An Operational Fleet for Infrastructure Progress
Develon recently signed a supply contract for 21 earthmoving machines with Amplia Infrastructures, allocated for the construction of major highway works. Among these are a DX530-7 tracked excavator, assigned to the excavation of the San Donato tunnel (FI), and a DX210W-7 wheeled excavator, working on the redevelopment of the Barberino del Mugello pass (FI).
In recent months, Develon announced the completion of a significant supply agreement with Amplia Infrastructures, a subsidiary of Autostrade per l’Italia with over 50 years of experience in the construction, maintenance, restoration, and modernisation of road infrastructure. The €3 million contract includes the delivery of 21 excavators — mini to medium-sized, both wheeled and tracked — with the option to add six more machines, including mini-excavators and wheeled loaders. This partnership marks a significant step for Develon in expanding its client base and enhancing major account management.
Amplia Infrastructures, with a workforce of 2,000 employees, manages 12 permanent construction sites, strategically distributed to maintain the Italian highway network. These operational centres are true technological hubs, equipped with asphalt production plants. These facilities are essential for ensuring timely interventions and high-quality materials. Amplia Infrastructures has also managed numerous major infrastructure projects, including the Milan fairgrounds and the airports of Venice, Capodichino, and Fiumicino. The company was also involved in the Santa Lucia tunnel (FI), constructed with the aid of the largest mechanical tunnel boring machine in Europe.
Key Construction Sites for the Highway Network
Develon machines are already operating at major highway construction sites in Milan, Genoa, Barberino del Mugello, Florence, Naples, and Teramo, and are frequently moved between sites as needed. Among the most relevant machines supplied is the DX530-7 tracked excavator, which plays a key role in excavating the San Donato tunnel (FI), a strategic project within the A1 Florence South-Incisa Valdarno highway expansion.
Eng. Alessandro Ciuffa, Asset Planning Manager at Amplia Infrastructures, stated:
“Develon has shown significant growth in recent years in terms of performance, innovation, and safety. Despite our past experience with machines from other brands, after a careful technical evaluation and economic analysis by our purchasing department, we chose to procure 21 machines from Develon, including the DX530-7 tracked excavator, which is crucial for excavating the southern entrance of the San Donato tunnel (FI). All machines have been operational for a few months, are in full activity, and have not presented any issues.”
Norman Tasca, Develon Key Accounts Manager for South EU, East EU, Benelux, Nordics & Baltics, coordinated the entire operation and directly manages the relationship with Amplia Infrastructures. Commenting on the start of the collaboration, he said:
“We are excited to have recently embarked on this partnership with Amplia Infrastructures and are deeply grateful for the trust they have placed in us by choosing to introduce one of our flagship models, the DX530-7 tracked excavator. As highlighted by Eng. Ciuffa, this machine represents a key added value for operations on site. High-end machines must ensure excellent performance and uninterrupted operational continuity, which is why we provide highly qualified support. Thanks to our long-standing dealers, DMO and Ridolfi, we offer timely and widespread service across the entire territory, Northern and Southern Italy, ensuring continuous support for Amplia Infrastructures.”
Serving Infrastructure Projects
At the Florence South construction site, Develon machines support an expansion project for the Florence South-Incisa Valdarno highway section, a 17.5 km stretch, with the addition of a third lane and the transformation of the current stretch into a seven-lane section (including emergency lanes). The intervention is necessary due to the significant increase in traffic and aims to improve traffic flow, benefiting urban flows in Florence as well.
To support the entire project in the Florence service area, a base camp has been set up, equipped with offices, a workshop, warehouses, a cafeteria, common areas, and accommodation for over 300 workers. Once the work is completed, the structure will be dismantled. Stefano Bartolomeo, Asset Manager for Machines and Plants at Amplia Infrastructures for the Florence area, stated:
“Excavators are working along the entire stretch for excavation, earthmoving, and levelling operations. This is our first experience with these machines, and from the start, they have performed as expected, a very positive debut.”
One of the most complex interventions at the Florence South site is the construction of the San Donato tunnel, a project characterised by a length of 923 m and a 210 m² excavation front. The site employs a team of 90 people, working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with completion expected in 2027. Here, the DX530-7 tracked excavator plays a fundamental role at the southern entrance of the tunnel, demonstrating power and reliability in excavation operations. Reno Filippi, site manager for the San Donato tunnel, explained:
“Excavating a tunnel is a process that alternates between excavation and consolidation. The Develon tracked excavator is operating efficiently and adaptively, advancing in stages of about 6 metres.”
In this regard, every 6 m in the San Donato tunnel, a 35 cm pad is applied. Consolidation, which takes about 20 days due to the friability of the soil, involves the installation of timber supports to ensure stability, followed by waterproofing and sealing. The tunnel is reinforced with concrete reinforcements and fibreglass pipes filled with grout, while iron piles form a metal umbrella to consolidate the excavation before further advancement. Filippi added:
“Once the consolidation of the entire field is completed, the DX530-7, equipped with a hydraulic breaker, is brought in to demolish the front pad reinforced with cemented pipes, a delicate operation that requires precision and strength. Once the pad is removed, the DX530-7 continues excavation, adapting to the geological conditions of the terrain. In the presence of compact shale, the machine alternates between direct excavation and scarification work to ensure controlled advancement. Thanks to its power and versatility, this machine ensures steady progress, precisely handling the challenges of a complex and variable excavation environment.”
Redeveloping the Mugello
Meanwhile, Develon machines are involved in the redevelopment of the Barberino di Mugello-Calenzano highway section (25 km), with an expansion from two to four lanes northbound. The site includes the restoration of asphalt and the renovation of tunnels and viaducts. In this context, the DX210W-7 wheeled excavator stands out, used for handling safety barriers and other critical operations on the site. Chosen for its ability to circulate on roads, unlike tracked models, the DX210W-7 required special approval, as Develon typically certifies wheeled excavators for road use only up to the DX190W model. The DX210, the largest in the range, was therefore approved as a unique specimen.
Domenico Candido, equipment manager for the Barberino highway site, commented:
“The new Develon machines have proven valuable for their power, command speed, and hydraulic quality. I am fully satisfied with all the required operations. In addition to the tracked excavators used for excavation, material loading onto trucks, and creating the base for new asphalt, the DX210W-7 wheeled excavator is proving its power and stability every day when moving the 6,030 kg concrete barriers.”
The DX210W-7, the model with the longest undercarriage among Develon wheeled excavators, ensures high stability in front lifting; its stabilisation system, available in single (blade or feet) or double (blade + feet or double stabiliser) configurations, allows for rapid and safe operations even transversely, ensuring significant lifting capabilities. Furthermore, because it is not a swing-radius machine, it further increases lifting capacity, an essential aspect at the Barberino site, where operational spaces are wide and free from restricted space constraints. With this supply, Develon has thus established itself as a key partner for major clients, offering technologically advanced solutions and an efficient, widespread service.
Develon Strengthens Major Client Management
The agreement with Amplia Infrastructures is part of Develon's expansion strategy in managing major clients. In recent years, the company has established a dedicated department led by Gilles Bandaoud, Vice President of Key Account & Remarketing, to consolidate its presence in France, Germany, and the UK and expand into other European territories. Norman Tasca, Key Account Manager, is responsible for expansion outside of the main countries (France, Germany, and the UK) and also manages strategic clients such as Cemex, Holcim, and CRH. The activity focuses on targeted scouting, classifying clients into four key sectors: top contractors, quarry & aggregates, rental companies, and waste & recycling. This strategy has already yielded the first results, with the important supply in Italy to Amplia Infrastructures, followed by the acquisition of new clients in the quarry & aggregates sector. Tasca managed the negotiations with Amplia Infrastructures, working in synergy with the dealer network to ensure efficient after-sales service. The sale involved two historic Develon dealers: DMO for Northern Italy and Ridolfi Group for the South, ensuring prompt support for machines operating on the highway network.
Opinion: Francesca Ridolfi, Managing Director at Ridolfi Group
The offer to Amplia Infrastructures benefited from Develon's strong presence in the territory and the aftermarket services provided by dealers. With Amplia Infrastructures, we achieved an important milestone, establishing a direct relationship with the client and the on-site personnel. I personally participated in the pre-delivery of the machines in Naples, launching a fruitful collaboration with all involved parties. This result is crucial for strengthening our presence in the territory, our professionalism, and assistance through the network of authorised workshops, thus consolidating the Develon brand."
A Reference for Complex Infrastructure
Amplia Infrastructures is one of the reference players in the construction sector and has been operating nationally for over 50 years in the construction, maintenance, restoration, and modernisation of roads, highways, bridges, viaducts, tunnels, and service areas. Founded in 1970 under the name COSAT (Costruzioni Stradali Asfalti), the company renamed itself Pavimental in 1984, and in September 2022 became Amplia Infrastructures. This was a key step aimed at strengthening one of Italy's leading construction companies and a key player in the Autostrade per l’Italia Transformation Plan.
The management and coordination are carried out by Autostrade per l’Italia, which holds 99.8% of the company's shares (Astaris owns the remaining 0.2%). Currently, the company employs about 1,900 people and operates a fleet of approximately 1,000 units, with revenue generated from: highway section expansions and upgrades (third and fourth lanes); construction, restoration, and maintenance of high-tech infrastructure (viaducts, bridges, tunnels); installation of safety and noise barriers; construction and maintenance of road and highway pavements in both bituminous and cementitious mixtures; production of special high-adhesion and permeable pavements; execution of specialized works on service areas, facilities, and installations in the highway network (expansion joints, viaducts, interchanges, toll booths, safety barriers); and maintenance of civil engineering works (viaducts, overpasses, underpasses). In addition to operating in Italy, Amplia Infrastructures has been present in Poland since 2008 through its subsidiary Pavimental Polska Sp.zo.o.
