N. 42
February 2017 ISSN 2421-3586
VITRUM 2017 PREVIEW Tools for exhibitors and facilities for visitors
ANNIVERSARIES Intermac “Thirty years of innovation”
RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY Glass blocks get “smart”. The University of Palermo spin-off Sbskin is behind this
GPAD 2017 Adelio Lattuada, CMS, Elettromeccanica Bovone, Mappi, Schiatti
8 VITRUM 2017 INTERVIEW WITH LAURA BIASON
Tools for exhibitors and facilities for visitors
12 DOWNLOAD BROCHURE AND FLYER
Participate in Vitrum, a winning choice
50
70
54
NEW MEMBERS
NEW MEMBERS
GRUPPO ICA
LIFTSTYLE
RESEARCH&TECHNOLOGY Water-based coatings
Design and Glass blocks get “smart”. The for glass: “our colors, your manufacture University of Palermo spin-off ability” of vacuum lifters Sbskin is behind this
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DISPLAY
on
GPAD 2017 - ADELIO LATTUADA 16 A special vantage point from which to view the North
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ANNIVERSARIES INTERMAC
Thirty years of innovation, internationalization and working closely with customers
76
ITALIAN STYLE CONSORZIO PROMOVETRO
Vetro Artistico® Murano: high technology at the service of tradition
American market
GPAD 2017 - CMS 20 In the USA to ride the wave of compelling flat glass
trends
GPAD 2017 - ELETTROMECCANICA BOVONE
26 The American market is bound for automation
GPAD 2017 - MAPPI INTERNATIONAL 30 Networking, sharing information and relationships:
a formula that works
GPAD 2017 - O. M. SCHIATTI ANGELO
for automation
34 Italian know-how responds to increasing demand TRENDS&MARKETS
38 Bigger and bigger, increasingly bolder PLAYERS - PNEUMOFORE 58 The largest vacuum pump in the world for
Latin America
one large group
Politecnico di Torino
PARTNERSHIP - ADI 62 Super abrasive tools: two Italian masters, PARTNERSHIP - GHELCO 66 Successfully synergies of the project started with
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Editorial
Italy gears up to become the “House of Glass” Full speed ahead on the 20th edition of Vitrum. Meanwhile, Italian firms make their own technological contribution at GPAD, in March, in New Orleans. Italian innovation in glass knows no bounds
T
he countdown has begun: just a few months remain before the 20th edition of Vitrum, set to take place at Fiera Milano Rho from October 3rd to 6th, 2017. The organizational staff is working at full
speed to ensure this event truly lives up to expectations. The word of the day? Synergy. By that we mean cooperation at all levels to reach the common goal of becoming a real, true “House of Glass”, where businesses - Italian and foreign - organizations and associations, institutional stakeholders, universities and research centers, and the global media can meet under one roof. Vitrum director, Laura Biason, lays it out for us in our new interview. Not just Vitrum, though. Because in this first issue of the year, “Glass in IT style” also shines the spotlight on GPAD 2017, the American event with the unique formula that is stirring up a lot of interest in our sector. We interviewed spokespersons from the participating companies: Adelio Lattuada, CMS, Elettromeccanica Bovone, Mappi and Schiatti. All this while keeping our eyes firmly fixed on Made-in-Italy glass machinery where some are making history and setting the standard, like Intermac (celebrating its 30th anniversary), the ICA Group and Liftstyle (newcomers to Gimav membership), Pneumofore, Ghelco and ADI. And finally, you won’t want to miss the interview with Sbskin, a University of Palermo spin-off, that has brought the glass block to new life, turning it into a smart building tool that is versatile and energy-competitive. These are the assets of Italian style that we are pleased to disseminate around the globe. Chiara Marseglia
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New opportunities to REACH YOUR TARGET
VITRUM 2017 MILAN 3-6 OCTOBER The International Trade Show Specialized in machinery, equipment and systems for flat, bent and hollow glass and in glass and processed products for industry
1 2 3
Data from Vitrum 2015
347 Exhibitors 20,000 sq. m of exhibit area 18,450 Visitors
- Cost-effective rate per sq. m
Flat fee per sq. m of floor space: 170 euros (No VAT for foreign Exhibitors) Fee for registration and media services provided to Exhibitor: 210 euros
Fee for registration and media services provided to Co-exhibitor: 210 euros Fee for insurance services for insured capital of 25,000 euros: 95 euros
- Discount per additional sq. m compared to 2015 rate Fee for additional sq. m:
129 euros (DISCOUNTED 25%)
- Opportunities for new Exhibitors (or those who have not exhibited for more than 3 editions)
Exciting turnkey options are available to new Exhibitors and to companies that have not exhibited for more than 3 editions. Choose from extremely functional and cost-effective 12 and 24 sq. m stands
- Completely new format
To better meet the needs of Exhibitors and Visitors
- Seminars, workshops and B2B
Create new business opportunities and build partnerships
- Easier access to pavilions for Visitors and Exhibitors
Vitrum will be held in Pavilions 5 and 7, closer to the Metro and the train station, and adjacent to the seminar venue
- 1 free parking place for Exhibitors - Free Wi-Fi
BE up-to-date SAVE the date
MILAN 3-6 October
2017
Just some of the many excellent reasons to choose Vitrum www.vitrum-milano.com www.facebook.com/VitrumMilano twitter.com/vitrummilano
Secretariat Via Petitti 16 – 20149 Milano Italy Tel. +39 0233006099 Fax +39 0233005630 vitrum@vitrum-milano.it
MORE INFO www.vitrum-milano.com
Preview
VITRUM 2017
Tools for exhibitors and facilities for visitors ARTICLE
Antonella Lanfrit PHOTOS
Vitrum
V
itrum 2017, the international trade show of the year for the glass industry, FROM OCTOBER 3RD TO 6TH AT THE RHO-MILANO FAIRGROUNDS, will combine two appealing aspects: “The qualitative value of a trade show that is among the industry leaders at a global level and the absolutely competitive costs to participate. All of this in a country that is the land of high-end manufacturers of glass processing machines and tools”. This succinct “calling card” is outlined by Vitrum director, Laura Biason, while the organizational machine is fully engaged in the job of spreading the news around the globe about the cost-effective advantages and innovations to be found at this year’s edition, which will
Vitrum director, Laura Biason, elaborates on the new tax breaks for the industry’s most anxiouslyawaited event of the year
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9 Vitrum 2015 at a glance: 347 exhibitors and 18,450 visitors over an exhibit area of 20,000 sq.m.
be held in the fair’s two new PAVILIONS: 5 AND 7, even easier to reach from the train station and the metro.
Stand opportunities So many unprecedented initiatives. For exhibitors who are choosing Vitrum for the first time, “we have created 12- OR 24-SQUARE METER stands that we equip with premium outfitting at extremely favorable rates”, explains Biason. “It is a way of letting businesses know that we are prepared to work with them to begin building a relationship that we hope will last a long time”. A special incentive is also availRETURNING able to Vitrum’s EXHIBITORS. “This year, prior exhibitors can receive a 25% discount on square meters over Laura Biason, those occupied in 2015”. director of Vitrum
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Investment incentives Vitrum 2017 takes place during the favorable business climate created by recently-adopted regulatory measures in Italy for the renovation of machining equipment. “With the
NUOVA SABATINI, SUPER AMMORTAMENTO AND IPER AMMORTAMENTO incentives - remarks Biason - Italian companies have crucial tools available to them to back the purchase of new manufacturing machinery”. These instruments, furthermore, have lasting effects well beyond the current year, as long as the purchase contract is signed and a 20% down payment on the total spend is made before the end of December. “These conditions make it possible to visit Vitrum to check out what is available on a global scale and then take full advantage of the investment incentives these measures have created”. Vitrum will dedicate a SPECIFICALLY-FOCUSED SEMINAR to the opportunities created by these incentives. There will also be other seminars designed to help take the pulse of
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the current local and global conditions in the areas of technology, production and the marketplace.
Many free services Exhibitor services will be consistent with the top trade show offerings and, for the most part, “free”, starting with WI-FI in each pavilion. “New, and also free - continues the director - is the E-CONTACT APP that all exhibitors can use to record visits to their stands. This way, they will not only have a record of the exact number of visits, but also the business data provided by the visitors during registration. A key tool for sales managers”. Every exhibitor will also receive a FREE COPY OF THE PRINT EDITION OF THE CATALOG and the digital version on a USB key. “Exhibitors can make use of the visibility offered by our social media channels and we have also come up with an impressive poster campaign”. Last, but not least, the MATCH-MAKING SYSTEM IS A FREE platform that allows industry professionals to schedule one-on-one meetings before the fair, in order to optimize visits and appointment timing.
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Participate in Vitrum, a winning choice The 20th edition of Vitrum promises to be a ‘must’ for anyone who wants to explore, and get some hands-on time with, the most recent, innovative solutions in glass processing. All of the information about the Milan-based international trade show is available in the brochure shown alongside. From the ‘numbers’ from the last edition to exclusive previews of the forthcoming event, as well as the opportunities for exhibitors and the latest news on the Italian market, thanks to the government incentives for the purchase of new machinery in 2017.
DOWNLOAD THE BROCHURE
BE SAVE the date
up-to-date MILAN 3-6 October
2017
Participate in Vitrum, a winning choice
www.vitrum-milano.com
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Just a few of the many excellent reasons to choose Vitrum The claim is forthright: Vitrum 2017 promises to be filled with innovations but also, and above all, highly focused on meeting the needs of exhibitors and visitors alike. Here is a summary of the main services at the 20th international glass fair in Milan.
New opportunities to REACH YOUR TARGET
VITRUM 2017 MILAN 3-6 OCTOBER The International Trade Show Specialized in machinery, equipment and systems for flat, bent and hollow glass and in glass and processed products for industry
1 2 3
Data from Vitrum 2015
347 Exhibitors 20,000 sq. m of exhibit area 18,450 Visitors
- Cost-effective rate per sq. m
Flat fee per sq. m of floor space: 170 euros (No VAT for foreign Exhibitors)
Fee for registration and media services provided to Exhibitor: 210 euros Fee for registration and media services provided to Co-exhibitor: 210 euros Fee for insurance services for insured capital of 25,000 euros: 95 euros
- Discount per additional sq. m compared to 2015 rate Fee for additional sq. m:
129 euros (DISCOUNTED 25%)
- Opportunities for new Exhibitors (or those who have not exhibited for more than 3 editions)
Exciting turnkey options are available to new Exhibitors and to companies that have not exhibited for more than 3 editions. Choose from extremely functional and cost-effective 12 and 24 sq. m stands
- Completely new format
To better meet the needs of Exhibitors and Visitors
- Seminars, workshops and B2B
Create new business opportunities and build partnerships
- Easier access to pavilions for Visitors and Exhibitors
Vitrum will be held in Pavilions 5 and 7, closer to the Metro and the train station, and adjacent to the seminar venue
- 1 free parking place for Exhibitors - Free Wi-Fi
BE SAVE the date
up-to-date MILAN 3-6 October
Just some of the many excellent reasons to choose Vitrum www.vitrum-milano.com www.facebook.com/VitrumMilano twitter.com/vitrummilano
Secretariat Via Petitti 16 – 20149 Milano Italy Tel. +39 0233006099 Fax +39 0233005630 vitrum@vitrum-milano.it
2017
DOWNLOAD THE FLYER
N. 42 FEBRUARY 2017
NEWS INNOVATION INNOVATION AND AND TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY MARKET MARKET DATA DATA GROWTH GROWTH FORECAST FORECAST
The digital magazine The digital magazine dedicated to the world dedicated to the world of the glass industry of the glass industry
GIMAV AT GLASSTEC GIMAV SPECIAL AT GLASSTEC Videos, interviews SPECIAL
and opinions Videos, interviews and opinions
OUTLOOK Windows and facades: OUTLOOK steady growth Windows and facades: steady growth
INDUSTRY 4.0
Designing the ideal INDUSTRY 4.0 model for your Designing the ideal glassworks is essential model for your glassworks is essential
PLAYERS IN LAS VEGAS
PLAYERS IN LAS VEGAS
ART & COPY Chinello ART & COPY Nico Nico Chinello
’ss ee m n u r i t ’ z i m a V itru ag zin m aga V cial
Adelio Lattuada and Cugher
Adelio Lattuada and Cugher
offi ial offic
m
W W W. G L A S S I N I T S T Y L E . C O M W W W. G L A S S I N I T S T Y L E . C O M
Online, on your tablet or smartphone ...also on iPad and iPhone. Online, on your tablet or smartphone
...also on iPad and iPhone.
MORE INFO www.adeliolattuada.com
GPAD 2017
ADELIO LATTUADA
A special vantage point from which to view the North American market ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
Adelio Lattuada Srl
T
his is the second year that Adelio Lattuada is participating in GPAD as a Gold Sponsor. Its first was in 2014. “We are heavily invested in the North American market - states NICOLA LATTUADA, SALES MANAGER OF THE FAMILY-RUN BUSINESS based in Carbonate (near Como, Italy) - and, over the last 10 years, we have considerably strengthened our presence
Gold Sponsor of GPAD for the second time, at the 2017 event Lattuada focuses on automation, applications and non-standard add-ons developed recently to meet the special needs of its customers
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17 “Our presentation - explains Nicola Lattuada - is t itled ‘Not just machines but also tailor-made SOLUTIONS’ and will take place MARCH 15TH FROM 1:45 TO 2:15 PM. It will focus on the applications and non-standard options created during the last few years to meet the special needs of our customers. From large to very small glass, technical glass to new materials, from parallelograms to grooving and much more. There will also be a brief introduction of the AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS, ROBOTS AND INTEGRATIONS we have available, thanks in part to the various and interesting new partnerships we have formed. Industry 4.0: possible benefits for our customers, with special reference to REMOTE SUPPORT AND DIAGNOSTICS AND TO DATA LOGGING”.
Nicola Lattuada, Sales Manager for Adelio Lattuada Srl, at GPAD 2014
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Not just machineries but also tailor-made SOLUTIONS
in the United States and Canada, thanks in part to the excellent work of our local sales reps who have managed to earn the trust of some top multinational groups”.
The Lattuada brand strengthens its position “Precisely with the aim of further strengthening our name in the North American market - continues Lattuada - we decided that in addition to our customary participation in GlassBuild America, we would also take part in the GPAD conference which, to boot, is an event that focuses on new technologies and the benefits inherent to choosing modern, state-of-the-art machines and software. And, precisely in the last few years, we have invested heavily in our automation, robotic and integration systems”.
Innovations: presenting and observing “We are convinced this will be JUST AS POSITIVE AN EXPERIENCE AS 2014 and - Lattuada emphasizes - in addition to face-to-face interactions with various major glassworks on hand for the event, we are interested in the innovations presented by other industry leaders that
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Cliff Green, Tss Sales & Service, Agent for West Coast - USA
19 could develop into future partnerships. As in 2014, we hope to ignite interest again this year with our presentation. We want to illustrate how extreme flexibility is one of our main attributes, along with our ongoing focus on new solutions (at times, developed to meet the special requirements of our customers) for non-stop improvement and the utmost customization of the products we make”.
A constantly growing sales network Adelio Lattuada Srl has TWO DIFFERENT AGENTS AND
QUALIFIED TECHNICAL STAFF THAT COVER THE EAST AND WEST COASTS in order to better oversee such a vast area and provide all of its before- and after-sales services. And, in light of the recent presidential elections, what is the outlook for the near future? “The newly-elected president Trump has promised to make MAJOR INVESTMENTS IN IMPROVING THE COUNTRY’S INFRASTRUCTURE. If this should come to pass - concludes Lattuada - it could contribute to the growth of the US economy, which could also translate to growth in the glass industry”.
Adelio Lattuada presentation at GPAD 2014
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Open House CMS Glass to have hands-on experience of the CMS solutions and technology
JUNE 2017, 16 - 17
MORE INFO www.cmsindustries.com
GPAD 2017
More info: mktf@cms.it
CMS
In the USA to ride the wave of compelling flat glass trends ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
CMS Spa
T
his is the second consecutive year that CMS Costruzioni Macchine Speciali Spa - is participating in GPAD. “We see our support of this group as a Gold Sponsor as a priceless opportunity to promote our machines in America. In fact, last year we had very positive outcomes, which extended into the months following the event”. Speaking to us is Giulio Vitelli, sales manager of the Glass Division for the Zogno-based (Bergamo) company, who emphasizes: “The United States has long been a strategic market for us. For 30 years we have had a branch
Oversize glass sheets and new protocols for machine communication: Gold Sponsor of GPAD, CMS spokesperson for the best Made-in-Italy technology in the world of glass
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MT Connect, the new protocol applicable to any machine to send production data in real time and manage production more efficiently
here; today it employs more than 40 staff dedicated to distribution and assistance for our range of products. Initially they worked primarily for the Wood division, and later with all of the other divisions and, among those, Glass is certainly one of the more promising in terms of growth�.
Increasing demand for ever-larger glass sheets Giulio Vitelli, Sales Manager for CMS Glass Division
“A recurring theme at the 2017 event is the processing of oversize glass sheets - continues the manager - At the event, the CMS staff will explain how we managed
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CMS Industries, a benchmark brand since 1969
The core business of CMS Industries is focused on the production of numerically-controlled multi-axis machining centers, thermoforming machines and waterjet cutting systems. Their applications include the aerospace and automotive industries and the military, from nautical to energy, by way of (to name a few) building construction, mechanical e ngineering, eyewear, and the processing of stone, glass and wood. The Group covers North America with a Glass & Stone branch whose staff was recently expanded to include a new dedicated professional. “Which validates - states Vitelli - our growing willingness to invest - in terms of energy and resources, both human and monetary - which fits our participation at GPAD 2017 to a T, in a market that we feel holds ample opportunity for growth, even in the near future”.
to solve the problems linked, above all, to handling and processing of such large-sized sheets of glass. We are talking about glass panels that can be as large as 18 meters long (and 3.3 meters high)”. A trend in flat glass that, in the United States, is increasingly popular, with demand clearly on the rise. “One example - points out Vitelli - can be seen in the new Apple Store in New York built, at the request of Steve Jobs himself, exclusively with panels measuring 10.3 by 3 meters to limit the number of joints and enhance the aesthetic effect of the facades. Construction of the new Apple headquarters in Cupertino, known as the ‘flying
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CMS Render vertical CNC machine saucer’, is moving in the same direction and should be complete in the next few months, and is clad with 9 by 18-meter glass sheets”. “And - remarks the manager of CMS - in a situation like this, Europe’s response was immediate. The technological know-how and manufacturing solutions developed by the Old World companies and, in particular, Italian businesses, are assets the American market is well aware of. Hence, the growing interest of the local glassworks in our products”.
Industry 4.0: let’s lead in technological competitiveness Another pivotal asset of CMS participation in GPAD is a topic that is currently hot, in our country, too, aided by the incentives and promotion of competitiveness through updating of
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machinery, especially for Italian companies: prospects for Industry 4.0. “For us, GPAD is an opportunity to put the pedal to the metal in terms of technological competition and machine connectivity. Needs that CMS meets with the implementation of MT Connect, the new protocol that can be applied to any machine to send production data in real time and therefore, more effectively manage production�.
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25 The most efficient wordof-mouth in the business
The event is also strategic for the Zogno-based company, “GPAD is also fertile ground where wordof-mouth can flourish. It might just be one of the most efficient business tools in a niche industry like ours - states Vitelli - Even in times of transition, like the present, in the wake of the presidential elections, if we keep an objective eye on business, we have to point out that the returns from the US market seem encouraging”. “On one hand, we see that American glass businesses are encouraged by the slogans that strengthen the country’s identity; on the other, we hope no barriers will be erected against importers of glass processing machinery from other countries. Right now - concludes Vitelli - we feel like we can rest easy because we are not in a highly-competitive situation. Our skills and the level of technological maturity achieved by us in the industry and, more generally, by Italy’s glass industry, continue to be key elements the whole world depends on”.
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MORE INFO www.bovone.com
GPAD 2017
ELETTROMECCANICA BOVONE
The American market is bound for automation ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Elettromeccanica Bovone Srl
E
lettromeccanica Bovone, through its local distributor SALEM FLAT GLASS & MIRROR, will be among the speakers at GPAD 2017. Scheduled to be held on 14-15 March at the JW Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in New Orleans, Louisiana (USA), GPAD is not a trade show, but rather an educational event for the glass production industry that offers insights into the latest equipment, technologies and software solu-
At GPAD 2017 Elettromeccanica Bovone will be represented by its distributor Salem Flat Glass & Mirror. It will be an opportunity to assess the latest developments in process technology
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Robotic work center by Elettromeccanica Bovone: two integrated edgers equipped with automatic tooling adjustment and two anthropomorphic robots tions developed for this market sector. “We decided to take advantage of the opportunity to give a presentation at this event”, says ELETTROMECCANICA BOVONE SALES MANAGER FEDERICA BOVONE. “Our company started to shift towards automation years ago and today the ability to meet that type of market demand is critical. At GPAD we will present our ROBOTIC SYSTEMS, which were already successfully received by the American market in terms of inquiries and sales”.
Federica Bovone, Sales Manager for Elettromeccanica Bovone
The robotic work center by Elettromeccanica Bovone Our robotic systems are built using glass sheet processing machines and multi-axis, articulated robots, with DIFFERENTIATED PAYLOAD CAPACITY AND
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The robots handle the glass within an enclosure that remains inaccessible while the machines operate
ÂD ESIGNED FOR DIFFERENT APPLICATIONS that ensure indisputably higher efficiency and productivity than traditional glass processing systems. More specifically, the robotic work center by Elettromeccanica Bovone includes two integrated edgers with auto-
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The US market is “very receptive to automation, to the point that overseas customers already bought more robotic systems than anyone else in the world”, says Federica Bovone. “It’s a rather unusual trend: America has historically been among the last to adopt advanced technology solutions”. Automation, however, is the evolution of process technology rather than product technology, and in that regard - she concludes - America has taken the lead”.
A very receptive market
matic tooling adjustment made by the company, and two anthropomorphic robots that were already on the market.
The best for large glass The solution automates an important phase in large glass processing, and thereby increases safety in the workplace: NO WORKERS HANDLE THE GLASS . It is moved directly by the robots within an enclosure that remains inaccessible while the machines operate. The work center can be customized to fit the customer’s needs - who can choose any edger made by the company, which have anywhere from 10 to 17 motors - and integrated with robots. The robotic work center is the most complete solution, but company engineers can also implement changes as required to GRADUALLY ADD AUTOMATION and integrate robots already owned by the customer.
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MORE INFO www.mappi.it
GPAD 2017
MAPPI INTERNATIONAL
Networking, sharing information and relationships: a formula that works ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
Mappi International Srl
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“W
e have been GPAD sponsors since its very first edition - recalls Nancy Mammaro, CEO of Mappi International and Mappi America - because we were intrigued by its formula. Unlike traditional trade shows, it focuses more on informal networking, sharing ideas and information and building relationships. I have always considered it an extremely effective
A sponsor since the very first event, Mappi has long been convinced that North America is a strategic market where it is crucial to “uphold the legacy of Made-inItaly technology” N. 42 FEBRUARY 2017
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Nancy Mammaro, CEO of Mappi International, and Mappi America, and export manager Ermanno Petitti
formula - and in this sense, Mammaro is also speaking as vice president of Gimav - from which we can distill some powerful ideas for our activities as well”.
Developments in technology 4.0 The presentations during this fourth edition revolve around top-level innovation in glass processing technologies, r anging
Exterior of the Mappi America Inc. branch in Naples, Florida
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from Industry 4.0 to the most recent ERP software solutions, and from the advantages of automation and robotic systems to in-line quality control, to give just a few e xamples. “Mappi - Mammaro points out - will have the opportunity to discuss HOW TECHNOLOGY 4.0 IS CHANGING THE GLASS INDUSTRY. Our know-how is on the cutting edge and, at least for now, she jokes - we are not afraid of competition; on the contrary: we are ready to set the gold standard”.
Convincing signs of recovery “Traditionally, North America has been a key market for us, that we are able to service directly from our MAPPI AMERICA INC. BRANCH, headquartered in Naples, Florida. We recently added two new sales professionals to our North American network. In the last couple of years, the United States market has shown very clear-cut signs of re-
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The new ATS 4.0 Eco Convection
33 As we have already discussed at length (see articles
“LARGE GLASS THE LATEST TREND IN AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE”, Glass in IT style nr. 40, October 2016, pg. 42, and “BIGGER AND BIGGER, INCREASINGLY BOLDER”, in this issue, pg. 38), the market trend, with America out in front, is obsessed with large-sized glass panels. And, confirms Mammaro, “Mappi machines are, and have been for some time, able to meet the demand”. The new ATS 4.0, showcased at international trade fairs like Glasstec and GlassBuild America, is SYMBOLIC OF THIS FLAT GLASS REVOLUTION. All-Italian, from concept to design and construction, it ensures high performance, energy efficiency and superior qualitative standards, ready to satisfy the requirements of glass manufacturers around the world.
covery - there are, and will continue to be, plenty of opportunities in this market. One that is not only demanding but also knows how to recognize quality. So, we continue to invest in the US, holding high the banner of Made-in-Italy technology that, in glass processing, continues to really make a difference”.
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The new ATS 4.0, symbol of the flat glass revolution
MORE INFO www.schiattiangelosrl.com
GPAD 2017
O. M. SCHIATTI ANGELO
Italian know-how responds to increasing demand for automation ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
O. M. Schiatti Angelo Srl
T
his is the first time Officina Meccanica Schiatti Angelo Srl has participated in GPAD – a decision the Seregno-based (Monza Brianza) company reached in partnership with its US agent, DeGorter Inc. “It was DeGorter - explains Cinzia Schiatti, Sales Manager of the family business - that came up with the idea, based on a recent sales opportunity for machines that
This year, for the first time, Officina Meccanica Schiatti Angelo, along with its agent, DeGorter Inc., is a Gold Sponsor of GPAD. Their long-standing partnership continues to fuel mutual opportunities
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35 fit the demand for automation and technological innovation. But what also attracted our attention was the clear-cut current trend in the American market toward a growing demand for products and integrated hardware and software solutions aimed at automating production processes”.
A competent, select audience Gold Sponsor at GPAD 2017, O. M. Schiatti is convinced this venture will pay off. “We enthusiastically embraced this opportunity because - points out Schiatti - it will allow us to showcase our products before a select, highly-qualified consumer audience. The two-day show has an educational focus and is designed to present in-depth information to industry leaders regarding the latest developments in machines and equipment, and illustrate the advantages of automation”.
Integration and custom-designed solutions The task of speaking about the grinding options with high-speed double-edgers and automatic drilling falls to Cinzia Schiatti and Peter DeGorter. “Our goal - emphasizes the manager - is to introduce our lines and automatic products to expert users, illustrating how they can be integrated into
Cinzia Schiatti, Sales Manager di O. M. Schiatti Angelo Srl
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existing production processes and to familiarize them with our custom-tailored solutions”. North America is undoubtedly fertile terrain. “Over the years, our sales network - she continues - has branched out and developed to cover approximately 90% of the globe. Our United States adventure began in 1974 and still continues with our long-time agent, DeGorter Inc. Thanks to many decades of experience in the industry, the team’s expertise, and a network of subagents and managers, it has managed to create a vast network of satisfied clients by focusing on customer retention”. “Our exports to the US improved significantly in 2016, and the current leanings of the US government lead us to think that the US domestic market will continue to grow”, concludes Schiatti.
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Turnover unit and an all-inclusive view of the machine
37 The focus will be on the Schiatti flagship Turnover units for in-line edging, engineered to automate processing of all four sides of the glass sheet. The line is composed of 4 straight-line edging and beveling machines (that customers can choose from more than 30 product styles), and 3 vertical tables, each one with an arm that rotates the glass sheet 90 degrees. What makes this unit unique is that it can successively process glass sheets of any size. So, all the operator has to do is load and unload the sheets. The PLC automatically manages the work cycle. And, for those who do not have enough space to accommodate a line more than 40 meters long, Schiatti has designed a solution with a smaller footprint composed of an edger, a Turnover unit and a series of conveyors that work in a “loop� formation.
TFV Serie, vertical driller
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Spotlight focused on Turnover
Trends&Markets
FLAT GLASS
Bigger and bigger, increasingly bolder ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Wikimedia Commons and www.copertino.org
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t the beginning of 2016, there were as many as 29 construction projects in the US that required large-sized sheets of glass, most of them calling for transparent, solar-control glass, ultra-selective glass and glass with reflective coatings. A survey of the top American architectural firms made it easy to predict that demand was sure to flourish. The use of large-sized glass in buildings to create a strong emotional and visual impact WAS NOT A PASSING FANCY, but a full-blown trend.
Glass facades for new construction projects in the United States. And Apple is leading the way in this trend, from its futuristic “spaceship� to its stores in New York and San Francisco N. 42 FEBRUARY 2017
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Renderings Apple’s Updated Proposal Documents - www.cupertino.org
Apple Campus 2 Rendering
We wrote about it in October in GLASS IN IT STYLE (“LARGE
GLASS AND THE LATEST TREND IN AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE” ON PAGE 42) where we delved in-depth into this trend, revealed in the Architecture Billings Index of the AIA - American Institute of Architects - report in August 2016.
The new Apple headquarters in Cupertino Breathtaking, and among the most eagerly-anticipated overseas projects, is the APPLE CAMPUS 2, the new
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Apple headquarters in California. The “spaceship” project, announced by Steve Jobs to company management in Cupertino in June 2011, should be ready in just a few months to host an expected 12,000 employees. The core of the entire campus, that spreads across a 71-hectare site not far from the current Apple headquarters, is the main building. The 4-story, circular structure, that covers about 260,000 sq. meters of surface area above ground, has a diameter of nearly half a kilometer and a circumference of 1.6 kilometers.
The Apple stores in New York and San Francisco
Renderings Apple’s Updated Proposal Documents - www.cupertino.org
If the most ambitious project is the one in Cupertino, the use of large-scale glass in visually stunning buildings is certainly not new to Apple. From the famous GLASS
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cc Wikimedia Commons - ph. Ed Uthman
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Apple Computer retail store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The glass cube is the only portion of the Apple Store that stands above Plaza level. Once inside, customers take a central cylindrical transparent glass elevator or surrounding spiral staircase to the sales floor below. The Apple Store Fitfth Avenue is one of the most famous stores in the world
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“CUBE” that houses the Apple store on 5TH AVENUE IN NEW YORK to the most recent store in San Francisco’s
IRenderings Apple’s Updated Proposal Documents - www.cupertino.org
Union Square, launched in May 2016 and designed by Foster and Partners, the architectural firm that is also the architect for the new Campus.
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43 Defined by the builders themselves as “A MODEL FOR FUTURE PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD”, the San Francisco Apple store comes with a novel design element, the entrance is made of eye-catching gigantic SLIDING GLASS DOORS NEARLY 13 METERS HIGH that face onto Post Street and Union Square. The glass facade, that opens directly onto the large interior stairway, also made of glass, conveys the concept of transparency and, in a certain sense, blurs the lines between inside and out. The transparency makes the space more accessible, turning it into a natural meeting place for the community, given its central location at the crossroads between the most renowned square in San Francisco and the totally renovated “Plaza” to the north.
Innovative facades, significant scale The futuristic glass envelope is made from 882 GIGANTIC CURVED GLASS PANES (up to 13,980 x 3,165 mm), that required the invention of a custom-made manipulator to lift them into place, as indicated in the project plans by Permasteelisa, the Italian company chosen, along with others, to participate in construction of the Apple Campus 2. Large-scale glass was used not only in the VERTICAL CURVED GLASS WALLS, but also in the 2,250 panels needed to cover the roof and skylights, and in the TWO ENORMOUS ENTRANCE DOORS to the restaurant inside the “spaceship”, measuring 28x16 meters. In addition to the offices and restaurant, the main building includes a 1,000-seat auditorium and a fitness center and will be surrounded in large part by green space and predominantly powered by renewable energy sources, two other recurring green features in Apple edifices.
MORE INFO www.intermac.com
Anniversaries
INTERMAC
Thirty years of innovation, internationalization and working closely with customers ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Intermac
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hirty years ago, in Pesaro, Giancarlo Selci founded Intermac, the division of the Biesse Group specialized in the design, construction and distribution of glass processing machinery. That same year, 1987, INTERMAC LAUNCHED ÂMASTERGLASS, the first automated work center for contoured grooving of glass, an innovation that has become permanently associated with the company’s name.
Intermac, a division of the Biesse Group, celebrates its 30th anniversary on the cutting edge of the future of glass and stone processing technologies
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The Intermac stand at Glasstec 2016
If the year of its founding coincided with that of its first big innovation, the quest for excellence and helping its customers’ maintain a competitive edge are still a recurring theme in Intermac’s evolution. The company has continued to launch CUTTING
EDGE SOLUTIONS AND NEW TECHNOLOGICAL STANDARDS, while continuing to support and serve its customers, including visits to the company showrooms or headquarters in Pesaro. “The Inside events have now become an Intermac tradition and a true industry touchstone for our customers”, explains FRANCO ANGELOTTI, SALES DIRECTOR FOR THE COMPANY. “The goal is to allow operators to see the machines as they work, to be up close for live demos and ad hoc tests, to get a hands-on experience of the reliability and technological innovation contained in Intermac products. This year - he points out - we are announcing another first: we decided to focus on specialization. There will be two Inside events, one exclusively for STONE (MARCH 2-4), and the other dedicated exclusively to GLASS (MARCH 16-18)”.
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Supporting its customers: “Inside Intermac” is back. And the event is now two
Customers in showroom during Inside Intermac event
Innovation and human capital “It has been a journey filled with achievement and an ongoing quest for excellence”, observes GIANLUIGI CASADIO, INDUSTRIAL DIVISION DIRECTOR AT INTERMAC, invited
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to lend insight to the company’s thirty years in business. “Innovation is part of the DNA of our company; people are its greatest asset. We have been around for a long time, a real pioneer in the field of glass and stone processing technologies. When Intermac designed and engineered the first work centers, it brought technology and innovation into areas where work was still being done by hand: this vision - he emphasizes - was that of a true leader and over the years we have successfully maintained this leadership position. Nowadays - he muses - the words Intermac and CNC work centers seem to go together naturally: one more reason why we can’t help but be honored to celebrate our 30th anniversary”.
New work centers With the recent launch of a new generation of work centers, Intermac wants to reassert its steadfast leadership in glass
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The future and Industry 4.0
Processing with the CNC Master
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More and more, research at Intermac is moving in the direction of Industry 4.0, with modern, innovative solutions that place the operator at the center of the machine’s design, offering the greatest level of comfort and safety without compromising productivity or processing flexibility. Intermac’s industrial director does not hesitate to reveal future directions: “our goals are ambitious and aim to constantly bolster our product range, expand our sales network and the level of service offered”. “THE THREE-YEAR PLAN IS SET and the message is clear: continue to grow based on precise development steps designed to further expand the product range and to set the standard in terms of the most state-of-the-art qualitative and technological levels. No longer just manufacturers of stand-alone machines, but also a partner able to offer our customers integrated solutions for automating their facto4 2 F E B R U A R YGianluigi 2017 ries”,N . concludes Casadio.
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Waterjet cutting machine
and stone processing technologies, just as with the automated Master work centers. The new range is integrated with bSolid software, a truly innovative approach to programming that includes a virtual work center. It can carry out all the same operations as the physical machine, allowing total control over the production cycle, while dramatically reducing human error, and allowing maximum re-use of any work project.
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MORE INFO www.icaspa.com
New members
ICA GROUP
Water-based coatings for glass: “our colors, your ability” ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
ICA Group
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stablished in 1971, the ICA Group is one of Europe’s industrial leaders in the manufacture and sales of coatings for wood and glass. Its specialization in coatings with low environmental impact and astute analysis of Italian and international trends in the world of design have earned the ICA Group the reputation as a true partner, able to support flat and hollow glass manufacturers not only from a technical-productive standpoint
Andrea Paniccia, General Manager of the ICA Group
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Established in 1971, the ICA Group is a European leader in the manufacture and sales of coatings for wood and glass. It became a member of GIMAV in 2016 to bolster its brand in the world of glass N. 42 FEBRUARY 2017
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Becoming a member Partnerships between Italian businesses, an immense added value to be developed. Interview with Andrea Paniccia, General Manager of the ICA Group
Why did you decide to become a member of GIMAV in 2016?
“The decision to become part of the association grew out of the desire to strengthen the ICA brand in the glass sector, focusing on the product’s Italian DNA and the partnerships that can be established between Gimav-member companies”. “Another basic reason is the gain in visibility and opportunities, with the association’s help, where we can venture into in foreign markets and explore new sales channels”.
What do you expect from this new course of action?
“We are aware that this is a lengthy process that will bear fruit in a few years but we believe that, in the mid-long term, a vital, proactive association like Gimav can help us reap big rewards in terms of sales”.
Do you think that being part of an association is a strategic resource for Italian-made glass?
“Yes, without a doubt. More and more, glass is an excellent solution, not only in interior design but also in construction where it is being employed with growing ingenuity”. “The strategy to keep Italy’s glass industry competitive must have its roots in qualitative excellence. The association must promote this aspect of Italian products and can do so much more effectively than businesses can on their own”.
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but also through its ability to consistently provide innovative, creative inspiration. Its outstanding background in formulating water-based coatings led the ICA Group’s Research and Development teams to design a SPECIFIC RANGE OF COATINGS FOR BOTH FLAT AND HOLLOW GLASS. Since they are non-combustible, they can be easily stored and can be diluted with water for easy preparation and use. And, because they contain a limited amount of volatile organic compounds, they are compliant with legislation limiting the emission of solvents into the air. ICA Group’s range of high-quality coatings, which over the years has been geared more and more towards a reduction in environmental impact, has gained the company recognition as one of the most technologically-advanced players in the market, both in Italy and abroad.
COLORS AND EFFECTS: AN UNLIMITED RANGE
The range of pigmented, water-based coatings for glass allows users to choose from three different sample books (ICA, RAL and NCS) that combined encompass more than 2,300 colors, all of which can be faithfully reproduced using the ICA COLOR TINTOMETRIC SYSTEM. With this system, the ICA Group’s marketing unit and its customers can provide unbeatable service, not only in terms of fast delivery times but also consistent quality and flawless color fidelity that can be duplicated over time.
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53 THE GLASS LINE
The ICA Group’s glass line comprises transparent, colored, lacquered and metallic SINGLE-COMPONENT AND TWO-PART WATER-BASED COATINGS that make it possible to achieve aesthetic outcomes of the highest quality with a broad array of effects and unparalleled colors that offer excellent properties of adhesion and chemical-physical resistance.
A technologicallyadvanced player, both in Italy and abroad
THE ICA GROUP IN NUMBERS
With 2016 turnover of more than 112 million euros, 54% generated overseas, the ICA Group boasts 560 EMPLOYEES and MORE THAN 10,000 CUSTOMERS. It exports to more than 40 countries and has direct control over 5 foreign subsidiaries, allowing the company to have a local presence in Spain, Germany, Poland, China and India.
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MORE INFO www.manzelli.net
New members
LIFTSTYLE
Design and manufacture of vacuum lifters ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Liftstyle Srl
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n 2005, Liftstyle acquired the legendary Manzelli brand that, after decades in the business of supplying industrial equipment to the global marble industry, decided in 1978 to narrow its focus to the area of vacuum lifting. The lifting division thus became the company’s core business, specialized in equipment for the stone, iron and steel, wood, glass, sheet metal and packaging sectors. With its more than 30 years’ experience and specialized skills, MANZELLI BY LIFTSTYLE quickly became one of the leading brands in the global arena of vacuum lifting design and manufacturing. “Thanks to superior quality products, known for their cutting-edge technology, safety and ease of use and the attention to detail typical of
In 2005, Liftstyle purchased the well-known Manzelli brand, manufacturer of lifting equipment since 1978. It has been a GIMAV member since 2016 54 N. 42 FEBRUARY 2017
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Becoming a member Being part of the Gimav network affords Liftstyle greater visibility in the domestic and international arenas
Why did you decide to become a Gimav member in 2016?
“We joined Gimav because we want to take a more structured approach to the glass sector. This is a key industry for us, one in which we have worked for years but for which we have never mapped out a detailed sales, marketing and advertising strategy. We hope that our membership in Gimav will be a turning point for us in the world of glass”.
What do you expect from this new course of action?
“By becoming part of the association, we expect to gain easier access to other companies in the industry in order to explore possible partnerships with businesses that already have solid distribution networks. The aim is to increase our visibility domestically and internationally and thereby our market share in terms of turnover in the glass sector”.
Do you think that being part of an association is a strategic resource for Italian-made glass?
“We have only been members of Gimav for a few months so we don’t yet have the experience to answer your question but, generally speaking, yes, as we saw with our membership in Confindustria. I believe the association is a viable tool, especially for companies that want to penetrate new sectors, notably the kind of support it offers at trade shows overseas and access to information and support on the path to understanding and entering foreign markets. Being part of an association provides greater visibility as well as greater prestige in the eyes of our customers”.
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Made-in-Italy products”, explains SIMONETTA FONTANA,
SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER AND LIFTSTYLE PARTNER. “Our company is modestly-sized, with 10 to 12 staff, depending on the time of year, and 3 partners. Despite its streamlined organization, production has evolved over the years, thanks to a close working relationship with experts in the field and end users”. “Currently we are able to provide optimal solutions to the demand for customized lifters and/or handling equipment for fragile or heavy loads, even for the most demanding customers. Each year - she explains - WE ENGINEER FROM 1,200 TO 1,500 SOLUTIONS, all of the highest quality”. “Our products are high-end; we use the best raw materials. The outcome - she concludes - is excellent products, with superior aesthetic design features”. Today the Manzelli brand is known in most countries around the world, thanks to a vast network of distributors, authorized retailers and key clients. About 90% OF LIFTSTYLE’S
PRODUCTION IS EXPORTED ABROAD, primarily to the United states and then to other countries like Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, China, Australia and New Zealand, as well as Europe, Switzerland, Russia and Asia.
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CUSTOM LIFTERS
The KARAT LINE had its inception in the company’s extensive background in the lifting sector. Technologically avantgarde machines make it possible to safely lift glass sheets of all shapes and thicknesses. The product range extends from vacuum lifters for in-house use, to cutting operations, warehousing large-sized sheets and glass manufacturing. In addition to the standard line, vacuum lifters can be modified to suit the needs of each customer.
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Lifters for sheets of all shapes and thicknesses FROM A TO Z
The specialized team at the Liftstyle technical ofďŹ ce places the utmost value on product quality and safety. EVERY ASPECT IS ANALYZED IN DETAIL; the quest for technologically-advanced, innovative solutions is the daily bread of the technical division. To be able to offer superior quality, the company is driven to ďŹ nd the best solution to the needs of every customer.
TOP-OF-THE-LINE PRODUCTS Attention to detail, ease of use, sustainable maintenance and the utmost in safety are the objectives Liftstyle has long aspired to achieve. Manzelli by Liftstyle-branded products are known for their design, technology and versatility, synonymous with high quality and unmistakably Italian DNA. N. 42 FEBRUARY 2017
MORE INFO www.pneumofore.com
Players
PNEUMOFORE
The largest vacuum pump in the world for Latin America ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Pneumofore Spa
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he world’s largest single-stage, air-cooled vacuum pump was made by Pneumofore, and will be installed in a glass bottle production plant. The project took shape when MODELO, THE ABIMBEV GROUP COMPANY that also produces beer bottles for the famous brand Corona, contacted the globally renowned manufacturer of industrial vacuum pumps and air compressors headquartered in Turin, to upgrade its vacuum system. That is how Pneumofore ended up at Modelo’s San Luis Potosì plant in Mexico to start THE UV100 PUMP, THE BEST SOLUTION FOR GLASS M ANUFACTURERS in need of high-vacuum industrial pumps.
Pneumofore recommends UV100 as the best solution for manufacturers in need of high-vacuum industrial pumps N. 42 FEBRUARY 2017
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Pneumofore: Rotary Vane Technology since 1923
The UV100 vacuum pump The system delivered at the end of last year “has nominal power of up to 220 kW, and is based on rotary vane technology”, explains ENGINEER DANIEL HILFIKER, PRESIDENT OF PNEUMOFORE. “The pump is oil-lubricated and equipped with a frequency converter. These characteristics - he underlines - make it the best solution for applications that require high capacity and
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adjustable vacuum levels. Its specific efficiency, ease of maintenance and limited space requirements were decisive factors in the customer’s choice of technology”, Hilfiker recalls.
Together for the sake of innovation Pneumofore helped Modelo upgrade its vacuum s ystem, “which was originally driven by inefficient liquid ring pumps”. The ROTARY VANE TECHNOLOGY supplied by Pneumofore “instead ensures consistent performance over time, which is a huge advantage. The only maintenance required is changing the oil and filters every 5,000 working hours, and no mechanical components need maintenance for the entire life-cycle of the machine, except for the bearings with a 120,000 working hour life cycle.
The Pneumofore UV100 vacuum pump being tested at Pneumofore’s plant before the shipping to Mexico
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The UV100 company’s ica. “2016 fore, as we
pump delivery consolidated the Italian presence in Central and South Amerwas an important year for Pneumoscored our first SIGNIFICANT WINS IN LATIN AMERICA”, says Daniel Hilfiker. “Being able to count on a reference like Modelo further boosts our future business potential. Just as important were our deliveries of large vacuum systems to the plants of a multinational group like Crown Cork (one of the largest global manufacturers of aluminum cans) in Monterrey (Mexico) and Bogotá (Colombia), Vidrioformas in Toluca (Mexico) and Glass & Glass in Tampico (Mexico)”. Thus far - Hilfiker continues - 2017 bodes well. In EUROPE we can count on the trust of customers who have been using our technology for decades. CHINA purchases a significant portion of our exports through a constantly growing customer base, especially with regard to hollow glass applications. Now that Latin America has joined them, it will be among the regions we invest and promote in the most. For the first time - Hilfiker concludes - we will also attend trade expos in Argentina (Glassman Latin America in Buenos Aires) and in Brazil (Latamcan in São Paulo)”. Indeed, Pneumofore’s prospects are good, and the business established in 1923 and family-run to this day through THREE GENERATIONS OF SWISS ENGINEERS will continue to pursue its original mission: provide the best solutions for key issues like energy efficiency, air pollution, and processing quality.
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Market: success in Central and South America; stronger position in China and Europe
MORE INFO www.aditools.com
Partnership
ADI
Super abrasive tools: two Italian masters, one large group ARTICLE
Antonella Lanfrit PHOTOS
ADI & Surface Technological Abrasives
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t started at the end of 2016 and is “already bound for further development”. Positive development, that is, also according to DINO ZANDONELLA NECCA, GENERAL MANAGER for one of the two companies involved in the deal whereby Xenon Private Equity brought together two outstanding Italian manufacturers, ADI and Surfaces Technological Abrasives to create a European market leader in super abrasive tools. SURFACES TECHNOLOGICAL ABRASIVES dominates the ceramic tiles lapping and finishing market sector.
The agreement was signed at the end of last year. Its goal: synergistically boost expertise to compete on superior quality
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ADI Group headquarters in Thiene (Vicenza)
ADI GROUP is a leading manufacturer and distributor of
Dino Zandonella Necca, General Manager for ADI
industrial tools for the ceramic, stone, glass, optical, and machining sectors. Together they become a global “go-to” supplier for super abrasive (diamond and CBN) tooling, used in many industrial applications, including new generation sintered materials. The Group reported over 55 MILLION € IN SALES FOR 2016.
Forthcoming acquisitions The initial goal is to synergistically combine expertise, technologies and strategies with regard to tooling for ceramic applications, and “BOOST BUSINESS OF OTHER DIVISIONS, even through acquisitions”, states ADI general Manager Dino Zandonella Necca, to achieve a rather unique competitive position: “Being able to make and sell custom engineered products at an affordable price”.
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The bet This is a bet we can win now, he observes, in the wake of recent global market events: “the significantly higher manufacturing costs in China, which make it feasible TO MANUFACTURE PRODUCTS IN EUROPE AND ITALY AGAIN; the favorable Euro/Dollar exchange rate; the fact that companies which survived the crisis are no longer purchasing products solely based on price, but pursuant to a variety of factors: durability, maintenance requirements, operating cost savings and performance”, Zandonella explains. Within this context “growth is possible, if we are willing to absorb slightly higher costs in order to offer OVERALL SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE under all aspects of the tools life, and strive to meet the needs of every customer”. How? “Through the route our new group has taken: establishing partnerships that result in ECONOMIES OF SCALE, and custom manufactured products”. From that perspective, Zandonella continues, “we expect our business to
Adi is a historic super abrasive (diamond and CBN) products manufacturer established in 1980 in Thiene (Vicenza, Northern Italy). It is responsible for developing innovative, proprietary formulas and technologies for the production of BONDED RESIN, GLASS, METAL, AND SINGLE LAYER ABRASIVE TOOLS for stone, ceramic, glass, mechanical and optical applications. The product line includes tools for profiling, drilling, grinding, calibrating, polishing, squaring and other dry and wet special machining operations. In addition to three plants in Thiene, ADI has manufacturing facilities in the United States and in Turkey. It owns several INTERNATIONAL PATENTS and registered trademarks.
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ADI Group
65 Surface Technological Abrasives
Surface Technological Abrasives was founded in 2010 and in just a few years became a GLOBAL
LEADER IN THE CERAMIC LAPPING AND FINISHING TOOLS SECTOR.
- Surface Technological Abrasives headquarters in Cenate Sotto (Bergamo)
It is renowned for its high quality, high performance tools and ability to provide innovative solutions to the market. The main manufacturing site in Cenate di Sotto (Bergamo) produces precision cutting, lapping, polishing and finishing wheels, rollers, and brushes. New products are developed in its lab at the Sassuolo branch. It also has a production facility in Brazil, and an affiliate in the Iberian peninsula.
GROW FOR THE NEXT 7-8 YEARS, and quite certainly in the first 3”. The Italian division of the group will continue to be in charge of R&D and maintain the know-how, while “some products will inevitably have to be manufactured abroad, near their respective points of sale”.
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MORE INFO www.ghelco.it
Partnership
GHELCO
Successfully synergies of the project started with Politecnico di Torino ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Ghelco Srl
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hree years ago Ghelco, a company specialized in digital printing technology for decoration and design market, take the first contact with the
MATto DEPT. - MATerioteca (LIBRARY OF MATERIALS) OF POLITECNICO DI TORINO, which researches internationally innovative material for building and interior design. This meeting has created a synergy between Ghelco tech-
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For three years Ghelco and the MATto Dept. – MATerioteca of Politecnico di Torino have been working to improve digital printing on different materials: from glass to wood, from ceramic to leather N. 42 FEBRUARY 2017
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Valjet 1600 R H2O is the flatbed digital printing system with ink-jet technology
nology and university MATto department mission to research new materials.
The project “We are always working to improve the possibilities to print in digital on different materials like glass, wood, parquet, ceramic, aluminum, leather, or natural stone”, says
GHELCO CHIEF COMMERCIAL OFFICER, LUIGI DORELLA. “We immediately placed ourselves in the high and middle-high market range, we built relationships with innovative companies able to appreciate the added value of our technology. Politecnico shared our concept after a few searches and meetings, and today - he says - it is a technical reference for companies who may be interested in our technology, vouching for VALJET SYSTEM products quality”. The collaboration between Ghelco and Politecnico has
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therefore evolved into the research of conditions and materials that could be compatible with the technical characteristics of Valjet system.
The company and the education In addition to the project with Politecnico, Ghelco has established a relationship with other educational institutes, such as IED, Istituto Europeo di Design (European Institute of Design). “We feel it is important to establish a strong synergy and a DIRECT CONTACT WITH FUTURE ARCHITECTS, DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS”, explains Luigi Dorella. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s workers: to invest in their education and to introduce them to our technology is a way to guarantee our own future. It’s a long-term task but we truly believe in it”, Dorella concludes.
Each product can come single or be part of a series that is reproducible at any time
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Valjet “ IS NOT A PRINTER, BUT A DECORATION S YSTEM ”. The difference is not philosophical but substantial”, underlines Luigi Dorella. The Valjet system is the result of the experience that our company gained in the digital sector since 1993. It is possible to realize transparent decorative images able to create an interaction with the material leaving the aesthetic characteristics - such as reflections, texture or natural grain that merge with the decorations. A truly unique result, assured by a top-ofthe-range system, is achievable by another characteristic of Ghelco: the company is the
ONLY ONE ON THE MARKET WHO DEVELOP BOTH THE SOFTWARE AND COLORS FOR ITS SYSTEMS , “a very important aspect for the decoration finale result” recalls Dorella. The choice to manufacture our own inks was dictated by the need to offer a product really “different and superior in quality”. “Years of research led to our water-base pigmented ink, with characteristics so different from those of ceramic inks, both in terms of color saturation and coverage”, the chief commercial officer explains. Ghelco uses highly sophisticate and very bright pigments that provide extraordinary performance when combined with special resins. The finished product, blended with water, ensures maximum performance on glass, as well as wood, metal, textile, ceramic and plastic materials.
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Valjet: software and color
MORE INFO www.sbskin.it
Research & Technology
SBSKIN
Glass blocks get “smart”. The University of Palermo spin-off Sbskin is behind this ARTICLE
Antonella Lanfrit PHOTOS
Sbskin Srl
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ow can anyone reinvent an “ancient” and inherently sustainable product like glass blocks, which were widely used in Italy back in the ’30s? The answer comes from Sbskin, a spin-off of the University of Palermo, which turned it into a product apt to compete in the energy-efficient building envelope materials sector, and made it “smart” by adding unprecedented functional features. In fact, these glass blocks are PHOTOVOLTAIC AND
Sbskin reinvents glass blocks, bringing their functionality and sustainability to new heights. A revolutionary innovation confirmed by two patents and an EC model
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Rossella Corrao, CEO of Sbskin
CAPABLE OF WI-FI COMMUNICATION with devices within range inside or outside of the building. This revolutionary change, confirmed by two patents and a European Community model, was conceived and developed in Palermo as “a research project I started in 2008”, recalls UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE PROFESSOR ROSSELLA CORRAO, who is now CEO of the company that also employs two young construction engineers/architects, Marco Morini and Luisa Pastore, who co-founded the start-up with electrical engineer Santi Cucco.
How can lower transmittance and broader functionality be achieved? “The initial research - Professor Rossella Corrao e xplains - sought to MAXIMIZE THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY OF ELEMENTS THAT CAPTURE NATURAL LIGHT.Within that
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Thermo Panel
context we studied glass blocks, a product widely used in the past, yet recently banned due to non-compliance of its energy efficiency rating with the strictest regulatory standards�. In fact the transmittance value of products currently on the market falls within the 1.5 and 2.9 W/mqk range, far from the statutory limit of approximately 1.0 W/mqK. This prompted our attempt to REDUCE ITS TRANSMITTANCE VALUE, and make it more functional.
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Light Solar Panel
Thermo Solar Panel
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Dry-assembled, versatile, easy to lay The first goal was achieved by creating a PATENTED THERMAL BELT, by which one or more panels can be installed inside the hollow cavity of glass blocks, to “bring their transmittance value down to 1.0 W/mqK, or lower if required”. Moreover, “we also developed and patented a DRY- ASSEMBLY SYSTEM that makes the panels extremely versatile and easy to install, by eliminating curing times required with traditional cement mortar. Special mechanical connections are used to hang and secure them to vertical and horizontal framing members, to construct the buildings outer walls and roofing systems”. That is how Sbskin conceived its MULTIFUNCTIONAL TRANSLUCENT COMPONENTS for building envelopes, which are starting to attract international attention.
Featuring: third generation photovoltaic cells This challenge was all about innovation. “Our glass blocks
Sbskin offers three lines of translucent multifunctional components for building envelopes: ENERGY is the basic version of glass blocks, equipped with the thermal belt that makes them compliant with energy efficiency standards; SOLAR, which integrates third-generation photovoltaic cells into the basic Energy model; LIGHT, which combines the features of the first two products with intelligent LEDs. Sbskin panels are available in a WIDE RANGE OF COLORS, transparencies and configurations, and can be used to create colorful, customized buildings. Easy to assemble and maintain, they can make buildings more sustainable and give them an elegant, translucent look.
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Three lines of sustainable building envelope components
Awards and the future: international prospects 75 In January 2017 Sbskin placed in the top 10 FINALISTS OF THE KLIMAHOUSE STARTUP AWARD AT THE BOLZANO EXPO, after having won the 2015 Smart City Innovation Award at the Mit Enterprise Forum conference and competition. Two important accolades, which with many others drive the company towards new milestones. “We are now looking for INVESTORS TO FINANCE FULL-SCALE PRODUCTION”, says CEO Rossella Corrao. “There is demand for our panels, especially at the international level. We have prospective customers in Saudi Arabia, Japan, and even in South America”.
are actually equipped with third-generation photovoltaic cells, that can generate 20-60% MORE ELECTRICITY than traditional photovoltaic plants of equally rated output power, because they can keep generating electricity even in diffused light conditions, and regardless of their being perfectly oriented” says Professor Corrao. Also, the cells transparency and colors lend an unprecedented aesthetic appeal to the glass blocks without affecting their natural characteristics.
Generate power through artificial light
Components in the Sbskin panels dry assembly system
Natural propensity for innovative thinking drives Sbskin even further. “Our walls can also generate electricity under artificial light, as they are equipped with LEDs that SUPPLY LIGHT TO THE CELLS EVEN AT NIGHT. These LEDs can also have Wi-Fi sensors that allow them to communicate with users and transmit, among other things, indoor and outdoor comfort data” Professor Corrao concludes.
MORE INFO www.promovetro.com
Italian Style
CONSORZIO PROMOVETRO
Vetro Artistico Murano: high technology at the service of tradition ®
ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
Consorzio Promovetro
V etro Artistico® Murano is the traceability trademark, launched at the end of January 2017 that is now the c ustomer’s guarantee of product origin and authenticity. It is a GENUINE PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION CARD that guarantees the absolute originality, uniqueness and value of the creative process that went into making it. The hope is that the Vetro Artistico® Murano trademark sticker can establish itself as a valid tool in combating the problem of counterfeiting and unfair competition.
Distribution of traceability stickers to businesses has begun. The new traceability trademark ensures customers of the authenticity and origin of Murano glass products
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President of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, at the official launch of the new Vetro Artistico® Murano collective brand
The survey: sky-high competition As shown in a survey conducted by the Venice Chamber of Commerce, the unfair competition posed by products made off the island is, in fact, eroding the precious Murano productive fabric, and amounts to 80% of what is sold in the shops in Venice’s historic city center. The survey was conducted on a sample of 12 shops and 120 objects and also brought to light 41 different wordings on the products, 9 of which unmistakably make reference to artisanship crafted on the Island of Murano. In reality, only one-fourth of the manufacturing-sales supply chains are actually located on the Island of Murano. These factors generate considerable confusion among consumers, who are led to believe they can purchase original, valuable items at bargain prices (even though decidedly not in keeping with the actual cost of traditional Murano creations).
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All the details about the new trademark sticker The trademark sticker comes in two shapes. One is a rectangle and one a ‘foldover’ tag for jewelry. There are also two versions, white and transparent, bearing either a red or blue logo (depending on the type of technique used in making the product), and contain the anti-forgery and traceability elements that ensure a high level of security. From a technical standpoint, the Vetro Artistico ® Murano trademark sticker uses
3M CLEAR-TO-CYAN TECHNOLOGY, IN OTHER WORDS, MULTI-LAYER OPTICAL FILMS made up of hundreds of ultra-thin layers of polymers that reflect and refract the light producing unique color variations depending on the angle of observation. Another distinctive feature is the exclusive 3M CONFIRM™ , an adhesive p lastic film composed of five different layers that contain HIGHLY-REFRACTIVE MICROSPHERES OF GLASS, the only product in existence that can guarantee the complete and total authenticity and non-counterfeitability of products and d ocuments.
The aim: guaranteed authenticity of purchase The new traceability sticker is the result of a lengthy research process and replaces the previous mark that, while equipped with anti-counterfeiting elements, did not provide information about the glass object itself and the firm that made it. Vetro Artistico® Murano is a COLLECTIVE TRADEMARK: it will be used by businesses with different merchandise and product types in terms of both value and size. The size and material the trademark sticker itself is made of will not interfere with the aesthetic aspects of the products but will allow visibility and accessibility to the system and will contribute to building customer confidence that they are indeed in a guaranteed purchase setting.
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79 Another security element is the GOLD COLD FOIL PRINT . A foil sheet is coupled to the substrate to be printed to obtain metallic effects, and the red and blue UV fluorescent ink printing CAN BE DETECTED ONLY WITH THE USE OF AN ULTRAVIOLET LAMP . Each sticker label has SECURITY PRE-CUTS ensuring that, if removed, the sticker cannot be re-used. Another feature is the DATA MATRIX CODE , a two-dimensional code linked to a protected database that unquestionably identifies the product. The Data Matrix code is designed to place a lot of information in a very small space, and can be read with the FREE ORIGINAL MURANO GLASS APP , that can be downloaded to any smartphone or tablet. With a simple gesture the sticker can be scanned to verify its authenticity. If you don’t have a smartphone, you can access the Vetro ArtisticoŽ Murano brand verification page through the www.muranoglass.com website. A platform that, once fully operational, will be able to provide statistical data and useful information about the sales and core markets for Murano glass.
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The free ORIGINAL MURANO GLASS app can be downloaded to any smartphone or tablet, making it possible to scan the sticker and verify its authenticity
Remarks by Luciano Gambaro, president of Consorzio Promovetro Murano The traceability sticker was created with the support of the Veneto Region and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Small Business of Venice, Rovigo and the Delta Lagunare. “This is revolutionary for Murano glass - said Luciano Gambaro, president of Consorzio Promovetro Murano - Technology at the service of a thousand-year-old cultural heritage. An innovative tool designed to safeguard the local area and its traditions. An initiative that protects the customer and guarantees the originality of products made of Murano glass. From now on customers can find this new label applied to the products in shops and have an ADDITIONAL GUARANTEE OF THE AUTHENTICITY of their purchases”. “For us - continues Gambaro - this is not a destination but a point of departure and the institutions must stand by us to lend strength and a future to Murano glass, to its culture and its history. Without strong, well-planned financial support we risk having done all this work in vain, jeopardizing a thousandyear-old tradition and cultural heritage of Venice, the Veneto and all of Italy. We are pleased that the president of the Veneto Region, Luca Zaia, wanted to be present as a ‘witness’ to the launch of the new traceability sticker and the evolution and technological transformation of the Vetro Artistico® Murano regional brand, demonstrating the commitment and sensitivity of the Veneto Region to Murano glass, the last productive activity of the city of Venice and authentic pride of the entire region in the world”.
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N. 42
February 2017 ISSN 2421-3586
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VITRUM 2017 PREVIEW Tools for exhibitors and facilities for visitors
ANNIVERSARIES
Bimonthly magazine Year 4 Number 42 Thursday February 23, 2017
Intermac “Thirty years of innovation”
RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
Collaborating in this issue Adelio Lattuada
www.adeliolattuada.com
ADI
O. M. Schiatti Angelo
CMS
Pneumofore
www.promovetro.com
Elettromeccanica Bovone www.bovone.com
Ghelco
www.ghelco.it
ICA Group
MATTIA LOSI
www.ocmigroup.com www.schiattiangelosrl.com
Consorzio Promovetro
GPAD 2017 Adelio Lattuada, CMS, Elettromeccanica Bovone, Mappi, Schiatti
Ocmi OTG
www.aditools.com www.cmsindustries.com
Glass blocks get “smart”. The University of Palermo spin-off Sbskin is behind this
www.pneumofore.com
Sbskin
www.sbskin.it
Editorial Manager CHIARA MARSEGLIA Contributors ANTONELLA LANFRIT CAMILLA ZANETTI Graphic Design and Art Direction NICO CHINELLO Translations NICOLETTA CANESI Pictures Cover image courtesy of Sbskin Srl; Depositphotos, Fotolia Owner Vitrum Srl - Via Petitti 16, 20149 Milano Publisher
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Intermac
www.intermac.com
Liftstyle
www.manzelli.net
Mappi International www.mappi.it
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