AUSA media

In order to mitigate the devastating impact of the tsunami that struck Indonesia in 2004, the aftermath of which continues to take its toll on the population, as well as that of the outbreak of the cholera pandemic currently afflicting Zimbabwe, the Red Cross needs durable, maneuverable and highly efficient equipment. This has led the international organization to choose AUSA vehicles, such as the Mustang 2054, the C 150 Hx4 and the M 250 Mx4, fitted with a crane, for organizing and coordinating missions to deliver humanitarian aid.

AUSA machinery affords many advantages for relief work involving reconstruction, loading and unloading, and the transportation of goods. All-terrain equipment, along with high productivity, large capacity and reduced dimensions (perfect for being transported by plane), are some of the vehicle’s most important attributes, which make them particularly well-suited for these types of missions. The durability of the AUSA models is also crucial in these cases, bearing in mind that the vehicles operate during long hours under extremely harsh conditions. Alberto de Castro, Director of International Cooperation of the Spanish Red Cross affirms: “what we value the most in this brand is that we have not experienced any breakdowns in our equipment”.

The international organization has two Mustang 2054s, five C 150 Hx4s and two M 250 MX4s fitted with cranes. According to Alberto de Castro, "we have known the brand for approximately 10 years and we have been acquiring these machines for the last four years, due to their functionality and multiservice capability". Proof of this versatility is the large variety of tasks they perform for the Red Cross in Zimbabwe, Indonesia and at immigrant arrival points in Spain.

Red Cross Projects

The Spanish Red Cross cooperates in diverse missions on an international level. According to Alberto de Castro, “initially we used the machines in the emergency stages immediately following a natural disaster and, later on, for reconstruction and clean-up projects”. At present, several AUSA machines belonging to the Red Cross remain in Indonesia, where the tsunami hit in 2004, and in Zimbabwe, where the outbreak of cholera that began in 2008 has now been classified as a pandemic. Three of the C 150 HX4 forklifts are used to provide beachside assistance to immigrants arriving in Spain in small and precarious wooden boats.

After the tsunami took place in Indonesia in 2004, the Red Cross moved to the region to participate in emergency relief efforts. Shortly after the disaster, AUSA equipment was sent by the international organization to the Island of Sumatra. The machines delivered were equipped to provide emergency services, such as the construction of 15,000 homes, plumbing for bathrooms and showers, and a rudimentary system for clean water and for sewage water.

Over these years, the Red Cross has remained in the area to curb the considerable damages arising from the flooding caused by the Tsunami and has managed to bring about a positive evolution in the situation. Not only has the flooding destroyed crops and decimated livestock, it also made it difficult to assist victims during the recovery process, due to the damages caused by the floods to telecommunications, highways and bridges. These circumstances have impelled the organization to choose vehicles capable of coping with obstacles and difficult terrains, which is characteristic of the AUSA product range. Ausa vehicles belonging to the Red Cross are also currently at work in Zimbabwe, performing clean-up tasks to prevent the expansion of the cholera outbreak.

The machines carry out a variety of different tasks, depending on the project and type of work to be undertaken. The Mustang 2054, equipped with a backhoe and pallet fork, carries out work for service connections and reconstruction. The C 150 HX4 is primarily dedicated to loading and unloading on uneven terrains and to delivering supplies. In turn, the M 250 MX4, equipped with a crane, is used to transport and unload materials in difficult areas, as well to set up tents.

Durable and productive Machines

The Ausa Mustang 2054 has an operating weight of 2,948 kilos and is able to access and maneuver adeptly in complicated work areas. Equipped with a 37 kW engine, it provides a hydraulic flow of 70 l/min and has a load capacity of up to 748 kilos. Including the shovel, it has a height of 1.97 meters, a width of 1.56 meters and a shovel length of 3.12 and affords a maximum lifting height of 2.92 meters

The all-terrain C 150 HX4 has also been specially designed to work in spaces where accessibility is a problem, both indoors and outdoors. It features hydrostatic transmission and has a load capacity of 1,500 kilos. In addition to an extremely sturdy chassis, it offers 4X4 selectable drive.

Lastly, the M 250 MX4 multiservice vehicle incorporates a steel chassis that allows it to tackle the most demanding jobs, without any loss in maneuverability. It is equipped with mechanical transmission and has a load capacity of up to 2,500 kilos. It can also be fitted with accessories such as a crane, which, in the case of the Red Cross, makes the loading and unloading of materials much easier.