54
CONSTRUCTION EUROPE
DECEMBER 2013-JANUARY 2014
EQUIPMENT
K
omatsu’s Italian
manufacturing base is
changing its name from
Komatsu Utility Europe (KUE) to
Komatsu Italia Manufacturing,
and has celebrated its 50
th
anniversary.
In addition to the utility
line that has historically been
produced at the site in Este,
the factory recently added the
production of the PC138US-10
tracked excavator.
The factory was founded by
Giovanni Bettanin in 1963 as
FAI, and a partnership with
Komatsu dates back to 1988
when Bettanin approached the
Japanese company with a view
to working together to produce
mini excavators. An agreement
was signed that year for the
production of mini excavators in
Italy under licence to Komatsu.
The company was bought by
Komatsu in 1996. At that time,
the company stopped producing
excavators to concentrate
on utility machines – mini
excavators, midi excavators,
backhoe loaders and skid steer
loaders.
CHANGES
Enrico Prandini, managing
director of KUE, said, “Over
the years, our company has
witnessed many changes.
Economically, we have passed
through the various cycles
of growth, maturity and
crisis. Socially, we have
followed the evolution
of relationships at home
and in the workplace
and observed
how lifestyles
change.”
Chairman and
CEO of Komatsu
Tetsuji Ohashi said
market conditions
in Europe had
been difficult for
some time now,
“but all tunnels
have an entrance and an exit”.
He said he had no doubts that
European markets would make a
comeback.
“To be ready, all we have to do
is continue to act diligently as
always. And the future won’t be a
disappointment.”
He added, “Over the course
of 50 years of growth, KUE has
earned a very important place
in the European operations of
Komatsu Group.”
Speaking about the Italian
factory, Prandini said, “Europe is
our domestic market, but then
we are exporting to Australia,
Southern Africa, Japan, Turkey,
Russia, and also some countries
in the Far East like Cambodia.”
He said he felt that backhoe
loaders would slowly disappear
fromWestern Europe. “It’s a
question of time, but surely this
is a machine that will be replaced
by minis.”
At the production plant and in
the grounds of the castle of Este,
the 50
th
anniversary of Komatsu
Utility Europe was celebrated
with major European and North
African retailers.
A number of trees were
planted outside the factory to
commemorate the anniversary,
and a vintage model mini
excavator was unveiled nearby
on a roundabout in the town.
ce
Italian
manufacturing
base changes
its name to
Komatsu Italia
Manufacturing
as it celebrates
50th anniversary.
Sandy Guthrie
reports
Komatsu’s Italian division
celebrates turning 50
A vintage Komatsu model was unveiled to
mark the Italian factory’s 50
th
anniversary,
by (from the left) chairman and CEO
of Komatsu Tetsuji Ohashi; Este Mayor
Giancarlo Piva; and Enrico Prandini,
managing director of the Italian arm
Compaction control
Dynapac has launched a new compact roller machine, the CG2300
– a 3.9m long, 2.9m high machine. The CG2300 features an inner
turning radius of 2.6m and an off-set as big as 1.2m, making it easy
to transport and manoeuver in confined spaces.
The EU Stage IV-compliant roller is also equipped with ECO Mode
as standard – technology that is said to reduce fuel consumption by
more than 15%, and lower the machine’s noise emissions.
Noise is also kept down through the use of a hydraulic driven
temperature-guided cooling fan, which only operates when
necessary, according to the manufacturer.
Use of a double-pump vibration system is
also said to eliminate the need for a vibration
valve, making the system more efficient, aiding
servicing and reducing fuel consumption. Both
pumps – one for the front drum
and one for the rear – can simply
be shut off.
The CG2300 also automatically
cuts to idling speed after 10
seconds at full rpm in neutral, in
recognition of the fact that operators
often neglect to make the reduction
themselves.
The EU Stage IV-compliant roller is
equipped with ECO Mode as standard
