Potain MDT 269 lifts penstock sections on Alpine hydropower job

Potain MDT 269 J12 handles penstock sections at a century-old Aosta Valley power station

A topless Potain MDT 269 is doing the heavy handling on the rebuild of the Hone hydroelectric plant in Italy’s Aosta Valley, feeding penstock sections straight from the storage yard to a construction cableway in tight alpine surroundings.

Feeding a cableway from a confined yard

The Hone power station in the Aosta Valley has been generating for more than a century, and the modernisation now under way is expected to double annual output from 50 to 100 GWh. The works package is substantial: the plant and its intake structure are being rebuilt, an 8 km tunnel driven, and a new high-capacity penstock installed.

The tower crane on site is a Potain MDT 269 J12, supplied by Italian Potain dealer Fissolo Gru directly to main contractor Cogeis. Its main job is the penstock. Sections are picked from the storage area and taken to the construction cableway in one movement, which removes several intermediate handling steps and simplifies the logistics of a site hemmed in by mountainside, river and village.

Erection in a tight alpine site

Getting the crane there was itself part of the problem. Space at the plant is limited and the local road network restricts what can be brought in, so the modular design of the MDT and its erection sequence mattered as much as its lifting chart. The crane went up without needing more room than the site could offer.

In its working configuration the 12-tonne class MDT 269 runs a 65 m jib at a 50 m hook height, and still lifts 3.1 t at the jib end — comfortably above what the penstock sections demand. The topless head keeps the crane’s profile low, which helps in a valley where airspace and sightlines are constrained.

“This crane is essential due to its versatility and ability to optimize logistics. By enabling direct handling of penstock sections, it eliminates several intermediate steps and allows us to manage construction operations more efficiently.”

— Eng. Gabriele Bertino, Cogeis

Control system and long-term support

The crane is fitted with Potain’s Crane Control System, which Manitowoc says can be configured in as little as 15 minutes and handles load management on site. The operator can work from the Ultra View cab or by remote control, with adjustable speed settings for delicate placement.

Technicians from Fissolo Gru and Manitowoc travelled to the valley for the erection, and the two companies have since shared responsibility for parts, technical support and maintenance. Work started in July 2025 and is scheduled to run to 2028. Once Hone is finished the MDT 269 is earmarked for further high-altitude infrastructure work, including the planned Cervinia 3S ropeway.