For a highly complex alpine construction site, Jekko and NMG Italia provided the most compact and efficient solution: the SPX328 mini crane, airlifted to altitude by helicopter.
In mountain construction, jobsite logistics management is often one of the main operational challenges. A clear example is the project commissioned by the Municipality of La Villa, in Alta Badia, and entrusted to Nagler Holzbau Srl for the construction of a new mountain hut near the Rifugio Gardenacia, in the heart of the Puez-Odle Nature Park.
Located at 2,050 metres above sea level and reachable only on foot, the new hut, roughly 80 m², was built using high-efficiency prefabricated wooden modules, designed to blend harmoniously into the Dolomite landscape. Thanks to the prefabricated modules and the support of Jekko’s SPX328 mini crane in handling and placement operations, jobsite activities were optimised: most of the perimeter structure was completed in just a few hours, while the entire building was delivered turnkey in under a week.
To operate in this logistically challenging environment, Nagler Holzbau turned to NMG Italia, which identified the ideal lifting solution for the site’s specific needs: the Jekko SPX328 tracked mini crane.
“Finding the optimal solution for this specific case was the cornerstone of the project,” explains Stefano Vecchiato, project manager at NMG Italia. “We chose the SPX328 because it’s compact, versatile, agile and intuitive to use, and because it was designed for quick disassembly into lightweight components that can be transported by helicopter or light vehicles.
To keep helicopter usage time to a minimum and reduce logistics costs, as well as on-site working time, we carefully planned the crane’s disassembly procedure, component balancing and subsequent reassembly at altitude.”
The Rifugio Gardenacia project is a concrete example of how collaboration between different areas of expertise can create value on the most complex jobsites. NMG Italia’s technical team was supported by Jekko’s after-sales team throughout the various work phases, starting with the disassembly of the SPX328 at NMG’s headquarters in Verona: the telescopic boom was removed first, with controlled disconnection of the hydraulic and electrical systems, followed by the four stabilisers and finally the lithium battery pack and accessory materials.
Next came preparation for the flight: the crane was divided into four macro-blocks, each within the 1,000 kg limit, perfectly balanced and ready for helicopter transport to the alpine site, a journey that took only a few dozen minutes in total.
Reassembly took place at altitude in reverse order, following a mirrored logic: first the battery, then the stabilisers and finally the telescopic boom.
The result was a fast and efficient operation, confirming the value of an established collaboration even in the most challenging operating environments.
“These projects really show what technical assistance means today,” comments Igor Pachera, Jekko’s After Sales Manager. “Our partners, like NMG Italia, are extremely skilled and technically qualified. Thanks to interlocutors like these, Jekko’s after-sales role becomes more consultative: supporting the customer through every operational and planning phase, especially when conditions become extreme.”
Projects like Rifugio Gardenacia highlight a growing trend in high-altitude construction: jobsite logistics is no longer just a support activity, but a strategic element that can determine the success of an entire project.
On remote jobsites, where operational windows are often limited by weather conditions and environmental constraints, the ability to efficiently plan the transport of materials and equipment becomes a decisive competitive factor.
In this scenario, choosing technology designed to operate in difficult conditions reduces time, complexity and operating costs, opening up new possibilities for building in locations that, until a few years ago, were considered particularly difficult to reach and manage.
NMG Italia and Jekko have proven ready to take on the challenges of remote jobsites.
