A company
that was set up in Bologna in 1929 showcased extreme resilience and has become
an excellence in complex mechanical processing with specialist tools for any
material or finish. Today, Brunetti Utensileria relies on 11 collaborators for
almost 800 clients and a turnover of 2.5 million euros. For FARE INSIEME,
Giampaolo Colletti interviewed Enrico Brunetti, the head of Brunetti
Utensileria
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri e Francesca Aufiero
Who would
decide to set up a business in the midst of a profound economic crisis? In one
of the most nefarious years of the 20th century, someone actually decided to do
business. To set up shop, that is to say. Over the years, that shop became a
structured company, weathering unthinkable storms and managing to sail even
into the wind of the world seas. This is the story of Brunetti Utensileria, set
up precisely in that 1929 distinguished by a global crisis, which started in
the US and soon reached the country of Italy.
Company
profile. A madman, a visionary or simply a resilient entrepreneur. Enrico
Brunetti, born in 1903, was all this and much else when he opened up a small
shop in Bologna’s historic city centre at the age of 26. After the war, he
moved to Via Goito, again in Bologna’s city centre. Here, the business grew and
began to serve the best mechanical engineering companies in Emilia-Romagna,
Tuscany, Marche and Umbria. Just think that, at that time, space was still so
limited that vices were stored under Enrico’s bed. Then, in the 1970s, Cesare’s
son moved the company to the Fiera location, and on to Centergross in the
1980s. Today, Brunetti Utensileria relies on 11 collaborators for almost 800
clients and a turnover of 2.5 million euros. Resilience, as we mentioned
earlier. Proof of this? “During the Second Postwar period, around 1946-1947, my
grandfather had lost almost everything, but he did not give up and, with the
little money he had left, he purchased goods on sale that had been left behind
by the Americans after the end of the war. As a result, he started working
again by selling these goods to local companies,” explains Enrico Brunetti,
head of Brunetti Utensileria, the third generation working in the family
business, who started in 1997 after a degree in Economy and Trade, It was very
hard to learn the notions of mechanics while in the field. “It was tough during
the first three-four years, I started off without knowing what a lathe was, but
my father gave me the invaluable advice of tackling problems and facing
difficulties all by myself. This enabled me to learn more quickly also thanks
to the lessons of lathe turners, grinders and milling cutters, who taught me
applied mechanics in the evening,” recalls Enrico. Resilience, as we mentioned
earlier. “Our DNA is founded precisely on the word resilience. My grandfather,
my father and I are all resilient. We have a considerable sports culture and
have been doing track-and-field for a very long time. It has taught us this
value, which we try to transfer to our work every day. We have always put
people at the centre. To this day, we
try to establish long-standing human relationships founded on transparency and
honesty with all our collaborators, suppliers and clients.” Tradition and
innovation, closely linked to one another. The company has renewed the type of
technological products supplied, which require preparation and dedication.
Clients at
the centre. Proposals are linked to solving problems related to complex
mechanical processing for specialist tools for all materials or finishes. “We
have become mechanical tailors and therefore select made-to-measure suits for
our clients’ mechanical process, making our experience and our problem-solving
abilities available to satisfy customers,” stresses Brunetti. The most
challenging time? 2009, when mechanical companies practically shut down, but
the answer to the problem was still the same. Resilience i.e. perseverance
applied to the time factor. Besides, there is the knowledge that we are located
in the Emilia Valley, where everyone reasons together. Enrico Brunetti is
convinced of this. “Territorial identity is always there, and there are plenty
of business networks. I also believe that the exchange of information and
dialogue are moments of high market value for the future." Working
together. This is the best answer to market difficulties and the challenges of
our time.
https://podcast.confindustriaemilia.it/
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