Cifa, an industry leader in concrete production, transport and casting which has been present in the Middle East market, is targeting the region with a renewed vigour and will be promoting its wide range of innovative products during the Big 5 PMV.

Among them will be some of the latest products it has launched on the international and regional markets including for the model K48, K52 and K58 truck-mounted concrete boom pumps, the new series SL transit mixers and high-performance batching plants that promise impressive hourly outputs.
The Italy-based company manufactures a full line of products for concrete production, transport and placing, including special equipment for tunnelling and forms, many of which have been used on various projects in the Gulf.
In the UAE, Cifa is supported by Bin Brook Motor & Equipment, its local dealer, which has its head office in Abu Dhabi and branch offices in Dubai and Al Ain.  Elsewhere in the region, it has dealers in Saudi Arabia (Orient Marketing And Trading Company), Kuwait (Kharafi National), Oman (Al Bahwan), Bahrain (Ahmed Mansoor Al Ali) and Qatar (Nasser Bin Khaled). 
In the past 10 years, the company has had a growing list of clients, according to Fabio Assouad, Cifa area manager for Middle East: “Bin Brook Motors’ vast experience in the UAE market coupled with high-quality concrete equipment from Cifa has been a great incentive to the local customers. The rapid growth of our market share is a testimony to this fact,” he says.
The UAE and the GCC region, which is experiencing a massive construction boom, has been a very attractive and buoyant market for Cifa.
This comes at a time where the concrete transportation industry in general in other parts of the world is witnessing a decrease in demand, which is expected to continue until the end of next year, according Dr Riccardo Malfer, export sales manager of Cifa Plant Division.
Major concrete producers in the UAE such as Al Falah Readymix, Tremix, Readymix Beton, Quickmix Beton, Qualitymix, New Mix and Gulf Readymix are currently using Cifa concrete equipment such as batching plant, concrete pumps and transit mixers.
“We offer complete customer support through our service centres in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain and three mobile workshops. The local market understands that support is a critical factor in the heavy equipment business,” he says.
The company is now gearing up to install four Cifamix batching plant, with a capacity of 120 cu m per hour, and a fleet of truck-mixers and truck-mounted concrete pumps at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island for the construction of the Formula One race track, the Ferrari theme park, hotels and resorts, water park and residential buildings.
This is in addition to the six Cifamix batching plant of a similar capacity that have recently been installed in Abu Dhabi and Dubai – four for the extension of Khalifa City, which involves the construction of 5,000 villas and two for the Jumeirah Park project, respectively.
Given the company’s growth in the UAE, it is also contemplating setting up a Cifa branch, which will enable it to serve its customers even better.
While exerting efforts to gain a larger market share, Cifa is also continues it efforts to innovate and launch a number of products that address the needs of the market.
Commenting on Cifa’s commitment to innovation and high standards, Dr Malfer says: “Cifa Magnum, for instance, is the first combined truck-mixer and concrete boom pump in the world and is a clear expression of our elaborate and ongoing research and development efforts. We have stationary high-pressure pumps, capable of handling concrete delivery to high-rises, as well as stationary placing and self-climbing booms. Tunnelling is also a special department of Cifa which studies with the contractors the needs of each project individually.” 
“We have also recently launched the SL series of truck-mixers ranging from 7 to 12 cu m in capacity and truck-mounted concrete pumps with 24 to 58-tonne boom.”

Truck-mixers
The new-generation SL range of truck-mixers combine all of Cifa’s expertise and technologies for the demanding, competitive readymix market, according to Mariangela Feliciello, who is responsible for brand identity and communication in Cifa.
“The materials, capacity of the drum and design of the main components of the machine have all been completely re-engineered,” she explains. “One of the goals was to achieve a considerable reduction in the machine’s weight, which is vital for guaranteeing maximum concrete flow rates without exceeding the weight limits permitted for road transport.  The load capacity of the drum, which conforms to DIN 459-1 standards, makes it a leader in its category. The drum is made from special wear-resistant steel that guarantees excellent durability plus a reduced weight.  The base frame and front and rear drum supports have also been designed to limit overall machine weight and ease operator access during cleaning as well as maintenance.”
The SL range, which came into being with the 9 cu m capacity SL9 model, has been expanded to include the new SL7, SL8 and SL12 models, which have a 7, 8 and 12 cu m capacity, respectively.

Truck-mounted pumps
The recently-introduced K52L XRZ is a  truck-mounted concrete pump, with a 52 m, six-section boom and RZ folding system, combining use of the area above the chassis cabin, outriggers which are slightly larger than the current K48 model with X-configuration triple extension front outriggers and rear jacks.
“What make this model so unique on the market is its assembly on either a four-axle chassis with a standard wheel base and a total weight of less than 44 tonnes or a five-axle chassis, based on the four-axle model with the addition of only the fifth axle, resulting in a maximum weight below 48 tonnes.  Thanks to the boom configuration, this machine is the only one in its class to measure less than 12 m overall (patented).
“This model delivers unique handling on the road, sudden jolts are reduced, while the boom length is still considerable. Also, the 0 to 90-degree sixth section gives access to positions that cannot be reached by four or five-section booms of the same length,” she explains.
The new K58L XRZ truck-mounted concrete pump with a 58 m boom, featuring a new six-section configuration with RZ folding system. As with the K52L XRZ, the last section has a 0 to 90-degree range, is extremely compact, robust yet lightweight, and has been developed using innovative design solutions to achieve the utmost structural reliability combined with maximum manoeuvring precision (reduced oscillations) and simple maintenance, says Feliciello.
Other models of truck-mounted concrete pumps that are expected to appeal to the UAE market include the K35L XZ and the K41L XRZ.
“The type and performance of the K35L XZ makes it unique in its class, with its optimal pump/chassis configuration. In fact the machine is extremely compact and versatile, suitable for all conditions of use in difficult, hard-to-access areas, thanks to the exclusive rotor which ensures continual rotation of the last section,” says Feliciello.
The concrete pump has a 35 m boom with five sections.
The K41L XRZ is a further development of the successful K41. Restyling has focused in particular on the placing boom, with a reduction in total weight and the tilting moment, whilst increasing resistance and rigidity.  These modifications have created an even more stable and well-balanced machine with an overall lower weight as well as less weight on the rear axle of the lower chassis, she explains.
The pump features a five-section, 41-m boom, with a 125 mm pipeline diameter and “RZ” folding system.

Portable concrete pumps
Cifa’s portable concrete pumps are available in a wide range of models to meet diverse needs. They can pump concrete both horizontally and vertically at a distance, underground and in the open, over long distances and from major heights.
The pumps can also be used for manual spraying, tunnelling and special applications, such as piling.
The pumps have a power capacity of up to 181 kW, offering concrete flow rates of up to 136 cu m per hour and a concrete pressure value of up to 172 bar.
These pumps have been designed to operate in extreme site conditions and to withstand adverse weather, the company states.
 
Cifa applied electronics
The new machines highlight the engineering expertise of Cifa in introducing applied electronics for controlling and operating various machine functions. Of particular interest is K-Tronic, EPC electronic closed circuit
“The patented K-Tronic electronic system immediately controls machine stability during use. The system, with sensors and a control board, calculates the machine’s stability conditions at any time, irrespective of outrigger unfolding status, and slows down and subsequently stops boom movements if stability limits are reached.  The K-Tronic system considerably increases safe use of the machine, “The system also provides the operator with useful information about machine operating parameters (such as concrete flow rate, pressures, temperature and pumping cycles) and maintenance times which depend on actual machine use, thus allowing for optimal maintenance,” she says.
This system is assembled on the K52L and K58L and will be fitted on other models in the future.
Elaborating on the EPC electronic closed circuit, Feliciello says: “The circuit comprises an electronic system to control and operate concrete pumping functions, relayed by an electronic board and related software to sensors.
“The system is combined with a closed oil-pressure circuit, to combine the benefits of an electronic application with the advantages of this kind of circuit, thus ensuring optimal machine operation, with greater controls and more functions.”

Dry batching & wet mixers
Cifa manufactures a wide range of horizontal systems, concrete mixing towers as well as systems for mixed concretes and for dams, to provide a solution for any concrete production requirement. The range includes:
Horizontal compact and personal dosing systems for average to high production rates, with both dry dosing and mixer versions;
Cifamix, a range of systems with mixer to produce high performance concrete at a rate of up to 120 cu m per hour, suitable for set up at construction sites with limited space;
Concrete mixing towers, with aggregate storage in vertical silos, to address special logistics and production needs;
Systems for mixed concretes, designed for road works, work on railway lines and airports;
Systems for dams. The company is located at Stand No E10 at the Big 5 PMV.