The supply includes the standout DX530-7 crawler excavator for the excavation of the San Donato tunnel, Florence, and the DX210W-7K wheeled excavator for the redevelopment of the Barberino di Mugello pass.
Develon has recently completed a major equipment supply for Amplia Infrastructures, a subsidiary of Autostrade per l’Italia, which has been active for over 50 years in the construction, maintenance, restoration, and upgrading of road infrastructure.
The agreement, worth a total of 3 million euros, included the delivery of 21 excavators—ranging from mini to medium-sized, both crawler and wheeled—with the potential addition of 6 more machines, including mini excavators and wheel loaders. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Develon in strengthening its development of strategic partnerships and key account management.
Amplia Infrastructures, with a workforce of 2,000 employees, efficiently operates 12 permanent construction sites strategically located to ensure the maintenance of the Italian highway network. These operational centres serve as true technological hubs, equipped with asphalt production plants that are essential for prompt interventions and the delivery of high-quality materials.
Develon at the Heart of Key Highway Construction Sites
Develon machines are already operating on major motorway construction sites in Milan, Genoa, Barberino di Mugello, Florence, Naples, and Teramo, and are often moved from one site to another based on project needs.
Among the most significant machines supplied is the DX530-7 crawler excavator, which plays a key role in the excavation of the San Donato tunnel, Florence, a strategic project as part of the expansion of the A1 motorway section between Firenze Sud and Incisa Valdarno.
Engineer Alessandro Ciuffa, Head of Asset Planning at Amplia Infrastructures, states:
“Develon has shown significant growth in recent years in terms of performance, innovation, and safety—qualities that have set it apart from the competition. For this reason, despite our prior experience with equipment from other brands, we chose to entrust them with 21 machines—soon to be 27—including the DX530-7 crawler excavator, which has been essential for the excavation of the San Donato tunnel (Florence). All the machines, in operation for a few months now, have already proven their performance.”
Norman Tasca, Develon’s Key Account Manager for Southern Europe and the Benelux, coordinated the entire operation and manages the relationship directly with Amplia Infrastructures. Commenting on the start of the collaboration, he states: “We are thrilled to have recently entered into this partnership with Amplia and are deeply grateful for the trust they have placed in us by choosing to adopt one of our flagship models, the DX530-7 crawler excavator. As highlighted by Eng. Ciuffa, this machine is a key added value for on-site operations. High-end equipment must deliver outstanding performance and uninterrupted operational continuity, which is why we ensure highly qualified support. Thanks to our long-standing dealers, DMO and Ridolfi, we provide prompt and widespread service across the entire country—DMO in Northern Italy and Ridolfi in the South—ensuring constant support for Amplia.”
Technology and Reliability Serving Major Infrastructure Projects
At the Firenze Sud construction site, Develon machines are supporting a 17.5 km expansion project of the Firenze Sud – Incisa Valdarno motorway section. The project includes the addition of a third lane and the transformation of the current road into a total of seven lanes. This intervention has become necessary due to the sharp increase in traffic and aims to improve traffic flow, with benefits also expected for Florence’s urban traffic.
To support the entire project, a base camp has been set up in the Florence service area, equipped with offices, workshops, warehouses, a canteen, common areas, and accommodation for over 300 workers. Once the works are completed, the facility will be dismantled.
Stefano Bartolomeo, Asset Machinery and Equipment Manager for Amplia Infrastructures in the Florence area, states: “Develon excavators are operating along the entire route, used for excavation, earthmoving, and ground leveling. This is our first experience with these machines, and from the very first operations, they have met our performance expectations. A more than positive debut.”
One of the most complex interventions at the Firenze Sud site is the construction of the San Donato tunnel—an impressive 923-meter-long structure with a 210 m² excavation front. The site employs a team of 90 people working 24/7, with completion expected in 2027.
The Develon DX530-7 crawler excavator plays a key role at the southern entrance of the tunnel, demonstrating power and reliability in excavation tasks. Thanks to its strength and precision, it has already advanced 18 meters, ensuring efficient performance in a complex excavation environment.
Reno Filippi, site manager for the San Donato tunnel, explains: “Tunnel excavation is a process that alternates between digging and consolidation. The Develon DX530-7 crawler excavator is operating efficiently and with adaptability, progressing in roughly 6-meter sections.”
In the San Donato tunnel, every 6 meters a 35 cm plug is applied. Due to the fragility of the soil, consolidation takes about 20 days and involves the installation of steel arches to ensure stability, followed by waterproofing and sealing. The tunnel is reinforced with concrete reinforcements and fiberglass tubes filled with grout, while iron piles form a protective metal umbrella to stabilize the ground before advancing.
Filippi adds: “Once the entire section is consolidated, the DX530-7 excavator, equipped with a hydraulic breaker, comes into play to demolish the reinforced front plug filled with cemented tubes—a delicate operation that requires both precision and strength. Once the plug is removed, the DX530-7 continues excavation, adapting to the geological conditions of the terrain. In the presence of compact argillite, it alternates between direct excavation and scarification to ensure controlled advancement. Thanks to its power and versatility, the excavator guarantees steady progress, meeting the challenges of a complex and variable excavation environment with precision.”
At the same time, Develon machines are involved in the redevelopment of the Barberino di Mugello – Calenzano motorway section (25 km), with the expansion from 2 to 4 lanes in the northbound direction. The construction site includes asphalt resurfacing and the restoration of tunnels and viaducts.
In this context, the Develon DX210W-7 wheeled excavator stands out, used for handling New Jersey barriers, the safety barriers, and other critical site operations. Chosen for its ability to travel on public roads (unlike tracked models), the DX210W-7K required special type approval, as Develon only certifies wheeled excavators up to the DX190W model for road circulation as standard. The DX210, the largest in the range, was therefore approved as a one-off unit.
Domenico Candido, Equipment Manager for the motorway construction site at the Barberino Pass, comments: “The new Develon machines have proven to be extremely effective in terms of power, responsiveness of controls, and hydraulic quality. I’m fully satisfied with their performance across all required operations. In addition to the crawler excavators used for digging, loading materials onto trucks, and preparing the base for new paving, the DX210W-7K wheeled excavator is demonstrating its full power and stability every day when handling concrete barriers weighing as much as 6,030 kg.”
The DX210W, the longest of Develon’s wheeled excavators, ensures greater stability during frontal lifting operations. Its stabilization system—available in a simple configuration (blade or outriggers) or a dual configuration (blade + outriggers or double stabilizer)—allows for fast and safe operation even when working sideways, offering excellent lifting capabilities. Moreover, the fact that it is not a short-tail model further enhances its lifting capacity—an essential feature on the Barberino site, where workspaces are wide and unrestricted by tight spatial constraints.
For more information about DEVELON, please visit https://eu.develon-ce.com/en/ or respective dealers: Bulgaria www.develon.bg, Hungary https://dmker.hu/, Romania www.ircat.ro.
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