Italy’s project logistics sector faces no shortage of challenges — aging infrastructure, permit delays, rising complexity and growing demand from the power and energy sector.

In this episode of Project Cargo Professionals, Giovanni Marraffa reflects on the journey of a family business that began with a single truck in southern Italy and has grown into one of the country’s best-known heavy transport and lifting specialists. Alongside brother Pasquale, Giovanni is helping lead the next generation of the Marraffa-WeRent Group, while still working alongside founder Michele Marraffa, who started the company in 1977.

Speaking in Taranto, Italy, with host Luke King, Giovanni shares his perspective on the realities of moving project cargo across Italy, investing in a 700-tonne Liebherr LTM 1650-8.1 mobile crane, developing the next generation of talent and why the company continues to focus on the specialist jobs that others often avoid.

Part of PCP’s Voices of Breakbulk Europe series, this episode also explores:

• The state of Italy’s manufacturing and industrial sectors

• Infrastructure challenges and permit delays affecting heavy transport

• Why Marraffa focuses on versatile equipment rather than single-industry solutions

• Major power and energy projects driving demand across Italy

• The story behind Marraffa’s 700-tonne Liebherr crane investment

• Transporting a 300-tonne generator across Italy

• Talent development and the launch of Marraffa’s training academy

• Family business succession and working alongside founder Michele Marraffa

• CEVA’s acquisition of Fagioli and what it means for the Italian market

• Why face-to-face relationships still matter in project logistics

“Michele always tried to find the jobs that nobody wanted to do — something special, something difficult.”

🎥 Recorded in Taranto, Italy

👉 Connect with Giovanni on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giovannimarraffa/

For all business enquiries relating to the podcast, email Luke@prospectcomms.co.uk and visit https://www.projectcargopros.com/

About Breakbulk

Breakbulk organises the world’s largest events for project cargo and breakbulk logistics, bringing together cargo owners, EPCs, carriers, forwarders and ports from across the global supply chain. With flagship events held annually in Dubai, Rotterdam, Houston and Singapore, Breakbulk serves as a key meeting point for networking, deal-making and industry insight.

👉 Visit https://breakbulk.com to find out more about upcoming events and registration.

About Our Series Sponsor: Rhenus Project Logistics Global

Rhenus delivers turnkey solutions for complex industrial and infrastructure projects worldwide, combining in-house engineering with multi-modal transport and its own asset base.

👉 Visit https://www.rhenus.group/uk/en/project-logistics/

About Our Supporter: Procam Group

Procam Group is a leading integrated project logistics company in India specializing in heavy haul, chartering, installation, and project freight.

👉 Visit https://procamgroup.in/