The machines are being used to upgrade Linate’s 2.5km-long runway, allowing the airport to handle much larger passenger numbers in the coming years.
As part of the upgrades, the entire runway has been rebuilt. This involved demolishing the reinforced concrete surface, a task where the Case CE excavators came to the fore. The machines were able to break up the concrete quickly, helping keep the project on time and on budget. Paving has also been a high productivity job, with around 3,000tonnes of asphalt being laid every 24 hours.
To meet the project’s strict deadline, work has taken place under a tight schedule and with machines operating almost 24 hours/day.
The contractor has used Case CE 821G wheeled loaders and numerous excavators: CX145Ds, CX300Ds, CX350Ds, CX370Ds, CX490Ds and CX800Bs, the largest of which features a demolition boom.
Debris from the demolition work has been treated, recycled and used as foundations for the new runway. In total, this required 63,000m3 of material, which was recycled at a rate of 3,000m3 every 24 hours.