Gradito makes inaugural move with new Cometto

All ten axle lines of Cometto MSPE and the power pack unit transporting one of the major parts of a tunnel boring machine. Photo: Cometto

Specialist contractor Gradito Oleodinamica in Sicily put its new Cometto self propelled modular transporter (SPMT) to work on its first job, moving parts of a tunnel boring machine.

Gradito Oleodinamica is a new customer for Cometto, part of the Faymonville Group. It is known for its expertise in three areas: exceptional lifting and transport, technical design, construction and maintenance support.

The new equipment delivered was self propelled MSPE modules with four and six axles, plus a 202 kW power pack unit.

Gradito crawler crane loading the MSPE. Photo: Cometto

The first job was to transport a 148 tonne tunnel boring machine head. This large piece of tunnelling machinery was for the Palermo–Catania high-speed railway construction project. This section of the tunnel was Caltanissetta Xirbi to Nuova Enna (Lot 4A).

Gradito took advantage of the MSPE’s electronic steering and its high payload, travelling with its big and heavy load, sometimes on rough terrain, before precisely placing it.