Interview about 2023 with Giacomo Fuochi

The year 2023 has just ended and it is therefore an opportunity to draw up the first conclusions. 

 2023 closed on a positive note with numbers up on 2022 both in terms of revenue and the number of cranes sold. The effects of state measures Transition 4.0 and Bonus for companies in the South of Italy continued to be perceived throughout the year, favouring the good results of 2023.Foreign markets also performed well, especially the Turkish market, although there was a slowdown in the second half of the year.The direction we followed was to consolidate our presence in foreign markets by strengthening partnerships with our usual dealers and opening new collaborations.As far as the Italian market is concerned, it is worth mentioning the arrival of Dino Dorigo as Sales Manager, and then I want to mention the event we organised for FMgru's 60th anniversary, which was attended by employees, many customers, and suppliers.

And from a technical point of view, were there any new products marketed in 2023?

At the GISEXPO in October, held in Piacenza, we presented the new self-erecting crane mod. FM 727RBI-FA with an 80km/h road tyred carriage with 2 axles for a total of 4 wheels, hot-dip galvanised: equipped with air suspension for self-levelling on the road, a braking system with ABS and EBS, and a signalling light system. The rear axle is steered and radio-controlled to facilitate parking and steering manoeuvres. The crane is attached to the fifth wheel of the tractor vehicle with a special "king pin" frame that is unique for all cranes (in the solution as a semi-trailer). As a result, our trailers and semi-trailers can travel at 80 km/h and are all suitable for towing cranes on the road because they are type-approved in accordance with EC Directive 2007/46/EC and can therefore also be registered in all countries of the European Community and the Swiss Confederation.

Speaking of GISEXPO, what can you say about it?

GISEXPO was an opportunity to see customers, dealers, fitters, but also to meet new potential customers. In general, GISEXPO is a fair that has grown over the last few years and has now become one of the most important fairs in the sector. We were very satisfied with this last edition.

What are the commercial prospects  and the main innovation for 2024?

The prospects for the Italian market are good. The extension of some support measures such as ZES (Special Economic Zones) and the Industry 5.0 tax credit will have a positive impact, but the key will be the PNRR funds dedicated to public works and infrastructure.The forecast for foreign markets, although good, will have to take into account a slowdown in the first half of 2024. Given the slowdown in European markets, we are targeting the Balkans and the United States. Continuing our policy of innovation and attention to environmental sustainability, we will adapt all the electrical panels of the cranes to the EN 60240 standard, and we will also expand our photovoltaic system, flanking it with the installation of electricity columns for recharging electric cars.