EKW GmbH was established in 1903 and set up its Italian branch, EKW Italiana, in 1967 with the aim of consolidating and increasing the presence of its products (refractory materials) in Italy. The company, which today has changed its name to EKW Italia, is not just a distributor, but also plays an active role in coating design, assembling, sintering and delivery of ‘turn-key’ systems, thanks to a technical and commercial team available 24/7 and flanked by skilled assembling staff using own equipment. The admin staff is available to fulfil customers’ bureaucratic and commercial needs. Moreover, by availing itself of skilled foundry technicians, the company is able to support its clients with the best technical application solutions concerning castings feeding systems. EKW Italia S.r.l. Via del Lavoro, 21, 20863 Concorezzo (MB) Tel: +39 (0)39628031 Fax: +39 (0)396280322 E-mail: info@ekw.it
R
imini-based SCM Foundries belongs to the SCM Group, whose origins go back to 1932, when Nicola Gemmani and Lanfranco Aureli set up a factory specialising in the production of agricultural machines and a foundry for iron castings. A major change of direction took place in 1952, when woodworking machine manufacturing commenced. Based on a design by newly qualified engineer Giuseppe Gemmani, the first cast iron combined multi-purpose woodworking machine was produced: L'invincibile B4. It was the first in a considerable series of innovations, which together with a strong propensity towards exports and the development of an impressive world-wide distribution network, in just a few years made the company an international leader. Today the group is a leader in wood-
98 Industry Europe
working machines and systems catering for both industrial clients and traditional joineries. Originally SCM Foundries specialised in the production of woodworking machinery components, mainly serving the other companies of the group. Its activity evolved during the years and today 90 per cent of its turnover derives from products for external customers, to whom it mainly supplies rough components, as well as being able to provide finished products when this is demanded. While the design and specifications are supplied by customers, SCM offers a co-engineering service, advising clients on the best way to fulfil their product needs, thus optimising the production process, quality and value for money. Mr Maffei explained, “Our offer includes a wide range of grey and nodular iron cast-
ings, from those featuring high mechanical resistance to their more ductile counterparts performing well at low temperatures, which are increasingly demanded by some sectors such as the rail and wind power industries.” The company has two production sites, at Rimini (also the location of its headquarters) and at nearby Villa Verucchio. The Rimini site has two green sand moulding plants equipped with a hot blast cupola oven and an electric holding furnace. This site specialises in castings with weights ranging from 1kg to 500 kg, produced in medium series. Situated 15 km away, the Villa Verucchio plant is dedicated to manual moulding with resin bonded sand and can avail itself of two methane rotary furnaces. Its specialism is castings with weights between 200kg and 4,000kg, produced in small to
