SAIE under the spotlight

There were mixed emotions at SAIE 2012 exhibition in Bologna as tower cranes were nowhere to be seen, but loader cranes and mobile cranes were out in force.

Last year, Italy’s largest knuckle boom crane association ANFIA agreed to stay away, meaning there were only a handful of manufacturers on show. This year, ANFIA and its members were back in force and the exhibition’s outside area 44, where they are traditionally placed, looked much healthier with a range of new products on show.

As mentioned, there were no tower crane manufacturers at the show, even less than the three or four last year. This was supposedly meant to be a tower crane year at SAIE, which falls every two years. With the only tower crane in sight being on a nearby hotel renovation, the state of the Italian crane, and indeed general construction market, was plain to be seen.

Focusing on the cranes that were there, examples came from Effer with five new cranes on show from its Progress series. Three of them replaced previous models, but the 395 and 525 models were new, offering 39 and 52 tonne-metre ratings, respectively

PM, with three new range-filling models: the 38.5 and 28.5 in the mid-range and the 53 model higher up the capacity level. In all three cases, the model numbers donate their tonne-metre rating.

F.lii Ferrari had its new 85 tonne-metre 990 model on its booth, with a maximum eight extension boom, plus an additional four section fly jib.

In the second quarter of 2012 Cormach launched the 71,000 and 87,000 models with 71 and 87 tonne-metre ratings, respectively. Both were on show at the manufacturer’s stand.

Among the other manufacturer’s Locatelli presented its new 65 tonne range-topping GRIL 8700T rough terrain crane. Ormig had a new truck-mounted crane, the 104 AC, with a 100 tonne capacity and 43 m, seven-section boom. JMG showed two new products: the 2.5 tonne capacity MC 25 and the 30 tonne MC 300 pick and carry cranes.

For more new models from SAIE 2012 and a roundup of the show see the November issue of IC.