GALLI SPA, WHAT’S NEW AUTOMATION WITHOUT REPLACEMENT

The high-fashion and leather goods manufacturing sector is at a crossroads, facing dual pressures: the demand for extreme precision and the urgent need to address a shortage of skilled personnel. In this critical environment, Galli, the undisputed leader in designing and manufacturing leather processing machinery, continues to stand out as a key technological partner for manufacturers. Building on a long-established legacy, the company is redefining operational standards through the sophisticated integration of automation and vision systems, ensuring peak efficiency without compromising the integrity of craftsmanship.
We sat down with Davide Galli, the company’s General Manager, to discuss the latest technological advancements being introduced to the market, which promise to streamline processes and elevate the role of the human operator.
What core technological strategies are driving your latest developments in response to market volatility and the increasing struggle to find qualified labor?
“Our strategy this year has placed a significant focus on advanced automation. We’ve introduced self-feeding solutions for our machinery, specifically designed to help companies reallocate labor away from monotonous, repetitive, and low-value tasks. The objective is clear: to provide essential support for our workforce, especially our most experienced personnel, and tackle the escalating challenge of qualified operator shortages in the industry.”
Your computer vision system is already considered a benchmark. What new upgrades or implementations are you introducing to further push the boundaries of performance and versatility?
“We have invested substantial resources into this project, particularly in the software component. Drawing inspiration from everyday technology, like smartphones, we’ve developed programming and a human-machine interface that is highly intuitive and easy for anyone to use. Compared to previous generations, programming an object with a specific gluing pattern now takes mere seconds. This speed is enabled by new functionalities that allow for immediate processing, often requiring only simple, basic parameters.”
Regarding versatility and scale: what feedback are you receiving on the compact version of your Vision technology, and what new high-precision robotic system have you launched?
“The Mini Vision model, which is ideal for prototyping, small batch production, or assembly-stage work, has generated considerable interest, though we are still optimizing the applications that will fully unlock its potential. However, the most important breakthrough is our ‘Delta Vision’ prototype. This is a delta robotic system, built entirely in-house, which leverages our existing optical vision technology for a critical new step: high-precision coupling. The system captures an image, precisely identifies the components (such as pre-glued or pre-processed pieces), and then overlays them with millimeter accuracy. The operator simply defines the target placement, for example, ‘piece A onto piece B, top right’ and the machine executes the operation flawlessly and repeatedly, which is a vital capability for high-end assembly.”
The implementation of these robots suggests integration with other processes. How does your recent collaboration with Mitsubishi fit into this, and how does it optimize internal logistics and preparation workflows?
“Our partnership with Mitsubishi resulted in ‘Teknobot’. We have demonstrated its capability to perform tasks like loading labels for marking by the FT1 Tekno die- cutting/stamping machine. This technology can also be successfully applied to many of our customers’ pre-existing, latest-generation machines. We have developed numerous other projects using anthropomorphic robots and are now fully equipped to help clients implement this technology to relieve operators of repetitive and physically demanding tasks.”
Automation is often equated with human replacement. In such a technologically advanced context, how crucial does the role of the human remain, and how do you foresee its evolution on the factory floor?
“The operator is and will always be fundamental, particularly for their experience and inherent product knowledge. Technology must serve as support, not as a substitute. Therefore, the operator’s focus will shift to quality control and ensuring the correct functioning of the machines. Our goal is to make the machine more ‘intelligent’ so that the operator is freed from low-value-added tasks, allowing them to concentrate on the true objective: maximizing product quality. Another concrete example of this is the new automatic belt loader we integrated into our TB series gluing machines. This not only optimizes and accelerates processes but also significantly reduces the physical strain on the operator, ensuring a level of consistent efficiency that human intervention simply cannot guarantee.”
What do you see as the single greatest challenge for a company like yours amidst this rapid transformation and constant drive for efficiency?
“The greatest challenge is sustaining our ability to react and adapt to the frantic pace of market and technological change. We must proactively keep pace with evolution, not be overwhelmed by it. Regarding Artificial Intelligence in our sector, it’s not yet a direct client request. I believe its most significant use will be in production management and optimization, but it will remain a tool to facilitate the operator, not to replace them.”
Finally, after-sales service and training are critical components.
What investments are you making to strengthen the customer relationship beyond the initial sale of the machinery?
“After-sales service has always been a key strength, and we continue to invest in qualified personnel to ensure maximum support. Crucially, we are heavily emphasizing direct customer training. We organize full-day training sessions at the client’s facilities to ensure their operators fully understand the machine’s real-world operation. This approach not only results in fewer service calls for us but, more importantly, ensures greater efficiency and productivity for the client. True quality and performance are not derived merely from numbers, but from the perfect comprehension and skillful operation of the product.”

COLLABORATIONS
The geometry of luxury: ffalli’s strategy of global operational proximity

In the dynamic global arena of high-end manufacturing, where artisanal precision is inextricably linked to robotic efficiency, a market approach can no longer be confined to large trade shows. Galli has elevated its commercial strategy into a genuine “Distributed Technological Diplomacy”: the Open House now serves as the vital link between lab innovation and the client’s actual production environment.
While participating in high-profile international events like SIMAC TANNING TECH or IILF CHENNAI remains fundamental for shaping vision and brand awareness, the true technological conversion happens in the controlled, targeted setting of strategic partners’ operational headquarters. Galli has, once again this year, developed a tactical schedule of on-site events aimed at engaging the main European luxury districts, offering an immersive experience that surpasses the logistical and demonstration limitations of a conventional trade show stand.
The Open House circuit demonstrates this localized presence:
• France (Mours-Saint-Eusèbe): The event with SAS BERAUD reinforces the connection with the French industry, a stronghold of the highest quality leather goods production.
• Italy (Scandicci): The annual gathering at COLZI strengthens our strategic partnership in the heart of the Florentine district and the ‘Made in Italy’ tradition.
• Spain (Ubrique): The event with PACO BAZAN SL solidifies our presence in the crucial Iberian hub for the production of premium accessories and articles. These sessions are far more than product showcases; they are temporary laboratories where the most advanced solutions, from the VISION² to self-feeding systems, are tested live under the scrutiny of technicians and managers.
The core motivation behind this strategy is the pursuit of maximum operational relevance. High-end manufacturers require concrete assurances regarding the integration of robotic systems with their specific materials, thicknesses, and tolerance requirements.
• Material Validation: The Open House enables benchmarks and processing tests using the client’s own leather and components. This guarantees a functional validation that the trade fair setting cannot replicate, eliminating all uncertainty about the machinery’s adaptability.
• Minimizing the Logistical Hurdle: By bringing the technology directly to the production centers, GALLI minimizes the logistical effort and time commitment required from local decision-makers, fostering more focused and qualified participation.
• Know-How Transfer: Every Open House is an opportunity for intensive knowledge transfer. Galli technicians work side-by-side with the client’s operators, turning the demonstration into genuine advanced training on the human-machine interface. This approach is essential for unlocking the machines’ full potential and mitigating the industry’s skills gap.
In essence, through its network of distributed Open Houses, the Vigevano-based company does more than sell the latest generation of machinery; it offers an on-site technological consulting service. This strategy defines Galli as an essential partner in the complex equation balancing innovation, production speed, and the non-negotiable demand for impeccable quality that characterizes luxury leather goods.

INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY CONNECTIVITY AND EXTREME PRECISION: GALLI’S INDUSTRY 4.0 TRANSITION IN LEATHER GOODS
From Smart Gluing to the Interconnected Ecosystem: New Technological Standards for Premium Manufacturing

The high-end leather goods industry is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the dual imperatives of elevating intrinsic product quality and optimizing production cycles through digitization. Galli, leveraging its engineering leadership, has met this challenge by accelerating its transition toward Factory 4.0, with a strategic emphasis on smart automation and system connectivity. The latest evolutions of its most popular machines are not just mechanical updates but true hi-tech platforms designed to streamline operations, eliminate repetitive work, and make human-machine interaction both more intuitive and effective.
Computer vision and gluing: the triumph of machine intelligence
The gluing and preparation segment has always been vital to the final quality of a leather product. The company has invested heavily in integrating optical vision systems (CVS) into its automatic gluing machines, as demonstrated by the success of the VISION² and MINI VISION² lines. These systems represent a quantum leap from traditional models:
• Superior Optical Precision: The VISION² utilizes a camera to locate the exact position of the leather piece or component, ensuring the adhesive or glue application is performed with minimal tolerance.
• Kosmos: Our proprietary software, Kosmos, has been specifically developed to maximize the potential of CNC gluing machines with vision, and more. It enables flexible programming and optimized data use, facilitating the creation of a shareable database for daily operator use. This innovation leads to the optimization of programming time, job execution, material usage, and waste reduction.
• Scalable Adaptability: The introduction of the MINI VISION² addresses the growing demand for compact, cost-effective solutions for prototyping or smaller production batches, democratizing access to optical vision technology for more agile workshops.
Towards pervasive connectivity: 4.0 machines and hybrid systems
Galli’s innovation extends beyond vision systems; the company has implemented significant improvements to facilitate the integration of 4.0 systems.
• HYPERVISOR: Designed to solidify the 4.0 ecosystem, the Hypervisor software acts as a bridge between the hi-tech machinery and the client’s IT infrastructure. The system serves two main purposes: guaranteeing peak efficiency through remote diagnostics and simplifying operating procedures for the user.
Focus on Belts: Effective Automation
A notable focus recently has been the development of integrated systems for belt production, combining established expertise with new automation modules. A prime example is the pairing of the automatic TB gluing machine with an automatic loading system. This synergy eliminates the need for the operator to manually position the leather strips, drastically optimizing throughput while simultaneously reducing physical labor. The ability to offer “tailor-made” solutions, combining existing technologies with bespoke automation modules, is the differentiating factor that positions GALLI as a strategic partner in solving the most complex production challenges.
In conclusion, GALLI’s technological evolution is not intended to suppress human skill but to multiply its effectiveness by relieving specialized labor of serial, low-added-value tasks.