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MAST CLIMBERS
Global intentions
For Italian manufacturer Safi, niche operations and
emerging markets are its livelihood.
S
afi is using its relatively small size to
concentrate on niche markets, which
are attracting more business for mast
climbers.
“We can customise our machines for any
request. Our last machine was a special
machine for the shipyard industry in Italy,
it can lift materials and persons up to 13
tonnes,” says Nael Souqi, regional sales
manager at Safi.
Safi has turned its attention shipbuilding.
Three months ago it started work in Venice to
install cabins into a 60 m high cruise ship.The
cabins are pre-build elsewhere and transported
to the dockside, where Safi’s machine
transports them straight off the trailer and up
to the appropriated position in the ship’s hull.
Safi is also working on a tower crane hoist
in readiness for EN regulations that come in
to force in 2015.They state that tower crane
over 40 m high must have an operator hoist.
It will have a hoisting speed of 15 m/min, one
electric motor, a mechanical safety break, and
can be controlled from the ground or hoist.
Capacity will be about 300 to 400 kg.
Asia is a particularly interesting destination.
The company has designed a platform for
tunnels. “In Asia, and many countries in
Europe, you have very high prices for land,
so now governments are looking to more
Maber recently installed two MB C 2000/150-SR transport platforms with VFD for use in the construction of
a cruise ship for Italian shipbuilder in Venice.
The MB C 2000/150-SR transport platforms are being used for transporting people and small loads. The
platforms have a capacity of 1500 kg each and a dimension of 1.5 m x 3.2 m, and have been fitted with a
VFD (variable frequency device) for smooth start and stop, reducing power consumption. They offer a hoist
speed of up to 32 m/min for loads and 12 m/min for persons.
Maber also developed a mechanical system to automatically adjust the entry level on the dock, either up
and down or left and right, to accommodate changes in tide, wind and the weight of the vessel.
The ship, which measures 38 m wide and 50 m high with a total length of 300 m, can move up to 1.5 m
up or down and 1.2 m left or right due to tide and wind fluctuations.
SHIPBUILDING IN VENICE
Stros, a Czech Republic-based
manufacturer, has entered the North
American market by storm over the
last few years. According to Ondrej
Susa, Stros sales manager, business is
outstandingly good for the company right
now, especially in New York (pictured
here) and Toronto.0
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INTERNATIONAL
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 201
4
underground projects for power cables, waste
water, metros, etc,” says Mr Souqi.
Specifications for the machine are still
under wraps, but the product will move
downwards as the ground is excavated, by
placing new mast sections underneath each
time it arrives at the bottom of the section it
is using.
“There are a lot of competitors, so we have
to find out clients in these types of projects
where no one can compete. We are small
and flexible, which means you can give us a
problem and we can provide a solution.”
The Middle East is very important to the
company, with 35-40% of its exports going to
the region. However, there are still challenges.
“The Middle East is a difficult market; you
have explain these ideas to the contractors to
change their mentality.”
Looking further east, he adds, “I think
the South East Asia is the most important
market nowadays; Singapore, Malaysia, which
is booming, and Indonesia - governments are
providing more for infrastructure.”
Mr Nael continues, “Oil and gas is also very
important, because we make explosion proof
machinery – for us there is a lot of business
around this type of elevators.”
In the home market of Europe rental is
becoming increasing important. “A rental fleet
gives a second option to contractors to save
some money.” Of business in Europe rental is
around 40%, while sales stands at 25% - sales
used to be around 35%.
Mr Souqi provides an example. Often
machines are used for one job, and then must
be stored at great expense and depreciate in
value as they sit around waiting to be used
again.
A machine that costs €100000 new will be
subject to those extra costs. But if the company
chooses to rent, it will get full service for the
entirety of the job and then the machine will
be taken of its hands – the total cost may be
around €60000; in effect a saving of €40000.
“It’s very simple but very important to avoid
having machines in warehouses.
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