INDUSTRIAL LIFT SPMT at work on the streets of Trieste

As part of the Smart Grid energy transition project, the new INDUSTRIAL LIFT SPMT enabled the transport and installation of two transformers, each weighing 50 tons, at the Roiano primary substation in Trieste, Italy.

For this operation, the Italian transport company Cristelli was involved, using an INDUSTRIAL LIFT SPMT with a 100 ton load capacity from its fleet. The machine's compact design and high load capacity proved particularly suitable for transporting the two transformers through the streets of Trieste's neighbourhoods to the Roiano substation.

The dimensions and overall size of the transformers, combined with the characteristics of the route, required precise manoeuvring and extreme attention to stability, including on uneven road surfaces. In this context, the remote control allowed operators to guide the machine from a distance while maintaining a clear view of the travel path. The compact design and high-precision electronic steering system also helped manage the most challenging sections of the route, including obstacles, tight turns and areas with height restrictions.

The role of the SPMT in the project

Funded by AcegasApsAmga, the Smart Grid project aims to upgrade Trieste's electricity network and develop new infrastructure to increase the network's capacity to integrate and manage energy from renewable sources.

As part of the redevelopment of the Roiano primary substation, one of the project's key infrastructure nodes, the two transformers, each with a rated power of 70 MVA, have been installed to convert electricity from high voltage (132 kV) to medium voltage (27.5 kV). This makes the electricity available to the new power lines connecting Roiano, Porto Vecchio and Broletto.

The transport and installation of the two transformers represented one of the final key stages of the project, which was scheduled for completion in June 2026.