Ficep Group CEO outlines investment strategy

Ficep Group CEO, Ing. Christian Colombo, outlines Ficep’s key investment strategy to expand its global footprint. He also explains a new steel fabrication machinery design philosophy, with an eye on AI, to meet challenges in a changing world.....

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Established in 1930 by the Colombo and Giuliani families and based near the Alps in northern Italy (16km from the border with Switzerland), the Ficep Group focuses on the engineering and manufacturing of machine tools and software for the metalworking industry. It is one of the largest producers in the world of automated systems for the fabrication of structural steel and plate, as well as equipment for the forging industry.

Its portfolio of machinery includes steel section and plate fabrication equipment as well as automated handling and forging systems. It manufactures a wide range of fabrication machinery with options to punch, mark, drill, scribe, machine and shear or thermal cut. Ficep’s system simulation software allows it to evaluate potential layouts based on work force requirements, capabilities, throughput and production bottlenecks.

With several dedicated and specialised production facilities, Ficep also boasts a worldwide network of subsidiaries and agencies for sales, service, training and spare parts supply to support its customers. The family company believes that success is based upon innovation through the continuous understanding and improvement of its own and its customers’ value streams. Continuous training to understand these values has brought company growth and improvements.

At the Schweissen and Schneiden trade show in Essen, Germany, this September, Ficep’s stand promoted robotic welding and steel fabrication machinery for plate drilling with laser cutting functionality. Its hybrid machinery solutions with multiple functionality on the same machine, coupled with automation, are provided to steel fabricators all over the world. At the Blechexpo trade show in Stuttgart, Germany, this October Ficep will highlight its new GEMINI LASER plate cutter.

Gunning for growth

“This year will be our best year ever for sales and orders,” confirmed Ficep Group CEO, Ing. Christian Colombo, to ISMR. “We have made a lot of key investments this year, such as opening a new facility, from greenfield, in Atlanta (the United States). We bought 20 acres and are currently building an 8000 square-metre new facility for training/academy, showroom and assembly work. We have built up close relationships with local academia, such as Georgia Tech and Georgia Southern, to set up a constant feed of engineers and technicians for the facility,” he added.

Ficep also recently opened a new subsidiary in Mumbai, India. FICEP TECH INDIA Private LTD is designed to reinforce Ficep’s longstanding presence in India, with 17 members of staff, and is now fully set up for sales and service as well as possible manufacturing. FICEP CANADA has also been set up with the objective of elevating the customer experience with prompt and personalised attention.

“We are confident that our new subsidiaries will enhance our ability to serve customers with greater efficiency, responsiveness and tailored solutions. As we continue to expand our global footprint, our focus remains on delivering excellence, fostering innovation and strengthening partnerships that drive success in the steel construction and forging industries,” Christian Colombo told ISMR.

Ficep recently approved an expansion of Ficep UK in Leeds, enlarging the building by 1,000 square metres to support its service to customers.

“We also decided to expand our assembly area in Italy by a further 4,000 square metres, which should be ready by the beginning of next year. This is because we have launched new steel fabrication machinery with laser cutting technology and aim to build a whole new range of products featuring this technology,” continued Christian Colombo.

“We also consolidated a sales and support agreement on structural steel frames (for robotic welding) with Canadian company, AGT Robotics. Demand for robotic welding is increasing across the world. This means that we can now provide equipment for shot blasting/cleaning of materials (profiles or plates) as well as machining (cutting, punching, shearing, milling, drilling etc.), MES software (through our Steel Projects company) and, downstream, robotic welding and automated lines for painting. In short, everything that a steel fabricator needs to streamline his processes…..,” he explained.

New design philosophy for a changing world

Colombo also has further plans for automation in his strategy for growth. Ficep already offers full automation for its steel fabrication machinery and, next year (according to Colombo), will launch solutions for automated logistics, handling and transport of components between machines and different working units.

To read the rest of this interview in the October issue of ISMR, see https://joom.ag/JO2d/p34