Unique lifting solutions Palazzani

UNIQUE LIFTING SOLUTIONS

Laura Gasparini, export manager of Palazzani Industrie SpA, talked to Barbara Rossi about the two company divisions, an upcoming anniversary and the outstanding rate of growth experienced by the Palift aerial platforms worldwide.

Palazzani is going to celebrate its eightieth birthday this year, having being founded in 1935 as a small workshop manufacturing agricultural equipment. In the 1950s it started making the first earthmoving machines and in the 1980s acquired joint-stock status, as well as commencing production of aerial platforms alongside its earth-moving range. Since then the company has had two manufacturing divisions: Paload (earth-moving range) and Palift (aerial platform range). These two divisions operate in very different sectors, with different markets, but are very much part of the same company.

Today, the second and third generations of the founding family are actively involved in its management (the company is led

by Davide Palazzani) and the company is headquartered in the Brescia area of northern Italy (Paderno Franciacorta) to which it moved in the 1980s. Alongside this main site – housing offices, production facilities and a warehouse – Palazzani also has a smaller plant in nearby Pompiano which functions as a second warehouse and hosts production of smaller models. Palazzani designs all of its products but manufacturing is outsourced (assembly is carried out in-house.)

Paload offers wheeled loaders (with weights ranging from 4 to 11 tonnes) telescopic loaders (2 models of 8 and 9 tons) backhoe loaders (with weights from 3 to 9 tonnes) and a very wide range of attachments. “The fact that all of our machines are equipped with hydrostatic transmission makes them extremely versatile and means that they are not limited to earth-moving tasks. In fact, they are also marketed as multi-functional machines, which can be used for road cleaning, green space maintenance, snow ploughing and road milling. Also other features, such as articulated chassis, engine below the cabin, make our machines very functional,” Ms Gasparini explained.

“Being a small company allows us to have a high degree of flexibility. We treat each machine as a unique piece, customising our products according to the specific needs of each of our customers or those of sector-specific applications. In this way, our clients know that we can find a solution for their needs or have a ‘ready-made’ product already specifically designed for the needs of a particular application. We apply this philosophy to both our divisions.”

Until a few years ago the volume of work was equally split between Paload and Palift, but the recession of the last few years has particularly affected the earth-moving division, which is strongly linked to the construction and industrial markets. Aerial platforms, on the other hand, enjoy increasing success in both traditional and emerging markets.

Reaching anywhere

“We are particularly proud of having invented the ‘Ragno’ access platforms (Ragno is the Italian for spider) which, thanks to their stowed dimensions and lightness, can be used inside buildings or in areas where

traditional access platforms are too large or heavy. We have specialised in high platforms (with heights ranging from 17m to 52m) and I can say that we rank at the top of the sector at global level. Few companies in the world specialised in this niche segment and we have the widest range and the tallest platforms. Our range offers both models for external and internal use, powered by electric or diesel motors. In fact we offer an ‘eco’ version powered by electric motors and batteries, a ‘bi-energy’ option equipped with both a diesel and an electric motor and a hybrid version with diesel and battery,” Versatility is also offered through the choice of crawled or wheeled models.

New products developed in recent years for Palift include XTJ43 (which has been launched this year), XTJ52 (which entered the market last year) and TSJ25; while recently Paload saw the introduction of two new telescopic loaders PT 182 and PT 192. Further to these new products, now all platforms range models from 25 to 52 meters of max w/h can be equipped with an hydraulic winch with 500 kg lifting capacity, an interesting application transforming them into spider cranes. “We continuously update our offer, both in terms of range and technology, thanks to the work of our dedicated R&D department. For instance, recently all our Palift machines were equipped with software able to highlight any possible issues.”

Palazzani distributes its products through a network of authorised dealers (each of whom is usually specialised in either range). The Paload products are used in the agricultural, construction, ecology and industrial sectors; while the Palift range is employed in the maintenance, rental, landscaping and restoration industries.

“Building maintenance will always be a requirement and this is the strength of Palift. Our platforms are particularly necessary for skyscrapers and buildings with difficult-toaccess areas. Export markets have become increasingly important over the last ten years and currently generate 70 per cent of our turnover. Europe (including Russia) is an important outlet for both of our divisions, while our geographical presence in other continents varies

according to the division. As well as Europe, Paload exports to Australia, Latin America and North Africa; whilst, in addition to Europe, Palift serves Asia (especially the Middle and Far East) and Australia (where we are having excellent results for both divisions).

“Our target for Paload is that of consolidating our presence in Europe and restoring our pre-recession sales volumes, while possibly expanding in Latin America and North Africa. As for Palift, we expect further growth worldwide and intend to enter the American market, defined as North and South America, where we have a very limited presence at the moment. We are open to any growth path, including possible acquisitions or joint-ventures.

“For us safety is absolutely paramount. As well as being ISO 9001 certified for quality and having the CE marking, we have each of our products externally and independently certified. This is a requirement for our Palift range, which we have also voluntarily extended to all the Paload products, so as to ensure the highest possible level of safety for users.

“Being a small company, investing in our image and communication is extremely important. For this reason we have done a lot of work on developing our website and social websites and have created a monthly newsletter, as well as a magazine which is published twice a year.” n

Simex was established in 1991 in San Giovanni in Persiceto, near Bologna. The company quickly stood out as a producer of hydraulic a achments for earth moving machines.

Early products included planers for backhoe loaders, followed by planers for skid steer loaders. Simex then expanded on interna onal markets, thanks to the produc on of wheel excavators, wheel compactors and asphalt pavers, gaining excellence in road maintenance a achments, a fi eld in which the company remains an undisputed leader.

Design and produc on of new equipment, such as double drum cu er heads, crusher buckets and screening buckets with adjustable output for excavator moun ng are examples of Simex’s ongoing dedica on to designing effi cient solu ons.

Tel: +39-051-6810609 | Fax: +39-051-6810628 E-mail: simex@simex.it | www.simex.it | apps.simex.it