Grove pair build Mediterranean Games arena roof in Taranto

A roof assembled in sequence

The PalaRicciardi multi-purpose arena in the Salinella district of Taranto is being built to host events at the Mediterranean Games 2026, which run from 21 August to 3 September. That fixed date has shaped everything about the lifting programme. Italian crane service specialists Servidea Sollevamenti and Gamit have supplied two Grove all-terrain cranes to install the venue’s steel tensile roof, a structure made up of prefabricated galvanised tubular elements that has to go together in a strictly defined order.

Each stage is agreed in advance with the general contractor, Ferraro, and with the steel structure manufacturer, Stoma Engineering, leaving little room for improvisation once a section is airborne.

Two capacities, two roles

The 100 t capacity GMK4100L-2 handles the main lifts, providing the reach and load moment needed for the heavier roof sections. The smaller 60 t capacity GMK3060L-1 covers intermediate stages and works in the tighter corners of a constrained site, which keeps the larger machine free for the picks that need it.

The four-axle GMK4100L-2 carries a 60 m main boom, among the longest in its capacity class, which allows a good deal of the work to be done without rigging a jib. It measures 13.21 m long and 2.55 m wide. The three-axle GMK3060L-1 pairs a 48 m main boom with an 8.67 m carrier length — close to two-axle proportions — and can still lift 6.6 t with the boom fully extended.

Building on a former lagoon

The site’s biggest complication is underfoot. PalaRicciardi is going up on a former lagoon with poor load-bearing capacity, so both cranes work on custom steel load-spreading plates up to 3 m wide to keep outrigger pressures within what the ground will take. With the project running 24 hours a day, set-up and repositioning have to be repeatable rather than exceptional.

Grove’s Italian dealer FIMI and Manitowoc Italy are providing aftermarket cover for the duration.

“For a project running 24 hours a day, confidence in the cranes and real-time monitoring are essential. The reliability of Grove technology and standardized Crane Control System (CCS) across the range are key factors in maintaining productivity on such a demanding, multi-shift site.”

— Ivano Masciantonio, managing director, Servidea Sollevamenti and Gamit