CIFA’s product development programme has benefited strongly from investment following its purchase by Chinese firm Zoomlion
In 2014 Zoomlion-owned CIFA plans to manufacture a further 15 of its innovative hybrid Energya 8 and 9 plug-in truck mixer prototypes to add to its two existing models. The globally renowned concrete equipment sector firm also aims to sell the first of these new plug-in truck mixer models next year.
Among the new machines and equipment resulting from a €2 million-a-year R&D investment in2203 CIFA and 1175 Zoomlion products over the last five years, the Energya 8 and 9 models, the latter of which was launched at 688 Bauma 2013, are equipped with a lithium ion-type battery pack that is charged up while the truck is being driven, supported by regenerative breaking. CIFA claim the battery can be charged in 18 minutes in fast charge mode, giving enough power for a full day’s operation, or four hours in regular charge mode. The Energya 8 model has an 8m³ capacity mixer drum, while the Energya 9 has a 9m³ capacity mixer drum. Both models have an electric rotational drive system.
Speaking during a recent press event at the company’s Senago HQ, near Milan, Daniel Metivier, CIFA’s sales and after sales director, said CIFA would next year be looking to carry on its “technological leadership” adding, “We are building a fleet of [Energya 8 and 9] products which will be tested in the market to see how far we can go with the hybrid technology. We hope the first sale of an Energya model will be next spring.”
During a subsequent tour of CIFA’s 2013 opened TEC (Testing European Centre) at Senago HQ, where tests on the existing Energya 8 and 9 model prototypes are continuing, Metivier continued, “The noise reduction linked to these models is a big selling aspect. This is possible due to not running a truck engine.”
Other 2014 priorities for the Italian firm, says Metivier, are developing the Carbotech truck-mounted concrete pump range, while highlighting the advantages of the carbon fibre boom technology used on all Carbotech models.
The Carbotech range is made up of the MK25H, the K39H, the K45H, the K62H, the K80H, and the K101H (for China market only).
“In the Carbotech range, we have five machines with the carbon fibre boom technology. We believe this technology, which we have developed since 2010, still has a lot of potential, and the market needs to know more,” said Metivier. “We have around 15 machines [with this technology] in the market, so we still have a lot of work to do to convince people that carbon technology, composite material is reliable and safe in harsh environments.
“We have also invested in lean production and management. We want to increase our focus and deliver to the customer an improved quality of product. The media has called this ‘Toyotaism’ and we are following what the car industry has been doing in terms of improving quality.”
The recent press event at CIFA HQ included a special ceremony marking the first sale of a K80H pump to Polish customer Pompbet, a Warsaw-based firm involved in major large transport-related infrastructure projects.
Launched in Europe in 2013 after initially being made available outside Europe following its international debut in China late 2011, the K80H model is said by CIFA to be the concrete pump with the longest boom available to European customers. The 80-metre pump has seven sections, the last four of which are made of carbon fibre, and an ‘RRZ’ fold system. CIFA says the K80H pump is designed to pump at heights or in areas that are difficult to reach with booms of standards sizes. For Pompbet, the pump was mounted on a seven-axle2796 Mercedes chassis and delivered to them in December 2013. Asked during the CIFA press event why he bought the K80H model, Pompbet managing director Dariusz Strebski said, “It can be moved [without difficulty] around Europe and the carbon fibre boom technology gives a good load.”
In the latest available company performance figures, for the year 2012, CIFA, who this year celebrated its 85th anniversary and fifth year under Zoomlion Group ownership, recorded turnover of €375.6 million and EBITDA of €82.7 million.
Metivier said 2013 had seen CIFA and Zoomlion open subsidiaries in Germany and France, with 2014 set to see them open further subsidiaries in Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as the firm looks to become “more international”. He also stressed that work was continuing on CIFA and Zoomlion’s new production facilities in India and Brazil.
Among the new machines and equipment resulting from a €2 million-a-year R&D investment in
Speaking during a recent press event at the company’s Senago HQ, near Milan, Daniel Metivier, CIFA’s sales and after sales director, said CIFA would next year be looking to carry on its “technological leadership” adding, “We are building a fleet of [Energya 8 and 9] products which will be tested in the market to see how far we can go with the hybrid technology. We hope the first sale of an Energya model will be next spring.”
During a subsequent tour of CIFA’s 2013 opened TEC (Testing European Centre) at Senago HQ, where tests on the existing Energya 8 and 9 model prototypes are continuing, Metivier continued, “The noise reduction linked to these models is a big selling aspect. This is possible due to not running a truck engine.”
Other 2014 priorities for the Italian firm, says Metivier, are developing the Carbotech truck-mounted concrete pump range, while highlighting the advantages of the carbon fibre boom technology used on all Carbotech models.
The Carbotech range is made up of the MK25H, the K39H, the K45H, the K62H, the K80H, and the K101H (for China market only).
“In the Carbotech range, we have five machines with the carbon fibre boom technology. We believe this technology, which we have developed since 2010, still has a lot of potential, and the market needs to know more,” said Metivier. “We have around 15 machines [with this technology] in the market, so we still have a lot of work to do to convince people that carbon technology, composite material is reliable and safe in harsh environments.
“We have also invested in lean production and management. We want to increase our focus and deliver to the customer an improved quality of product. The media has called this ‘Toyotaism’ and we are following what the car industry has been doing in terms of improving quality.”
The recent press event at CIFA HQ included a special ceremony marking the first sale of a K80H pump to Polish customer Pompbet, a Warsaw-based firm involved in major large transport-related infrastructure projects.
Launched in Europe in 2013 after initially being made available outside Europe following its international debut in China late 2011, the K80H model is said by CIFA to be the concrete pump with the longest boom available to European customers. The 80-metre pump has seven sections, the last four of which are made of carbon fibre, and an ‘RRZ’ fold system. CIFA says the K80H pump is designed to pump at heights or in areas that are difficult to reach with booms of standards sizes. For Pompbet, the pump was mounted on a seven-axle
In the latest available company performance figures, for the year 2012, CIFA, who this year celebrated its 85th anniversary and fifth year under Zoomlion Group ownership, recorded turnover of €375.6 million and EBITDA of €82.7 million.
Metivier said 2013 had seen CIFA and Zoomlion open subsidiaries in Germany and France, with 2014 set to see them open further subsidiaries in Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as the firm looks to become “more international”. He also stressed that work was continuing on CIFA and Zoomlion’s new production facilities in India and Brazil.
