CIFA Carbotech: record after record, the family’s expanding

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The prolific Carbotech family has multiplied yet again. Three years after the launch of the first 2 models in the range of truck-mounted pumps with carbon boom (the K45H and K62H), three new machines are to be presented to the public at the next Bauma fair in Munich (15-21 April 2013). With booms ranging from 25 to 80 metres, Cifa’s Carbotech range for the European market is increasingly complete, and offers customers longer, lighter, stronger products.

After the success of the K45H, which has sold very well in many countries, including Italy, Turkey, Denmark, Albania and Germany (our customer Heidelberger Beton already has 3 in its fleet), Cifa’s R&D department has produced three new machines, each of which is a record-breaker: the K80H pump, the K39H pump and the MK25H concrete pump.

K80H: An all-European record

The most innovative, advanced model is definitely the pump with the longest boom ever created and dedicated to the European market. After making its debut on the international scene in China in late 2011, the K80H is now ready to serve the most demanding customers in Europe. The pump has an 80-metre boom with 7 sections, the last 4 of which are made of carbon fibre, and an “RRZ” fold system, and will be mounted on a 7-axle vehicle chassis. This exceptional vehicle is authorised for road transport.

Field tests conducted throughout 2012 demonstrated its unparalleled reliability and robustness. Designed to pump at heights or in areas that are difficult to reach with booms of standard sizes, the K80H has entered the Guinness Book of Records. But its record has already been broken by another futuristic model, again produced by Cifa and Zoomlion: the Zoomlion-Cifa 101, launched at the last Bauma fair in Shanghai.

K39H: The longest pump designed for a 3-axle chassis

Another record held by Cifa is for the pump with the longest boom that can be mounted on a 3-axle vehicle chassis. While competing products reach a maximum height of 36 metres with 4-segment booms, Cifa offers an extra 3 metres to customers that need a medium/small vehicle for pumping on city sites with very small areas available for positioning the machine and strict weight limits on the access roads. The K39H pump is light but strong, complies with the weight limits imposed at European level (26 tonnes) and has a 5-segment boom with an “RZ” fold, the last 2 segments being made of composite material. The lightness of the boom sacrifices none of the standard features that distinguish the Carbotech range: a renewed K-tronic stability system, double-thickness Cifa long-life pipes, and a new, advanced management and diagnostics system with display.

The machine easily passed all the simulation tests in the test area, and has also taken field tests with the assistance of the company Villagrossi Spa (one of the best-known in Northern Italy), which has used the prototype machine for several months on various sites in the Trieste area.

MK25H: The first Carbotech concrete pump

The MK25H has also broken a record: after inventing the first truck mixer with boom over 35 years ago, Cifa has now made the first Carbotech concrete pump. This reliable, mature technology is now also used on a versatile product like the concrete pump.

The boom consists of 4 sections (the last two made of carbon), which is another innovation for a 25-metre concrete pump, as the standard design for booms of that size is only 3 sections. Another innovation is the pumping unit with electronic management, which limits consumption and noise and also reduces oscillations.

The drum has a capacity of 8 cubic metres, and is made of ultra-strong steel with a hardness of over 300 HB. The machine can transport 5 cubic metres of concrete, and its kerb weight is within the legal limits for 4-axle vehicles (32 tonnes). The Magnum MK25H can therefore carry more concrete to the site than other machines in the same segment without overloading the vehicle. Every aspect of the MK25H has been designed and improved following the evolutionary path of this type of machine. Advanced diagnostics and machine management via a display, protection of electrical and hydraulic installations. Particular attention has also been paid to optimising the layout of the components to provide large loading platforms and excellent ergonomics for the operator.