“Efficient synergies” – Strade & Autostrade Talks About Us
Excerpt from the article by Lucio Garofalo, January 2025, Strade & Autostrade
“BORN FROM AN AGREEMENT BETWEEN GROTTI SRL AND LAURINI OFFICINE MECCANICHE SRL, THE JOCKER MACHINE ENHANCES PRODUCTIVITY USING THE PATENTED GTF® HYDRAULIC CONTROL SYSTEM”
The mechanical scarification of concrete tunnel linings is an increasingly widespread technique due to the high number of structures within the Italian road and highway network requiring both routine and extraordinary maintenance. This method has proven to be highly effective in situations where the lining is unreinforced, provided that machinery with appropriate structural characteristics and sufficient hydraulic power is used to ensure optimal productivity. […]
In 2022, Laurini Officine Meccaniche Srl began developing a specialized scarification machine for Amplia Infrastructures. The first unit, delivered in 2023, was tested at various construction sites before being deployed at the Monte Mario tunnel on the A1, where consolidation work is underway. The project, designed by Tecne and executed by Amplia, involves demolishing and reconstructing the invert arch, reinforcing it with VTR bars, and placing new segments. Today, the site operates three Jocker machines from Amplia and two GTF 400.2 RC machines from Grotti, used by M&D for scarification and other subcontracted tasks.
Grotti holds a patent that regulates the descent speed of the arm based on the hardness of the concrete. This system provides the advantage of maintaining the hydraulic power of the equipment at its maximum level, allowing uninterrupted operation and significantly enhancing productivity. Laurini saw great potential in this solution, as its technicians had observed that the Jocker could improve performance if equipped with a system capable of utilizing its full hydraulic power. This technical insight led to an agreement between the two companies, enabling Jocker to be equipped with an electronic control unit containing the GTF® software. During testing, a significant improvement in Jocker’s performance was recorded, reaching a production rate of 5.5 m³ per hour.
“THE FIRST STEP IN A STRATEGIC COLLABORATION”
An agreement between two manufacturers offering comparable solutions is rare, if not uncommon, in the Italian construction machinery and equipment sector. However, such collaborations could provide significant advantages by leveraging shared expertise, specialized knowledge, and production capabilities. When well-structured and balanced, these partnerships not only benefit the companies involved but also bring advantages to end users. The licensed installation of Grotti’s patented system on a machine manufactured by Laurini is an example of a successful collaboration and represents the first step toward a broader agreement. This partnership allows the two manufacturers to work synergistically from a technological, industrial, and commercial perspective, effectively integrating their respective expertise.
[…] The agreement’s strengths have also been recognized by engineer Alessandro Ciuffa, Asset Planning Manager at Amplia. During the operational test at the Monte Mario tunnel, he stated: “Our role is to identify and evaluate machinery and equipment that enable our construction sites to achieve maximum productivity while adhering to all safety regulations. The decision to purchase Jocker was carefully considered and is the result of a Laurini project specifically designed to meet our operational needs. I believe the agreement with Grotti—a manufacturer we are well acquainted with and whose machines have been used for years by various subcontractors in our projects—is highly beneficial. Although born from a spontaneous collaboration between the two companies, we see the decision to grant patent usage as an opportunity that will undoubtedly benefit Amplia, as it enhances our operational capabilities in all construction sites where specialized tunnel lining scarification is required.”
