Samoter innovation winner

A mixer capable of automatically loading pre-packaged bags of cement and aggregates in the preparation of concrete was the winner of the 22^nd Samoter Innovation Award, presented in Verona, Italy.

The DB X35 self-loading mobile mixer for Big Bag comes from Fiori Group, and is designed to cut work times, as well as reducing the spreading of dust on construction sites and the wastage of materials.

The winner was announced at Veronafiere during Samoter Day, one of the events leading up to the 30^th edition of Italy’s most important trade fair dedicated to earthmoving, site and building machinery, scheduled for 22 to 25 February, 2017.

The innovation contest, organised by Samoter in collaboration with Imamoter (Istituto per le Macchine Agricole e Movimento Terra) – an institute of the National Research Council of Italy – selects and promotes an international showcase of technological progress in the construction equipment industry with the aim of rewarding the investments implemented by companies to develop new products launched on the Italian market in 2017.

Antonino Bonanno, researcher at the Imamoter-CNR Institute and president of the jury, said, “This edition of the Samoter Innovation Award highlighted impressively original technical solutions presented by manufacturers to ensure even safer and user-friendly construction equipment through extensive use of electronics.”

Special mentions

In addition to the first prize, the jury – comprising leading figures in scientific, academic, research and professional associations – also awarded four special mentions.

Integrated safety was said to be the salient feature of the new Roto range with an adaptive stability control system (ASCS) from Merlo. The telehandler has a telescopic arm which extends up to 35m, and is equipped with a sophisticated anti-tipping system using sensors and algorithms to provide the operator with details of operating limits and machine stability.

A special mention for ground operator safety, with a mixing bucket safe discharge, went to Cangini Benne. The patent covers a new mixer bucket with two devices helping to prevent accidental injuries – the automatic locking mechanism for mechanical parts during cleaning operations, and the side hook-up for the discharge tube that avoids personnel having to stand under the tank.

Luigi is the name of a concrete mixing plant used by London Underground in the UK capital. It is mounted on a 17m long railway bogie built by Blend FBG. The jury mentioned it because of its production flexibility. The automated concrete mixing plant train with battery-powered engines was developed for the maintenance of rail-beds on the London Underground.

The special mention in the user-friendly product category went to the display apparatus for a wheeled work machine by Komatsu Italy Manufacturing. It is described as an interface capable of guiding the operator in a clear and straightforward manner through icons, helping to simplify complex operations such as changing driving mode with a four-wheel steering machine.