Goldhofer «MPA» semitrailer impresses at 1200-m above sea-level

To remove avalanche debris, including tree trunks and rocks, the Neureiter team had to reach the Marxtenalm at 1,200 meters above sea-level in the Austrian Pinzgau. The operation involved a 3-axle »MPA« semi lowloader carrying a Liebherr R918 crawler excavator.


Josef Neureiter GmbH & Co KG, a Pinzgau-based transport and earthworks company founded in Saalbach-Hinterglemm in 1989, has long years of experience with earthwork services in the mountain regions. In addition to transport and earthworks, the company is considered a reliable partner for container services and access road construction in the Salzburg’s Pinzgau region.

The Marxtenalm – a mountain pasture and an inn idyllically located between the middle peak of the Schattberg and the Stemmerkogel in the Pinzgau region – can be reached either on foot or through a narrow and unsurfaced forestry road. Due to an avalanche in the gorge of the Löhnersbach, the alpine pasture was no longer accessible, and the Neureiter transport and earthworks company was called to clear the gorge of snow and debris up to 5 meters in depth. That is not as easy as it sounds: driving a semi lowloader up to the Marxtenalm with a 20 t excavator is a challenge for all transport professionals.

But for Michael Neureiter it is “everyday work”. As the access road is unpaved, outstanding off-road capabilities were required of the Scania tractor unit and the Goldhofer low loader semi-trailer, which also had to ford mountain streams and climb gradients of up to 15%. “With a hydraulic axle compensation of 350 mm, we could literally lift the new »MPA« 3 across the streams at the fords,” says Michael Neureiter. “This feat makes us fast and flexible in the mountains.”

The »MPA« 3 incorporates the proven MacPherson axle system and has impressive lateral stability. The use of so few components makes the axle an extremely low-maintenance solution. Plus, the »MPA« 3 is designed for high axle loads of 15.6 t at 20 km/h, an extremely wide steering angle of 60°, and a very low loading height of only 785 mm. The robust design and high bending resistance of the vehicle frame ensure maximum reliability and long service life.


As an extra, the »MPA« steering system was fitted on all three axle lines of the Neureiter vehicle for still greater manoeuvrability in the tight curves of the mountain tracks and roads. “The new »MPA« 3 greatly facilitates our ‘day-to-day business’ and its flexibility makes us even more versatile,” says Michael Neureiter.