The new addition to the fleet embodies a revolutionary approach to ice resurfacing, merging unparalleled design with functional excellence
Cologne, Germany–– October 24th, 2023, Zamboni and Pininfarina are thrilled to unveil the cutting-edge ZX5, the newest addition to Zamboni’s fleet, at the FSB 2023 Trade Fair in Cologne, Germany. The ZX5 embodies a revolutionary approach to ice resurfacing, merging unparalleled design with functional excellence.
In an exclusive collaboration, the design minds at Pininfarina and Zamboni have seamlessly integrated the essence of the Zamboni brand with a new aesthetic. The end product showcases Pininfarina’s iconic design principles of Elegance, Innovation, and Purity, while staying true to Zamboni’s legacy.
Two companies sharing a long-lasting legacy of continuous innovation have this way joined forces to create the first Zamboni model designed by a third-party house. What resulted was familiar, yet decisively new. A design that pays tribute to the iconic styling of the 500 Series machine models, while communicating at the same time a sense of advancement and innovation.
The ZX5 stands out with its harmonious blend of the machine’s interior and exterior elements, ensuring operators engage with their environment efficiently. Dynamic contours coupled with advanced features amplify the machine’s modern appeal, while practical configurations make it an industry frontrunner. The initial production will be all-electric, using lithium-ion power and offering precision electronic controls that are suited to any facility and any operator, regardless of their level of experience. The new tech will seamlessly reduce the inconsistency between operators and ensure savings in time, labor, water, and other valuable resources. New optional features, including the on-board edger and quick blade change system, ensure that the machine is designed to produce the best sheet of ice possible while improving safety.
In addition to this, there are significant internal improvements, such as a redesigned drive train and hydraulic system to maximize efficiency. The interior of the machine is thoughtfully designed to simplify maintenance.
Frank J. Zamboni, the visionary behind the Zamboni brand, himself had strong Italian roots, with his family having emigrated from Italy. In 1949, he unveiled the world’s first ice resurfacing machine, setting the stage for a legacy of innovation that now extends to the ZX5.
“We are honored to partner with Zamboni, a family brand with a strong heritage focused on relentless innovation that has become synonymous with its own product category. Our shared vision has led to the birth of the ZX5, a pure representation of Zamboni’s DNA projected to the future thanks to this innovative and intuitive design,” remarked Paolo Trevisan, VP of Design for Pininfarina of America.
“When we set out to design the next generation of our 500 series ice resurfacer, we knew that it would be imperative for the visual impression of the machine to communicate the magnitude of this step forward in technology and innovation,” stated Michael Zamboni, Engineering Product Development Manager for the Zamboni Company. “Partnering with Pininfarina was the natural choice given the company’s unmatched design expertise, and this collaboration led to unprecedented synergies between functional enhancements and design excellence.”
The ZX5 is a testament to the extraordinary potential that emerges when two historic brands converge in pursuit of perfection. It is not merely a resurfacer; it is an embodiment of Italian excellence, meticulously crafted to set new standards in the world of ice maintenance. As the ZX5 makes its grand debut at FSB 2023, it signals the dawn of a new era in ice resurfacing—one that honors tradition while embracing innovation, and one that brings the extraordinary collaboration between Pininfarina and Zamboni to life on rinks around the world.
ABOUT ZAMBONI
The Zamboni Company is the industry leader in ice resurfacing equipment. The company was founded by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949 in Paramount, California and currently has operations in the US, Canada, and Sweden. As a tireless inventor and resourceful businessman, Frank introduced the world’s first ice resurfacing machine to improve the efficiency of ice rink maintenance. Frank’s invention soon found favor with ice rink operators as an indispensable piece of equipment and the Zamboni Company began selling machines to meet global demand.
Zamboni has a legacy of innovation, reliability and quality with an extensive product portfolio to suit the needs of any ice rink operation. Zamboni ice resurfacers are the product of choice for arena owners and operators around the world.
ABOUT PININFARINA
Global icon of Italian style, with offices in Italy, United States, China and Germany, Pininfarina is recognized for its unparalleled ability to create timeless beauty through its values of elegance, purity, and innovation. Founded in 1930, Pininfarina has evolved from an artisan concern to an international service Group, supreme expression of automotive styling and an established reality in industrial and experience design, architecture, nautical and mobility beyond automotive. Over the course of nine decades Pininfarina has designed more than 1,300 automotive and mobility projects and more than 650 product and architecture projects, receiving more than 70 international design awards in past 10 year.
Starting in 2021, for three years in a row, Pininfarina of America’s design studio has been certified among the top Great Place to Work in the United States, where it counts offices in Miami and New York City.
