The historic brand, which became part of the Bauce Tri.Ma group of Trissino (Vicenza, Italy), has a new warehouse: 90% of the production is destined for foreign markets.
For RM, the historic brand that has become part of the Bauce Tri.Ma group of Trissino (Vicenza), in the Arzignano district, 2023 will be the year of the definitive relaunch. The company was founded in 1974 in Bologna by two partners who in 45 years of activity, until the change of ownership took place, have created and produced a complete range of tannery machines. It is a company specialized in the production of tannery machines with a complete technology for the processing of hides, in particular sheep and goats . The best-known machines, which will also be invested in the future, are fleshing machines, shaving machines, grinders, cleaning machines and small-sized winding machines perfect for glove making, clothing and shoe linings.
“At the beginning of spring the new warehouse will be completed – as confirmed by Luca Bauce , owner of the homonymous group together with his sisters Sabrina and Michela – who will join the rest of the main double plant in Trissino, where there is also the management and offices. This new industrial reality we have managed to re-launch, integrating it into the know-how of the Bauce group which is one of the first in the world. In particular: the sheep and goat sector. We operated only with the wet blue press and through-feed sammying machine, suitable for tanneries with high production and therefore expensive. With the definition of the financial transaction, we took over the entire package, including the brand, the technology and the warehouse, bringing the machinery and the technical office to Trissino. The strengths will be the large machines: we have already produced the 3,200 and 3,300 models, which are always very requested on the market”.
The development, according to the entrepreneur from Vicenza, continued according to plans, also from a technological point of view. “In recent years we have carried out a series of innovations implemented by our technicians who boast real expertise recognized worldwide. In particular, we have transferred to the fleshing machines the baggage of knowledge developed in the design of our sammying machines and presses, then we made some changes on the small sized ones. The delivery of machinery with the RM brand has been going on for a few years, but with the expected production line- up at full capacity, we will respond with even greater timing to market demands”.
The market prospects awaiting RM during 2023 and in the following years are very interesting. “According to our forecasts – as Mr. Bauce points out – 90% of RM’s turnover will be linked to exports and the remaining 10% to the Italian market. Overseas, the most important continents are Europe and Asia, therefore it is quite obvious that we trust in a reopening of China, after the events related to the pandemic, and of whole Far East, given the presence of important and dynamic countries. We hope that in the new year the issue related to raw material costs, as well as energy costs which weigh negatively on margins at the end of last year, will come to an end”.
The adaptation of the new brand in the field of certifications is essential. “Not all RM models, also due to the fact that they were conceived in distant times, fully complied with the necessary requirements. Already at the end of 2019, therefore before the Covid spread out, we created and patented Eco Process Bauce Tri.Ma , a quality mark to certify that the machine was built according to strict parameters to guarantee high performance and tested to verify that such performance is maintained over time. The very strict standards, at the basis of our research and development, guarantees greater performance in terms of machine quality, processing, shorter times and energy savings as well as for the operation of the machine itself for the entire leather manufacturing process”.
Energy saving is a highly regarded topic, in which the Veneto-based group has been able to anticipate the times with considerable timing. “About three years ago we started transforming all our hydraulic machines into electric ones, to ensure significant energy savings, especially for usually energy-intensive machines such as large seven-cylinder presses: we are talking about considerable amount for some time now, but they have become unsustainable. We have largely eliminated the hydraulic components, often subject to maintenance and fairly high current consumption, with the use of inverter electric motors which guarantee energy savings, as they are able to control the flow and absorption of the motor. This technology has been a priority for the Bauce group since 2021 and has gradually been transferred to the RM models”.
Among the most important news of 2023 is the return to full capacity of international trade fairs in the sector, albeit still with the unknown factor tied to the choices linked to the Chinese economy. “After returning to the Indian fair in Chennai at the end of January – concludes Luca Bauce – we will participate in the main world exhibitions, including those in Dubai and in September at the Tanning Tech of Milan. As far as China is concerned, we understand if they will reopen as early as this year or in 2024”.