Mini-Excavators Transform Sustainable Salt Harvesting in Sicily

TRAPANI, IN Sicily, has always been an area with a high density of salt pans, with over 1,500 hectares of these areas present in the southern part of the city. Historically, extraction within the salt pans has always been done manually, due to the delicacy of the product and the logistical difficulties of operating in these sites. In recent years there has been the involvement of mechanisation, initially for water extraction, then for energy production, and now also for the harvesting of the salt itself, particularly through the use of mini-excavators.

The role of mechanisation in salt harvesting

"We have verified that the ground pressure of the machines does not compromise the bottom of the salt pans, which is basically made up of a mixture of clay and salt. Therefore, without compromising its integrity and impermeability, it is possible to harvest the product using mini-excavators," explained Francesco Scibilia, Yanmar's dealer for the provinces of Trapani, Palermo and Catania. "This is why we took advantage of this opportunity and started to supply compact machines to the owners of the salt pans."

Saline Culcasi’s approach aligns seamlessly with Yanmar’s Green Challenge 2050: a global long-term initiative to reduce environmental impact and safeguard ecosystems. Yanmar’s mini excavators are designed to deliver superior performance, while also protecting delicate landscapes like the salt pans. By ensuring minimal ground pressure, these machines maintain the structural integrity of the pans - a crucial factor for preserving the unique environment and impermeability of the salt basins - while enabling efficient salt harvesting. This embodies Yanmar’s commitment to promoting sustainable practices that safeguard both the jobsite and the surrounding natural habitats.

In particular, four Yanmar mini-excavators (two ViO38-6, one SV19VT and one SV60-6B) were supplied to Saline Culcasi, a company named after the family that owns it and has been producing and marketing sea salt for four generations, collecting it within the Trapani Salt Pans Reserve, a WWF area, a FAI heartland, and one of the most beautiful places in Sicily. 

A unique collaboration at Saline Culcasi

"As far as the machines in question are concerned, our decision to include the Yanmar brand to the other products destined for the construction site that we have been marketing for 10 years testifies to our desire for commercial development aimed at the highest quality, which is necessary for continuous growth and the satisfaction of new customer needs, and which has led us to place around 600 units in our areas of competence in recent years." 

The four units sold at Saline Culcasi occupy a particularly evocative space. "There is a touch of magic in this place and everything takes on picturesque contours," Scibilia affirmed. 

A commitment to sustainability and innovation

But how does salt harvesting using mini-excavators work? "The machine does the same work as man. Previously, the salt was shoveled with shovels and rakes, without scraping the bottom of the basin so as not to pollute the product with mud and clay. In the same way, the mini-excavators collect the salt using very wide buckets, without teeth, in order to heap the salt, which is then loaded into the conveyor belts by other machines,” said Scibilia.

“This is, as you can imagine, a delicate operation. However, Yanmar machines are very 'sensitive' and ensure very delicate and precise movements and this has certainly contributed to the development of the use of these machines in this specific field of application.

The Yanmar mini-excavators were purchased by Saline Culcasi and not rented, as this is a seasonal business, which requires the simultaneous use of several machines. "It was a commercial choice by the company, which prefers to own its own equipment, bought its first machine from us around seven years ago and is now a loyal customer," Scibilia continue. "The motivation is simple: Yanmar mini-excavators represent a perfect combination of versatility and reliability, technology and innovation, and have compact dimensions that allow them to optimise performance even in tight spaces. Their engines also ensure low fuel consumption and maximum respect for the environment. Finally, their ergonomic design ensures great operating comfort, while the proportional control commands guarantee maximum precision of movement in delicate contexts such as that of the Saline Culcasi."

For more information: 

www.yanmar.com