Develon at SaMoTer 2026: Focusing on Job Site Safety and Strong Investment in R&D

At SaMoTer 2026, Darja Kočárová, LECTURA Press spoke with Giuseppe Santo, Field Product Manager South Europe at Develon, about the company’s presence at the trade fair and its latest approach to construction equipment innovation. The talk focused on Develon’s stand highlights, including key Series 9 excavator models, as well as the company’s Innovation Award in the hydraulic excavator category for its E-Stop technology. Giuseppe Santo also shared insights into Develon’s wider safety strategy, smart operator assistance systems, investment in R&D, and the future direction of the industry.

Darja Kočárová: First of all, what are your impressions of the first day of SaMoTer 2026?

Giuseppe Santo: It’s difficult to say at this stage. Every exhibition follows an unpredictable ramp-up curve. Typically, it starts slowly and then reaches a few peak periods with very high activity. My impression is that many OEMs have invested significantly in their stands, which suggests strong attendance is expected. Given the level of investment, I am confident that visitors will come. Overall, it feels like the fair has once again developed from a mainly local event into something with a more national and international reach.

DK: What approach have you taken for this year's trade show? What are the highlights of your stand?

GS: The approach this year was to focus on our core products. For instance, although we do have an electric range, we didn’t bring any machines to the stand, only some videos displayed on screens. Instead, I put my cards on our Series 9 excavators, and the entry-level demolition machine, which is one of our key products. We also brought our best-selling model to the stand.

DK: I see. In that regard, I’d like to ask about the Innovation Award, since Develon won in the hydraulic excavator category thanks to its E-Stop technology. Could you tell us a little more about that?

GS: Yes, this is something I would like to talk about with pride. The word Develon itself combines two words - “develop” and “onwards”. We have been talking about the transparent bucket every year. Wherever you go, it is recognised as a successful and smart solution.

And here we are seeing the same. Even though this system is not patented, we were the first manufacturer in the world to receive recognition in both active and passive safety.

And why  this award is so important? Because it relates to one of the most important topics of all - safety. When you watch the news with your family and hear about accidents on job sites, especially involving young people losing their lives, it really makes an impact. But Develon can contribute to improving safety standards and making job sites safer for everyone.

And what does this technology do? If someone approaches the machine due to distraction or overconfidence, the machine automatically slows down and even stops completely if the person goes beyond the 4-meter distance safety zone. It is therefore a very useful solution, and being the first manufacturer in the world with this technology already available is something we are truly proud of.

DK: That’s certainly true, and thank you for sharing both your insights and the background information on this technology. It’s described as innovative in terms of both active and passive safety. Could you please explain how these concepts work?

GS: On a job site, operators know that certain areas should remain clear and that people are not supposed to approach the machine. However, someone may still come closer unexpectedly to communicate something, approaching from behind while the operator is focused on the task and unaware of their presence.

And at that precise moment, this technology can override the operator’s actions by automatically slowing down or stopping the machine to prevent an accident and potentially save a life. On top of this, the E-stop  technology also distinguishes people from objects to minimise unnecessary interruptions. That is a good example of how the safety system works in practice.

DK: It's a situation that can easily happen on any construction site, and it's good to have technology on hand that serves as an extra safety net when human error occurs. Is there any other technology you'd like to highlight this year for its smart features?

GS: We have the Advanced Lift Assist system. It is designed to support even less experienced operators during lifting operations with excavators by showing how far and how much they can safely lift without risking the machine tipping over.

For example, if an unskilled operator needs to move an object from one place to another, uncertainty and questions like “Will I manage to do this?” can arise. And this hesitation often leads to lost time.

The system instead provides the operator with real-time information:

Let’s say the operator is lifting 1 ton, while the rated capacity in that position is 3 tons — the system clearly indicates that the operation is within a safe range. However, if the operator moves onto a slope and starts swinging with the same load, the situation changes. As the arm extends and the working radius increases, the system may show that the rated capacity drops to around 700 kg — meaning the machine is now at risk of tipping

Although the system won’t stop, it will act as an intelligent assistant, visually guiding the operator in a very clear way and showing how far they can safely reach in any position. The operator will then carry out this job in full safety because the system will take into account the slope and the swing.

DK: This brings us back to the topic of safety. Would you say that safety has become one of your company’s top priorities, or is it more of a commitment for the future?

GS: I would say safety is nowadays important for probably any manufacturer.

A few years ago, even up to the last decade, the main driver was efficiency: to do more with less. But nowadays it is no longer only about what the machine can do, but also about how the machine can help to make you work safer and better.

This actually represents a broader transformation in the industry, and only a few OEMs will survive. Either you design and have R&D all in-house or you will have to rely on external solutions (by buy it), which can make you less competitive, and slow.

In the construction industry, Develon represents that highly innovation-driven approach, with strong investment in R&D. European manufacturers are also investing, but I believe Korean companies are particularly strong in driving innovation. Because of this, I think competitors that cannot keep up with this pace of development may face a hard time.

DK: This clearly shows just how much this industry is changing and how important a role the focus on innovation and R&D plays in it. Finally, looking beyond the trade show itself, what are your future goals after the event concludes?

GS: It’s quite straightforward. After the fair, you capitalize on your contacts and try to sell as many machines as possible, because this fair costs hundreds of thousands of euros - so you cannot recover it with just one or two sales. You need a significant volume.

For sure, the strategy will be to continue the innovation, the electrification, and hydrogen will come, but at this point, I am not able to say more.

DK: Thank you very much for your time and for all the detailed information you’ve shared with us today. It was a pleasure speaking with you. We wish you every success at the trade show and in the future.