Italian engineering excellence is reaching new milestones as C.D.C. Chain Drive Crane S.r.l. officially joins the “Leader della Crescita 2026” (Growth Leaders 2026) ranking, compiled by Il Sole 24 Ore and Statista.
The recognition honors the Italian companies with the highest growth rate in recent years: CDC ranks at the top with an extraordinary result of +503.37% in three years, establishing itself as one of the country’s most dynamic firms in the advanced infrastructure and ropeway technology sector.
Founded in Bolzano in 2014 by Helmut Gurndin and Alexander Philippov, CDC was born from over twenty years of experience in high-altitude engineering and a precise vision: “Ropeways can become the backbone of next-generation transport and construction systems,” explains Philippov.
From its inception, the company has focused on technological independence through constant investment in research and development, culminating in the creation of AirBridge®, a patented technology entirely developed in Italy.
AirBridge®: The New Frontier of Aerial Mobility
With AirBridge®, CDC has transformed traditional ropeway technology into a new paradigm of sustainable mobility. It is an innovative system, designed and produced entirely in South Tyrol, that connects hard-to-reach places, mountains, islands, valleys, construction sites, or natural areas, through a lightweight, modular, and low-impact infrastructure.
The result of over ten years of research and 52 patented innovations, AirBridge® combines mechanical engineering with environmental sustainability, drastically reducing costs and the territorial footprint compared to traditional ropeways.
Each module can operate autonomously, adapting to extreme geographical contexts and ensuring continuity of service even in difficult conditions. More than just a technical solution, AirBridge® represents a vision of the future where mobility integrates harmoniously with the landscape. As Philippov states, “Our mission is to allow the infrastructure to adapt to nature, and not vice versa.”
Engineering as an Integrated Ecosystem
CDC’s success stems from a simple yet powerful vision: to unite engineering, creativity, and environmental responsibility in a single, continuous process. Each project is overseen through all its phases, from the initial idea to the final implementation, ensuring consistency, quality, and control over every detail.
This synergy of diverse expertise allows the company to offer tailor-made, efficient, and durable solutions capable of adapting to the most complex contexts and enhancing the territories they inhabit. It is a model where technological innovation is never an end in in itself but becomes a tool to build infrastructures that are safer, more sustainable, and in harmony with the environment.
Saudi Arabia: A New Horizon for Growth
Today, the majority of CDC’s revenue comes from foreign markets, where the company has successfully exported its engineering expertise and the quality of “Made in Italy” as applied to ropeway technology. Among the countries where it operates, Saudi Arabia represents the primary growth driver, thanks to the vast opportunities generated by the Vision 2030 program.
“Vision 2030 has opened unprecedented prospects in the sustainable transport and mountain tourism sectors, fields where our expertise finds direct application,” says Philippov.
By transferring its Alpine know-how to desert and mountain contexts, CDC has successfully reinterpreted the design and engineering typical of the Alpine region on an international scale, adapting them to the landscapes and climatic conditions of the Middle East. Thanks in part to a strategic collaboration with Haris Group, the company has consolidated its presence in the Kingdom and today contributes to landmark projects such as NEOM Trojena and AlUla.
A Recognition That Looks to the Future
The result achieved by CDC is not just a financial achievement, but the confirmation of an industrial model where engineering, sustainability, and innovation converge to redefine mobility in complex environments.
From the Haris Group team, congratulations to CDC for this merited recognition and for proudly representing Italian engineering excellence on the global stage.
