On November 4 th, 2025, the 4,000 th P4 panel bender was delivered by Salvagnini Maschinenbau of Ennsdorf, Austria. The recipient was CMAlifts, an Italian company based in the region of Puglia, which specialises in the design and construction of elevators, homelifts and goods lifts for civil and industrial use, a leader in automation and digitalisation among the most advanced in its sector.

This is an important milestone for Salvagnini, which also represents the renewal of an industrial and cultural partnership based on trust, growth, and a shared vision.
«Becoming part of the Salvagnini Group’s history is a real pride for the whole CMAlifts team», says Giulio Caputo, co-C.E.O. «Receiving the 4000th P4 is not just a symbolic recognition, but concrete proof of a virtuous path. This panel bending machine symbolises our philosophy of continuous growth and culture of innovation».

Established in 2001 by the brothers Giulio and Gaetano Caputo, CMAlifts was born from, and inspired by, a clear vision: to combine traditional manufacturing with technological innovation in the field of vertical transport – a sector which is constantly evolving. The company designs and manufactures homelifts, passenger lifts and goods elevators, including steel lift shaft structures, managing all stages of production from design to delivery. With over 160 employees, a continuously growing turnover and a widespread presence in Europe, Africa, The Middle-East, and Australia, CMAlifts has become an international player, highly recognised for the quality, flexibility, and customisation of its products.

A CONSTANTLY EVOLVING PARTNERSHIP

The relationship between CMAlifts and Salvagnini is characterised by strategic co-design and a shared consulting approach, in which technology translates into value for the customer: «The key word is trust », continues Giulio Caputo, «Salvagnini has been able to respond and adapt to us, as well as anticipate our needs».

In 2021, the partnership resulted in the creation of an integrated sheet metal processing facility at the Bari-Corato’s headquarters’ manufacturing plant: a truly automated factory where every process is interconnected and coordinated by software.

The heart of the production system is the MV automatic warehouse, which feeds an integrated Salvagnini technology system consisting of: two S4+P4 lines that punch, separate and bend sheet metal fully automatically, without intermediate handling; three versatile and multi-purpose 4-metre L3 fibre laser cutting systems equipped with ADLL sheet loading/unloading automation and an MCU device for the automatic sorting of parts; a ROBOformER robotic bending cell, consisting of a B3 press brake and an anthropomorphic robot for unattended production.

The sheet metal processing machine range is complemented by six 3- and 4-metre Salvagnini B3 press brakes, which are not connected to the MV warehouse, but are interconnected with the system itself.

Thanks to this first installation, CMAlifts has achieved a 30- 40% increase in production capacity, a 75% reduction in manual handling and greater precision in machined parts.

CMALIFTS’ SECOND AUTOMATED FACTORY AND THE P4-4000

The experience gained with the first facility led CMAlifts to replicate and enhance the model in the new factory: «We capitalised on every piece of data and operational feedback, explains Giulio Caputo, the second facility, practically identical to the first, was configured to handle a greater workload, anticipating critical issues and integrating perfectly into our production flow».

The P4 number 4000, designed to operate in line with the S4 punching-shearing machine, is one of the pillars of the system.
The model chosen by CMAlifts has a maximum bending length of 3,200 mm and a height of 203 mm.
There was no shortage of customisation: «Salvagnini analysed one of our most complex profiles, characterised by very small and close bends, normally made with a press brake, to assess the feasibility of producing it in a panel bender.
With the new P4, the profile is produced completely automatically, emphasises Giulio Caputo, ensuring consistent quality and reduced production times».

In line with the previous system, CMAlifts has also chosen to integrate Impacts, Salvagnini’s software for monitoring consumption and energy efficiency, which allows real-time analysis of the performance of different technologies.

Giulio Caputo

THE BRAIN OF THE SYSTEM

A key player in the whole production ecosystem is OPS, a Salvagnini production management software, which connects and coordinates all the technologies installed, ensuring integrated, intelligent, and dynamic production.

Today at CMAlifts, 90% of programming is carried out in the office, while only 10% is done on the machine: an evolution that has made the production flow more streamlined, traceable, and controllable, while improving work safety and quality.

This is also thanks to STREAM, a Salvagnini programme that includes several CAM modules, each associated with the relevant technology: from bending and punching to cutting.

PEOPLE ARE OUR BIGGEST ASSET

Even though we are in a high-tech environment, people are of vital importance at CMAlifts: «People are our main investment, says Giulio Caputo, and we have focused on ongoing training and digital skills».

The human-machine relationship at CMAlifts based on total synergy: «People design, machines execute, explains Giulio Caputo, the dialogue between humans and technology is constant and generates greater value, enhanced by our Made-in-Italy DNA».

THINKING BIGGER: TECHNOLOGY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP FOR GLOBAL GROWTH

One of CMAlifts’ strengths is the ability to combine custom production and smart standardisation: «Our production is highly customised, explains Giulio Caputo, but thanks to Salvagnini technologies, we have been able to transfer the concepts of customisation and craftsmanship from the machine to the drawings, while retaining the quality that distinguishes us». Today, the company has plans to build eight factories in Italy and is looking to expand production abroad in future. «At CMAlifts, we have clear ideas, concludes Giulio Caputo. We intend to consolidate our technological vocation and expand our production capacity, aiming at an increasingly anticipative, sustainable, and customer-oriented factory. Our artisan spirit will remain intact; however, we will continue to evolve through technology that enables our people to think bigger. In this context, Salvagnini is not just a supplier, but a true innovation partner».