Thursday, June 20, 2024
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On June 14, Hiteco celebrated the inauguration of its new premises in Rimini. As a company within the Scm Group, Hiteco specialises in the development and production of advanced mechatronic components for machine tool manufacturers.
Founded in Villa Verucchio, Rimini, in 1977 as an in-house department, Hiteco initially focused on providing components such as electro-spindles, bi-rotational heads, drilling heads, and aggregates for the group’s machinery used in wood and other material processing. Over the decades, Hiteco has experienced steady growth, significantly bolstered by its expanding export activities.
By the end of 2023, Hiteco’s progressive expansion had culminated in a turnover of approximately 40 million Euros, establishing it as a leading global manufacturer in the sector. Hiteco’s high-tech components for numerically controlled machines are now integral to the machining of a diverse range of materials, including wood, plastic, composites, glass, stone, and metal.
The new headquarters in Rimini spans an impressive 9,000 square metres, a significant increase from the previous 3,000 square metres at the Villa Verucchio site, with over 7,000 square metres dedicated to production. This investment will enable Hiteco to expand its workforce and enhance its production efficiency, all while maintaining its commitment to being 100% Made in Italy. Furthermore, it will bolster Hiteco’s research and development efforts, particularly focusing on the advancement of new digital services, Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities, and smart products equipped with AI algorithms. The expansion also includes broadening its range in the stone, glass, and metal machining sectors and advancing Industry 5.0 initiatives.
The increased space and competitiveness in both Italian and international markets will facilitate stronger partnerships with schools, universities, and professional training organisations. It also promises greater growth opportunities for Hiteco’s employees, supported by the training programmes offered through Scm Group’s Campus, benefiting all companies within the group.
Massimo Benvenuti, the Director of Hiteco, remarked, “This investment marks the pinnacle of the continuous progress we have achieved over the years and serves as a new starting point for further enhancing the innovation level of our products and services.” He added, “Our industrial components are the crucial value-adding elements, the technological core that defines the quality of any machine in terms of performance, power, precision, and long-term reliability. This latest development reaffirms our commitment to delivering increasingly high-quality solutions that evolve to meet the diverse needs of our customers.”
Hiteco’s market performance has shown a remarkably positive trend. In recent years, Hiteco has solidified its leadership in Asia, which has become its largest export market. By the end of 2023, the company saw a substantial increase in orders, growing by double digits in this region. Hiteco maintains a direct presence in Asia with a team of experts dedicated to providing comprehensive sales support and technical assistance.
Moreover, Hiteco’s turnover is rising in both the European and North American markets. In Europe, there are plans to enhance after-sales services, while in North America, Hiteco established a sales office in Atlanta in 2020. Hiteco North America offers direct, extensive, and timely support to clients and the sales network across the continent.
From a technological innovation standpoint, Hiteco’s products stand out for their use of sensors, aligning with Industry 4.0, and a strong emphasis on reducing machinery’s electricity consumption. Embracing Industry 5.0, Hiteco has introduced the ERS (Energy Recovery System), a new applied system that allows for the recovery of 14.5% of the energy generated by the component for subsequent machining tasks.
In terms of digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence, Hiteco has developed new digital services linked to the Hiteco Connect IoT system. Intelligent sensors fitted to electro-spindles enable real-time monitoring of their health and performance, and facilitate the subsequent analysis of all data from the component. This helps optimise usage and maintenance needs.
Research and development, which has long been Hiteco’s crowning achievement, remains central to their mission. “We have a dedicated team focused on R&D, aimed at creating flexible, state-of-the-art technological solutions that are continuously evolving. Every stage of our production process is meticulously controlled. All testing and quality checks are performed with the most advanced and certified instruments, which are regularly updated. Our investments are consistently aimed at improving the quality and durability of our products, thereby enhancing the performance of our customers’ machinery,” said a spokesperson from Hiteco.
Hiteco’s production is entirely based in Italy, with all critical spindle components manufactured in-house. Additionally, each of Hiteco’s products is assembled on a conveyor belt, ensuring complete control over the assembly process and guaranteeing maximum quality for the customer. This method, coupled with substantial inventory availability, significantly reduces delivery times.
Massimo Benvenuti, Director of Hiteco, highlighted the company’s strength, saying, “The real power of our products lies in the people who passionately dedicate themselves to their development and production each day. This dedication has driven our steady growth year after year and fuels our vision for the future, focusing on continuously updating our product range and expanding into new markets.”
The grand opening of Hiteco’s new premises was attended by several dignitaries, including Vincenzo Colla, the Regional Councillor for Economic Development, Green Economy, Work, Training, and International Relations; Jamil Sadegholvaad, President of the Province and Mayor of Rimini; representatives from the Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts, and Landscape for Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena, and Rimini; and various business and educational institutions.
Regional Councillor Vincenzo Colla commented, “This new investment underscores Hiteco’s commitment to competing at a global level, producing top-quality, technologically advanced, and sustainable products. At the same time, it strengthens the relationship with the local community, which is a hallmark of businesses in Emilia-Romagna. Hiteco not only boosts local employment but also engages in training and cultural events that benefit the entire region.”
The president of the province and mayor of Rimini, Jamil Sadegholvaad, added: “When a
company invests, it gets stronger, it expands its horizons and it does so through research and innovation, something that is of added value to the community. The impact and importance are not measured solely in the narrow perimeter of a leading business, but on a wider scale of the social life of the local area. The opening of Hiteco’s new premises is confirmation of its propulsive role in industrial investment which allows it to compete globally. But there is something else: an awareness that the quality and ‘being one step ahead of the others’ are elements that define an excellence which then spreads well-being, work and widespread future opportunities for hundreds if not thousands of people. A healthy business, a business that invests is a community asset. There is no doubt about that”.
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