N. 43
April 2017 ISSN 2421-3586
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS Showcasing Italian glass technology at its best in Beijing
VITRUM 2017 PREVIEW In October, Milan is the home of all glass stakeholders
EVENTS MILAN DESIGN WEEK Mini Ghosts debut at the Salone del Mobile in Milan
COMPANIES DOSSIER Antonini, Neptun, OCMI-OTG, O. M. Schiatti Angelo
8 VITRUM 2017
INTERVIEW WITH DINO ZANDONELLA NECCA
In October, Milan is the home of all glass stakeholders
12 CHINA GLASS FOCUS
Showcasing Italian glass technology at its best in Beijing
42
16
INDUSTRY 4.0 - SEMINAR
INDUSTRY 4.0 - SIEMENS
LAURA BIASON
ROBERTO ZUFFADA
COUNTRY PROFILE Machine tools and human CHINA capital: Industry 4.0
Interview with Claudio Pasqualucci, Director of Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Shanghai
46
is all about interconnection
2 N. 43 APRIL 2017
Digitalization, integration and connectivity: the new industrial paradigms
3 04/ 2017
DISPLAY
on
58
PLAYERS
RCN SOLUTIONS
A new asset for business growth
CHINA GLASS 2017 - ANTONINI 24 New mission: energy efficient furnaces CHINA GLASS 2017 - NEPTUN 28 Even faster and easier processing
CHINA GLASS 2017 - OCMI-OTG
demand for technology and automation in China
32 Pharmaceutical glass and tableware: growing
CHINA GLASS 2017 - O. M. SCHIATTI ANGELO 38 The expo is a meeting point for local companies
MADE-IN-ITALY HIGHLIGHTS - PELLINI
interpane gap
PARTNERSHIP - FENZI & PELLINI
and competitive product line
64 First blinds ever for IG units with a 16 mm
52
INDUSTRY 4.0 INSIDE INTERMAC GLASS
How manufacturing challenges are won in the digital era
68 Joining forces in Russia for a more complete EVENTS - MILAN DESIGN WEEK / VIDEOINTERVIEW 72 AGC rolls out “Touch”: design gets interactive in
glass objects “to be touched”
EVENTS - MILAN DESIGN WEEK / FIAM 74 Mini Ghosts debut at the Salone del Mobile
in Milan
N. 43 APRIL 2017
5
Editorial
Events, machines and design: glass knows no bounds China Glass is nearly upon us. Design Week just ended its run in Milan. Interactions between experiences, technologies and ideas are what inspired this issue
E
verything is ready for China Glass 2017. The Italian group led by Gimav is at the starting gate. We talked about it with Director, Laura Biason, and with Claudio Pasqualucci of ITA (Italian Trade
Agency) in Shanghai. We also interviewed Antonini, Neptun, Ocmi and Schiatti about their plans for the event. Meanwhile, the annual Design Week just ended in Milan. A true choral event, the Salone del Mobile blended the voices of pretty much all the sectors and, thanks to countless engaging Design Week events, brought hundreds of thousands of visitors and design aficionados out into the streets of M ilan. We, too, made the rounds at the Salone to catch sight of “reflections of glass”: we found the “mini” reinterpretations of the iconic Ghost chair by Cini Boeri, which was featured at Vitrum 2015. And “Touch”, the new installation by AGC - Asahi Glass, also interviewed this year. We decided to focus in again on Industry 4.0. The column takes its cue from the seminar organized by Gimav. Among the speakers was Roberto Zuffada from Siemens Italia, who we interviewed. In addition, the assessment by Inside Intermac Glass provides a useful, deeper insight into the company’s experiences and technologies from the 4.0 point of view. “Partnerships” continue to blossom as Fenzi and Pellini join forces to win over the Russian market. And, finally, the “Protagonists” of the month section is dedicated to RCN Solutions. Enjoy the read!
Chiara Marseglia
N. 43 APRIL 2017
PROUDLY ENGINEERED IN ITALY The superior quality of Italian glass working machines
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MORE INFO www.vitrum-milano.com
Preview
VITRUM 2017
In October, Milan is the home of all glass stakeholders ARTICLE
Antonella Lanfrit PHOTOS
Vitrum Srl
A
n unprecedented action strongly supported by the president of Vitrum, Dino Zandonella Necca, and perhaps somewhat predictable given the positive feedback received at the national and international level. The Vitrum 2017 event will be marked by MASS INVOLVEMENT OF GLASS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS participating in the world trade expo organized by Vitrum and scheduled to be held at the Fiera Milan fairgrounds on 3-6 October of this year. “I am truly passionate about this event - the president confirms - because if we can turn Vitrum into ‘the home of all glass stakeholders’, it will become the place where they meet,
The president of Vitrum Zandonella Necca: “The expo plays a strategic role, and for the first time becomes a place that fosters the establishment of unprecedented synergies” 8 N. 43 APRIL 2017
9
Dino Zandonella Necca, President of Vitrum exchange ideas, find common ground to overcome the current state of fragmentation, and work synergistically”.
The Associations’ convention in June One step in that direction will be the convention of glass industry Associations representing businesses across the entire glass sector, from machinery manufacturers and glassworks, to artisans, and artists, scheduled to be held in Murano on 21-22 June 2017. The Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro will attend and host the event at its own headquarters in Murano, which participants will also be able to tour. President Zandonella Necca continues to illustrate this year’s changes to the expo by saying that “foreign visitors come to Vitrum to see CUTTING EDGE MACHINE AND TECHNOLOGY, but also to compare and obtain expert advice on how to solve specific, unique problems”. “Being able to provide answers of this type - Zandonella adds with regard to Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro - provides added value for our country through the role of its expo, which for the first time becomes a place for unprecedented and truly synergic meetings”. That is why leading European and overseas trade Associations have expressed their interest in Vitrum.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
Twenty years of Vitrum
Synergies, innovation, opportunities: for exhibitors and visitors the “expo package” has high added value On 3 October 2017, the global glass industry will gather at the Fiera Milano Rho fairgrounds, for the opening of the 20th Vitrum trade expo. This year the fair will focus on highlighting the close CONNECTION BETWEEN ALL ENTITIES IN THE GLASS SECTOR: Italian and foreign companies, national and international trade associations, institutions, research centers, and trade magazines from all over the world. The “Glass products for the construction industry” workshop organized by Gimav in collaboration with Assovetro will also be held during the four-day expo. For the first time, the international expo of machinery and accessories for flat and hollow glass processing will occupy TWO CENTRAL PAVILIONS - 5 AND 7 - AT FIERA MILANO RHO, ensuring more convenient, easier access for exhibitors and visitors alike. Turn-key solutions and remarkable savings are available to both first-time exhibitors and those who participated in the last event. Wi-Fi coverage and an “e-contact” app for recording visitors’ data will be provided free of charge. The “Vitrum 2017” app will provide access to the list of exhibitors at the fair. The “Match-making” app for scheduling business meetings at the expo completes the digital package. With regard to digital advertising, Vitrum will once again allow participants to use the expo social media channels to share information about their innovations and technologies on Facebook and Twitter. For additional info: www.vitrum-milano.com.
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The Italian market is more important than ever this year New horizons and opportunities “may be found by paying attention to new materials that can be processed with the excellent machines and tools Italy produces, especially for glass”, the president states, stressing the importance of being in the Italian market this year. “The Government’ Super Ammortamento and Iper Ammortamento incentives for corporate investments in Industry 4.0 machinery and technology - he says - are starting to trigger LARGE
INVESTMENTS IN A COUNTRY WHICH, WE SHOULD RECALL, RANKS SECOND IN EUROPE IN MANUFACTURING STRENGHT”. And in addition to these tax incentives, there is also the Nuova Sabatini law and R&D tax credit. Italian businesses may take advantage of them through the first half of 2018, if the contract is finalized by the end of 2017. The signs of interest from abroad are clear, since a quarter of registered exhibitors are attending Vitrum for the first time.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
MORE INFO www.gimav.it
Gimav
CHINA GLASS 2017
Showcasing Italian glass technology at its best in Beijing ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
Gimav
12
T
his year’s first major international glass industry event will be held in Beijing, as customary for odd numbered years. The capital of the People’s Republic of China will in fact host the 28th CHINA GLASS EXPO on 24-27 May, at the China International Exhibition Center (CIEC).
Gimav members team up to take China Glass 2017 by storm. The numbers confirm the companies’ interest in showcasing made-in-Italy excellence worldwide N. 43 APRIL 2017
13 Two souls, one identity “The Beijing and Shanghai expos have rather different souls - explains Laura Biason, director of Gimav Although the geographical magnitude of China itself surely promotes such differentiation, they are bound by a common thread, which is also the essence of their identity: both glass trade expos are organized by the CHINESE CERAMIC SOCIETY (CCS). Both events by now have strengthened their position among the leading World Trade expos”. Shanghai has historically been the most popular of the two, “but since 2015 - the director underlines - attendance at the Beijing event has also been high, and this year’s level of interest seems to substantiate this”.
A remarkable, enticing group stand There will be 30 ITALIAN COMPANIES ON THE GIMAV CHINA GLASS 2017 TEAM, which will occupy an exhibit area of 1000 m2. “The indisputably large presence of Italian companies, and the enthusiastic demand behind it far exceeded both our own and the event organizers’ expectations”, Biason states. Although the Italian Pavilion is vast, and surely among the largest in the international area, CCS had to work quite hard to meet all requests. “In fact - Biason underlines - several companies which attended in the past opted to have larger stands this year, while a remarkable number of Laura Biason,
director of Gimav N. 43 APRIL 2017
Gimav members decided to attend China Glass for the first time, all of which makes us very proud indeed”.
Italian technology up close Italian companies, as customary, will host “live demos” of their machines at the exhibition. Many Gimav members opted to offer a “FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE”, and bring their best technology to Beijing, as proven by the size of their stands which far exceeds that of other international competitors. “Bringing machinery to China is certainly a big expense for our companies - Biason states - but since it has become a must-see event not only for China, but for the entire South-East Asia area, attending China Glass is more important than ever”.
14 N. 43 APRIL 2017
The Italian group participation stands at China Glass Shanghai 2016
15
Lots of innovation for an ever-more global audience “We surely are bound to see a wealth of innovation at China Glass 2017 - Laura Biason concludes - we have seen a lot of it at Glasstec 2016, and expect to see even more at Vitrum 2017, but right now we should focus on this year's first, major appointment”. “China Glass has grown to attract visitors from all over the world now, and is a technology showcase with a truly global customers and exhibitors base”. “Again this year we'll have AN EXTREMELY ATTRACTIVE GROUP stand strategically located in the international hall”. “Beijing is another key opportunity to proudly fly the flag of the Italian glass machinery industry”.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
MORE INFO www.italtrade.com
Country Profile CHINA
High-tech and eco-friendly: the two new buzzwords in the Chinese market ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
ITA Agency and Gimav
F
or years, China has been a pivotal partner for Italy in the glass processing machinery industry and - in general - for the entire mechanical engineering sector. CLAUDIO PASQUALUCCI, DIRECTOR OF THE ITALIAN TRADE AGENCY (ITA) IN SHANGHAI ,
Exports are bustling; trade relations are of key importance. And, with “Made in China 2025”, the opportunities for Italian businesses expand even further. Interview with Claudio Pasqualucci, ITA director in Shanghai 16 N. 43 APRIL 2017
17 offers insights on some key data surrounding the new opportunities and huge potential for doing business available to many Italian businesses.
Claudio Pasqualucci, Director of Italian Trade Agency (ITA) in Shanghai
What elements can help us outline today’s ItaloChinese economic and trade relations? “In 2015 the People’s Republic was the third-ranked destination for Italian exports, valued at $32.6 million, but it had been ranked first until 2014, ($37 million that year). From January to August 2016 our EXPORTS TO CHINA totaled $32.3 million, marking a 51% INCREASE over the same period the previous year. Thus, C hina is a core partner of growing importance, as Italy’s P resident, Sergio Mattarella, pointed out during his recent visit there, when he re-launched the Italo-Chinese p artnership and economic and trade relationships”.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
How important are exports from Italy to Beijing? “The Chinese market is increasingly important for our country, in mechanical engineering in general, and more specifically, for the glass processing machines and equipment industry. Regarding imports in the industrial machinery sector, from 2008 to date, China has never dropped below third position as a supply nation. In the period from January to August 2016, the trend improved further with a 2.6% increase over the same period in 2015 (from $6.95 to $7.14 billion). As far as exports to China are concerned, since 2009 China has been among the top 8 destination countries for exports from the industrial machinery macro-system. At the close of the January-August 2016 period, Beijing was the sixth destination for the sector’s exports ($2.85 billion)”. What role does the industry of glass processing machines and accessories and special products play in trade relations with China? “In the glass industry and, more specifically, in the glass processing machines, accessories and special products industry, TRADE RELATIONS WITH CHINA ARE CRUCIAL TO OUR COUNTRY . In 2015, Italy’s exports to China marked a downward trend (dropping to $32.6 million in exports as China slipped from firstto third-ranked destination country for our industry’s exports). This TREND was COMPLETELY REVERSED in the January to August 2016 period, with a significant increase over the same period in 2015”. So, exports are clearly trending upward. But,
18 N. 43 APRIL 2017
19 where does the import of products from China fit into this landscape? “Although its impact doesn’t compare to that of exports, industry imports from China are still significant. Italy’s imports from Beijing in recent years have never dropped below $5 million and the January-August 2016 numbers were at the pinnacle of this growth trend”. Where do you anticipate more lively demand for Italian technology? “Right now the Chinese market is in a state of flux but, more than ever, it seems indispensable to Italian industry, above all the high-tech sector. For example, I think about the opportunities stemming from ‘MADE IN CHINA 2025’. It aims at absolute leadership in terms of production, technology, innovation and product excellence in various industries and sub-industries, based on a well-thoughtout plan in which the Chinese authorities set out a timeline of actions and objectives that the ‘Middle Kingdom’ must implement to bridge the gap between China and the other technologically-advanced powers”. As a result, what new challenges might Italian businesses have to face? “This is exactly where a number of sectors in the Italian machinery industry engineering can play a critical role. By aiming for MID-TO LONG-RANGE BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS, Italy could become China’s partner par excellence. With ‘Made in China 2025’, the People’s Republic is now telling the whole world what it needs. With OUR TECHNOLOGY and OUR EXPERTISE, it is our job to come up with A SOLUTION TO THE NEEDS of this major ally”.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
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CHINA GLASS 2017
COMPANIES DOSSIER Antonini Neptun OCMI-OTG Officina Meccanica Schiatti Angelo
ADELIO LATTUADA E1-173 info@adeliolattuada.com www.adeliolattuada.com
Gimav Associated Members at China Glass 2017
ANTONINI E1-119 antoninisrl@leonet.it www.antoninisrl.com BAVELLONI E1-139 info@bavelloni.com www.bavelloni.com
Beijing, 24-27 May China International
BIESSE INTERMAC E1-060 intermac.sales@intermac.com www.intermac.com
Exhibition Center (CIEC)
BDF INDUSTRIES E1-115 bdf@bdf.it www.bdfindustriesgroup.com BOTTERO E1-156 bottero@bottero.com www.bottero.com CEFLA FINISHING GROUP E1-108 ceflaimola@cefla.it www.cefla.com CMS BREMBANA E1-172 glass@cmsindustries.it www.cmsindustries.it COLOROBBIA GLASS ENGINEERING & CONTRACTING E1-128 info@glasscontracting.com www.glasscontracting.com
E1-055
ELETTROMECCANICA BOVONE E1-125 sales@bovone.com www.bovone.com
22 N. 43 APRIL 2017
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FENZI E1-071 info@fenzigroup.com www.fenzigroup.com
NEPTUN GLASS E1-067 info@neptunglass.com www.neptunglass.com
FERMAC E1-134 sebastien.antoine@fermac.it www.fermac.it
OCMI OTG E1-112 commerciale@ocmigroup.com www.ocmigroup.com
FOREL E1-092 info@forelspa.com www.forelspa.com
OLIVOTTO GLASS TECHNOLOGIES E1-117 info@olivotto.it www.olivotto.it
FORVET E1-093 forvet00@forvet.it www.forvet.it GLASS SERVICE E1-105 glass-service@glassservice.it www.glassservice.it HELIOS ITALQUARTZ E1-057 helios@heliosquartz.com www.heliosquartz.com
OPTIMA E1-137 info@optima.it www.optima.it PNEUMOFORE E1-129 info@pneumofore.com www.pneumofore.com SCHIATTI ANGELO E1-150 info@schiattiangelosrl.com www.schiattiangelosrl.com
ICA E1-199 info@icaspa.com www.icaspa.com
SKG - SKILL GLASS E1-153 info@skillglass.it www.skillglass.it
ITALCARRELLI E1-133 info@italcarrelli.eu www.italcarrelli.eu
TC SPECIAL EQUIPMENTS E1-151 triulzi@triulzi.com www.triulzi.com
MAPPI INTERNATIONAL E1-152 info@mappi.it www.mappi.it
TECNO 5 - CERVE E1-111 salesdept@tecno5.it www.tecno5.it
MOLE MORESCHI E1-103 info@molemoreschi.com www.molemoreschi.com
N. 43 APRIL 2017
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017 MORE INFO www.antoninisrl.com
ANTONINI SRL
New mission: energy efficient furnaces ARTICLE
Antonella Lanfrit PHOTOS
Antonini Srl
E
nergy efficient machinery by Antonini, with lower gas consumption rates, will take center stage at China Glass. The Italian leading manufacturer of furnaces for annealing and decorating, insulator furnaces, special heat treating and mold pre-heating furnaces for hollow glass will exhibit at the event, further confirming its interest in the markets of China, South-East Asia, the Middle-East, and Russia.
Burner upgrades lower gas consumption. Antonini seeks to strengthen business relationships in the Chinese and South-East Asia markets 24 N. 43 APRIL 2017
25 INTERVIEW WITH BARBARA ANTONINI, SALES MANAGER OF ANTONINI SRL
The supplier of choice for the largest glassworks in China Antonini is the preferred supplier of the largest glassworks in China which also export their products. “At these levels - sales manager Barbara Antonini confirms - we are indisputably viewed as the go-to supplier of cutting-edge technology and quality”, which all systems by the Tuscan company guarantee. Nonetheless, besides the historical success further confirmed by the large order scheduled for delivery in September, “in our opinion, there’s still room for growth in this
market”. The company will also attend China Glass because “we are interested in the entire South-East Asia and Middle-Eastern market, home of many large glassworks for which China Glass is the must-attend trade expo”. The event “is also starting to attract Russian entrepreneurs. And although the Russian market is not quite as lively, it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on”. The expo will also be an opportunity to meet with established customers, obtain information about new projects, and assess the need for spare parts and after-market services.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017 Showcasing new offerings at the expo “As usual, due to their size, we will not physically showcase our products at the expo - explains Sales Manager Barbara Antonini - but will bring all documents necessary to illustrate our offerings in detail”. The latest innovations by Antonini “focus on reducing energy consumption - the manager states- based on specifically developed burner upgrades”.
Over 1,700 installations world-wide from 1946 to date Antonini was established in 1946, and continues to be a formidable competitor, with a strong presence in all 5 continents, and over 1,700 installations in 82 countries to date. Its production focuses on annealing and decorating
26 N. 43 APRIL 2017
27
furnaces, glass block tempering furnaces, and HV insulator furnaces - machines and technology that made us Chinese market leaders”, Barbara Antonini remarks - as well as dosing pumps for cold-end treatments.
Specialized in overhauls and upgrades Moreover, the company is an outstanding provider of overhaul and upgrades services for machinery made by Antonini as well as by other brands. “In that regard - the sales manager states - we have become so specialized that we can even overhaul furnaces that have been in service for 10-15 years”. “We pick up the machines, retrofit them by changing or replacing whichever parts they need, then put them back on the market as used products, at a price 30% lower than new machines, but backed by the same exact warranty, which is very important”. Antonini is the go-to supplier for industry giants as well as smaller companies in the decor industry.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017 MORE INFO www.neptunglass.com
NEPTUN SRL
Even faster and easier processing ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Neptun Srl
N
eptun is ready to make a grand entrance on the Chinese market, and at the China Glass 2017 expo it will showcase its new Quickdrill T8 drilling center, which sets a new record for speed. Conceived by Stefano Bavelloni, Quickdrill T8 is the natural evolution of the Quick series, which raised the bar for HIGH PRODUCTIVITY, FLEXIBILITY AND LOW MAINTENANCE COSTS, thereby providing added value
China Glass marks the entrance of Neptun on the Chinese market. The company presents the new Quickdrill T8 drilling center at the expo 28 N. 43 APRIL 2017
The complete Quickline
29 INTERVIEW WITH MATTEO ROLLA, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NEPTUN
More technology, even in China China Glass 2017 is a particularly important occasion for the company in Rovello Porro. Matteo Rolla of Neptun explains: “This year expectations are higher than ever this year, because this expo marks the entry of Neptun on the Chinese market, known to be huge and continuously evolving. We also believe that interest in high technology is rising, and buyers are no longer solely focused on finding the lowest priced products. Therefore, we hope to generate a lot of interest in our company’s products”.
Sample of drilled and notched glass
Until 2016 China Glass was for Neptun “a place to meet with agents and customers from SouthEast Asia, Japan, and Australia”, Rolla recalls. “This year instead we decided to also focus on the Chinese market”. For that reason - he explains - we started by finding a partner capable of providing competent sales and after-market support services, and then decided to present a product which, because of its advanced technology (both from a mechanical and software standpoint) would have no competition on the local market, nor could be easily copied. In our opinion - Matteo Rolla from Neptun concludes - until today the Chinese market primarily focused on low prices, and now demand has shifted towards more reliable and technologically advanced machinery, which local manufacturers cannot provide”.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017 that still captures the interest of small companies, where every investment has to be carefully budgeted, as well as “giants” of the glass processing sector, where industrial strategies are based on productivity and process automation.
Maximum penetration speed Quickdrill T8 makes drilling even faster and easier than ever, with its 8-second automatic tool changer and DCS functionality to maximize tool performance. The rotating drill chuck holder is on the head of the drill itself, and moves with it. This effectively minimizes translation distances, and results in extremely fast tooling changes, which take place while the machine positions itself to drill the next hole (if of a different size). The X and Y positioning axles respectively move at a speed of 30 and 15 m/min, and therefore tool changes often result in no delays, as they are completed by the time the glass moves into position. Thanks to the innovative SMART DRILL CONTROL SYSTEM (DCS), the machine automatically learns and sets the operating parameters of every single tool as required to ensure maximum performance. This effectively reduces drilling cycle times, and allows Quickdrill T8 to achieve even faster penetration speeds, up to 4 mm/sec, d epending on the tool and thickness of the glass. Quickdrill T8 is also equipped with
30 N. 43 APRIL 2017
The owners of Neptun: Stefano Bavelloni, Simona Bavelloni and Matteo Rolla
31
Quickmill glass blocking system automatic redressing and presetting systems that keep the tools in perfect working condition. Its maximum working dimensions are 1,600x3,000 mm open top, and 2,850x4,000 mm. Quickdrill is also available in a manual tooling change version.
Stand-alone or in line drill Quickdrill T8 can be installed to work in line with the Quickmill milling center even at a later date, to obtain a complete Quickline, ideally suited for processing glass doors, shower enclosures, shelves, kitchen backsplashes, or dividers. Quickline provides a quick return on investment. This high precision work center is designed to process glass doors at a rate of 3’30â€?, an output seldom achieved by 2 in 1 vertical CNC milling and drilling centers. The new Quickdrill T8 can also be integrated with a vertical LV Top washer, to complete the Âdrilling, milling and washing processes in one, single work cycle. Both the production line and individual machines can be supplied by the company with automatic glass loading/unloading systems.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
Quickdrill T8 automatic tool changer
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017 MORE INFO www.ocmigroup.com
OCMI-OTG SPA
Pharmaceutical glass and tableware: growing demand for technology and automation in China ARTICLE
Editorial Staff PHOTOS
Ocmi-Otg Spa
Complete OCMI ampoule production line
C
hina continues to stand out as one of the key markets for OCMI, especially with regard to pharmaceutical glass, although interesting opportunities are also emerging in the stemware manufacturing sector. OCMI supplies leading local manufacturers of glass Âv ials and ampoules, having earned their trust through its prompt after-market support, flexibility in r esponding
32 N. 43 APRILE 2017
33 INTERVIEW WITH MICHELE GUSTI, PRESIDENT OF OCMI-OTG SPA
Twenty years in China “Despite the significantly slower pace, China’s economy continues to grow at a remarkable rate, so much so that in 2015 we decided to open a representative office in Shanghai, hired and trained local employees, to further consolidate our presence in China both in
OCMI supplies leading local manufacturers of glass vials and ampoules in China, with a focus on quality, punctuality, flexibility of service and assistance
terms of sales and technical support. “The recent government directive to increase pharmaceutical packaging quality standards has driven many local manufacturers to almost exclusively use type 1 borosilicate glass, which is progressively replacing semi-neutral glass now, and import European technology to increase automation. “With regard to tableware glass, OCMI continues to remain in contact with the leading Chinese manufacturers. We already established ourselves in China with our SEALING MACHINES FOR SEALED AND STRETCHED STEMWARE, and await the forthcoming implementation of new projects by local companies or Western multinationals looking to expand their business in the Far East”. “China Glass therefore remains an invaluable opportunity for OCMI to showcase its latest pharmaceutical glass, tableware and technical glass machines to the sector, and if possible initiate contact with new companies in a still booming market, which will continue to be an essential part of our business”.
N. 43 APRIL 2017
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017
to the customers’ needs, and ongoing local presence ensured by the representative office in Shanghai, which opened in 2015.
Maximum automation for vials and ampoules production OCMI can supply all the equipment required to m inimize operators’ manual interventions on vial and ampoule production lines. Leading Chinese pharmaceutical glass manufacturers have already installed fully automated production lines, which start with automated glass tube loading using the ROBOGLASS LOADER, COMPATIBLE WITH ALL OCMI FORMING MACHINES , and end with the PM-A/V
34 N. 43 APRIL 2017
Complete OCMI vial line
35 automatic packing machine. These allow the company to minimize costs by increasing production line efficiency, and reducing the need for human resources at the same time. Only one operator is required to supervise the loading of glass tubes onto several lines, and only one is needed to unload the boxes of finished product from multiple packing machines. OCMI forming machines can be equipped with a c amera control system that automatically detects and rejects out-of-tolerance products, eliminating the need to manually check the dimensions at the end of the line. In the specific case of vials, THE OPTISTEM/2 C ONTROL SYSTEM checks and adjusts the oxygen levels of the two burners upstream of the neck forming area, to offset any differences in the tubes temperature, and process the glass under the same thermal conditions at every station. This ensures the neck diameter remains within a very tight tolerance range, thereby facilitating finishing o perations at the end of the line.
Maximum flexibility for stemware production OCMI models SA42, SA48 and SA60 are operating at the leading local tableware and stemware m anufacturers’ plants. While European stemware manufacturers aim to diversify their products range, CHINA SEEKS TO ENTER
THIS MARKET BY IMPROVING ITS PRODUCTS Q UALITY. The three above mentioned models are differentiated by the number of stations, and therefore by their maximum production speed. The machine is supplied with two loaders for bowls and bases, and an unloader to place finished stemware
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FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017 on the exit conveyor. The machine can process press-blow or blow-blow glass bowls with or without moil, as well as pressed glass bases with or without stems. It is also available in a stem stretch-only version, for articles made as a single piece using a blow molding process. The bowls, loaded in the machine lower grippers, and the stems, loaded in the upper grippers, are initially heated and brought up to the ideal sealing temperature. The machine lower cam then drives the lower gripper upwards, bringing the bowls and stems closer, until they are imbued and sealed. Thereafter the cam descends, and if necessary lowers the bottom gripper holding the bowl, to stretch the stem. The grippers are adjustable for either internal or external clamping, depending on the shape of the bowl and stem, and the grip system can be mechanical, or vacuum-driven. This system, like all other OCMI production systems, comes with a specifically developed camera-driven product quality control system installed downstream of the loading zone, which AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS THE UPPER GRIPS HEIGHT to offset any differences
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Sealing process
37 in distance between the bowl and stem in each station, and keeps the sealing point height as uniform as p ossible. OCMI once again confirms its track record for utterly versatile machine design, by making the cams profile and length of each cam section adjustable to fit s pecific product requirements, developing software based on specific process control requirements, customizing the burners to fit the customer’s preference, and synchronizing the timing of OCMI machines with those of other systems on the same production line.
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Sealing machine for stemware by OCMI
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017 MORE INFO www.schiattiangelosrl.com
OFFICINA MECCANICA SCHIATTI ANGELO SRL
The expo is a meeting point for local companies ARTICLE
Filippo Bordignon PHOTOS
Officina Meccanica Schiatti Angelo Srl
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s always, the 28th China Glass will be attended by Schiatti Angelo Srl, global leading manufacturer of glass processing machinery.
Unrivaled support in perfect “Made in Italy” style “As customary - states Foreign Sales Manager Cinzia Schiatti - our stand at China Glass 2017 will PROVIDE ALL SALES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT NECESSARY”. Attendance at the last expo in Shanghai was sub-standard, which
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For Officina Meccanica Schiatti Angelo, attending the Beijing Exhibition is all about showing its proactive philosophy: “We provide all the sales and technical support required” N. 43 APRIL 2017
© 2015 i we carrot
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Cinzia Schiatti, O.M. Schiatti Angelo Srl Foreign Sales Manager
Although down for China, overall exports are growing For Schiatti Angelo Srl, therefore China Glass is a place to meet companies from South-East Asia, India and the Middle East. Generally speaking, however: “This has been a very good period for us from an overall exports standpoint - Cinzia Schiatti underlines - Our company’s current growth trend is extremely positive, and our exports actually increased by 20% already compared to 2016”. “We are witnessing a great deal of interest in our entire “range” of products - the Manager concludes - especially complete lines and automated processes we developed and engineered pursuant to the Industry 4.0 standard”.
Automatic drill/mill N. 43 APRIL 2017
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS 2017
Flat edge with arris double edger line, model BFP20 with loader leads us to believe that demand for Chinese products has decreased somewhat”.
An important, but complex market For Italian manufacturers, the Chinese market is important, but complex: “Our exports to China practically d isappeared once local companies started making machines that compete with ours - continues Cinzia Schiatti - Our products are too sophisticated, and above all too costly for Chinese glass processors; domestic products clearly satisfy the local glassworks’ demand.
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MORE INFO www.gimav.it
Industry 4.0
GIMAV SEMINAR
Machine tools and human capital: Industry 4.0 is all about interconnection ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
Gimav
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he average age of a machine tool in Italy is more than 12 years, the highest it has ever reached, as reported in the latest survey conducted by Ucimu - Production systems (the Italian machine tool, robots, automation systems and ancillary products manufacturers’ association). The number of machines that are more than 20 years old is also on the rise; on the other hand, the number of “younger” machines, those under 5 years, is decreasing.
How can domestic manufacturing increase its competitive edge? Industrial policies are moving in this very direction. Interview with Laura Biason following the seminar on government tools and incentives 42 N. 43 APRIL 2017
43 But, the Ucimu survey highlights another interesting factor: in Italy the level of integration of production plants and systems - machines designed for integration into existing systems or with other machines - is rising. The expertise and technologies exist and are recognized by the market. So, what is missing? Starting in 2014, the consumption of machine tools in Italy began to recover. That was the year the Nuova Sabatini incentives went into effect. This means that Italian manufacturing has every chance of returning to pre-crisis levels of operation but the need for support through appropriate industrial policy tools is clear. We spoke specifically about the importance of these tools with Laura Biason, director of Gimav, who, for the seminar entitled “Incentives for updating Italy’s machine inventory and Industry 4.0”, held in Milan in February, outlined the advantages and opportunities on the subject of the Nuova Sabatini, Super Ammortamento, Iper Ammortamento and Tax Credit for Research and Development, before a sizable audience of business owners and representatives from various levels of management of many companies operating in Italy’s glass industry.
Real time information in the factory system “As came to light during the seminar in February - emphasizes the director - many companies in Italy do not realize that they are already 4.0 efficient and that they are already using 4.0 machines”. Italian machines (and specifically those for processing flat and hollow glass) are already highly- advanced - explains Biason - “but it is up to the client company to grasp the real opportunities, thereby getting the
Laura Biason, director of Gimav, during the seminar
As came to light during the seminar in February, many companies in Italy are already using 4.0 machines biggest return on their investment”. How? “First of all, Industry 4.0 means interconnected factories: machines that communicate with each other and with the factory system as a whole. Thus, within the factory macro-system, each one, for its own specific function, can generate and share data in real time and all of them can access this information to derive from it the utmost benefits in their respective areas”.
Side incentives and opportunities “The problem of machine obsolescence in Italy should not be underestimated. And yet, Italian industrial machinery is a global leader in terms of innovation. The issue is that, if Italian companies continue to produce and sell extremely innovative machines overseas, Italy eventually risks losing its competitive edge in the international market, in terms of the end product. The opportunities offered by the government incentives are all-important to update the machine inventory in Italian manufacturing”. “The tools made available under the 2017 Stability Law certainly help. And the Industry 4.0 plan further expands these resources. However, there are also solutions fielded by banks that advance the investment cost - later amortized - with lines of credit to support the entire investment”. Found alongside the Industry 4.0 plan are all the initiatives that support training, education and qualification of human capital: another crucial point in the program. “The subject of employees - adds the director - for example, provides for tax
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45 rebates on productivity-related wage increases. The aim is to create a general framework that is conducive to investing. Innovation, not just of machinery, but of the entire supply chain”.
Suppliers of machines and Gimav members: drivers of growth Gimav has created an informational pamphlet on these t opics for its members. “Our member companies know their way around. The glass sector is one that already had solutions ready, thanks to its existing level of technology. In fact, for years now, our members have provided technological solutions that can be integrated into production cycles around the world and, obviously, in Italy, where domestic consumption has now climbed to 20% of our market: a figure we are proud of and that is growing, as indicated in the last annual report”. How then can we contribute to igniting the indispensable virtuous circle of innovation? “Allow me to quote Livio Romano of the Centro Studi Confindustria (Confindustria Study Centre), who pointed out in his December note: ‘the suppliers of machinery and equipment are the primary channel of acquisition of knowledge aimed at innovation’. It is a very effective statement, one that places the responsibility on us, but it is a role that we can confidently fulfill”. “The Italian supplier - emphasizes the director - is a bearer of knowledge and of best practices recognized around the globe. This is why Gimav members can be a key driver of growth, development and innovation for the entire manufacturing industry. But here the importance of companies with qualified professional staff becomes even more apparent. Because technology by itself, without investments in the human aspect, is an end unto itself. The factory is interconnected, not only between machines but also with those who work there”.
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MORE INFO www.siemens.com
GIMAV SEMINAR
Industry 4.0
Digitalization, integration and connectivity: the new industrial paradigms ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
Siemens Spa
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ncentivizing and supporting the replacement and upgrading of Italian industrial manufacturing systems is a key priority. That is why the government has enacted measures - such as the Nuova Sabatini law, the Super and Iper Ammortamento incentives - apt to favor and boost the competitiveness of companies in our country. The adoption of the Industry 4.0 Plan will now enable Italian manufacturers to write a page of their own in the history of this fourth industrial revolution. The topic was subject of in-depth assessment at the seminar organized by Gimav last February at the Hotel Enterprise in Milan, “Incentives for updating Italy’s machine inventory and Industry 4.0”, which had a great turnout, and was attended by many Italian companies in the glass sector. Laura Biason, director of Gimav, and Roberto Zuffada, manager of Siemens Italia Digital Enterprise Team were among the speakers. Siemens has played a key role in promoting the movement
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Roberto Zuffada, manager of Siemens Italia Digital Enterprise Team
now known as “Industry 4.0”, which started in Germany back in 2011. We addressed the fourth industrial revolution digital factory topic with engineer Roberto Zuffada. First of all, when and how did the concept of Industry 4.0 come about? “It all started in Germany about four years ago. Originally the term ‘Industry 4.0’ referred to a specific project by which the German government intended to heavily invest in specific technologies, intended for two main stakeholders: the manufacturers and industrial users of those technologies”. “This wave of innovation however, had already been b uilding across Europe, and not only in Germany. In fact, from the initial German core, the concept quickly spread across all nations. Siemens was involved both in the development and management of the overall operation in Germany. Thereafter we used our experience to help Italian manufacturing companies define the requirements Confindustria presented to the Italian Government for the project now known as the ‘Industry 4.0’ Plan”.
Interview with Siemens engineer Roberto Zuffada, speaker at the “Incentives for updating Italy’s machine inventory and Industry 4.0” seminar, organized by Gimav last February N. 43 APRIL 2017
What does “Industry 4.0” mean? “Above all, it means evolution. Evolution of a series of manufacturing technologies: ICT, Big data, IoT, robotics, and so on”. “Technological innovation designed for a manufacturing sector that - in general - is already technologically advanced. Therefore, we are not talking about a proprietary concept, but a movement bound to promote true and extensive technological advances in the manufacturing s ector, in terms of broad connectivity. This will enable the Manufacturing system to exploit high-tech principles such as speed and versatility, but also digitalization, virtualization, and above all, integration”. Those are indeed the pillars of Industry 4.0. But how can virtualization help increase production efficiency and streamline the operations of a manufacturing company? “Digitalization and integration of innovative technologies make it possible to connect the virtual word with the real world, namely one of the strategic objectives of the plan. Virtualization of the factory enables us to plan, observe, evaluate, and adjust the processes/products as needed, even before the actual production run”. “But it requires synergies. It all runs in a perfect circle: we engineer it with virtual tools, address any issues in advance, do a test run and assess the results. The manufacturing data allows us to retrace the steps and digitally correct any
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49 errors, so that the new version is always better than the last”. “So the nature of this change is not merely a practical one, but it also requires a new entrepreneurial mindset”. “Yes, because the true strategy is to stop thinking about manufacturing as a series of separate processes, and start looking at it holistically, as a single process, in which different actors and areas of expertise drive a single, common mechanism. Companies are more inclined to purchase solutions, but need to start purchasing only technologies that will allow them to enact the true process of evolution. And to that effect investing in human resources is even more important, since they are the ones who will use those technologies”. So, what is the actual difference? “The true difference is in the process, not the technologies; we already have access to the technologies. A clear example is home automation, where machines are connected to us and to other machines. Industry 4.0 is based on a ‘collaborative model’ by which, for example, robots work alongside the operator - not replace him - and enable him to be more productive. Therefore, we are talking about robotics that save jobs”. Now is the time for the real world to join the digital word. “We need to start working on a new vision of the world, completely connected and constantly sharing content. Think about it as augmented reality where technologically advanced machines built according to Industry 4.0 receive input from the operator, but above all convey ancillary information, such as the work shifts, orders to be issued,
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s cheduled maintenance, incoming materials, and so on, all in real time”. All of this has also been happening in the glass processing sector, where several companies have already achieved (if not anticipated) these objectives through their own experience and internal r esources, while others called upon Siemens. “Several of our customers are in the glass sector, and in fact we presented discrete-event simulations pertaining to glassworks at the seminar in Milan”. “Our experience highlights two fundamental aspects: all systems we supply and we will be increasingly supplying have local network connection capabilities. In large glass production plants safety is an increasingly high priority, and rightfully so. In that regard, Siemens gained a great deal of experience in combining simulation hardware and software - part of the design engineering process of glass processing machinery - but in a way that does not infringe upon cyber security”. One of the distinctive characteristics of companies in the Glass sector is their ability to personalize, and customize products, machinery and services. Could this high level of automation potentially limit this very capability? “Not at all. Versatility is in fact another objective of Industry 4.0, and Germany sets the example. We are versatile on our own, without an actual high-tech strategy. So, how can we bolster such versatility with Information Technology? We turn it into a ‘system’. We use suitable components and strategies to simulate, for example, the versatility we wish for. This mechanism is exemplified by simulators
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From product definition (all CAD, CAM, CAE, PLM Product Lifecycle Management, product/process defi nition tools, process digitalization), to engineering, intended as process planning, and therefore the definition of technologies by which to build the product from a theoretical standpoint. Siemens offerings for the manufacturing sector include hardware and software tools, as well as advanced technical services for the complete integration of data pertaining to engineering, production and purchasing activities. Obviously the objective is to help companies boost their performance in terms of production process efficiency, versatility and faster time-to-market.
which nonetheless serve to manage day-by-day business operations. The determining factor then lies with is its use as an engineering tool, for increasing production speed, adding new parameters, new product lines, you name it. All of these aspects can in fact be addressed using the simulators”. Simulation therefore for all intents and purposes is a resource that can radically change the factory model. “Yes, this is achieved when you simulate real production runs with real machines currently on the market so as to verify the parameters. That factory model will gain tangibility and significance as shop floor automation increases, and will be driven by a horizontal communication mechanism: machines will talk to each other, and self-adapt. We will get to the point where even an exception will be communicated from one machine to the next. The current hierarchy therefore will also change. The simulators will allow us to anticipate what happens, but the corporate culture needs to progressively evolve. This profound, step-by-step evolution - as we said at the beginning - will allow companies to truly exploit the innovations available on the market”.
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51 Hardware, software and hi-tech systems: Siemens offerings for the digital factory
MORE INFO www.intermac.com
Industry 4.0
INSIDE INTERMAC GLASS
How manufacturing challenges are won in the digital era ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Intermac
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successful event, certainly worth repeating. This is how Franco Angelotti, sales manager of Intermac Glass & Stone Division, sums up the results of Inside Intermac Glass, the first glass processing industry event held at its Tech Center in the Pesaro headquarters this past 16-18 March.
This year starts with glass “For the first time, WE CHOSE TO HOST SEPARATE EVENTS and focus on one material at a time”, Angelotti states. “Narrowing the scope of specialization allowed us to
Industry 4.0 at Inside Intermac Glass, the first glass sector operators’ exclusive event held last March at its Tech Center in the Pesaro headquarters was a great success 52 N. 43 APRIL 2017
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The Intermac team focus solely on glass, showcase more glass processing machines, and give customers an opportunity to see INTERMAC TECHNOLOGY IN ACTION, and even LIVE DEMOS”.
Greater attendance Inside Intermac Glass 2017 was exceptional also in terms of attendance. “We sought to increase customers' attendance by hosting separate events for glass and stone, and we are proud to have hit the target, SINCE ATTENDANCE INCREASED BY 30%”. “This - the sales manager underlines - further confirms that customers, like us, feel Intermac events are an important opportunity to visit our company and strengthen our relationship”.
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Franco Angelotti, sales manager of Intermac Glass & Stone Division
Machines and software integration according to Intermac
The drilling tool by Diamut, Helix, integrated in the Intermac Master Series workcenter
Inside Intermac Glass also put the spotlight on fully integrated machine software. ICam is a SOFTWARE PROGRAM that combines high performance with extreme ease of use, while bSolid is fully parametric CAD/CAM SOFTWARE with a wide variety of functions for all types of vertical workcenter machining operations, with a highly intuitive interface that allows even less experienced operators to use advanced functions. Intermac technologies, fully integrated with smart software capable of pre-calculating production run times and minimize changeover times, result in a product that minimizes operator’s interventions, while ensuring greater transparency and safety of the entire production process. In 2017, a special time that marks Intermac’s 30th YEAR IN BUSINESS “the company continues to pursue its vision of on-going innovation”, Franco Angelotti concludes, and intends to keep growing, expanding its offer, and characterize it by increasingly outstanding quality and advanced technology that fully caters to the customers’ latest demands.
“4.0 ready” solutions: integration at the service of clients At the event, which spanned over 1,000 m2 of the Tech Center, Intermac presented its VERY OWN TECHNOLOGIES, READY TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF INDUSTRY 4.0, which is “a very hot topic right now”, Franco Angelotti states. “Our machines meet the integration requirements of Industry 4.0, and the related government tax deduction eligibility requirements”. The solutions presented are
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Panoramic view of the Inside Intermac Glass 2017 showroom
designed to transform the customers’ plants into “real time factories” through machine integration, which maximizes production, minimizes costs and streamlines the work-flow, t hereby b ringing c ustomers i nto t he “digital manufacturing” era.
Helix System: for drilling, grinding, and countersinking of glass sheets up to 19 mm thick Many new products were presented. The entire Master workcenter product line now features the new Helix System, the PERFECT MARRIAGE OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE created by a team of experts from Intermac and Diamut, the Biesse Group tooling division. The CNC and Diamut Helix drilling tool combination overcomes the limits of traditional systems by using the same tool for drilling, grinding and countersinking glass sheets up to 19 mm thick.
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Genius cutting bench demo
Primus 402, Busetti Series F and Vertmax: evolution in quality Also in action at Inside Intermac were the most advanced CUTTING SYSTEMS of the Genius product line, and the WATERJET TECHNOLOGY of the Primus line. And, last but not least, the new Primus 402, which keeps pace with
Products machined by the Intermac workcenter
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Featuring many machines and live demos. Attendance increased by 30%
the evolution of materials and application requirements of today’s market. The Busetti Series F DOUBLE-EDGE BEVELLING SYSTEMS product line has been revamped and transformed into a smart solution with automatic selfadjustment capabilities ensured by integrated software. The “4.0 ready” solutions include VERTMAX VERTICAL WORKCENTERS, which can be equipped with a V-Loader, and perfectly meet the high quality, productivity and versatility requirements of the glass processing industry.
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MORE INFO www.rcnengineering.it
PLAYERS
RCN SOLUTIONS
A new asset for business growth ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Rcn Solutions Srl
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or RCN the start of 2017 truly meant closing one chapter and opening a brand new one. In December 2016 the company witnessed an important change in management with the exit of one founding partner Stefano Ricchi, the ensuing reorganization of internal roles, rebranding, and revamping of production to fulfill the ever-increasing number of orders. Today the company, renamed RCN Solutions, is managed by founding partner Elena Calvi together with her son Davide Ricchi, as her junior partner in charge of different areas, including Research & Development activities
After the excellent results achieved in 2016, RCN Solutions is ready for new challenges. Today, founding partner Elena Calvi manages the company together with her son, Davide Ricchi
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59 Although 2016 was a great year, 2017 started off at a different pace, for both Italy and the rest of the world. Roberta Cometti admits: “We are concerned that this could be a year of transition, and considering last year’s remarkable growth, our objective at this point is to achieve the same results. In the last few weeks - she says - we noticed a slight recovery in Italy, in the UK, Ireland, as well as in the Oceanian countries”. “By the middle of the year we expect to make SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO OUR MACHINES, and we will unveil our brand new product at Vitrum. All I can tell you right now - she concludes - is that this solution is not only tied to lamination, but to other industrial applications as well”.
The true innovation of the year at Vitrum
Smart XXL, lamination furnace for small sized glass, with the same technology of larger furnace models N. 43 APRIL 2017
in collaboration with the company engineering department and external engineers, technical support, and new materials research. Davide Ricchi “is a very enthusiastic young man, brimming with new ideas. Having studied scientific disciplines, he is bound to be an important asset in giving the company a new impetus for growth from a technological perspective”, explains Roberta Cometti from the International Department.
Lammy System Modular, lamination furnace for medium sized glass, with optional production capacity upgrade
Growth and Industry 4.0 Among the medium-long term goals of RCN Solutions is the MODERNIZATION OF THE SOLUTIONS OFFERED, which will bring the company closer to meeting the increasingly more pressing requirements of Industry 4.0. “It has become a hot topic across Italy and Europe by now - Roberta Cometti states - and since RCN intends to keep pace with technological innovation, we will UPGRADE
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Lammy System 4+4, lamination furnace for large sized glass, with optional production capacity upgrade
OUR MACHINERY ACCORDING TO INDUSTRY 4.0. The machines have to change, and it is important to plan and invest in new versions apt to boost the technological performance of different solutions”. “I am thinking about automating production - Roberta Cometti continues - and developing software that will make machines capable of greater interaction and communication among themselves, regardless of their being made by RCN Solutions or other brands already owned by the customer and capable of interacting. And beyond that, creating a fleet of machines that can communicate with a PC in the technical support office or production department; machines that mutually interact in a highly automated manner, thereby increasing production output and control; and developing systems to remotely control the machines. All of these solutions would allow Italy to
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The RCN Solutions team
close the gap with countries like France and Germany, in terms of Industry 4.0”, Cometti recalls.
2016: a year of growth RCN Solutions has set clear long-term objectives and come up with a development plan “although right now it’s only on paper, because we are carefully evaluating our strategic investment options both in terms of funds and human resources”, Roberta Cometti explains. “The one thing we are sure of right now is that we are on the right track. In fact, last year we scored a 15% increase in sales, a result we are quite proud of, and which makes us feel rewarded for all the energy and hard work we put into the company throughout the year. For this reason, in 2017 we plan to INCREASE OUR
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LOCAL PRESENCE and gain a more secure foothold in areas like the Middle East, South America and Russia”. “As a matter of fact - she adds - we will present our company and products at forthcoming CONFERENCES IN BELGRADE AND BUCAREST this quarter”.
A tight team, that works enthusiastically
RCN Solutions, in partnership with Tecno-glass, which mainly operates in Central and Southern Italy, has achieved excellent results at the national level. “We started collaborating with Tecno-glass in March of last year, and they have done an excellent job on the national market”. “With this partner, as well as with our company colleagues, we have managed to create a team that is dynamic, proactive, and works enthusiastically. This also allowed us to achieve excellent results last year, in spite of company undergoing a major change in m anagement”, Cometti recalls.
Powerlam, automatic lamination line with bagless technology, designed for continuous operation
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MORE INFO www.pellinindustrie.net
Made-in-Italy Highlights
PELLINI
First blinds ever for IG units with a 16 mm interpane gap ARTICLE
Filippo Bordignon PHOTOS
Pellini Spa
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e would like to shine the spotlight on PELLINI SPA, Codogno-based (northern Italy) global leader in the manufacture of blinds for interiors and one of the Italian companies that stood out at MADE Expo 2017 thanks to the variety of products it makes for the building construction industry. The company has participated in all the editions of MADE Expo and has consistently seen positive results, although - emphasizes Sergio Semeraro, marketing manager for Pellini - “a greater number of international exhibitors and visitors would allow the show to be included among the
Previewed at MADE Expo 2017, they’re called ScreenLine SL 16 and are made by Pellini 64 N. 43 APRIL 2017
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top-ranked fairs in Europe for the architecture, glass and doors sector”.
ScreenLine, high-tech designed for comfort SCREENLINE®, the brand known for its shading systems integrated into double- or triple-glazed IG units with Venetian, pleated cellular or roller blinds, is among the most emblematic Pellini products. “The product range includes several kinds of movement options, manual or automatic, with the motor inside or outside the IG unit, powered by electricity or solar panel rechargeable batteries - explains Semeraro - ScreenLine maintains the SAME INSULATING
PROPERTIES AS A TRADITIONAL IG UNIT, WITHOUT COMPROMISING ITS ABILITY TO SEAL OUT MOISTURE from the interpane gap, in keeping with current standards”. The blinds also improve thermal transmittance values and can be adjusted to let in more or less sunlight, depending on the season, reducing solar heat gain in the summer
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The ScreenTronic app
The company, in brief
Pellini SpA has two divisions. The SCREENLINE DIVISION manufactures the range of patented systems for raising and lowering blinds for IG units. They ensure protection from dirt, dust and weather and require no maintenance. Launched in 1992 and, with more than 25 years in the marketplace, ScreenLineÂŽ technology property of Pellini Industrie - has never stopped growing and improving. Raising and lowering of the Venetian, pleated cellular or roller blinds, whether manual, electric, or powered by solar panel rechargeable battery, does not affect the insulating properties of the IG unit and takes place in a completely sealed environment. AND SYSTEMS DIVISION The SCREENS manufactures technical, manual or motorized high-performance screens for interiors. Made of VerosolÂŽ, a fabric that reflects heat and adjusts to light, they allow energy savings for air conditioning (and, thus, reduced CO2 emissions) while ensuring excellent visibility to the outside. Crafted with the utmost attention to detail and designed to ensure comfortable conditions in any home or work environment, these screens incorporate extremely high-quality components and mechanical parts, maximizing elegance, durability and long lifetime.
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67 and increasing it during the winter months, with ensuing savings on air conditioning and heating costs.
ScreenLine SL16, the first of its kind New this year is the range of ScreenLine® SL16 blinds for IG units, the first in the world sized to fit inside IG units with an interpane gap of just 16 mm. It comes in two versions: the SL16C, raised and lowered by a cord, and the SL16S, with a magnetically-driven device. The 10 mm slats on the Venetian blinds were custom-designed for this model, and the STANDARD WARM EDGE SPACER BAR allows the perimeter of the blinds to be perfectly sealed, improving the thermal transmittance value of the window. The narrow interpane gap makes the SL16 ideal as a replacement for existing traditional IG units, without the need to re-frame the window, making it possible to take advantage of tax deductions for renovations and energy efficiency retrofitting, as provided by law. Pellini also presented its SCREENTRONIC APP at MADE Expo, designed exclusively for smart digital control of the ScreenLine blinds. ScreenTronic allows one or more Venetian blinds to be raised, lowered and tilted with a simple touch of the finger and is designed to quickly program the desired settings for all the windows in the building.
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The facade of the “Parallelo” office building in Milan, designed by Mario Cucinella Architects, contains more than 400 ScreenLine blinds integrated into IG units
MORE INFO www.fenzigroup.com
Partnership
FENZI & PELLINI
Joining forces in Russia for a more complete and competitive product line ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia PHOTOS
Fenzi Group
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o offer a complete range of high-quality products. Being able to count on the reliability and experience of a group that encapsulates all the necessary expertise. And to enter the Russian market with an innovative product with built-in appeal. These are the reasons that led Glass Alliance, the network comprised of Fenzi, Alu-Pro and Rolltech, with their respective specializations (polysulphide, butyl, hot-melt and polyurethane sealants; aluminum and steel and stainless steel spacers; all kind of warm edge
The Fenzi Group and Alu-Pro, along with Rolltech and Pellini, form the Glass Alliance network: a partnership based on high standards in insulating glass 68 N. 43 APRIL 2017
69 Matteo Padovan, General Manager OOO Fenzi and OOO Alu Pro
spacers) to enter into partnership with Pellini, specialized in the design and manufacture of innovative sun shades (see article on page 64, in this issue, “First blinds
ever for IG units with a 16 mm interpane gap”). To gain insights into the implications of this strategic partnership, we interviewed Matteo Padovan, General Manager OOO Fenzi and OOO Alu-Pro.
When did the idea for this partnership take shape? And why did you decide to join forces to enter the Russian market? “Working in such a highly-specialized industry for many, many years, our companies have known each other for a long time. The idea of working closer together came up during one of the international glass events. Comparing notes on our various experiences brought to light the special needs of the Russian market, where the requirement for high-quality products is also dependent on being able to rely on suppliers with an increasingly complete range of products. This seemed like an open invitation to partner in the introduction
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of a specific Pellini product to the Russian market. One that is completely aligned with the Glass Alliance product range and that has already drawn a lot of attention to itself, in other words: sun shades integrated into IG units”. How does the partnership work? “Pellini is a company that needs no introduction in the sector of shade systems integrated into IG units. Fenzi and Alu-Pro are leaders in the production of components, like sealants and warm edge spacers, for IG units. Our products are entirely complementary and ensure a very high standard of quality. This combination of skill sets is precisely what led to a partnership that, for now, exists in the distribution of Pellini products to industry professionals through the Glass Alliance network, with possible future production in Russia”.
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Might this first step be a precursor to other opportunities? “For now, we are focusing on the development of this project in Russia, a market that is in a continuous state of flux and demands close attention. Naturally, we don’t rule out further opportunities and other projects, especially since we are talking about two international companies with a global distribution network. However, right now, our primary objective is to offer a complete, unique range of products to the manufacturers of IG units in that part of the world”. What are the main factors that connect your two areas of expertise? “The manufacturers of IG units have a reliable partner in the Glass Alliance network. A partner capable of supplying high-quality products and the most innovative ideas the market has to offer for the manufacture of high-performance IG units. This allows them to complete their product lines with ideal solutions to ensure the high standards of durability and long life, even in particularly hostile climates. Those who are not risk-takers know that investing in Pellini and Glass Alliance products is a guarantee of sure results, in other words; high-performance IG units able to increase the comfort level in buildings. This partnership also allows all of our customers to have a single, well-structured point of reference, with assistance available throughout the area”.
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MORE INFO www.agc-glass.eu
Events
MILAN DESIGN WEEK
AGC rolls out “Touch”: design gets interactive in glass objects “to be touched” ARTICLE
Chiara Marseglia VIDEOMAKING
Luca Moroni
T
ouch is the sensory project focused on the t actile perception of glass that AGC - Asahi Glass brought to Milan Design Week 2017. The installation features works of art conceived by AGC’s creative partners and produced using AGC’s
AGC Asahi Glass is back at Milan Design Week for the third consecutive year and translates its latest-gen glass processing technologies into highly expressive tactile objects 72 N. 43 APRIL 2017
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WATCH THE VIDEO AND LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW
Milano Design Week, Superstudio Più, April 4 - 9, 2017, interview with Naoki Sugimoto Ph.D., GM of Business Development Division, and Naoki Okahata, Senior Researcher of Value Creation Group, New Product R&D Center, Technology General Division
latest-generation glass processing techniques. The creative designers the Japanese glass giant chose to work with for its third venture at Milan’s quintessential design event are JIN KURAMOTO , who focused on achieving a design capable of conveying the essence of the object; and the LONDON-BASED RAW-EDGES DESIGN STUDIO, known for its interpretation of a world full of humor through the creation of objects informed by color and movement.
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MORE INFO www.fiamitalia.it
Events MILAN DESIGN WEEK
Mini Ghosts debut at the Salone del Mobile in Milan ARTICLE
Camilla Zanetti PHOTOS
Fiam and Intermac
T
he 30th Anniversary Ghost project once again places the ICONIC GLASS GHOST CHAIR BY CINI BOERI center stage where it continues to be a trend setter and to be reshaped as a design and decor object. In its very unique 2007 mirrored glass edition - an outstanding example of creativity and technology - the chair was exhibited as part of the “Glass. The Great
Unexpected� show during the 2015 edition of Vitrum, the trade show specialized in machinery, equipment and special products for glass processing.
Redefined in miniature, the iconic glass chair by Cini Boeri was created by Fiam, using Intermac technology. The 2007 edition of the chair was exhibited at Vitrum 2015 74 N. 43 APRIL 2017
75 In honor of its 30th anniversary, the glass chair once again takes the stage, but this time at the
Salone
del
Mobile
furniture show in Milan, in that showcase arena of innovation, excellence and design. Indeed, from April 4-9 the F iera Milano Rho district hosted five concurrent shows: the Milan Furniture Fair, the International Furnishing Accessories Exhibition, the International Lighting Exhibition, Workplace3.0 and SaloneSatellite.
Ghost 30th Anniversary Typically, a debut at the Salone del Mobile, global meeting place for the furnishings industry, involves a trendsetting item, but some well-known pieces also make the grade. Which is why first-time entries can be found alongside best-sellers, pieces that epitomize trends in design and decor. Such is the case of the Ghost chair. IN ITS 1987 DEBUT AT THE SALONE DEL MOBILE IN MILAN, the Ghost was singled-out to receive the ‘most innovative product’ award. The challenge to shape glass into a chair was accepted and won by architect Cini Boeri and his colleague Tomu Katayanagi. To celebrate the historic event, Fiam planned a special initiative, the “GHOST 30th ANNIVERSARY”, a project designed to honor the 3 decades of the chair - an icon of international design - created through the use of Intermac technology. Fiam invited 30 internationally-acclaimed designers to participate. Each one was asked to create two Ghosts in miniature, reinterpreted and hand-decorated with paints, using the colors chosen by Cini Boeri.
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Intermac, from left: Sergio Nicolai, marketing manager Glass, Stone & Tooling Division, Biesse Group; Daniele Livi, chief product manager, Fiam; Raphaël Prati, communications and marketing director, Biesse Group
Glass and processing technologies In its traditional version, the Ghost chair was created from a single SHEET OF AGC PLANIBEL CLEAR GLASS, 12 mm thick. The Mini reinterpretations utilize the same kind of glass but with a thickness of only 5 mm. “The flat sheet - explains Daniele Livi, chief product manager for Fiam - is cut with Intermac machines”. The Ghost, he continues, “is the only Fiam product that requires two c urving operations to achieve perfect ergonomics”. Thanks to the innovative technology built into in the M ASTER 33.3 MADE IN INTERMAC work center, the large sheet of glass is first cut under high pressure with a high-speed water jet (1,000 meters per second), and then curved. “We are pleased to see our technology employed by distinguished enterprises to develop design products”, remarks Franco Angelotti, sales director for Intermac. “We participated with keen interest in this project that combines technology, design and social outreach. The Mini Ghosts will be sold at auction and the proceeds allocated to the populations struck by the earthquake in Central Italy”. Modern technologies make it more and more feasible to create objects that can CHALLENGE THE IDEA OF FRAGILITY OFTEN ERRONEOUSLY ATTRIBUTED TO GLASS. The Ghost is emblematic of the infinite number of opportunities offered by this magnificent material. And, in an ongoing process of reinventing itself, the iconic chair by Cini Boeri makes it clear that new challenges can always be turned into victories.
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N. 43
April 2017 ISSN 2421-3586
87
FOCUS ON CHINA GLASS Showcasing Italian glass technology at its best in Beijing
VITRUM 2017 PREVIEW
Bimonthly magazine Year 4 Number 43 Thursday April 27, 2017
In October, Milan is the home of all glass stakeholders
EVENTS MILAN DESIGN WEEK
Collaborating in this issue
Mini Ghosts debut at the Salone del Mobile in Milan
COMPANIES DOSSIER Antonini, Neptun, OCMI-OTG, O. M. Schiatti Angelo
Adelio Lattuada
MATTIA LOSI
www.adeliolattuada.com
AGC Asahi Glass www.agc.com
Antonini
Editorial Manager CHIARA MARSEGLIA
ITA - Italian Trade Agency
Contributors FILIPPO BORDIGNON ANTONELLA LANFRIT CAMILLA ZANETTI Videomaking LUCA MORONI Graphic Design, Art Direction and layout NICO CHINELLO Translations NICOLETTA CANESI
Intermac
Pictures Cover image courtesy of Sbskin Srl; Depositphotos, Fotolia
www.antoninisrl.com
Fenzi
www.fenzigroup.com
Fiam
www.fiamitalia.it www.italtrade.com
www.intermac.com
Neptun
www.neptunglass.com
Owner Vitrum Srl - Via Petitti 16, 20149 Milano Publisher
Ocmi OTG
www.ocmigroup.com
O. M. Schiatti Angelo
www.schiattiangelosrl.com
Pellini
www.pellinindustrie.net
Rcn Solutions
www.rcnengineering.it
Salone del Mobile.Milano www.salonemilano.it
Siemens Italia
www.siemens.com
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ART NICO CHINELLO
D0 YOu KnOw? N. 36
March 2016 ISSN 2421-3586
MADE IN ITALY Ultra-thin: Italy raises the bar Supplementary assistance: a recipe ready for export
Subscribee new to th “Spot on Glass ”
VITRUM 2017 PREVIEW Work under way on 20th edition of the International Trade Show in Milan
ITALIAN STYLE
Vertical Forest - “Higher and higher”
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