I know Cifa is a sponser on this sight but I would like to hear from people who have personelly ran both machines to see what their opinion is. Please don't slam me on this question. I have ran Schwings only in my 12 year pumping career. I have never been around a Cifa. I had a chance to look at one but didn't get to ask questions. How is the dependability and parts availibality? How smooth is it and will it last? Is it a pain or can you run it everyday without something messing up (outside preventive maintinance)? Any help on this would be appreciated. Thanks

I have ran a cifa for a few months and I had no issue with it. They have a very smooth boom and pump great. But I would still prefer a schwing or putz.

We bought a cifa K3Z/36 new in 2005.  We were one of the first to order a closed loop machine, and we had some issues with a return line blowing at first (2 times), once they got the problem sorted out, it was never an issue again.  The only other problem we had was the clearance between the cutting ring and the s-tube.  When new, if the compensating ring was left in, the whole assembly would pack with grout and the s-tube would seize.  The trick was to run a couple thousand yards through it first without the compensating ring, and then put it back in when the first adjustment was due.

I'm pretty sure they have addressed both problems since.  We put 7000 hrs on it (1400 pump hrs) before we sold it two years ago when things got slow.  The operator that used to run it for us loved it.  The boom was solid (little or no bounce at fast pump speeds), and the pump cell was a tank (no broken pistons or loose/broken bolts like the putz's are prone to).  Simple electronics, and few problems in general.   

If only they'd change the hopper dump gate to a slide plate like putz and most others, I wouldn't mind having it back and running it myself. 

I can't compare to schwing - never run or owned one.  We now have 4 putz machines, but would still be ok with 4 cifas.  I personally like putz more, but I know them better, and you always like what you know.

i ran a cifa for about 5 years prior i ran a schwing for about two years then back to schwing i really miss the cifas open space and the simplicity of the pump never had a problem with cifas that couldnt be fixed on the job we had a 36m and 32m cotting rings are the balls replaced in 10 mins on site by one person very opperator friendly

sorry thats cutting ring haha

the cutting ring is not a big problem u just have to keep it free(spinning)..an we run ours without the compensating ring, i run cifas an putz everyday but never run a schwing an i like my cifa more but i did learn on it so im more partial to it..an the remote is backwards from each other the cifa has a 3 stick remote where the putz is a 2 stick..cifa parts are cheaper an the customer service is alot better most the guys at cifa act like they dont kno shit or they dont have time to talk to u  

SCHWING.

We have 28 Schwings 3 Putz and 5 Cifa's. As an owner Cifa has a better dollar for dollar buy and wear. A few of the ops that run the Cifa's don't care to run a SCHWING anymore. I had been a SCHWING man my whole life, I don't run a pump everyday anymore but I evaluate where every dollar is spent. I'm not saying one is better than the other. SCHWING has been the top dog for many years and looked away from the competitor but take into consideration the competitor caught up and in some aspects walked right by.