Cat Dealer CGT Supplied Rental Machines and Technology to Get the Job Done

October 3, 2019

A monumental project that normally would have taken two years was done in just six months, thanks to state-of-the art technology and a Cat dealer prepared to help its customer literally move mountains. 

Sevis is an Italian earthmoving company, tasked in the spring of 2018 with creating a 120,000-cubic-meter artificial lake in the Passo del Tonale Mountains. The lake needed to be the size of 50 Olympic swimming pools to collect water from glaciers and rain, then send it to machines to make snow. This project was critical for saving the region’s ski season. Without snow, there is no skiing, which would have had a major negative impact on the local economy.  

Because the Passo del Tonale mountains are heavily protected by UNESCO and the Italian government, the project had to go through several approvals before getting underway. Once Sevis got the green light, they had from April to October to get the project done. The seemingly impossible deadline called for world-class Cat equipment and technology. 

Sevis turned to their dealer CGT to rent 13 machines, some equipped with AccuGrade technology. This grade control system increases productivity by up to 40 percent and significantly reduces costs for customers. 

“We uploaded a 3D model of the project into the machines, then sent technical specialists to the jobsite several times to optimize the use of the technology,” said Giuseppe Cacopardo, CGT Rental and Used manager. “It can be tough to convince a customer to invest in technology, but after their first experience, they realize it saves a lot of time and money.” 

Beyond saving ski season, the artificial lake can also be used during the summer as a recreational area. Or, in the case of another rain or snow shortage in the region, the lake can provide water for emergencies like forest fires. 

“The economy here, especially during ski season, is reliant on this lake and what it provides,” Cacopardo said. “Thanks to technology, quality machines and our teams working together, Sevis got the job done in an incredibly challenging timeframe. This is truly a standout project for us and our customer.” 

Watch this project overview video with stunning scenery from the jobsite.