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The latest arrival in the Jekko household, which revolutionizes traditional lifting systems by placing on tracks what has always been mounted on trucks: the articulated crane The marriage of two different concepts in the lifting field to open up new horizons and new application opportunities. That is the perspective that gave rise to the concept of the new JF545 by Jekko, which has been recently presented to the market with the clear objective of bringing together and transforming the field of mini cranes and articulated cranes. Because the new JF – developed by the Treviso Italy company that is a world leader in mini cranes in partnership with Fassi – changes the traditional lifting systems by putting onto tracks what has always been naturally mounted on trucks: the articulated crane. And as always, by changing perspective, one discovers a completely new world, and new scope, potential, infinite applications for an instrument that combines the strong points of different areas. “The mini crane culture” – Diego Tomasella the CEO of Jekko explains – “is taking an important step towards articulated cranes to present an innovative product that is simple to use, within reach of a wider market that is continuously searching for new solutions, in particular in the area of maintenance and service, in increasingly complex logistical and environmental contexts”.   Variety and vast scope It’s clear that using an articulated crane is an essential feature of this vehicle that has a double articulation of the basic arm to which a jib can be added that makes the joints three, permitting a variety and vast scope compared with the traditional mini crane with the typical telescopic arm with a chain system. The JF545 is a crane that can work horizontally, vertically, overtake, go round, use a direct hook or a winch. A 3-person hydraulic platform can also be used in conjunction with double articulation and a two-person basket can be used if the jib is used, for heights up to 31 metres.     Infinite lifting possibilities The JF also uses a lifting moment limiter instead of the electronic limiter normally used on a mini crane. This greatly significantly simplifies use because the machine feedback is given on the pressure reference (max. 345 bar) and not on input/output software. Accordingly, when the machine is 100% stabilized it can use maximum pressure to work at 360 degrees. Alternatively, using the position of the stabilizers and of the resulting tip-over line, one of the four “stability levels” is calculated automatically, 1 being the minimum and 4 being the maximum level, with reference to four different classes of pressure. This means that the operator – with a very simple graphic output based on the four levels – can choose from infinite lifting possibilities according to the area of stabilization and, obviously, in compliance with the latest safety regulations.   One machine, one person One of the cornerstones of the Jekko philosophy that is also applied to this crane is that it can be completely managed by a single operator who can perform all the operations in complete safety, also thanks to the radio control that is an extension of the machine that is always ready to hand. This gives the operator complete independence to switch on/switch off, handle the crane and ballast, stabilize, supplement the jib: doing everything needed to get the most out of the crane. The radio control is latest generation, with a user-friendly graphic interface that enables innumerable options to be managed easily and intuitively, also thanks to the automotive-type menu selection wheel.    

On the occasion of the 2nd Jekko Dealer meeting, our CEO Diego Tomasella was interviewed by Rüdiger Kopf from the German magazine Kran&Bühne. Here below you can read the translation of the orginal article “Sieben Meilens Stiefel” from July’s issue. The Seven-League Boot Jekko has been significantly growing. Diego Tomasella, CEO, knows well and spoke with Rüdiger Kopf during the inauguration of the new production plant. Suddenly the world has changed. In the last years, Jekko’s name has been shining in the minicrane world. Even though being known just from a few years, it has been able to find his place under the great names of this niche industry through fresh, innovative ideas. 5 years ago this company, located in Colle Umberto a town in north of Venice, produced only 80 minicrane per year. In 2017 there there will be 250 – or three times more. And that’s not all. Over the next few years, the production will increase, therefore reaching 400 units produced, all this in a niche industry. This is the reason why a further plant was purchased, located 500 m from the headquarters. With a 12,000 m² surface, 3,900 m² of which are covered, the plant was recently set up, with an outdoor testing area specifically built – Jekko organized very well. “Already in 2015 we saw that a change was coming,” says Diego Tomasella. Jekko’s CEO also remembers the dynamics of 2016. “With the Bauma exhibition we earned many contracts. That was the spark from which the production started boosting. ” In May and June 2016 they looked for a suitable space, in October they acquired a new area, whose construction began in November, according the needs of the company. “So in March we kicked off the production,” says Tomasella, smiling. The “old” plant hasn’t been dismantled, now it became the welding plant. In the new one, the work is organized as in assembly lines – in clean, bright conditions and with a three-line layout. This allows us to increase vertical integration” explains the CEO. He was the first to see the advantage of all this, allowing Jekko to be more flexible answering to orders, especially when the demand is very high. And of course, quality controls are made in a short distance. According to Tomasella, the total investment amounts to around three million Euros. The fact that Jekko is growing is also visible in the rising number of dealers. The company invited dealers from all around the world to the inauguration; not only German dealers like Nordkran and Bavarialift, but also those from countries such as China, Singapore, South Korea, Mexico, Colombia, Canada and the USA took part into the event, just to name some of the 30 attendees. A dozen dealer were present at the first Dealer Meeting. [2014 t.n.] So where is Jekko’s path going? “Our new challenge is to find us in a continuous growth, as the demand is growing. We do not have just a new plant. The team in increasing, we currently have 54 employees and also the sales and after-sales service is strengthening” Tomasella says. And there is no doubt that such a big event will bring small and big brand new products. Thanks to the collaboration with Fassi, there was the possibility to combine machine components. New models were introduced with the JF name: the powerful JF545 can lift up to 15.5 tons and its main boom reaches up to 28 meters. Loads can be lifted to a height of 30 meters. It occupies overall 5.45 m in length, 1.84 m in width 2.75 m in height during transport. Weighting 15 tons, the crane is easily transportable. With a stabilization area of 6.7 to 6.7 meters, this great minicrane still remains under the values of other similar models. In addition, thanks to the articulated boom, the jib can be installed at a height of 18 m to add up other 10 meters of outreach. This is a combination of a Fassi crane on the classic minicrane’s chassis, but with specific adjustemnts to fit this type of crane. Weight and height are therefore optimally calculated to allow the best transport possible, always with a total weight of 15 tons. “In the meantime we received about 15 orders for the JF545, and others are in negotiations,” Tomasella says, looking at the advantageous collaboration with Fassi. With the means Jekko currently has, two of these cranes could be assembled per month. The smaller JF30 and JF40 are differently introduced. As the CEO says, “these models are closer to the end customer. They have fewer features, they are essentially basic but are easy to carry and use. These are the products that will open the doors to a conservative market.” A fact, this, which he also believes to be positive. “Jekko will definitely not be in the first or second place in the minicrane industry in the next years, but we can certainly increase our competitiveness. Our goal has always been to introduce ourselves on the market bringing new ideas. In a conservative market with an audience faithful to its brands, small models allow us to open many doors. ” And what a Dealer Meeting would be if we did not get a preview of some new model? So the first drawings of the SPK90, a 9-tonne crane, the “big sister” of the SPK60 was also presented.

During the evening occasion to greet the closing of Donizetti theatre in Bergamo, Jekko mini cranes have been invited as special guest to lift up the event access curtain. Switching between various musical and theatrical performances, choreographies and art, Donizetti Foundation wanted to organize an event for the closing of the namesake theatre before the start of renovation works. 47.000 people took part into the initiative across the whole city, passing through the impressive curtain set up in “Porta Nuova” and sustained by a Jekko SPX527 and a SPX1275, that perfectly merged into the city stage, also thanks to the collaboration of the company Elevo from Lallio (BG).

The 2nd Jekko Dealer Meeting took place on Thursday 18th and Friday 19th of May. The International Dealer Meeting took place in Jesolo, Italy, a town in front of the sea side, 45 minutes far from our headquarters. The aim of the meeting was to create group harmony between the different dealers, encouraging the sharing of experiences and therefore greater reciprocal knowledge – this was reached considering the great participation of all the 30 distributors (60 people) from all the world. On the first day of meeting we summarised the situation of the mini crane market today and market trend for the next 5 years. We also introduced the new three JF Cranes, articulated crawler cranes realized in collaboration with Fassi. During the evening all the participants joined the Jekko team for a dinner on a boat through Venice’s Canals. During the second day, all the distributors had the chance to visit our new production plant. The new plant of Godega di S.U., intended to be used as assembly department, consists of an area of 12.000 sqm (of which 4.000 covered), adds up to the 5.000 sq m site in Colle Umberto, where the headquarters with the administrative and commercial offices and the carpentry department are located. During the show we had the chance to present  the new JF-545, JF-30, JF-40 and also the new MPK-05. The final part of the meeting was a dinner in a Jesolo club with all the Dealers who attended the event. The meeting was an unexpected success for us: all dealers demonstrated how involved and enthusiast they are in the work completed during the 2 days, displaying their concrete optimism also for Jekko’s future.  

The new SPX424 with lithium batteries to be presented at APEX 2017. We are proud to announce that we will be exhibiting a model for each of their product-family at APEX 2017, stand 770, in Amsterdam – including a lithium battery crane never presented on the market before. The models displayed will be: SPX527 – with 2,7 ton max capacity, the most versatile minicrane with hydraulic jib that easily adapts to any kind of job situation: A best-seller product SPX424 – the single door top-of-the-range model equipped with lithium batteries: the only lithium powered minicrane on the market. MPK50 – the latest innovation for industrial pick&carry cranes with 5 ton max capacity and patented frontal stabilizer bar SPK60 – our new challenge with a telescopic crawler crane featuring 6 ton max capacity, 3 ton in pick&carry, fully radio remote controlled, with extendable tracks and much more Our representatives will be available at Stand 770 together with some international dealers to give you the best advices and help you meet the most different needs.

A supply agreement for 20 units was officialized  between Jekko and the European rental leader Boels. Presented in February 2017 during a Boels’ technical and sales meeting, the first SPX424 already delivered to Boels will be joined by other 20 Jekko units that will build up the minicrane range within Boels rental fleet. Mr. Alberto Franceschini (our Sales Manager) explains the reasons why a top-rated company like Boels chose to trust in us: “being the most performing one, the SPX424 stands out as the best-selling minicrane that passes through a single doorway. Equipped with diesel and electric engine, it features an hydraulic jib to reach 15 m of height, automatic stability system, Plug & Play and automatic recognition of the tools, intuitive graphic interface with 14 languages available – everything in full compliance with N1300 regulation. All these features and many more set Jekko as a leader in its sector in matter of security and user-friendliness”. It will be easy to understand why Boels chose to rely on Jekko’s experience, picking a crane that is able to satisfy the most different working demands: construction and building, mechanical installation, glass and wood handling, industrial maintenance, etc.  

JekkoUSA, our U.S. distributor, will be exhibiting seven models of our mini cranes at CONEXPO 2017 (March 7-11), the highlight of which will be the new SPK 60 crawler crane, with a maximum load of more than 6 tons, and a maximum reach of 17.7 m. In addition to these specs, the SPK 60 includes a number of exciting new features: Extendable tracks to increase stability A dozer blade to level debris A grabber/manipulator attachment for pipes and beams State-of-the-art radio remote control Hydraulic, lattice, and searcher hook jib attachments Hydraulic winch This will be the first time the SPK 60 has been exhibited in the U.S. market. JekkoUSA will have its team of specialists available at Booth G3722 including our representatives to answer questions about the company’s newest equipment, safety components, and developing trends in the U.S. and international crane market.

On Saturday 22nd October, the team of Jekko Minicrane took part in a training day organized by Ruggers Tarvisium who also hosted the event in their Club House in Treviso. The teacher Dr. Massimiliano Ruggiero and the President Guido Feletti introduced Jekko’s personnel to the laws and the dynamics of rugby, explaining how they can also be applied to the job experience in a business environment. The technical staff, made up of Mr. Craig Green and Mr. Enrico Pavanello, put the lesson learnt directly into practice on the rugby field. The whole Jekko staff wants to thank Ruggers Tarvisium for the valour they instilled us that will surely be a source of inspiration for our will of growth and development of the best innovations in the lifting field.  

Jekko s.r.l. was established in January 2016 as a spin-off of the namesake brand – active for over 15 years in minicranes, minipickers and vacuum-lift cranes – from Ormet S.p.A., a manufacturer of handling and lifting equipment with a 40-year experience. Now Fassi S.p.A., Italian leading manufacturer and supplier of hydraulic cranes for installation on trucks, has joined the company to further boost development and expansion on the global market. Jekko s.r.l. is the Italian leading manufacturer of tracked minicranes and ranks third in the world. The company is headquartered in the province of Treviso, on the Venetian Alpine foothills; it currently covers a 5,000 sq. m. industrial estate – 3,000 indoors – which is soon going to be doubled. The company has 35 employees and its entire product range is exported and marketed in all 5 continents by over 30 official dealers. Over the last 3 years Jekko has been growing at leaps and bounds, exceeding 30% yearly, and this derives from a teamwork backing high-quality products,” maintains Diego Tomasella, President of Jekko. “We are now reaping the results from what we invested over years of research and development. In late 2016 we are going to open a new 11,000 sq. m. plant – 4,000 sq. m. of which are indoor – specially dedicated to the assembly and testing of our minicranes. The JEKKO product line dates back to the late 1990s, when the first minicranes and made-to-order special machines were designed and manufactured. The Jekko Minicrane brand was born in 2006, when a dedicated production plant was opened. Nowadays JEKKO is a young business, supported by a professional technical department, reliable training and after-sales services as well as a sales and marketing office operating on all foreign markets. Giovanni Fassi, Managing Director of the Fassi S.p.A. group, points out that: The market potential of these machines is no doubt interesting,” and adds that “the entire staff of the company is determined to seize all chances that will turn up in years to come.