 30
(Media, PA) Bruce D. Mackay and Jeff Roten, engineers at Schramm, Inc., the West Chester-based drilling-equipment company that played a major role in the rescue of 33 Chilean miners, will speak at Delaware County Community College (Main Campus) on November 30 at 11 AM in the Academic Building’s Large Auditorium. Schramm, Inc. and its employees have received worldwide acclaim for their contribution to the historic and unprecedented rescue.
Jeff Roten returned from Chile on October 14 after spending more than a month as part of the international rescue team. Roten, a field service engineer who has worked at the company for six years, was a member of Schramm's “men on the ground” at the San Jose Mine.
Roten, a former Delaware County Community College student, studied Mechanical Systems at the College in 2006. Mechanical Systems is a hands-on class where students gain the skills and knowledge required for installing, maintaining and replacing various process equipment and systems. These skills have played a vital role in Roten’s career. He began working at Schramm, Inc. in 2004, building and testing rigs. For the past two years, Roten has served as a Service Technician where his primary responsibilities are in the Appalachian Mountain Region supporting the Schramm Marcellus Shale rigs. He has worked on rigs in the US, Central China, and he can now add Chile to his resume.
Bruce D. Mackay is a graduate mechanical engineer with both B.S. and M.S. degrees. Bruce is a licensed registered engineer with more than 35 years experience in heavy industry equipment design, manufacturing, sales and marketing and service. He has been with Schramm, Inc. for nine years as a Product Support Manager responsible for service, parts and technical support and training for its drill rigs operating world-wide.
For more than 69 days, 33 miners of the San Esteban Mining Company were trapped 2,041 feet (nearly half-a-mile) below the earth’s surface after the walls of the mine collapsed on August 5. Their fate uncertain, Chilean President, Sebastian Pinera, sent out an urgent call around the world for the best technical expertise and equipment to come to the scene to rescue the miners. The drilling rig that blasted though more than 2,000 feet of rock was made by Schramm Inc. Another Schramm drill was used earlier in the rescue operation to drill a 5½-inch hole 2,300 feet deep. That hole was used to supply food, communications and supplies to the miners.
On October 14, one by one, all the miners returned to the surface and were reunited with their families, thanks in part to drilling rigs manufactured in the U.S.A. by Schramm.
Initial projections said the rescue operation would reach the miners by Christmas, more than four months after the disaster. Schramm and the entire “Plan B” Team reached the miners more than two months ahead of schedule. This successful outcome to the world’s most challenging mine disaster to date was a result of a remarkable international team effort, combined with the best equipment in the world, Schramm drilling rigs included.
Delaware County Community College is proud to host the two local team players who played a major part in saving the lives of 33 men and bringing them home safely. Please join us for this powerful and extraordinary presentation.
For more information or to register for this free presentation, please call Doug Ferguson, Director of Alumni Programs at (610) 359-7399 or send an email to dferguson4@dccc.edu
