This article was published in June 2010 issue of World Port Development. To receive a pdf of the article in its original format including charts and pictures please send an email to archive@worldportdevelopment.com
Fabrizio Bonfanti talks to World Port Development about the success of crane manufacturing company Italgru S.r.l
Please explain the background of Italgru , how and when the company was formed and its growth path over the years.
Italgru was born from the merger of a small manufacturer of hoisting equipment and a private group operating in the commercial sector. From the outset the company undertook a vigorous plan of restructuring and reorganisation in order to perfect its production and achieve the position of leadership it now holds in the sectors of mobile dockside and off-shore cranes. In 1958, anticipating what would become its market philosophy, Italgru took an important step forward in the field of truck cranes when it presented its model AG 30, with a maximum capacity of 30 tons, which at the time was the largest truck crane produced in Italy. Another milestone was reached in 1964 with the supply of 90 mobile truck cranes to Italian company Genius. This was a definitive achievement in the Italian market and thanks to this important success Italgru gained the impulse to grow commercially and technologically. Between 1960 and 1970 Italgru consolidated its position and, thanks to the excellent qualifications of its engineers, its workforce and its management, the company achieved steady growth in terms of production and sales in the sector of hoisting equipment. The 1970’s saw another landmark for Italgru with the production of its mobile harbour cranes on wheels which saw the company achieving its goal of covering the complete range of machinery for handling large loads. To cement this success, the company concentrated its efforts on technological improvement by expanding its design sector and setting up its own “Quality Control” function applied to all the machines, with rigorous and accurate laboratory tests on the materials. In 1995 Italgru was acquired by the Bonfanti family, who took over the know-how, production plant, technical archives and personnel. The company operate in a plant that occupies an area of 25,000sqm in Lecco, Italy. With a view to expansion, in 2001 the company acquired a large strategic industrial site of 130,000 m2, with 15000 m2 of buildings served by a railway-junction. This investment and the continuous expansion of production space is driven by the necessity to satisfy the growing demand for larger, more efficient machines. Today Italgru has established itself as a reliable, efficient and valid reference point in the market of mobile harbour cranes, oil rig, floating and deck off-shore cranes, special heavy-duty hoist and old crane revamping.
Experience teaches that success should never be an end in itself, and this is why Italgru is constantly looking to the future, well aware that to stay in first place in world production requires a constant commitment to the search for new solutions capable of improving the machines and ensuring better satisfaction of the vast clientele with first class service and technology.
2. Italgru recently opened a new factory – why was this necessary and what does it mean for Italgru’s future?
Italgru has opened a new 6.000 m2 building bringing the total manufacturing area to 21.000 m2. This new area is dedicated to the steel mechanical working and assembly of the final products. This investment is sufficient (at the moment) to meet customer demand. In fact Italgru has acquired several orders from the Harbour and Oil & Gas sectors for their newly-designed cranes. Furthermore the company has received the approval from the city of Ambivere to build more than 40.000 m2 over the next five years, should it be required.
3. In your view what are the core strengths of Italgru?
The core strength of Italgru is the family that is at the heart of the business – this has a very positive effect on all the employees. We are a team, a strong team with a good trainer. Italgru has acquired a new technical manager and some new staff in the technical department to satisfy the requirement of new customers that are looking for a new supplier of Mobile Harbour Cranes. Italgru is assuming this role step by step. Furthermore, dynamic management, versatile products, advanced design, quality controlled production, quality, and guaranteed after-sales service are all winning features that have rewarded us for 50 years of hard work. The mission of the company is to realise excellent products and solutions to meet market demands which are oriented to the real needs of the customer. This objective is achieved by a Quality Management System, through which the processes, necessary for the business management and the realisation of the product, are planned, developed and monitored with the employment of adequate resources. Since 2003 Italgru has been certified ISO 9001 by RINA in the areas of design, production, assembly, testing and after-sales service. A continuous optimisation of the production processes and a remarkable organisational elasticity between every department allow Italgru to operate with remarkable efficiency and with highly competitive prices. Particular attention is paid to safety in regard to infrastructure and the working environment, to allow best working conditions. By monitoring every part of the business from management through to production, against established objectives, weakness and inefficiency can be pinpointed and eliminated to avoid loss of time and waste of resources thus ensuring that the business operates at optimum performance.
4. In such a competitive market what are the challenges facing Italgru over the next few years?
Italgru has contracts for the next year and beyond (up to June 2011). Currently we are planning investment in new agents/dealers that will be required for the market. We do not need to get involved in a race for the quantity of mobile harbour cranes produced in one year, rather we prefers to manufacture the right number of machines that allow us to service both old and new customers.
5. What do you consider the most important technical initiatives/projects undertaken by Italgru over the last five years?
Italgru is a modern company that takes advantage of state-of –art technology such as three-dimensional design and parametric software. Our technical department plans and designs any type of system to satisfy the most challenging and diverse technical operating requirements in a variety of environments, including sectors such as docks, oil extraction in open sea, and iron and steel shipbuilding. Our specialised and technically qualified personnel, our range of equipment for every type of working, plus the employment of optimal raw materials and partnership with excellent suppliers all concur to obtain high quality products that correspond to the specific needs of the customer. Specialist technicians guarantee efficient and immediate service including advising on choice of system, installation and start up of the systems. We also offer after-sale technical service. In the last five years Italgru has won a lot of contracts for MHC and Pedestal Offshore Cranes. This has created a lot of curiosity from the stevedoring companies and oil and gas companies to know more about this Italian company.
6. Ho
w would you describe your vision for the future of Italgru?
In the meantime Italgru has many contracts to boast about including several for Mobile Harbour Cranes (7) and pedestal off shore cranes (9) and is in negotiation for six mobile harbour cranes and 12 pedestal off shore cranes. Italgru’s vision of the market is that it is the land of big opportunity that requires its presence – have no doubt – Italgru will be there!will be required for the market. We do not need to get involved in a race for the quantity of mobile harbour cranes produced in one year, rather we prefers to manufacture the right number of machines that allow us to service both old and new customers.In the meantime Italgru has many contracts to boast about including several for Mobile Harbour Cranes (7) and pedestal off shore cranes (9) and is in negotiation for six mobile harbour cranes and 12 pedestal off shore cranes. Italgru’s vision of the market is that it is the land of big opportunity that requires its presence – have no doubt – Italgru will be there!