INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE
The New Industrial Districts Adriano Antonelli IBIX S.r.l - DIVISIONE TECNO SUPPLY, Santa Maria in Fabriago (RA), Italy
L
adriano.antonelli@tecnosupply.com
ately, there has been much debate
District of Belluno, and the Pharmaceutical
Just think that, in order to maintain its sales
about international competition:
District of the Lazio region. But how has
levels, the goods produced by an Italian
how can the market affect the
the District concept changed in the last few
company have to travel an average of
domestic production process? How
years of economic challenges? Production
400 km more than just ten years ago. The
can we face the new challenges that
Districts have certainly transformed. The
answer, therefore, are no longer districts,
await us? Economic recovery seemed
skills needed to sell goods globally are
but rather expansion. The supply chain that
sustained, but it is currently weakening
increasingly complex and challenging. It
brings products beyond the borders can
also due to political choices that hinder
may even happen that the ones required
now be distributed throughout the national
the free movement of goods. So, how
are not available in one’s own jealously
territory, in various specialised industrial
can we face the new international
guarded stronghold of knowledge, which
areas. This system creates a network of
economic policies and unilateral choices,
until a few decades ago was one of the
companies that are able to maintain high
such as those concerning the heavy
most precious assets for a small business.
quality standards and low prices. Š HangOn
duties imposed by the USA on Europe? Whereas Germany has a fabric of
The coating of mechanical parts and components is certainly an important
stable companies in terms of
part of the Italian
both finance and production,
productive fabric, as well
Italy has always been the
as an important process
country of small businesses.
in terms of both product
Of course, we are not
protection and packaging.
referring to micro or nano
Coating is now a key
companies, which nowadays
factor also for highly
tend to have more and
technological products.
more problems because
For any firm needing to
of their difficulty to adapt
coat in a short time and
to the now unavoidable
on workpieces subject
insourcing trend. Here, we
to unilateral changes in
are talking about the small
terms of shape and size,
but reliable companies that
being always prepared
have managed to cope with
can be complicated and
the challenges of the global
expensive. Increasing
market despite not having
production density should
the structure and size of
be the primary goal.
many of their European
The pictures presented
competitors.
can help understand
Traditionally, in Italy, the
how a few changes in
creation of Production
the hanging method
Districts was the answer. We all know, for example, the Ceramic District of Modena, the Eyewear
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1
Figure 1: Optimising the hanging phase can bring huge benefits in terms of time and cost savings.
N. 53 - SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 - international PAINT&COATING magazine
used can ensure great benefits in terms of time and cost savings (Fig. 1). Switching from individual