Bobcat track loader with sand cleaner attachment on most famous Sicilian Beach

The very high performance T76 tracked loader, combined with the specific Bobcat beach cleaning attachment, was recently purchased by the Mondello Italo Belga company, which has been taking care of Mondello for over a hundred years, with the aim of restoring this locality’s original uniqueness and splendor.

On completion of the land reclamation operations, in the early 1900s the Italo-Belgian Mondello Company transformed the coastal district into a renowned seaside resort, creating the long white sand beach, the elegant masonry bathing establishment immersed in water, known as the “Charleston”, and promoting urban development with the construction of residential buildings and the creation of a hotel: the Mondello Palace.

The business associated with the concession of the bathing establishment is a catalyst for various interests, as Mondello is the only sandy beach in Palermo, a crowded city only 11 km away, and has become one of the most coveted beaches by its inhabitants and by tourists from all over the world.

Mondello beach requires cutting-edge equipment

Focused on the continuous development of the local area, the Mondello Italo Belga company also wanted to adapt its equipment to support soil conservation.

The choice of the Sand Cleaner to protect the area stems from our intention to ensure the technological evolution of the tools, says Mondello Italo Belga’s CEO Antonio Gristina. “Maintenance of the beach never stops. To avoid the formation of dunes and remove organic debris carried by wind and tides, maintenance is required throughout the course of the year, and in particular before, during and after the seasonal peak. The investment combines the company's interest in cleaning the beach in the most rational and advantageous way, with the environmental and sustainability needs of the area.”

The decision to purchase the Bobcat Sand Cleaner, despite the fact that the company already had other suitable means available to carry out this job, was primarily due to the need to guarantee thorough cleaning of the beach and therefore also of the sea. The vehicle is in fact used very intensely at the beginning of the season and throughout the summer period, passing daily between the rows of umbrellas thanks to the compact dimensions of the T76 loader and its extreme maneuverability.

Mr. Genova, who has been in charge of maintaining Mondello beach for over 50 years, and is therefore a great connoisseur of the most suitable means, was a strong supporter of the purchase of the T76 loaded combined with the Bobcat sand cleaner. “As soon as we understood the potential of this vehicle in terms of its operating speed and saving of resources, we chose to replace the existing vehicles”, says Mr. Genova. “To fully convince ourselves, we also tested offers from competitors. None of these have been able to match the performance of the Bobcat solution. A real masterpiece at ensuring optimal cleaning of a beach 1500 meters long and over 40 meters deep. Another important advantage for us is that, thanks to the rubber tracks, the T76 tracked loader can be driven on the road, so it doesn’t require dedicated transport on a vehicle to travel from our warehouse to the beach.”