ITALY Ӏ REGIONAL REPORT
how in the last five years hydraulics and software have been the fastest growing departments within our R&D.
Alberto Franceschini reports that Jekko has enjoyed a 20% increase in turnover in 2023 compared to 2022
In the coming year we want to consolidate, so we expect an increase in quality and not in numbers, imagining a growth of +5/10%.
Are you launching any new crane products? If so, what and for which markets? Considering the great renewal in the product range carried out over the last three years, the inclusion of new crane models, and with the intention of consolidating the strong innovative drive produced, Jekko has chosen to focus on constant product improvement in the coming year. A further point on which we will focus
will be new attachments to be installed on the cranes, which are the very reason for Jekko's success, aiming not at the basic machine but also at accessories that allow us to enter different markets and offer complete machines. Over the last three years we have
been developing products such as the SPX328, JF235, and MPK20R (presented at Bauma 2022); now for us it is a matter of refining and offering much more: the majority of our work has, in fact, shifted from mechanics to software management integrated with hydraulics. By now, these two aspects represent the areas with the greatest potential for development and which we believe to be crucial in order to offer products that can be more easily used by a wider range of customers. Consider
How optimistic are you for the future of the lifting industry both nationally and internationally? We feel optimistic about the future of the lifting industry. It is generally agreed that the Italian lifting industry is one of the most important in terms of the number of people involved, and this importance is also reflected on a commercial scale as we are aware of the strengths we have gained over 60/70 years in the industry. As a result, the only concern could arise from causes beyond the control of manufacturers, i.e. global material crises, war-related or other factors outside the industry itself.
What areas of growth are you seeing? Areas for future growth are more related to the territory concept than to the product context. As our core business is special lifting with mini cranes, what we are looking for is to extend the market to countries where this special lifting concept has still to mature. Accordingly, the fast-growing world of South East Asia as well as South America represent an important target for us.
Are there any areas of your business or markets in decline? If so, why? An area that has been very important to us for both country and dealer relations, and which unfortunately for reasons unrelated to us is currently at a standstill, is the Russian market. Historically very important for Jekko, it is currently foreclosed to us for well-known reasons.
Are there any other issues/challenges you think need to be addressed or highlighted with regards to the Italian lifting industry? The biggest challenge for Italian manufacturers is related to the size of companies and the difficulty in having a size that allows them to be effectively present in international markets. Italian companies are often known for the quality and innovation they bring, but they remain fragmented into many small companies that fall in the face of large foreign groups. This leads to a great dispersion of energy and could be a major limitation in future years when some companies, perhaps less structured, will struggle to find their place and share in the market.
ZOOMLION EUROPE Zoomlion Europe used GIS to showcase its mobile cranes, tower cranes and aerial platforms. This year marked Zoomlion Europe’s third GIS exhibition and the company notes that over the last few years the range of each series has been expanded and the mobile crane models have gone from prototypes to being operational on construction sites. This, it says, is thanks to the hard work of its research and development team that has designed and built machines in Italy using European components. A highlight of its stand was the RTC
Jekko’s JF235 at GIS
500 rough terrain crane which debuted at Bauma and is now working on several construction sites in Italy. Zoomlion Europe says the lightweight crane, which is built in Italy, was designed specifically for the Italian market. It has a maximum load capacity of 50 tonnes and a 37.1-metre four-section telescopic boom with two extension modes and continuous 360° rotation. It has a stage V diesel
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