A Potain MDT 389 L16 tower crane is now operational at the New Gaslini Hospital construction site in Genoa, Italy.
The crane is supporting a transformative healthcare project set to redefine pediatric treatment and research worldwide. Scheduled for completion in 2030, the facility will centralize services into a modern complex focused on rare conditions affecting children, adolescents and expectant mothers.
The construction efforts are led by CMB, a Potain partner for more than five decades. The project includes 11 floors for diagnostics and intensive care, four for inpatient care and the renovation of existing pavilions to enhance capacity and service quality.
"The initial phase involved demolishing two existing pavilions to make way for the new Padiglione Zero, which will house a significant portion of the hospital's core activities," said Andrea Montorio, job site technical director of CMB. "Next, we will build the new technological hub behind the existing buildings. In phase two, we will restore the original hospital structure, including seismic upgrades."
The MDT 389 L16 was installed with a hook height of 207 ft. and a jib length of 213 ft. offering a maximum lifting capacity of 16 tons.
"Installing the MDT 389 L16 required meticulous logistical planning," said Sabino Riefoli, Potain key account manager. "With 80 percent of the site occupied by the building under construction, only 20 percent remains available for operations, including machinery and material storage."
Initially, the crane was to be mounted on a ballast-only foundation measuring 33 x 33 ft. and 6.5 ft. high. However, due to close collaboration between structural engineers and Potain, the crane was successfully installed in a reduced, underground footprint, cutting the original dimensions by half.
The MDT 389 L16 joins a Potain MD 125, also owned by CMB, that has been working on-site since February of 2025. In addition, a Potain MDT 178 is scheduled to be installed inside the building as construction progresses.
Potain's involvement underscores its commitment to enabling complex, high-impact infrastructure projects in the healthcare sector.
For more information, visit manitowoc.com/potain
This story also appears on Crane Equipment Guide.
