Effer In Revival

Italian knuckle boom crane manufacturer Effer has shown strong growth in its first annual report since joining parent company CTE Group.

Sol Ge, which took over the trademarks Effer, Effer Marine and Bizzocchi in 2005 announced revenue for 2006 of €44.7million (US$ 60 million). This reflected a 55% increase on the first 10 months of 2005 under Effer Holding and the final two months of that year under Sol Ge. EBIT was 3.9%, while EBITDA was 5.7%, with pre-tax earnings of €1.44 million ($ 1.9million).

Lorenzo Cipriani, Sol Ge's president, said the encouraging results were down to the renewed confidence shown by the world dealer network and the end users in its products. The results of recent investments into the company were on show at Bauma 2007 in Munich where the new Effer 470-8S model was launched. Effer said two new models in the 110 to 130 tonne-metre capacity will be launched at October's SAIE 2007 exhibition in Bologna, Italy, while future projects will be aimed at the lower four to six tonne-metre rating range.

Effer has also opened a new production site. At the 3,500 square metre facility in Bologna is production and painting of the company's larger range of cranes. A spokesman said, “Minerbio 3, therefore, responds to the great challenges of the global market that can no longer be met by the historic site at Castel Maggiore.”

Machines being made at Minerbo 3 are the 535 - 585 series, the 750-850 series along with the 1550, the 1750 and Effer's newest offering the 440 - 470.

Castel Maggiore will continue to house Effer's management offices along with the production of small to medium-sized cranes and the spare parts division.