Early last year, Atlas Copco Tools Australia was approached by the Government of the Cook Islands Aid Management Division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Management to provide industrial tools for construction associated with the AusAID/NZAID funded Mauke Water Project. Quality and durability were two key criteria needed for the remote project.

Atlas Copco PRO Tools offered a tightening solution particularly suitable for the construction of two 12 metre water tank elevated platforms and two 80,000 litre water tanks. 
 
Steven Barrett from Aid Management and Supervisor of the construction of the towers and tanks has been very impressed with how the Atlas Copco Pro Tool ½ inch dive battery operated impact wrench performed. The colloquially termed Graat Gun has been used in tightening almost every bolt and nut of the two towers.

According to Barrett, “the tool was likehaving an extra arm” very useful when straddling a beam 12 metres above the ground and, “It took a difficult task in a remote location with very limited resources, and made it pretty easy in the end”.  

The three locally employed men engaged to assist in the construction of the towers and tanks shared the Pro tool Graat Gun equally amongst themselves and were also very impressed with the tool’s power and versatility though Barrett said “It was a bit of a worry watching the tool getting hauled up and down on the towers on the end of a line” when moved between the men to complete the different tasks. 

When not employed in the construction, the tool’s versatility proved useful in everyday tasks such as repairs and maintenance of plant and earthmoving equipment. When on site it made work much simpler having, as Barrett said, “so much power in one small package; an awesome tool doing an awesome job”.

The Water Project on the Island of Mauke will provide secure and safe water supply and storage facilities to the small resident community.  As part of Atlas Copco’s commitment to its international Water For All program it donated the equipment for this very worthwhile initiative in the Cook Islands.