In
the mid-1980s, a company was established in the Bologna area, focusing on the
design and production of heat sinks, which over the years has become one of the
most important European companies. For FARE INSIEME, Giampaolo Colletti
interviews Gerardo Guzzi, CEO of Ellediesse
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri e Francesca Aufiero
The best
business stories come from teamwork. We have written and said it many times
when describing the Emilian way of doing business and of doing it together. But
all this is not enough to describe that ability to scale the markets, which is
found only where alliances really make the difference. So, the story we are
about to tell was born from three best friends who decide over time to also
become business partners. It all started in 1985 from an industrial warehouse
in Funo di Argelato, in the metropolitan area of Bologna. At the time we worked
for third parties, making industrial pumps for dry cleaning machines. In short,
the first heat sinks for the white line were born, which were highly sought
after in the northern Italian market. Then in 2014 the company was taken over
by two brothers, taking on a new identity as a family business. Thus, Luca and
Simone Guzzi joined the enterprise, while Gerardo was already working there as
commercial director.
Company
profile. The distinctive element since the very beginning was the heat
distribution, developed with a lot of research. This is Ellediesse, which today
employs thirteen people. What an incredible story. We are actually faced with a
beautiful fairy tale of a small company established in the mid-eighties, which
was able to become one of the most important companies on the European market
for the design and production of heat sinks and special customised profiles.
All solutions are applicable to the sectors of IT, transport and automotive,
aerospace and telecommunications technologies, but also to the electro-medical
and lighting engineering sectors. It operates in 20 countries around the world
through distributors, corporate partners and a sales network. The headquarters
is based in Bologna: from here the two production plants are controlled and
coordinated. The one in Italy is dedicated to the production of high-end
products, while the one in Romania is focused on the production of generic
products. Let's describe the production plant in Italy. The plant is located in
the industrial area of Bentivoglio, a town of six thousand souls in the Bologna
area on the route towards Ferrara. The structure has been completely renovated
and digitalised. And then an aerial structure was installed inside the factory
to filter fumes and emulsions.
The
evolutionary path. In this story a before and an after forcefully return. In
short, evolution is part of the DNA of this reality, which managed to establish
itself on world markets, even in generally difficult periods such as those
linked to the pandemic emergency and the related global economic-financial
crisis. «With the pandemic, the processes of innovation and transformation were
accelerated. The economic shock caused by the Covid-19 emergency gave us the
opportunity to adapt to change. Ellediesse stopped producing for one week only.
Naturally this step redesigned the company», says Gerardo Guzzi. In the
meantime, the portfolio includes around fifteen hundred Italian and foreign
customers. «We need to constantly adapt and evolve quickly if we want to
successfully face the market. What's in store for the future? We will continue
to capitalise the company, make new investments in technology, be even more
flexible, and anticipate customer needs. After all, our distinctive element is
quality. Customisation of packaging, flexibility in managing emergencies,
efficiency in logistics», says Guzzi. In the meantime, artificial intelligence
is also knocking on the door. We need to evolve as the work environment
changes. The planning and control of systems will require new approaches.
People will also have to keep up with the times», concludes Guzzi. Train
yourself in the best possible way to face the future. What an amazing
opportunity!
https://podcast.confindustriaemilia.it/
Read the other interviews
