Competence, organization and long-term vision: the future-proof recipe.

27 April 2021

The German players in the complex systems sector. An example to follow.

In year 2020, when the pandemic outbroke, I had the opportunity to re-evaluate the importance and strength of valuable foreign competitors.

I started working as corporate consultant to unlock my potential and fulfil my exuberant technical and business skills.

During my wide-ranging career, I had the opportunity to collaborate from within - and to get to know closely – with several Italian businesses (read EXTENDED COMPETENCIES – THE CRUCIAL ASSET FOR BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS). And in 2020-2021 I also managed to cooperate with international American and German companies.

In particular, my collaboration with German top players in this field made me acknowledge a comprehensive world that proves how competencies, combined with organization and long-term vision are key and essential factors to be a consolidated player (industrial assets supplier) in the future of packaging and recycling industry.

When I got to know the German manufacturers, I understood the striking differences between them and the Italian players. Differences hereof must be clear to Italian converters and should encourage Italian machinery industry, the aim being to improve and enhance competitiveness.

First of all, technique and organization:

  • manufacturing capacity extended to unique in-house production processes intended for core machine design components; in brief, not only an in-depth knowledge of polymers and processes but of component design and production;
  • prior qualification of machine projects before launch on the market, combined with capacity of testing and qualifying customers’ products as well supporting them in the extensive experimental tests at top-notch lab for industrial testing;
  • actual project management technological support at order development stage to streamline utility and ancillary equipment selection;
  • accurate and ongoing attention to performance improving technological details related to thickness tolerances, automatic deviation adjustment and customisation of collection workbench functions;
  • continuous listening of global market needs to prompt in-house decision-making towards investments in new machinery development and following new trends. In-depth knowledge of global markets is translated into ever-diverse references to figure out product offer and process specific experience the customer can rely on for aftersales service and new product development;
  • process digitalization extending beyond Industry 4.0 and involving the actual improvement of mid-term machinery OEE that minimizes the inconvenience of introducing a new machine into the production area;
  • training extended to employees/partners and actual connection with European Technical University centres (that results in recruiting best talented people);
  • state-of-the-art technology level in several extrusion fields - achieved through huge investments in technical staff and industrial facilities – besides unrivalled operative premises worldwide;
  • qualified on-site assistance services, relying upon agents and trained and certified staff members as well;
  • capability to offer customized lines or suggest the right standard lines, therefore offering several plus: opportunity to include in the project ideas developed by the customer itself or take advantage of super-tested solutions with fast delivery and ultra-competitive investment values;
  • undisputed financial stability deriving from a varied product – and customer – portfolio. This generates high turnover results recorded at corporate business units, regardless possible workload decrease in some markets, and capillarity presence on international markets through corporate staff to ensure offer a mighty request flow.

Last, but definitely not least, the following important topics.

There is a managerial vision of business, even in the presence of a family soul; this generates specialised "business units" with natural synergies between them at the service of industry.

Further, the sensitivity to seize the concept of Circular Economy and Sustainability in its most complex and demanding meaning, i.e., digital traceability of recycled raw materials and marketed products.

To conclude, I believe that competence, expertise, know-how, creativity - expressions of excellence in the Italian industry - cannot find their own place at the top of today's (and the next future!) market without a winning synergy with a managerial approach, long-term vision and organization.