How the Multitel Pagliero Technical Department is organised and how it works. We’re chatting with its manager, Roberto Bramardo.
Having graduated from the Polytechnic of Turin with a degree in electronic engineering, he joined the company in 1999 as a designer of the electrical, electronic and hydraulic systems for the machines. He was subsequently given responsibility for the systems division and, since 2016, for the entire technical department.
How many people make up the work group and what are their tasks?
There are about 25 people in the technical department split between the mechanical and systems divisions.
All of the platform’s mechanical components, including the steel and aluminium parts and from the base frame to the cage, are designed and drawn in the mechanical division. Support is also provided to the various departments that produce the components. We also handle the preparation of the spare parts catalogues, feasibility studies for installing platforms on trucks other than those already in use and technical assistance for repairs.
The systems division deals with the design of the electrical and hydraulic system, as well as the interface with the vehicle. It creates the application software for the electronic boards that handle all the functions, the necessary diagrams complete with a list of materials and provides support for the construction – all done internally – of the electrical panels. Currently there is an equal number of staff members in both parts of the Technical Department, but the goal is to add a further couple of technicians to the mechanical division.
In 25 years, how has the Multitel Pagliero Technical Department changed: number, quality, professionalism, skills.
In addition to the increased number of people employed, there has been significant growth in skills and professionalism. Two examples: the need to reduce the mass of the platforms to install taller machines while maintaining the truck’s GVW, together with the increase in the tare of the trucks, has led to the use of higher-performance materials and fuelled the search for technical solutions to reduce the weight of the various components. The second example concerns the completely internal design and development of all the platform management software, which is further evidence of this growth.
What are the responsibilities of the person who manages Multitel Pagliero’s Technical Department?
The main ones relate to research into innovative products that can meet customer demands and producing them on schedule.
In a complex company like Multitel Pagliero, what other functions do you deal with on a daily basis?
I primarily refer to the owner who is very present when it comes to the new models of machines to be designed and the necessary timing. Naturally I interact with all departments, but especially with the sales and marketing departments, production and the purchasing department. Another important dialogue is with the assistance service to identify any problems, and with the quality service for the actions to implement.
Is the creation of a new model of truck-mounted or tracked platform a need that is posed by the owner in collaboration with the sales department? If so, what happens next, what is the process within the Technical Department that leads to the definitive creation of the product.
Customer requests for new models are typically identified by the owner and sales department based on market expectations. I and the designers then analyse these requests to determine their viability and establish the main specifications. A feasibility study on the key elements is part of the process, which is followed by the actual design with the definition of the final characteristics. Next comes the process of creating all the diagrams and drawings needed to build the prototype.
How long does it take, on average, from the idea to the actual realisation and release onto the market? Could you give an example with a recent model?
The lead times are very different depending on the model and the features of the new machine, especially as regards how many innovations are to be implemented. Small machines obviously are much quicker to complete than a very tall machine; for example, the MXE 170 on Piaggio Porter took about 6 months from the idea to the finished prototype. Undoubtedly, there are “simple” models and others that are more complex, but this does not just depend on the height but also on the technical solutions they use. This is the case of the MTE 270 telescopic platform on which an innovative wire rope driving system has been applied, to increase the height and outreach performance while staying within the weight constraints.
Communication with the production manager gets closer as you move from “paper” to the first model's creation. Does this dialogue have any occasional “rough edges” that need smoothing out?
It has to be said that, when it comes to prototypes, the production manager (Mauro Rinaudo) is always more than willing to help, especially considering that sometimes components need to be modified or redone for last-minute changes.
Once the machine has been created and launched on the market, does the Technical Department follow its “career” for further improvements?
Each platform is always on the Technical Department’s “books” for all the necessary updates, both with regard to adaptation to new truck models and for improvements that are implemented over time, following the introduction of new components or materials and to meet new regulatory requirements.
In these 25 years, what has been the impact of IT on design and how much has it simplified your work?
The impact, like for all industry, has been significant, but rather than simplified I would say it has changed the way of working in design. Also taking into account that the number of machines produced each year has increased significantly and the way of producing components has been significantly automated, design is increasingly detailed and precise to avoid any type of error in production.
What do you think the impact of Artificial Intelligence will be? Will the “weight and value” of human work decrease? Will IT specialists become more important than engineers?
I will answer the two questions together: at the moment the impact of AI in our sector has not yet been evaluated. As an engineer, I can only answer that our role will always be fundamental; it will be necessary to ascertain whether this will be beforehand – in order to “train” the AI – or afterwards to continue doing our job.
In your opinion, how can truck-mounted platforms be improved?
The truck-mounted platform is a now a mature product in Europe, manufactured industrially by Multitel Pagliero rather than crafted as in the past. The high standards of quality, reliability and safety allow it to serve a broad spectrum of users across all industries. A possible improvement will be the adoption of user assistance systems even on lower-end platforms instead of just the top models as at present, as is happening in the automotive sector.
What sort of dialogue does the company have with universities and technical institutes in order to hire fresh technicians?
Starting with welcoming students for internships in the company, we have reinforced our existing collaboration with local technical institutes. This year we have been participating in events organised by the institutes to present our professional offer to students, especially those in their final year.
Technical Department Manager
For performance, quality and safety, Multitel Pagliero truck-mounted platforms are currently recognised as industry leaders. This result stems from the dedication of every area within the organisation, including marketing, technical support, production, and spare parts service that goes a long way back in the company’s history. The Technical Department’s extensive research, which aims to produce machines that are both high-performance and user-friendly, helps ensure Multitel Pagliero’s success. Safety is also paramount, which entails applying solutions that can lower human error rates in addition to adhering to standards and the Machinery Directive. Not to mention, a machine should be durable, simple to fix and dependable.