A CASE Backhoe Loader Is Hard at Work in the Heart of the Andes

Aug 26, 2020 5:00 PM ET
The CASE Backhoe Loader is hard at work clearing snow in the Argentinian high Andes

Located 2,400 meters above sea level in the town of Malargüe, Mendoza province in Argentina’s mountainous Andes mountains, the new El Azufre alpine ski center, is set to become one of the area’s main tourist attractions. What’s more it will run on 100% renewable energy – and CASE Construction Equipment is helping this become a reality.

A contribution to sustainability

“One of the project’s key pillars is the preservation of the environment, for which we are developing a Scientific Axis dedicated exclusively to ensuring the project’s optimal sustainability. In order to achieve this we have carried out different studies of the soil, river flows, winds and volcanic activity, which we are analyzing with different external consultants, in order to implement renewable energies such as photovoltaic, hydro, wind and geothermal,” explained Daniel Nofal, Founding Partner of the project. He added, “we also plan to use local materials for the buildings, which will be made in the factory and installed on the ground, completely avoiding traditional construction systems construction to achieve the minimum impact on the environment.”

Power for snow

And this is where CASE, a global construction equipment brand of CNH Industrial, stepped in. The 580N CASE backhoe is hard at work on of the final sections of Route 226. It is, quite simply, helping keep the road open and maintaining access to the site.

The area can have snow for up to five months a year. In addition to the ski resort infrastructure, the project aims to preserve the area for future generations, by caring for the high mountain ecosystem.