New Multitel lowering system ‘controls gravity’

Multitel Pagliero has introduced a new gravity lowering system for its new 71m working height MJE 710 truck mounted platform.

The new system in place. (Image: Multitel).

Developed in collaboration with Flodraulic Motion Systems, the solution is integrated into the articulation cylinder of the first boom, allowing precise control of the descent through a gravity-assisted motion, ensuring smooth, stable performance regardless of load conditions.

Flodraulic Motion Systems, based in Borgonuovo di Sasso Marconi (BO), Italy, is one of the leading European system integrators in the field of hydraulic and electronic systems for mobile applications. In 2017, it became part of the Flodraulic Group, a $400-million global company with over 700 employees across Europe, the US and Canada.

Multitel Pagliero, which produces more than 2,000 units produced each year from 14 to 75 meters working height, began the partnership with Flodraulic about five years ago, with an initial contact for the development of Danfoss Can -Open digital distributors for its MZ range.

In 2022–2023, the two companies launched a dedicated project for the new MJE 710 platform, first presented at Bauma, with the goal of improving the control of the first boom during descent — an area where traditional overcenter solutions could not provide the same precision and smoothness required for such a large machine.

“This collaboration stems from our shared goal to fully integrate electronics and hydraulics,” said Alessandro Milioli, Account Manager at Flodraulic Motion Systems. “We combined our expertise to achieve a system that meets the control and safety requirements of a complex machine like the MJE 710.”

It led to a complete co-design process from requirements definition to prototype development and functional bench and field testing.

Gravity lowering system

Multitel Pagliero’s MJE710 was luanched at Bauma. (Image: Multitel).

The new gravity lowering system developed by Flodraulic Motion Systems introduces a motion control principle that exploits the gravitational force of the boom without needing to push oil into the rod side of the cylinder. The result is a controlled, constant, and smooth lowering of the first boom, achieved through a dedicated hydraulic logic circuit and a precision proportional valve.

“In simple terms, we control gravity,” said Giovanni Vaccari, Integrated Solutions Manager at Flodraulic. “Normally, the cylinder must push to counteract the weight, but in this case, the descent is intelligently regulated using gravity itself. It’s a more efficient, smoother, and safer system.”

The valve is designed to keep the rod side constantly filled with oil, preventing cavitation or shocks during descent. The excess oil, due to the volume difference between the cylinder chambers, is managed by a compensation system that regulates discharge to the tank progressively. This ensures a load-independent descent, eliminating oscillations and variations in speed related to boom position.

“We control gravity gently,” added Roberto Bramardo, Technical Director Multitel Pagliero. “The main advantage is the absence of oscillations and the consistency of motion, independent of the load. The boom responds uniformly and predictably in all conditions.”

Integration on the MJE 710

The system is installed directly on the hydraulic cylinder that controls the main boom of the MJE 710, a platform mounted on a Volvo FMX 8x4 Tridem truck weighing 32 tonnes. The MJE 710 reaches a working height of 70.6m and offers horizontal outreach of 30.10m with 600 kg.

Headquarters of Flodraulic Motion Systems. (Image: Multitel).

It represents the first model in a new generation of Multitel truck-mounted platforms for high-elevation work. The boom structure features a completely new design: three main sections, including a five-element first boom (four telescopic with rope system), a three-point lever articulation, and a three-section secondary boom made of steel and aluminium.

The gravity lowering system is a key, ensuring stability and smoothness in the movement of the first boom, improving positioning precision, and reducing mechanical wear caused by pressure shocks.

During functional testing, Multitel’s test engineers noted a clear difference compared to traditional systems: the control is more linear, the response immediate, and system tuning simpler. The initial setup is almost automatic, reducing machine calibration times.

“The boom moves more smoothly and precisely, and according to our test operators, the tuning process is much easier,” says Bramardo. “That’s the tangible sign that our joint effort worked.”

The MJE 710 uses an electronic architecture based on Danfoss CANbus technology, which manages all machine functions. The PVG 48/32 digital valve allows continuous spool position monitoring and advanced diagnostics. This technology reduces wiring complexity and enhances manoeuvre repeatability, as the system operates in closed-loop mode. The combination of proportional gravity lowering control and Danfoss electronic management creates a synergy between hydraulic and electronic components, ensuring maximum motion smoothness and long-term reliability.

The dynamics of co-development

New lowering system being tested. (Image: Multitel).

The project was developed in close cooperation between the two companies’ technical departments. After studying the functional requirements, Flodraulic designed the hydraulic logic block — a dedicated manifold — and shared it with Alessandro Allisiardi, hydraulic designer at Multitel’s technical team, for validation. The first prototype was bench-tested at Multitel, followed by machine installation and field trials.

“We started from an existing base, but the whole system was redesigned to fit Multitel’s needs,” explains Vaccari. “The result is a custom solution, with control logic that perfectly integrates hydraulics, electronics, and software.”

Testing confirmed the soundness of the working principle and the dynamic behavior of the boom, consistent with the initial simulations. The project stands as a concrete example of co-development between a machine manufacturer and a system integrator, where hydraulic, electronic, and digital control expertise come together in a single architecture.

Next developments

The MJE 710 is the first model in Multitel’s new high-range series, and the solution developed with Flodraulic will be progressively implemented on future platforms of the same class.

“This project strengthened a relationship of trust and cooperation that will continue on upcoming machines,” says Milioli. “Our ambition is to support Multitel in the evolution of its platforms by integrating increasingly efficient and intelligent technologies.”