The young: a strategic asset for the future of the economy

The Tech4Students Day, the event organised by Cama Group and OMET in partnership with the Lecco and Sondrio Confindustria (Association of Italian Industries) branch, saw the participation on 17 November of over 300 students from schools in the area in an orientation project on technical and technological training.

Cristina Rossi

The objective of the event: raise awareness of the work, opportunities and skills sought by the manufacturing industry, in the conviction that the orientation and training of students are of strategic importance for the future of the economy and for a reduction in the school dropout rate and unemployment.

Cama Group and OMET, two companies situated in Molteno (LC) 200 metres one from the other, have, therefore, opened their doors of their production sites to students and journalists. The distinctive trait of both companies is continuous technological innovation and the creation of highly customised products. What they share is the conviction that what makes the difference are people’s experience, expertise and skills. In today’s competitive and rapidly evolving context, to be a leader it’s not enough to be outstanding in terms of knowledge: there’s a need for people to be able to manage complex situations, to enter into the mechanisms of relationships and understand how they work.

These and other concepts emerged in various contributions during the conference which was held immediately after the visit of the factories.

Cama Group, which in 2021 reached 40 years of activity, was represented by Annalisa and Daniele Bellante who, in their capacity as, respectively, vice-chairperson and chairperson, are successfully carrying forward the company that their father founded in 1981. Specialised in secondary packaging, with a rare vocation for innovation, it has recently transferred activities from Garbagnate Monastero to Molteno: new headquarters built according to advanced sustainability criteria, larger and more appropriate for future projects, many of which are already well underway. The company produces automated packaging systems with a high technological content for the food and non-food sectors. And it does this referring to the tradition of its origins in the paper industry.

«All the components are assembled and wired in our factory and the final step is testing and final acceptance by the customer» Daniele Bellante points out during the visit of the site. «The average line usually requires 2,000-3,000 hours of engineering. There are people who work for months only on these projects. This is why the added value component is so high and why human resources are fundamental for us ».

«I also deal with human resources inside the company» explained Annalisa Bellante. «Our workers need a solid technical base, but it’s essential that youngsters find the right “attitude” … because it’s always possible to learn a technical skill, but the right attitude to resolving problems, communicating in an effective way and being part of a group is more difficult to acquire. “Taking” companies inside schools is essential in order to be able to define training courses in line with the needs of the labour market ».

A triangle of institutions, schools and companies

«The Tech4Students Day was organised to create a network, involving institutions, schools and companies» continues Daniele Bellante. « We wanted it to offer a means of awareness for young people, in a context of discovery and not of training, to enable these young people to have a vision of their future choices. In order to be able to choose, it’s necessary to be aware of the possible options that the territory can offer. OMET and Cama Group are two enterprises rooted in the territory but of international scope, leaders in their sectors, and I therefore think it important for them to commit themselves to making their potential understood and transferring it to young people. Every person requires one or two years of training before being able to express their full potential. This implies a continuous investment for companies like ours. ».

Antonio Bartesaghi, CEO of OMET – which produces systems for printing materials used in packaging and machines for tissue products – reiterated that, to survive, businesses need to draw on new human resources with technical skills. «And this is because the value of a company lies in the quality of its people».

The main problems, as the mayor of Lecco, Mauro Gattinoni, pointed out, is that there are fewer and fewer young people. Today for every 100 youngsters under 15 years of age there are 200 people over 65. The young are a precious but increasingly rare resource.

The testimony of two young professionals, Stefano Marelli and Stefano Sironi was interesting. After a number of months of internship in Cama, they were hired in the company’s Research& Development department, where they are still working: the first, after graduated in mechanical engineering, since 2018, and the second, after obtaining the high school diploma last June at the Lecco Technical High School, since September this year.

The event ended with Bartesaghi handing out scholarships to the children of OMET workers attending high schools and universities with excellent results, with the aim of encouraging commitment and promoting the recognition of merit.