Generating growth Yanmar

GENERATING GROWTH

Yanmar Italy SpA is a member of Yanmar Co. Ltd, the Japanese multinational set up in 1912 and currently owned by the Yamaoka family and based in Osaka. The Yanmar Group is a global leader in the manufacture of diesel engines for industrial, agricultural and marine use, as well as tractors, excavators, generators and cogenerators. Eugenia Fiusco talks to Massimo Canni Ferrari, assistant manager of the sales division, to find out more about the company.

Yanmar Italy manufactures air-cooled diesel engines with a power range from 3.5kW to 7.4kW, and distributes watercooled diesel engines manufactured in Yanmar Japan Biwa plant and air-cooled engines to the Italian market.

“Thus, our main customers are Italian OEMs that manufacture agricultural machinery, generators, construction equipment and refrigeration systems,” said Massimo Canni Ferrari.

A wide global network

Yanmar Italy was first set up in 1996 as Yanmar Cagiva, a joint venture with the company Cagiva focused on the production and distribution of small air-cooled diesels. It was in 1999 that it became a 100 per cent Yanmar subsidiary and in December 2009 its name changed to Yanmar Italy SpA.

During that time, Yanmar Italy became the sole global production hub for small air-cooled L Series diesel engines when the other L-Series production centre at the Japanese Nagahama Plant was closed down.

Yanmar Italy supplies air-cooled L-series engines worldwide through Yanmar Regional Headquarters located in Japan, Singapore, US, The Netherlands and their distribution networks.

Yanmar European HQ located in Holland distributes all Yanmar engine models to the European market.

Since it was established, Yanmar Italy has grown continuously and today employs around 150 people, with sales in excess of €60 million.

Yanmar’s core business is the development and manufacture of diesel engines. Its history reflects its total dedication to quality and progress, and its overriding faith in the future of the diesel engine.

Focus on environment and sustainability

All of Yanmar’s products are developed with an eye to sustainability. For example, the group has just introduced a line of EPA Tier4 compliant engines equipped with a DPF (diesel particulate filter), which are designed to remove diesel particulate matter from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. “Yanmar Italy is investing in designing engines that are compliant with the latest emission regulations. In particular, Yanmar EPA Tier4 engines already comply with the incoming Stage 5 of the European NRMM emission regulations.”

Looking to the future

The group’s diverse range of future goals does not stop here; it is also planning to upgrade its engine line-up, aiming to increase engine power in order to satisfy the needs of a wider customer base.

“The year 2015 saw a really positive start, thanks to our new customers in the construction and power generation sector. Here we boast customers who are amongst the major players in this industry,” continued Mr Canni Ferrari.

When asked about the names of its major customers, Mr Canni Ferrari explained that there would not be sufficient space to name them all. Therefore, he preferred not to mention any as it would not be right to give preference to some over others: “All our customers are equally important to us,” he concluded. n