Fallen into the net… by choice

Editorial by Stefano Lavorini

“There is as much difference between us and ourselves, as there is between us and the others”
Michel de Montaigne, filosofo e scrittore francese, 1533-1592
            
If it is true that there is strength in numbers, what for a small firm might be impossible is not so if one groups together… This is the essence of the matter. This the sense and the objective of the networking contract that opens the way to “a varyingly shaped virtual concern” capable of better responding to a market that is in a state of crisis, dominated by competitors and evermore sizeable and battle hardened customers.

This is what Gianmario Ronchi (joint head of Ronchi Mario Spa), promoter and current president of the “Processing&Packaging network: High-Tech Italian Way”, that came into being a few months back with the objective of favouring the growth of companies on the international market.

Ronchi in starting out confesses openly: «When it comes down to it the networking contract is more useful than one might first believe: inasmuch it comes into being without being legally binding, it is simple to govern and does not require any superstructure, nobody is tied down and a lot of opportunity is offered» . Provided one can count, we add, on a program implementing body that is up to the task.

With his calm style with a dash of dogged optimism, Ronchi continues: «There is a lot of work to be done in the world in order bring extensive geographic areas to western levels of consumption…. And we are convinced that our processing technology, packaging and wrapping sector network can do much to contribute».

On what basis? Simple. «Aboveall by being Italians and foregoing on competing with one another. As an example of this new way of conducting and enterprise, he emphasises that there are two concerns in the group that produce filing machines that are though destined for different user markets. Reciprocal knowledge and knowhow remains fundamental: we all in fact know how the others operate on the market, also because, on the occasion of specific job orders, we have already actually cooperated».

Said and done. Instead of complaining about the lack of cohesion between companies and that, when it comes down to it “Italians are natural loners”, the founding core of five concerns, already joined by two others, have decided to share a commercial project: go and explore markets showing growth that are less well known and still too complex and troublesome for an individual approach.
Some geographic areas of common interest have already been identified where a collective presence in the occasion of important fairs is to be organized. Hence, collective stand, coordinated image, but dedicated and personalised spaces for each single concern. Because «everyone maintains their own identity, for example choosing to attend with or without their machines. One single stand though, in which international buyers can find an integrated technological offer of solutions also oriented towards the supply of complete lines».

On this count Ronchi speaks clearly: «The main advantage of the networking contract that we have signed has been to obtain from the implementing body, that for us is Ipack-Ima SpA, organizer of the fair of the same name, a complete and well-structured service. Practically speaking, as an example, the implementing body contacts the fair, negotiates the purchase, sees to the setting up and offers us on-the-spot coordination and assistance as well as promotion in the local media. In this way we share all the costs entailed by taking part at a fair and specifically, we benefit from the skills and the structure of Ipack-Ima; a body that, as well as organizing fairs, offers itself as a sector aggregator and of that of its technological proposals.
To start off we have necessarily chosen horizontal fairs, interesting for all: Propack China, Propack Indonesia, Andina-Pack in Colombia. Once we gain proof of the fact that presenting ourselves as a group opens further business opportunities, we could also use this formula for other fairs such as Packexpo Las Vegas.
To tell the truth, we have not set limits in terms of operativity, but only as to the extent of the networking contract that we have set at 3 years».
And for the future? «Nothing is excluded - Ronchi declares - given that the networking contract allows us to do more and we hope better».
“No wind is good for those who do not have a set haven”, Montaigne warns again and hence, well be it that this group shows it knows where it is going. Bon voyage.

To find out more about the networking contract: www.retimpresa.it

The founding nucleus of “Processing&Packaging: The High-Tech Italian Way” alongside Mario Ronchi SpA of Gessate - MI (macchine riempitrici), PFM Group of Torrebelvicino - VI (9 companies specialised in flexible packaging for food and non food products), P.E. Labellers SpA of Porto Mantovano – MN (hi-tech rotary and linear labeling machines), Clevertech of Cadelbosco Sotto – RE (automation systems for packaging and wrapping machines) and CAMA Group of Garbagnate Monastero - LC (complete lines of machines for secondary packaging).