EDITOR’S LETTER
SMART Richiedi la versione in italiano a info@ipcm.it
F
ive letters, an English term now widely used in every language, but probably one of the most difficult words to translate despite its simplicity. Its meanings range from capable, active, brilliant, and witty to refined, elegant, and fashionable. Yet, no foreign word faithfully reproduces the lexical nuance of the English one. Indeed, being smart means having an extra oomph, the ability to timely but naturally react to external stimuli, be they technological, aesthetic, or social. We are surrounded by smart cities, that is, digital and clever towns where knowledge, structures, and technologically advanced means are integrated in favour of the common good; smart factories, that is, automated plants operating in complete autonomy and in accord with the surrounding environment; smart manufacturing, that is, Industry 4.0-oriented production processes exploiting digitalisation, robotics, augmented reality, and the Internet of Things; and smart coatings, that is, high added value paints that combine complex functions and interact optimally with the external environment by adapting their performance and characteristics to the different conditions. Not to mention the smart phones, smart TVs, and smart watches present in our everyday lives. Like all terms with multiple semantic nuances, “smart” is a word that must be filled with meaning by those who use it. This issue of ipcm®, a super issue in terms of number of articles, content quality, and advertising presence, offers a varied overview of the smart industrial world applied to the surface treatment sector. Sustainability, energy saving and efficiency, new frontiers of robotics and automation, circular economy-oriented recycling, finishing systems organised as machine tools, and coating plants that reduce cycle times and energy consumption: these are just some of the great themes that have guided the development and transformation of the companies presented, many of which belong to, or are suppliers of, the (ACE) sector, which includes agricultural, earthmoving, and construction machinery as well as off-road vehicles in general. When reading all these articles, it emerges that the smart-oriented development is the response of these businesses to the growing market demands for customisation and flexibility, which in turn call for quick reaction and clever processes. In a word, smartness.
Alessia Venturi
How does ipcm® fill the term “smart” with meaning? By being a global magazine with a dual nature as a digital and paper medium; with its multi-channel distribution (traditional, digital, and social networks); with its originality (60% of the contents of each issue are exclusive and created by its editorial staff); and with its community, created around its social pages thanks to the high level of information offered, which has enabled it to loyalise an international audience that includes users and producers of finishing technologies, laboratories, universities, and associations. 2020 will be a year full of novelties: new formats, new publishing and training projects, new markets to get to know and present, and an innovative venture that will put the marketing and communication skills we have acquired over the past ten years at the service of our customers. With all these projects in sight, we will make sure to enjoy the Christmas break that awaits us!
Editor-in-chief Direttore Responsabile
Best wishes for a Merry Christmas from the whole ipcm® staff and me.
international PAINT&COATING magazine - NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 - N. 60
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