As a specialist in the hire of lifting and access equipment, Accès Industrie operates on construction sites where technical expertise and reliability are essential. Last November, the Chambéry branch supported a major ski lift operator on a project located in the Mont Blanc massif. A spectacular environment, but also an extremely demanding one.
Julien Bornaghi, Office Manager, looks back on this high-altitude operation.
A lifting and access specialist structured for performance
Accès Industrie has a clear positioning in the market: a company fully dedicated to lifting and access equipment.
“We only focus on lifting and access equipment. Unlike some generalist competitors, we chose to specialize in this product category in order to offer the highest possible services to ours customers” explains Julien Bornaghi.
Head of the Chambéry Office for nearly two and a half years, he oversees the entire operation: business development, transport management, handle internally with company drivers and low-loader trucks, as well as workshop supervision. This integrated organization ensures full-service continuity, from machine preparation to collection at the end of the project.
“The customer has a single point of contact. From the quotation request to the return of the machine, everything is managed by our teams,” he explains. In addition, onboard telematics enable precise remote monitoring of the equipment.
Mont Blanc: a project with multiple constraints
The Chambéry Office regularly works with the main ski resort operators in the Savoie region. The project carried out in November was part of this activity, with strong constraints related to altitude, the natural environment, and site accessibility.
The logistics themselves required a specific organization: the Haulotte MEWP was first delivered to an initial base, then transported using adapted vehicles to reach the track leading to the worksite.
In high mountain environments, several challenges must be addressed: limiting noise disturbance, controlling pollution risks, restricted access, and tight deadlines before the first snowfall.
“A machine that gets stuck for three or four months in winter at high altitude is a cost for everyone. The project must be secured as much as possible in advance,” emphasizes Julien Bornaghi.
a technical and environmental choice
To meet these constraints, the teams selected a Haulotte PULSEO MEWP. The first consideration was environmental.
Operating in electric mode significantly reduces noise disturbance and emissions in a sensitive natural environment. The second consideration was purely technical.
“At altitude, a diesel engine performs less efficiently beyond a certain level. On a project at lower elevation, we could have used a diesel machine, but given the altitude, the electric solution ensured optimal performance,” explains Julien.
This versatility (electric, when possible, diesel when necessary) proved particularly well suited to the site’s constraints.
Rigorous preparation for a demanding worksite
Before being dispatched, the machine was fully inspected in the workshop. The teams carefully checked sensitive components to eliminate any risk of leakage or pollution.
“We’ve provided a fully serviced, clean machine with all hoses thoroughly checked. On a job like this, we can’t afford to cut corners” says Julien Bornaghi.
Remote monitoring via telematics was also crucial, as the machine remained on site for several weeks. This system allows teams to anticipate maintenance operations, monitor operating hours and battery status, and secure operations in a constrained environment such as the mountains, where intervention times are limited and access is complex.
“Telematics was extremely useful. It allows us to check remotely whether maintenance is required, monitor operating hours, see if filters need to be replaced, or identify any battery issues,” explains Julien Bornaghi.
“It is really the technical aspect that makes us successful, or even highly successful, on rather specialised sites like this one,” he adds. Mastering diagnostic tools, combined with rigorous procedures and personnel trained in the specificities of the machines, is a key factor in ensuring operational continuity and avoiding prolonged downtime at altitude. In case of an incident, responsiveness is essential. Accès Industrie’s teams are organized to react quickly, in coordination with the customer when site access requires specific resources.
Even for a branch accustomed to high-altitude environments, every project remains unique. Extreme cold, access to the grid, fuel logistics, or transportation on difficult terrain are all parameters that must be analysed in advance.
“Every project is different. There are common constraints, but there is always an additional challenge. It helps us continuously increase our level of expertise,” observes Julien Bornaghi.
A sustainable approach to equipment
Beyond this project, Accès Industrie is developing its activities with a clear environmental commitment. The company has recently generalized the use of biofuel across its fleet and prioritizes a long-term equipment strategy.
“While some companies keep their machines for 3 to 5 years, we tend to keep them for around 10 years. We invest in maintenance so that they last longer. It’s also a way to reduce the carbon footprint associated with machine renewal,” explains Julien.
On the Mont Blanc project, a Haulotte PULSEO MEWP, backed by meticulous preparation and ongoing technical monitoring, enabled the teams to carry out operations in optimal conditions. A clear demonstration of Accès Industrie’s ability to operate efficiently in highly demanding technical and environmental environments.