{"id":5012,"date":"2026-08-27T14:50:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T12:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tadano.com\/asia\/news\/pm-18-sp-in-the-snow\/"},"modified":"2026-08-27T14:50:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T12:50:00","slug":"pm-18-sp-in-the-snow","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.tadano.com\/asia\/en\/news\/pm-18-sp-in-the-snow\/","title":{"rendered":"PM 18 SP in the snow"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Plan de Corones, internationally known as Kronplatz, is one of South Tyrol\u2019s premier ski resorts: over 2,270 meters above sea level, more than 100 kilometers of slopes, and a service standard built around excellence. The company managing the lifts and ski slopes, Olanger Seilbahnen AG \/ Funivie di Valdaora SpA, applies the same philosophy to its internal maintenance operations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The challenge, however, was a very real one: how do you safely bring technicians up to fixed snow cannons \u2014 mounted on towers several meters high \u2014 to carry out inspections and repairs during the winter season, in temperatures regularly dropping below -20\u00b0C and wind gusts reaching 80\u201390 km\/h?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer came in the form of a truly unique machine: a Tadano PM 18 SP<\/a><\/strong> mounted on a PistenBully snow groomer, equipped with a custom-developed tilt system. The project brought together three companies \u2014 Funivie di Valdaora, Frei & Co., and Tadano \u2014 and took more than a year to develop and implement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safety First<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing a ski resort of this scale \u2014 around 140\u2013150 snow cannons, many installed on fixed towers \u2014 makes winter maintenance a complex operation. For years, the standard procedure involved technicians climbing with ladders and harnesses: an effective solution, but one that exposed personnel to significant risks, especially under extreme weather conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andreas Del Frari, Technical Manager at Funivie di Valdaora, explains the reasoning behind the investment: \u201cAs a premium ski resort, we want to be premium in terms of safety as well. It was no longer enough for our people to simply be trained and instructed \u2014 we wanted to eliminate the risk at its source. With the crane basket, the technician reaches the work area directly and safely, without having to climb around the snow cannon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safety, however, was not the only driver. At nearly 2,300 meters above sea level, winter breakdowns cannot wait: external cranes cannot be rented at short notice, and no truck can operate on snow-covered slopes. Having a tracked vehicle equipped with a crane means achieving the same operational flexibility available in summer with a service truck \u2014 but under conditions no truck could ever handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new vehicle also gives the resort greater independence during the winter season. \u201cIf a snow cannon breaks down, or machinery needs repositioning, I cannot call an external company. From November to April, the slopes are ours and we need to be self-sufficient. With this vehicle, we truly are,\u201d explains Andreas Del Frari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three Years of Testing \u2014 Then the Right Choice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea did not emerge overnight. For three seasons, Funivie di Valdaora tested a similar solution using a rented snow groomer equipped with a smaller crane. It proved to be a valuable testing ground, but also highlighted clear limitations: no tilt system, suboptimal weight distribution, and insufficient crane capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experience also highlighted the importance of the tilt system, as Del Frari explains: \u201cWithout the tilt system, we had to position ourselves perfectly beneath the work area \u2014 on snow, often on steep slopes. With lateral tilt, we can now work safely even when the terrain is uneven. It makes a huge difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Fully Customized Installation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where Frei & Co. entered the picture. As Tadano knuckle boom cranes dealer for Trentino-Alto Adige, the third-generation family-run company specializes in custom industrial installations. Having partnered with Tadano for the past two years, Frei selected the PM series for its build quality, product range, and \u2014 critically \u2014 the efficiency of its after-sales support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Hannes Frei of Frei & Co., the close cooperation with Tadano was an important part of the project. \u201cWith the Tadano team in Modena, we always know who to talk to. If there is a technical issue, a question, or an urgent requirement, there is always a short and direct line of communication. Spare parts arrive within one or two days. For us, as a service provider, that represents 70% of the value in choosing a partner,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PM 18 SP was selected according to the customer\u2019s requirements: lifting capacity, outreach, and basket performance. But one additional specification proved decisive: the machine needed to operate frequently on steep terrain. On the previous setup, the crane tended to drift sideways under load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frei explains how this challenge was addressed: \u201cThat\u2019s why we developed a reinforced slewing configuration: we installed the PM 23 slewing gear on the PM 18. It is not a standard setup, but it was exactly what was needed to guarantee full control even on the steepest slopes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the tilt system, Frei & Co. collaborated with an Austrian partner already experienced in this type of installation, having previously delivered five or six similar machines using other crane brands. The integration with the PM 18 SP, however, was developed entirely from scratch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project required more than a year from order confirmation to delivery: crane, subframe, tilt system, stabilizers, certification approvals. Final assembly at Kronplatz took only two to three hours on site at altitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Delivered to Kronplatz in December, the PM 18 SP mounted on the PistenBully has already completed its first winter operations. Tower-mounted snow cannons are now serviced using the crane; the radio remote control ensures precise movements; and the work basket allows technicians to operate comfortably and safely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the crane\u2019s applications are already expanding further. From ski entertainment structures along the slopes \u2014 castles, dragons, and timing camera systems \u2014 to ski cross containers and even the bell that rings every day at noon. Not to mention the snow farm, the covered snow storage facility used to preserve snow for seasonal reopening: all situations where the crane has already proven its value or soon will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Further confirmation of this vision comes from the fact that other ski resorts are already considering similar solutions. A clear sign that the market is evolving \u2014 and that the experience developed at Kronplatz is becoming a benchmark for the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frei expects the experience gained at Kronplatz to be useful for future projects as well: \u201cThis will not be the last installation of its kind. We are already in discussions with other ski resorts. Every project teaches us something, and this one has given us expertise that will make the next even faster and more efficient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quality, Safety, Efficiency \u2014 Tadano Values in Action<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Kronplatz project illustrates the values guiding Tadano\u2019s daily work: compliance with the highest safety standards, unwavering focus on protecting people, build quality capable of withstanding the harshest conditions, and operational efficiency that helps customers perform winter maintenance safely and efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A project born from a practical need, developed through the collaboration of three specialized partners \u2014 a leading ski resort, a dealer with decades of expertise, and a manufacturer committed to quality in every machine \u2014 has now resulted in a highly specialized solution tailored to the demanding conditions at Kronplatz.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"","news_topics":[10],"class_list":["post-5012","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news_topics-job-story"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPM 18 SP in the snow - Asia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tadano.com\/asia\/en\/news\/pm-18-sp-in-the-snow\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PM 18 SP in the snow - Asia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Plan de Corones, internationally known as Kronplatz, is one of South Tyrol\u2019s premier ski resorts: over 2,270 meters above sea level, more than 100 kilometers of slopes, and a service standard built around excellence. 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