Zamboni

After many years of servicing and maintaining ice rink machines, the partners decided to develop a product of their own. Drawing on deep industry knowledge, they knew exactly what a truly high-quality ice resurfacing machine should look like and how it should perform. However, the electric powertrain proved to be a major challenge – one that risked jeopardising the entire project. Through close collaboration with ETP, the first machine was completed in record time.

- Perfect ice is the product we sell, and all systems must work together to achieve that, says Jörgen Åström, CEO of Zamboni Europe. In addition to flawless ice handling, an ice resurfacing machine must be easy to manoeuvre – which is far from straightforward given the surface conditions and the weight of the vehicle.

From service to in-house manufacturing

Five years ago, it was far from obvious that Zamboni Europe would become one of the world’s leading manufacturers of ice resurfacing machines. At the time, the company operated under the name Izomaskin and focused solely on service and maintenance. With just three employees, the turning point came when Jörgen proposed the idea of manufacturing their own machines.

- We decided on the spot to build our own ice resurfacing machine. We knew exactly how it should be designed – with an electric drivetrain and simple, direct steering to deliver a completely new driving experience, Jörgen explains.

- I remember that day clearly, he continues. It was June 12, which made the product name feel obvious. That’s how the name 612 was born.

Drivetrain and steering – a major challenge

Development of the first prototype began quickly, but the powertrain soon emerged as the biggest obstacle.

- We knew exactly how we wanted the machine to feel and how much power it needed. The challenge was getting all the electrical components to work together. Individually, they were excellent – but creating a safe, efficient and integrated system required external expertise, says Jörgen.

After several initial attempts with different suppliers, the company was advised to contact ETP – a decision Jörgen describes as crucial to the project’s success. The base configuration consists of seven motors: one in each wheel, along with additional motors for the snow blower, snow transport and hydraulics. Each motor unit is fully optimised for its specific function within the system. Thanks to a modular base design, both drivetrain and functionality can easily be adapted to different requirements.

To support the development process, ETP built a dedicated electrical cabinet at its main facility in Partille, just outside Gothenburg. There, components and systems were thoroughly tested to ensure everything could be delivered with precision and reliability.

- We wanted a completely unique solution, and programming control systems is no small task, Jörgen continues. Fortunately, ETP solved this together with its sister company, Mobile Integrator. We worked directly with them, and they developed the control system exactly as we envisioned.

Within just one year, the project moved from initial idea to a finished, production-ready machine – and sales soon followed.