The latest in cutting technology Salico Group

THE LATEST IN CUTTING TECHNOLOGY

The Salico Group consists of eight companies united by a single goal: to become the leading group in the production of process lines and finishing lines for steel, aluminium and copper. It hopes to achieve this goal through a series of acquisitions and technological innovations, as Daniele Garavaglia reports.

The core business of the Salico Group is technologies, complete production lines and advanced machines for cutting and finishing steel and aluminium strip. Salico SpA was founded in 1978 by Giordano Colombo and Carlo Salvioni in Lecco, near Milan, as a small manufacturing facility. Today it has grown into a group that brings together eight companies in four countries: in Italy there are Salico SpA, Salico Automation, Salico Foil and Giuseppe Fumagalli Srl; Salico Hispania SA and Salmec Automation are in Spain; KCS Herr Voss UK Ltd is in the United Kingdom; and finally SES Salico Finishing and Processing LLC is in the United States. The acquisition of this last company has enabled the Salico Group to incorporate new technical and operational skills and increase penetration in the American market.

Advanced technological solutions

“Ever since the early days both the philosophy and the strategy of our company were well established and mainly focused on the development of highly advanced technological solutions, responding to many of the technical challenges with regard to finishing lines at the time,” explains engineer sales manager Antonio Perego. “Since the first equipment was delivered, a very high degree of technical innovation was present in every Salico line entering production and this feature remains unchanged after 35 years: indeed it has become our trademark. Today, after more than 800 completed projects, we can proudly say that the Salico name stands for quality equipment and continuous innovation.”

Better cutting performances

How does one describe Salico-branded technological innovation, which covers lengthwise and cross cutting systems in the widest range of widths, thicknesses and line capacity? What is the distinctive element that allows this company to supply plants for producers of aluminium / steel coils throughout the world? Perego explains: “From the beginning, the structure of the companies was composed of an engineering office supported by a production unit. We were, we are and we will always be able to develop a number of innovative solutions. We introduced a unique patented cutting system with rotary shears on the cross-cutting machines. We sold hundreds of these machines around the world, because it can make both cross and trapezoidal cuts. Compared to other competitors, our solution provides better cutting performance and responds to widespread demand in the automotive industry: it optimises the cutting of the sheets and reduces scrap, generating pieces ready for pressing. These incremental innovation projects have resolved serious production problems for our customers and differentiated us from our competitors. We aim to ensure a strong middle ground between the quality of the cut and the efficiency of the system maintenance.”

Strong supplier relationships

For this reason, cutting machines, crosswise and lengthwise cutting have become Salico’s forte, together with other finishing machines such as tension levellers, cleaning, blanking lines and packaging. To ensure quality and reliability, Salico has, over time, consolidated its relationship with reliable partners for the supply of components and technical accessories. These include, to name just a few: Officine Meccaniche Montorfano (machining), C.R. Rollers (rollers for levelling), Durlast (Special coatings for rollers), Ceba Ingranaggi (gogs and sprockets), Unimec (jacks) and the German TKM (blades for slitter and shears).

Salico’s strategy

However, it has been Salico’s acquisition strategy that has enabled it to innovate through the acquisition of know-how in complementary areas. The acquisition of the Fumagalli company has enabled the

C.R.

C.R. is an Italian company manufacturing special bearings for industrial applications and material handling plants and equipment. It was founded in 1984 by three owner-associates and has achieved continuous worldwide growth since that time.

C.R. manufactures both customised special bearings, according to the specific needs of clients, and perfectly interchangeable spare parts, produced according to customers’ drawings or samples. It also manufactures bearings for several production fields and different applications.

The main focus for C.R. is the design of very special bearings, in order to meet the requirements of plant manufacturers and sophisticated machine builders, with a high standard of performance. The technical and structural features of C.R. bearings undergo constant and thorough analysis and testing, regarding both quality and technical performance.

The company’s bearings for tension leveler machines are considered as back-ups. Compared to those used in the flattening machines, these back-up bearings must have a very high speed. Manufactured with radial and axial cages in a lot of typologies and executions, C.R. guarantees these bearings are perfectly interchangeable with the originals, although in many cases design and performance will be significantly improved. group to enter the field of special applications as well as revamping existing machines, a service increasingly demanded by customers.

The entrance of the company KCS HERR VOSS UK Ltd includes a strong team of engineers responsible for the engineering and design of cleaning lines for ferrous and non ferrous metals, coating lines and different process systems and applications.

Furthermore, a merger with the Spanish Mecesa has allowed Salico to maximise its offer of engineering solutions for process automation. The recent establishment of Salico Foil has opened up the aluminium market, with a series of machines dedicated to the processing of thin materials (from 10 to 60 microns in thickness).

Salico’s owners – belonging to the Salvioni, Colombo, Molteni and Gerbolés families – have a similar outlook when it comes to the future development of the group: “We aim at consolidation in the markets and an enlargement of the company base. This is a useful strategy, especially if the aggregation involves the opening up of new markets or acquisition of new technologies,” concludes Mr Perego. n