In Altedo there is a company that has become a jewel, a technological jewel engaged in the design, production and assembly of electronic boards and equipment. A reality that was established from an indomitable passion. Giampaolo Colletti interviews Monica Tomesani, daughter of the founder Franca Ferroni and Giannino Tomesani and who today oversees the sales area of Ela Sistemi, for FARE INSIEME.
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri e Francesca Aufiero
This is a story you don't expect, precisely because it goes against the grain compared to the clichés of the past. A story that goes in the opposite direction and contrary to the customs of that historical phase. But it is also a story that exudes passion, courage, desire to do. In the true sense of the word.
Company history. This is the story of Franca Ferroni who in 1968 obtained a diploma in electronics at the Aldini Valeriani Cà Selvatica Institute, thus starting her career in the sector. Pay attention: Franca was one of the first six women to graduate in electronics, the only one to continue in this field, precisely in that opposite and contrary direction. Franca never wanted to do the classic job that in the 60s was destined for women and she always thought of doing something different, something that would stimulate her and not relegate her to the mere role that time – that time! – would have assigned to her. At the time, mechanics was strictly the prerogative of men. In the meantime, electronics was increasingly appearing on the market. Having the intuition that it could become a cornerstone of the industry, Franca Ferroni chose to try her hand at the sector starting from school. Not just to assemble, but to understand what was behind every object, artefact, technology. At that time, the confrontation at Franca's house with mum and dad was heated and the undertaking was arduous, but in the end the compromise prevailed and the line decided by Franca passed: “Mom and Dad, if you want a daughter with a high school diploma, I have decided to choose electronics.” Franca immediately started working after school. It was 1975 and in the meantime she became pregnant with Monica Tomesani, her first daughter. Her employer did not take it well - other times, we could say - and given her growing belly he sent her home. Hence the idea. To keep doing. But to do it well. It all started with the construction of a small table and over time it went much further. This was the debut of Ela Sistemi. But before arriving at this name and this corporate structure, a lot of water passed under the bridge. Monica Tomesani, daughter of the founder Franca Ferroni and Giannino Tomesani, who now oversees the sales area, tells the story. «The company was founded in 1975 with the name Alfa Or, which meant “first in watches”. At the time, the company produced decorative watches. Then, with the advent of Japanese radio alarm clocks, the market closed. So the company began producing timers for the mechanical industry and the name, which was virtually unpronounceable, was changed to Alfaoerre in full. Later, the name was changed to Elettronica Alfaoerre (Ela acronym), which then became the name of the current company. Mum worked and put in her best effort, but how difficult it was to reconcile home and work. To be a mum, working even twelve hours a day. In the meantime, however, the success achieved with the design of a fan control system was copied by companies of national importance that were a hundred times more powerful. And so we changed again», Monica recalls. And we are still proceeding in the opposite direction and contrary to custom. Always against the wind.
Company profile. Today Ela Sistemi is a technological jewel that operates in the field of design, production and assembly of electronic boards and equipment. The company is specialised in airport lighting and signage, automotive, earthmoving machinery, telecommunications, automatic machines, power tools and electromedical instruments. We work on more complex and technologically advanced products. On the other hand, the components have shrunk over the years because technology has increased and man accompanies the machine. The headquarters is in Altedo in a warehouse owned by the company of one thousand five hundred square metres with nine hundred of production. It is an excellence in the mechatronics sector, a company with deep roots in the tradition of the assembly and construction of electronic equipment to provide high quality mechatronic products, whilst maintaining attention to technological innovation and to the market needs. The customers are multinationals with Italian offices. The turnover has improved significantly with the inclusion of automatic machines, paving the way for new sectors. «Electronic equipment consists of single or assembled electronic boards, therefore of the combination of multiple parts, which can also have mechanical parts or wiring, for example. We are able to design the product from the customer's idea to packaging and shipping the finished product on site, even in locations other than the customer's headquarters. We offer a complete service, that is, the supply of equipment starting from the basic list to the packaging, including PCBs, materials, assembly, testing and controls. We manage the finished product from A to Z, supporting the customer from the design to the prototyping and sampling and up to the mass production. Today we prefer to have a smaller number of selected customers, but to provide a dedicated and tailor-made service for each customer», says Monica Tomesani. In the meantime, new sectors and new markets are being explored. And we are even considering doubling the plant, if things continue in this way. Here, we are going in the opposite and contrary direction. Always towards excellence.
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