Raimondi and SIME Group merge

Italy: Tower crane manufacturer Raimondi has merged with crane and building equipment supplier SIME Group to form Raimondi SIME Group.

Sime Group, which previously operated Raimondi tower cranes in its rental fleet, will now concentrate on promoting and renting Raimondi cranes outside Italy while the manufacturer says that it will “guarantee a fleet of the highest quality cranes for rental.”

Enrico Natella has been appointed general director of the new group. He was already a director at SIME before the merger and his task in his new position will be to coordinate all aspects of the merger and the new company's business activities. “With this strategic operation we mean to strengthen and to expand the Raimondi brand at home and abroad.” Natella said.

To coincide with the merger, Raimondi SIME Group has revealed plans for two tower cranes under development. The MRT 243 is a 240 tonne-metre unit that will have a 246 foot jib and lift 2.4 tons at jib-end. Maximum lifting capacity will be 17 tons. Raimondi said this crane will be “the only one of its type mass produced by a completely Italian corporation.”

For the US market, a 350 tonne-metre crane with 262 foot jib will be introduced this year. The crane will lift 3.3 tons at the jib point and have a maximum capacity of 22 tons.