Bosch goes to the Antarctic

Bosch’s products may be “invented for life”, but that doesn’t mean the human species is the company’s only concern

Saving endangered species from extinction is an ongoing effort that requires the commitment of those directly involved with the task, as well as government, the authorities, corporates and industry.

With this in mind and an eye on our planet’s future, Bosch South Africa has joined a range of eminent South African companies in sponsoring equipment for an initiative to conduct research into the snow petrel and the near-threatened emperor penguin in Antarctica.

The snow petrel is one of only three birds that breed exclusively in the Antarctic. As there is an adult population of approximately four million birds, it is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as a “least-concern” species.

However, the picture regarding the emperor penguin is not as bright; the IUCN has recently listed it as “near threatened”. A Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution study in January 2009 found that emperor penguins could be pushed to the brink of extinction by the year 2100, due to global climate change. This bird is endemic to the Antarctic region.

In November 2016, Craig Blanckenberg from Solutec, a solutions provider based in Cape Town, set sail for Antarctica onboard the SA Agulhas II. He is working alongside a team of scientists investigating the status biology and ecology of these bird species. Blanckenberg will travel to various international bases to conduct his research.

This is Blanckenberg’s second trip to Antarctica, having sailed originally in 1992 on the SA Agulhas I to the South African National Antarctic Expedition (SANAE) base, while working for Sea Fisheries.

A number of companies have been supportive of Solutec’s latest venture by sponsoring equipment for this vital mission.

“We are an environmentally aware and socially responsible company, and therefore this sponsorship represents an important contribution on the part of Bosch to the sustainability of the planet and its future generations,” says Campbell Mhodi, senior brand manager for Bosch Professional Tools and Measuring Tools.

“As a leading provider of power tools, accessories and measuring tools, with a strong focus on innovation and ongoing product development, Bosch is proud to be associated with this unique endeavor,” Mhodi comments.

Apart from Bosch, sponsors include Western Digital, NSSL Global, Canon and GoPro.  

“We extend our sincere gratitude to all of these companies for supporting small business in South Africa, in addition to the invaluable research being carried out on the frozen continent,” Blanckenberg concludes.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. Its strategic objective is to deliver innovations for a connected life and create technology that is “invented for life”, with products and services that are innovative and spark enthusiasm.

The Bosch Group’s operations are divided into four business sectors: Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. Bosch employs roughly 389 000 associates worldwide and 59 000 associates in research and development at 120 locations across the globe.