Italian civil engineering company Mavi Srl is using the Enerpac EVO multi-point synchronous lifting system to support the seismic retrofit of the Savio viaduct on the SS3 bis “Tiberina” (E45) highway in Emilia-Romagna. The system is enabling the safe replacement of bridge bearings with modern seismic isolators by precisely lifting, securing and lowering the bridge decks.
The Savio viaduct spans 1,890 metres across a narrow river valley, with deck sections resting on piers ranging from 7 to 60 metres high. Mavi is replacing all existing bearings with new unidirectional and multidirectional seismic isolators produced by the company, along with friction pendulum bearings supplied by another Italian specialist.
Working pier by pier, Mavi employs the EVO system and 600-tonne hydraulic cylinders to simultaneously raise the two deck ends supported at each pier. The load at each span end varies significantly, reaching 1,224 to 6,300 tonnes at piers 17 and 18, and up to 6,600 tonnes at pier 6.
“Lifting the bridge decks is a precise operation that requires careful and accurate control,” a Mavi spokesperson said. “The combination of Enerpac’s EVO synchronous lifting system and high-capacity cylinders means we can confidently lift loads that in some situations exceed 6,000 tons.”
The EVO system integrates high-pressure hydraulics with a PLC-based control platform, enabling real-time monitoring and synchronized lifting from a single device. For this project, the system operates 12 cylinders at differentiated pressures to avoid torsional stress on the structure. Stroke sensors and digital measurement equipment further ensure accuracy, maintaining lifting tolerances within 10 to 12 millimetres.
The retrofit enhances the viaduct’s seismic performance while maintaining operational safety along this key transport corridor.
