en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Italian Midolini Group, through its primary crane rental subsidiary Midlift, has completed the acquisition of a majority stake in the operating leasing business of Verona-based Scaligera Service. The seller in this transaction was the Bruneli family.
Scaligera Service will retain its non-operating leasing business, primarily consisting of self-propelled aerial work platforms, 3.5-ton truck-mounted aerial work platforms, spider lifts, and telescopic handlers, operated under the UpRent brand across three locations in Mantua, Verona, and Perona.
Under the transaction arrangement, a new company named Scaligera Autogrù will be established, specializing in crane and truck-mounted aerial work platform operations. Midlift holds an 80% stake in this company, while the Brunelli family retains a 20% stake. The company's fleet will include Liebherr LTM1220-5.2 cranes with capacities up to 220 tons and Palfinger aerial work platforms reaching heights of up to 48 meters.
Following the merger of Midlift and Scaligera Autogrù, the combined entity will operate from seven locations: Udine, Trieste, Marghera, Ravenna, Sassuolo, Verona, and Trento. In 2025, the Midolini Group reported revenue of €54.3 million, a 22% increase from 2024, with a significant rise in profits.
Giacomo Pittin, CEO of the Midolini Group, stated that this transaction enables the company to strengthen its presence in strategic areas such as northern Italy and the Brenner Pass, while integrating specialized skills and operational capabilities. He views Scaligera Service as a partner sharing similar values, market approaches, and industrial vision, noting that the integration will leverage the unique skills of both companies to develop significant operational and commercial synergies, enhancing the group's competitive position.
Mauro Brunelli, CEO of Scaligera Service, added that this is a natural strategic choice aimed at ensuring the growth and competitiveness of the equipment rental business nationwide, leveraging the strength of an industrial partner with a robust network. The agreement also stems from a desire to capitalize on nearly 50 years of accumulated achievements. As a board member, he will be committed to ensuring that long-term clients continue to receive the same standard of service.
The history of the Midolini Group dates back to 1950, when the Midolini family established Midolini Fratelli in the Friuli region between Venice and the Slovenian border, opening a quarry and purchasing trucks to transport aggregates. In 1980, the company entered the crane and lifting market, beginning to purchase lattice-boom mobile cranes. In 1985, the company sold its quarry and aggregate business to focus on lifting and heavy transport operations, achieving steady growth through organic expansion and acquisitions. In September 2022, private equity firms Smart Capital and VSL Club acquired a 43.66% stake in Midolini, which became the Midolini Group in 2024. Currently, the company operates all-terrain cranes including the Liebherr LTM1500 with a capacity of up to 500 tons, as well as truck-mounted cranes from Idrogru and Ormig, and a 600-ton Demag TC2800 lattice-boom truck-mounted crane, among other equipment.
Scaligera Service originated as Scaligera Montaggi, founded by Augusto Brunelli in 1978 for the installation of prefabricated buildings. In 1996, due to a surge in demand for equipment driven by changes in aerial work regulations, the Brunelli family began renting out the aerial work platforms used in their construction operations. By 2022, this segment had grown rapidly to become the company's primary business, leading to the name change to Scaligera Service. The UpRent brand was adopted in 2019 as part of a comprehensive entry into the digital world.
