ALBION Stone on Portland has bought new machinery that will lower its carbon footprint.

The Fantini GU50 mining saw and Doosan DT160 Telescopic Handler will add to the heavy duty machinery already used for mining on Portland.

The Doosan is capable of lifting stone blocks weighing up to 16 tonnes and is ideally suited to working within the confines of an underground operation because it has four-wheel steering and excellent all-round visibility. The telescopic handler has a number of special adaptations for safe working in the mine, such as a catalytic converter to process exhaust gasses.

A spokesman for Albion Stone said that the machines would improve efficiency and the mine’s green credentials.

He said: “Extracting with these new pieces of machinery will double the extraction from the mine as well as improving the efficiency, therefore resulting in a lower carbon footprint.”