Officine di Cartigliano, world leader in the design and manufacturing of tanning machinery, has launched some innovative ideas to support firms and workers
2021 is set to become a historic year for OFFICINE DI CARTIGLIANO, marked by the celebrations for the 60th anniversary, as it was established back in 1961. For the Veneto-based enterprise – world leader in the design and manufacturing of tanning machinery, more specifically dryers, leather conditioning units, staking machines, radio frequency plants for the finishing phase and for crusts, in addition to polymers drying and regradation systems, to machines for the food industry conceived for the pasteurization and sterilization of liquid and semi-liquid food, to technologies for the environmental sector such as dryers for both industrial and civil sludge – 2020 was supposed to be another successful year, another step in its soaring growth path, but the global health emergency slowed down trade, affecting the final turnover.
The firm’s president, Antonio Polato, shared his views concerning the current period and market performances worldwide, outlining a complicated situation, yet confident about a prompt upturn in 2021.
The Officine di Cartigliano team at the last edition of di LineaPelle
What were the main consequences related to Covid-19? “Travel restrictions and the impossibility to arrange business trips, the latter playing a pivotal role in our sector in order to forge and strengthen contacts with our customers. 20% of our personnel was involved in said trips and, given that foreign markets account for 86% of our proceeds, we were accustomed not only to visiting them in their own countries, but also to welcoming them in our premises to carry out multiple tests with our machines. This forced lack of contact turned out to be the perfect starting point for the implementation of “Virtual Trial”, that is, a virtual testing room designed ad hoc and customized according to one’s specific requirements. Via this system, we interact with customers worldwide, succeeding in communicating and sharing the tests’ technical data and parameters.”
What about the economic complications? “Health regulations not only led to travel restrictions, but also slowed down machinery production. This affected our turnover, resulting in a 25% drop compared to the previous year. We are concerned, no use in hiding the truth: in our opinion, this pandemic has caused significant inconveniences economy- and logistics-wise and, at the same time, it has fostered the other nations’ scepticism and doubts towards Italian companies.”
In view of the forced suspension of activities, how did you spend the spring lockdown? “We were forced to reconsider some of our procedures, by promptly implementing smart working to support our employees as well as the required preventive measures in our facilities, such as face masks, internal signs and all the ministerial directives’ requirements. The division that kept on working during the lockdown was the R&D department, as per the Government’s authorization confirmed by the related Ateco codes, because innovation can’t and must never stop. This slowdown gave us time to ponder and to pour our energies into two developing areas, namely, the food and the environment divisions. Given the pivotal role played by foreign markets, we had to deal with strict travel restrictions for the whole sales department, but also with inconveniences when it comes to machinery forwarding and their subsequent installation. The spare parts and assistance division pointed out policies to support our customers; at the same time, the sales team managed to arrange its activities via remote working.”
Testing room – staking machine PAL416
From your vantage point, do you expect an economic upturn as early as 2021? “Definitely. We expect an increase compared to 2020 in the emerging sectors, especially in the environmental division concerning industrial sludge drying as well as in the development of radiofrequency technology for leather drying operations. Research and innovation are out leitmotifs, the reasons we can look confidently at the future. Trade has been affected by many factors, including travel restrictions. We addressed this topic by writing a “Letter to state institutions”, sent to members of Parliament, to industry associations, like Confindustria, Assomac and UNIC, in addition to the Veneto Region. It is an initiative aimed at protecting the employees, giving them the chance to travel again for business reasons.”
What are the initiative’s highlights and suggestions? “We have focused on vaccines, acknowledged as a key element for the health emergency management and for the protection of public health. We pay social attention to occupational safety and, consequently, to preventive vaccination measures. In our opinion, companies can play a strategic role in order to achieve maximum immunization coverage: bearing that in mind, vaccines will help not only safeguard individual workers, but also defend the health of their families, their relations and of the community. In order to contain the pandemic, PPEs and social distancing are now compulsory: the same can be done when it comes to vaccination, especially in those companies whose personnel travel a lot.”
You have led the way for other enterprises… “OFFICINE DI CARTIGLIANO is a prominent, historic firm based in the Vicenza province, whose export rate account for 86% of the corporate turnover. Therefore, as far as our staff is concerned, at least 35-40 employees, including skilled technicians, engineers, sales agents are often out of office, travelling both in Italy and abroad, all over the world. We aim at getting a sort of vaccination priority for the workforce of export-oriented firms, whose tasks lie in travelling and in creating economic value.”
Last year, did you miss international trade shows? What fairs could you attend in 2021? “In 2020, we only took part in TanningTech and we achieved some good results, despite the absence of Asian professionals due to the Covid outbreak. The other industry exhibitions were called off, then we chose to attend Lineapelle in September 2020 as UNIC members. We hoped to take part in new shows in 2021, but, unfortunately, the upcoming edition of Lineapelle, scheduled in March, was cancelled. We are joining the new world of Virtual fairs organized by APLF, participating in the China, India and Africa shows: a new challenge for us as well as an innovative way to get in touch with potential customers. This virtual world is still in its early stages, we hope that it will catch on further.”
What are the strengths and the strategies you intend to rely on in the post-Covid recovery period? “First of all, promptness, so as to keep up the pace with new regulations, with national and international decrees, and a qualified technical staff willing to go on business trips. Moreover, the addition of new figures, young and specialized in digital marketing and social media, in order to help us deal with these cuttingedge communication tools: Webinars and Podcasts concerning the promotion of our machinery as well as our values and mission. After all, employees are the true driving force of a company.”
Have you planned the launch of new systems in 2021? “We will invest resources in the foundation of a new enterprise specialized in the manufacturing of innovative machines, an addition to our range of products. Another challenge that, in such a complicated period, we will take on with courage and determination.”
www.cartigliano.com