Normet Buys Semmco, BASF Introduces Poca Sprayer in UG Concrete Application Sector



Finnish underground utility vehicle builder Normet has expanded its presence in Latin America by purchasing
Semmco Group, a Chilean manufacturer of underground concrete spraying equipment. Two of Semmco’s models,
the Alpha 20 shotcrete sprayer and the Tornado mixer truck, are shown here.
Normet Group, a Finnish manufacturer of mining and tunneling equipment, announced in mid-November that it had acquired Chile-based Semmco Group, which produces vehicles for underground construction and mining. Semmco, according to a statement jointly issued by the two companies, is the only Latin America-based manufacturer of specialized robots and-low profile transmixers for the application of sprayed concrete.

“The acquisition is an important step for us, and Semmco will greatly strengthen our market position in South America,” said Aaro Cantell, Normet’s chairman. “This will broaden our product offering to [include] vehicles that very nicely complement Normet’s current offering [and will] naturally bring us to new customers as well.”

Semmco’s operations and activities will be merged into Normet Chile Ltd. and the merged entity will be based at Semmco’s production and warehouse facility in Santiago, Chile. Semmco employs 45 people and has built more than 70 robots designed specifically for the Latin American market. The company’s Alpha 20 mining shotcrete robot has become a top seller in the region. Semmco Group’s turnover in 2008 is estimated at €6 million.

In other sector-related news, the Cleveland, Ohio, USA-based Underground Construction Group (UGC) and MEYCO Equipment, both divisions of BASF Construction Chemicals, announced the launch of the MEYCO Poca, a compact, mobile unit for the spraying of concrete in underground construction.

“The Poca offers a complete package that addresses all our customers’ needs— mobility, serious application capability and easy-to-use technology,” said Thomas Kurth, general manager, MEYCO Equipment.

The Poca is available in two formats, diesel or electrically driven. Its main components are the MEYCO Simpla doublepiston concrete pump, Rama spraying manipulator, and a 4x4 Dieci chassis.

Other important features include capability for full remote of the spraying operation, a robust and reliable dosing system, the MEYCO nozzle system for 65 or 80 mm ID delivery, a hydraulic power pack positioned high on the vehicle for better cooling and electric components clearly labeled for easy identification.

As featured in Womp 08 Vol 10 - www.womp-int.com