A Spanish supplier of GSE is developing its existing portfolio and looking to add more lines to its offering
Tecnove is a Spanish manufacturer and systems provider active in a wide range of industry sectors, including construction, containers and the manufacturing of specialised vehicles of all sorts.
With more than 30 years of history in business, today the company maintains a total of 11 offices and has sold its products into more than 60 countries around the world.
While Tecnove has been manufacturing equipment – and undertaking maintenance and repairs – relating to the ground handling and GSE operations business throughout the last three decades, more recently it established Tecnove by Jofrauto, a specialised GSE product manufacturing operation operated in collaboration with Jofrauto, another Spanish GSE supplier.
The new venture has benefited from Tecnove’s long background in manufacturing specialist vehicles, including GSE-type equipment, notes Francisco Mellado, Tecnove by Jofrauto’s technical manager.
Tecnove by Jofrauto’s current product lines include:
Full cabin catering vehicles able to serve A380s. These vehicles can take a payload of up to 4.5 tonnes and have a maximum height reach of 8.4m
Full cabin catering lifts, with a maximum height of 6m and a payload of up to 4 tonnes. These catering lifts have a front platform and can service aircraft ranging from A319 series models to A350s, B747s and B787 ‘Dreamliners’
Half cabin catering lifts offering payloads of up to 4 tonnes and a maximum height of 6m. These can also serve aircraft up to B747 and B787 size, as well as smaller ATR, Fokker and Embraer types
Half cabin mini catering vehicles that have a maximum payload of 250kg and a maximum height of 3.4m. These vehicles are suitable for serving smaller aircraft such as B727s or Saab 340s
Ambulifts that can take up to 4.5 tonnes depending on configuration. Able to take wheelchairs and stretchers, the vehicles have stabiliser jacks for safe and secure loading and unloading of passengers with reduced mobility (PRM)
Water service and lavatory service trucks. The tanks on these vehicles have a maximum capacity of 3,000 litres and can be customised for different customer requirements, with options including – for example – rear baskets or automatic hose reels
Specialised aircraft interior cleaning vehicles
Tecnove by Jofrauto is further expanding this product portfolio to include other specialised vehicles and equipment, including baggage dollies and PRM mini vans.
Its products are in operation at more than 50 airports in 25 countries across four continents, and the coverage is increasing, Mellado informs. So, what sets these items apart from those supplied by the business’s competitors? Flexibility, customisation, after-sales support, the provision of maintenance services and Tecnove by Jofrauto being so customer service-oriented, says Mellado.
Specifically in regards to its current portfolio, “We are the only manufacturer offering 3.5-ton catering high loaders and ambulifts,” he points out.
Another key selling point, says Mellado, is that “We are the only global manufacturer that performs all modifications and assembly in our facilities, including for van chassis, cabin interiors, hydraulic and electrical systems and scissor lift system. This gives us an advantage in terms of pricing, delivery time and adaptation to customer needs.”
For the future, he explains: “We are in the middle of a research and development (R&D) investment process that will see the introduction of new vehicles for the GSE industry, and are currently considering a new 100% electric vehicle for the second half of 2020.”
Plus, he adds: “We are launching different marketing campaigns to gain presence in different regions.”
