SIMA launches seven new saws and concrete accessories

Spain’s SIMA has introduced a range of seven new cutting and concrete ancillaries, including floor saws, a rebar cutter and a new concrete power trowel.

The products will help the family-owned company continue its strategy of expanding export sales in the face of the crisis in its domestic market. Export sales now account for 85% of its business.

The new Cobra 30 Pro and 35 Pro floor saws can be fitted with 300, 350 or 400 mm blades and use V-belt transmission design that SIMA said increases the cutting depth by up to 25 mm to a maximum of 160 mm, compared to conventional transmission units.

Instead of having the blade and transmission on the right hand side of the machine, the Cobra models have a transmission on the left with an integral blade shaft, which allows the blade to be lowered for deeper cutting.

The Cobra 40/50 Mekano road/floor saws, meanwhile, are designed as economical, compact machines, delivered half assembled to save on transport costs. The 40 can take 350 and 400 mm blades and the 50 will use 450/500 mm blades. A conversion kit to transform the 40 into a 50 is also available.

The floor saws also feature a new pneumatic trigger release for raising and lowering the blade, replacing the more traditional screw mechanisms.

A new version of the existing Cobra 45 is also now available, with a diesel Yanmar engine as an alternative to the Honda and Kohler petrol versions already available.

In the concreting sector, SIMA has developed a low-cost power trowel, the Halcon 95, based on the existing Halcon 90 but with a chrome protection ring, cast aluminium gearbox, folding handle, transport wheels and integrated water tank.

The last new product is the CEL 42 rebar cutter for cutting reinforcing steel up to 36 mm diameter. This unit adds to the current range of CEL 30, 35 and 45 units. SIMA said the CEL 42 will provide markets with an economical unit for cutting 36 mm rebar without having to buy the larger CEL 45 machine.

David Vilchez, SIMAs international sales manager, told IRN that the new products will help the company as it continues to recover from the financial crisis, which saw its sales fall from a peak of around €25 million in 2007/8 to less than half that in 2010. Sales grew back to €12 million last year and the company is targeting €15 million in revenues this year.

Mr Vilchez said even in the peak years exports played an important role in the business, and now represent 85% of sales. “We’ve been diversifying our exports for 25 years…Our main export markets are emerging countries like Russia, Africa, Algeria and Brazil – last year Brazil was our number two export market.” The company still manufactures its own tools at its Granada base in Southern Spain.

One recent initiative as been the establishment of a direct online sales channel for the UK and Irish markets (www.simasa.co.uk). This is SIMAs only own-brand sales outlet in the UK because it already sells in the UK through a private labelling agreement with a UK client.