A single reference point for companies in the steel industry GAP

A single reference point for compAnies in tHe steel inDustry

The Group’s corporate mission is to offer an all-round service to companies in the steel industry. GAP was established over 60 years ago in Northern Italy and it has now grown to employ more than 400 employees and serve businesses worldwide.

Steel companies require supporting services in a wide range of operations, starting from receiving raw materials to managing finished goods in the warehouse. A vital component of GAP technological know-how involves detecting and collecting such needs and find high-performance solutions.

Its long-standing clients include well-known companies, such as Arvedi Group, Cogne Acciai Speciali and Tenaris Group. Valuing Research & Development

GAP puts a lot of emphasis on developing the business to meet changing technologies. A team of internal researchers has been actively working on several projects aimed to put into practice Industry 4.0 to carry forward the core company’s commitment to automation, efficiency and safety. Electrical and hydrogen fuelled mobility is another focus of great interest not only for the significant positive impact on the

environment but also for the valuable exchange of knowledge brought by close co-operation with Milan Polytechnic, the University of Perugia and the University of Pisa. The knowledge exchange with important research institutes is a source of constant enrichment and motivation for GAP’s engineers in their daily operations.

The design and manufacture of the Mobile Suction System (IMA) is a perfect example of this forward looking approach. The system is designed to control the emission of fumes and dust in the atmosphere and it is available for hire to third parties. “We are proud to share the result of our research with other companies,” explains the CEO, Eligio Piantoni. “We believe that important discoveries should not be kept secret by those who made them. We have always been ambitious in this regard, which is to revolutionise services system to the steel industry. “gApp”, a smart application designed for steel plant operations, was also designed with this aim in mind. “gApp” is a unique application that aims to integrate the work of men and machines through digitizing operations and integrating them with existing operating systems. The goal is to facilitate the overall control and supervision of the operations so that technicians can have more of an active role. We like to think that being able to access that amount of information in real time can prevent problems and impact positively on the planning and organization of working processes.”

The importance of team work

Despite the complex structure of the Group, the basic approach to their projects remains flexible and detailed. “We are still a company able to meet the specific needs of our clients,” said Mr Piantoni. “It is one of our vital goals to be able to give competent and precise solutions readily and quickly.”

This is primarily achieved through excellent communication and cooperation among different departments. Mr Eligio Piantoni explained: “We believe it is very important to have a direct line of communication with our employees. That is why the business is organised in such a way that the communication and connection among directors, managers and employees is constant. This alignment is one of the most precious resources of the company”

Company values

People are not numbers. The human capital of a company is vital to its success. And this is the underlying philosophy of GAP. Its company culture is based on a very low staff turnover, meritocracy, opportunities for continuous training and effective internal communication. The Group is constantly working on improving its goals and standards which often exceed all legal requirements.

In fact the GAP includes an internal division solely dedicated to Health and Safety in the workplace, where every single operation is monitored to allow preventive measures to be put in place and swift corrective actions to take place if needed. This is demonstrated in the award of ISO 45001 certification to GAP SPA.

“We believe in the continuous training of both managers and workers,” added Mr Piantoni “The safety of our employees comes first, and so does their awareness and sense of belonging to the company.”

Apart from being ISO 9001 certified, the Group has also created their own code of conduct, the Company Policy on Quality and Safety in the Workplace. This code is summed up by these words: “Providing quality services and staying healthy and safe in the workplace are commitments we all need to abide to. This is achieved not only by complying with health and safety regulations in your daily work, but also in creating the ideal conditions that can make this happen.”

Being proactive and willing to always exceed expectations are the keys that allow the Group to look at the future with optimism: “We are aware that several challenges lie ahead,” concluded Mr Piantoni, “but we are confident because we can rely on two unique and infallible advantages: the strength of our men and the strength of our ideas.”