Steel Construction Vol 40 No 4 - Metal Cladding and Light Steel Frame | Page 28

SAISC profile Patrick Pereira of RETECON recently visited the Ficep facility in Italy. Inspired by their history of resiliance he penned some thoughts for Steel Construction Automation A key factor in being future fit as a fabricator By Patrick Pereira, Retecon Contact Details: Retecon (Pty) Ltd Tel.: [phone] Cell: [phone] Email: [email protected] Web: www.retecon.co.za ABOVE AND BELOW: FICEP showroom. Ficep’s story is one of two families brought together by the same entrepreneurial spirit. In 1930, the Colombo and Giuliani families created “Fabbrica Italiana Cesoie e Punzonatrici SA”, with headquarters in Milan and factories in nearby Gazzada, where it was easier to find the space needed to develop their activities. Coming out of the gloomy years of the Second World War, Ficep offered an important contribution to rebuilding Italy’s construction heritage after the war. In the ‘60s Ficep set itself up as a model company, both from an organization al point of view, with modern management, and from the work place quality point of view with the creation of a progressive social infrastructure, such as health services, a recreational and welfare center for workers and professional training courses. In 1965, the company made an important technological leap forward, with the shift to electronics and the production of innovative automatic numerical-controlled lines for the steel fabrication machinery division. In decades of continual development the real constant remains the original families’ guiding hand, which continues to set the company direction, inspired by quality and innovation. From the ‘90s onwards, in the face of the growing phenomenon of delocalisation, Ficep made a precise choice, against the tide of the rest of the market, by deciding to keep all its production lines and knowhow in Italy, and demonstrating a deep attachment to its own territory and roots. Whilst facing aggressive competition in terms of prices, Ficep has made the most of its own internal organization in planning a logical network of companies, with small, satellite, highly-specialized and flexible firms, which enabled it to make management savings without renouncing the highest standards of quality. In the meantime, the international aspects of the Group have reinforced with continued expansion, seeing the creation of direct subsidiaries all over the key markets around the world. 26 Steel Construction Vol. 40 No. 4 2016