GTH tunnel challenge
12 January 2016
A new Genie GTH-5021 R rotating telehandler helped carry out complex drilling and consolidation of a water tunnel, in southern Italy.
Genie distributor Simo provided Caposele delivered the item to S.c.a.r.l., a consortium including Vianini Lavori, Ghella and Giuzio, which were carrying out the work.
The Pavoncelli Bis tunnel was designed to replace the original early 20th century Pavoncelli Tunnel that was closed following damage caused by an earthquake that affected the Campania region surrounding Naples, in 1980. Like the original construction, the new tunnel will serve to capture spring water at its source in the mountains of the region of Campania, before it is carried further south, via the Sele-Calore and main Apulian Aqueduct, to the 1.3 million inhabitants of the Puglia region, where this spring water is key for their main water supply. Construction of the new tunnel commenced in 1985, but was never finished. Since, Caposele has been commissioned to complete the project.
To adapt to challenging jobsite conditions, according to Genie, Caposele needed a powerful machine combining the ability to perform a wide range of routine tasks, as well as handling and transporting heavy 2 tonne pallets of steel girders, piping, and other heavy materials, to and from the storage yard over extremely rough and inclined terrain to the tunnel entrance. It also needed a solution that could manoeuvre well, while providing sufficiently long outreach to perform maintenance tasks on scaffolding at height to efficiently access the steep, confined area surrounding the narrow 3.4 m tunnel entrance.
For Caposele, the new GTH-5021 telehandler offered several key features that were decisive in its purchase decision. Offering a maximum 20.87 m lifting height and maximum 18.2 m outreach, the GTH-5021 R telehandler also has a choice of attachments common to the range. “We have been using the fixed hook on plate, mechanical jib and man platform which have enabled us to perform all the tasks we need with just one machine,” said Massimo Secondulfo, jobsite manager, Caposele.
