We are honored to have them as a sponsor and wanted to congratulate them on this wonderful milestone. Check out the story.

http://www.concretepumping.com/dictionary/index.php/CIFA_Celebrates_80_Year_Anniversary_at_World_of_Concrete_2008

http://www.concretepumping.com/dictionary/index.php/CIFA_S.p.A._celebrates_80_years_of_excellence_in_concrete.

Why is it that the Concrete Pumping Magazine made a big (well deserved) deal about the 50^th Anniversary of Putzmeister and did not do anything for Cifa and their 80^th?

I don’t think that Cifa has been making pumps for 80 years but an 80 year old company, in our business, is a pretty big deal.

So

HAPPY 80^TH BIRTHDAY CIFA !!! CONGRATULATIONS  ;~)

Bob you are right as always. 

LOL Lighten up - its only a magazine and if CIFA paid as much as Putz for all the nice articles then they would get the spotlight!

Thinker,

It was just an observation. Not at all an emotional issue. I know that it takes money to produce the Mag, and Schwing and Putz are the source of the majority of those funds.

"Hey brother, could you spare a page?"  ;~)

Sheeeesh  I know you are modest but did you have to edit out the part of a statue in your honor LOL

Todd, Thank you very much for the post, we loudly applaud you and truly appreciate your equal playing field to all.

Please allow me for the record, I would like to present a few quick facts about CIFA for concrete pumping.com members, I think most will l be surprised.

Our Timeline:    Started in 1928 for the manufacture of industrial steel formworks,  "Compagnia Italiana Forme Acciaio" this is where the name CIFA comes from.  And it is pronounced â€Chief-a' "

In the Early 1950's to present Concrete Batch plant manufacturing

In 1958 to present Concrete Mixer truck manufacturing

In the late 1960's to present Concrete Boom Pump and trailer pump Manufacturing

In 1975 introduction of the worlds 1st mounted mixer/boom

CIFA has always designed, engineered and built all of its equipment in our world wide facilities; these are the worlds largest most advanced full line concrete equipment manufacturing facilities. There are 6 production facilities in Europe, 1 in Mexico and one established here in the United States in 1999, and our new facility here opened in 2006.

CIFA products by today’s world wide count; we have produced over

50,000 mixer trucks, 7,000 concrete boom trucks & several thousand trailer units, 4500 truck mounted mixer/pumps, 3,800 concrete batch plants, and countless formwork systems for tunnels, dams and heavy construction. many aggregate and reclaimer systems, shotcrete machines and the list goes on and on. 

We design, engineer and build at our manufacturing facilities some of the most innovative concrete equipment in the world. It is very remarkable in what CIFA truly is.

Our introduction to the North American market has been one of success, we are proud of our efforts.   It is our only wish that all industry fellows would take the time to learn the facts about CIFA and our products and consider us, they too might just be surprised in what they learn.  

We believe in the good of all industry organizations and have certainly have contributed our fair share.

For example, quickly as I don't want to dwell on this subject, Last Year we were the top sponsor "Gold Level" of the ACPA education meeting in Colorado for those who went I hope they enjoyed themselves it was a very good industry event and we a looking forward to the next one.  We have sponsored many ACPA events over the years taking positions of contributions equal to others. We buy advertisement space in their publications. We are proud supporters of many organizations in our co-active efforts to enrich this industry.

We may not have all the fancy advertisement of others or be in the spotlight as much in the north American market place, but we are ok with that, if you truly have merits your time will come.

Again, Todd I thank you,

Bob Miller, Sales Manager CIFA USA, Inc.

For those who want to know more about CIFA our any of our products, call me anytime 410-610-9401 or e-mail me @bmiller@cifausa.com

We all know what ACPA stands for.  We also know the ACPA receives all of it's money from the memberships, sponsors, and advertisements.  I believe their original focus was to be more involved in safety and training for this industry. 

I had a sick feeling in my stomach after reading the Spring 2008 issue of their magazine.  It was most certainly the Schwing and Putzmeister show.  Regardless of how much money these two companies throw at the ACPA, without all of these other manufacturers, their wouldn't be much of an organization.  It is understood that the majority of the board members are employees, affiliates, or customers of these two companies.  This makes me believe why so much of the information provided in the magazine is directed in their favor.

I agree they do spend a great deal of money with the ACPA and if I were one of the other manufacturers I would spend my hard earned money with an organization where I would receive equal publicity and consideration. Nine out of every ten pages in this last issue of the Concrete Pumping magazine had Schwing or Putzmeister's names on them.  Hardly fair if you ask me.

When are these other manufacturers going to wake up and understand that they are throwing their advertisement money away?  I would be willing to bet the CFA (as just one example) would be more than happy to have more membership.  It would be great to see a magazine with safety articles and training issues in it.  Maybe they would be willing to create a better program then what we have now.

There seems to be more training and safety issues right on this web site than anything else, and it is free.  This is a lead the ACPA should follow. 

So wake up you other guys and let the ACPA know you will gladly spend your money with someone else.

I understand how you feel and do not disagree with you but I would like to say a few things.

1. We have a new president, he from what I hear is a very fare strait up guy and well liked. He is not a push over and has a good heart. I truly believe he will make the ACPA a better organization.
2. The ACPA has some of the best guys in this industry working very hard for improvement and change. Their efforts will and are making a difference.
3. The ACPA is a public association that you and everyone should join and your vote is counted and makes a difference.

I truly believe in the ACPA and am personally a member and so is Bob Sanderson, Harvey Hoyer, Chris Hotz and these guys are consultants for ConcretePumping.com

As long as men are involved in any group there will be problems but that does not mean we should give up. Lets all work together to make the ACPA as effective as possible.

I am pretty sure the ACPA magazine is the main source of income for the ACPA, I could be wrong. I know that things don’t always seem fair but we have to fight for fair, please let not one of us give up the good fight.

I personally know some of guys that started the ACPA, good men, hard working well motivated.  Guys like Richard O’brien, Harvey Hoyer and Bill Cross. I am so proud of their work and the commitment and sacrifice they have made. The ACPA will have its ups and downs but I truly believe in the ACPA.

If you have an issue with the magazine bring it up with the ACPA.  If your not a member join, your voice should be heard.

Todd,

That was some very good advise.  I don't dissagree with you on the issure that I should join the ACPA.  If I can join as an individule, it would work, but as an associate, the fees are too high and I do not feel I would gain from it.  However, if what I have said so far hasn't ruined my chances, I will look into it.

I agree that there have been some very good people involved in the start of the ACPA, but I feel that today it has gotten to be very much like our US Congress.  "Grease my palm and I will be in your corner when it comes time to place my vote.  When an organization such as the ACPA has so many board members who are affiliated with certain manufacturers, they have to work in the favor of that manufacturer.  I believe the board shoudl consist of people who are from the field and not from manufacturers.  Too much focus is placed on the "All Mighty Dollar".  This should be an organization for the pumpers and not the suppliers. 

Until then, I feel the other manufacturers are throwing their hard earned money in the toilet.  People from other manufacturers have offered up their time to participate on committies and then found themselves kicked to the curb.  This is no way to treat people who want to be involved.  Even at events that the ACPA puts on, they make it a point to shun the other manufacturers.  They want their money, but they want them to take a back seat and be quite.  It is wrong no matter how you look at it. 

No one can say this isn't true.  I have talked with people who are the examples of what I just said.  I doubt they would step up and say anything, because of the possibility of being accused of whinning.  But I feel when they have explained this to me, they were not whinning, but explaining facts.  They had nothing to gain or lose when they said this to me.  They had no reason to mislead me with their conserns.  Having said that, and without knowing what the deal is right this minute, but will someone please take Roll Call and tell me everyone who is on the board, who is on all the committies, and who everyone works for.  If they are not employed by Schwing or Putzmeister, then what brand of pumps they primarily operate.

Once I have an idea who is running the show and what my hard earned money will do I will look into a membership. 

 Before anyone has a "Knee Jerk" response, you must first know I have been a member in the past, and I have been certified as a line pump and long boom operator by the ACPA.  I have also been responsible for advising others to join the organization.  I am sure the organization has good intentions, but I worry that the itinerary has become clouded and the focus is more directed to who has more influence.

congrats to cifa but answering bobs question its the same as this site putz is a sponsor.did we say happy b-day putz?just asking? 

pudg

You crack me up ;~)

HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY PUTZ

fair is fair

Putz is not a member of this site and they are not a sponsor of this site. Cifa is a member of this site. Cifa and Putz are both members of the ACPA so the comparison does not match up.

your rite Todd , I was thinking of concrete construction not concrete pumping,my bad.

One thing I would like to say,I agree that the ACPA has gotten to political,But in every industry usually the leaders in that market lead.Not to say in years to come leadership will not change to some of the other manufacturers,but for now brand S and brand P are the leaders,just by shear numbers,I dont know the exact numbers but brand S and brand P probably have more pumps in the U.S.A. than all other brands put together.I dont think CIFA should have been overlooked for there accomplishments which are pretty astounding,and there should be a issue devoted just to them for it,but we dont run the magazine or the ACPA, maybe we should send them a letter let all of us from the website sign it and see what that does.Strength in numbers!   

pudg

If you are a member you have one vote, and an opinion that is as valid as any.