SCM Group turns 70 – a story of courage, brilliance & passion

Alfredo Aureli, Giuseppe Gemmani and Adriano Aureli

The launch of SCM's first woodworking machine dates back to 1952. From that point onwards, the company has enjoyed a long history of global successes and acquisitions, beginning in the woodworking sector followed by forays into other materials. From the outset, SCM Group has been led by the Aureli and Gemmani families.

A global leader in machining technologies for an extensive range of materials and industrial components, SCM is the product of a strategic vision back in 1952, which saw the first woodworking machine produced in Rimini, Italy. From that point onwards, a precise mission was established: to offer the widest range of woodworking solutions at an international level. Over time, the Group has developed technologies and taken over leading brands not only to complete all the processes involved in secondary woodworking, but also in advanced materials, including plastic, glass, metal and marble. This 70-year success story that as of 2021, resulted in a turnover of €750 million (90% exported abroad), over 4,000 employees and a direct and capillary presence around the globe.

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Giuseppe Gemmani and Lanfranco Aureli

SCM's origins
The company's history goes back to 1935, when Nicola Gemmani and Lanfranco Aureli – experts in mechanics and foundry work – started working together. In 1952, the first woodworking machine was created – L'Invincibile – which was designed by engineer, Giuseppe Gemmani, Nicola's son. This machine, which in the eyes of the founders had to be special, much simpler and more practical than those already available on the market, managed to meet the needs of a market in the throes of a building boom and capable of producing every kind of furniture. To meet this demand, SCM quickly created a complete range of woodworking machines, which paved the way to conquering all the global markets. In the 1960s, Adriano and Alfredo Aureli - Lanfranco's children - joined the founders. Together with Giuseppe Gemmani, they led and expanded the company even further with the opening of directly controlled branches across the globe.

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The company's original factory in Rimini, Italy

In 1976, SCM developed the first machining centres and systems for solid timber windows and doors. In the mid-80s, they began to acquire well-known brands in different woodworking environments, which would go on to consolidate the company's global leadership: Mahros for automation systems (1984); Minimax for woodworking (1985); and at the end of the '80s, Gabbiani, Dmc and Morbidelli, leaders, respectively, in sizing, sanding and CNC panel machining centres. In 1992, the Routech brand, which marked theirs entry into the timber construction industry, and Stefani, an international pillar in edgebanding, were absorbed into the Group. In the years that followed, thanks to the development of other leading technologies and acquisitions – Superfici in 2004; CPC and Sergiani in 2006; and Celaschi in 2007 – SCM further expanded its range to cover all of the industry's production requirements.

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Promotion of SCM's first woodworking machine – L'Invincibile

SCM's strategies – customer oriented
SCM proudly celebrates this prestigious 70-year goal of accompanying the customer through each of the processes linked to the world of panels, solid wood, timber construction and woodworking. Luigi De Vito, SCM Division Director and Group General Manager, has no doubts as to their main objectives: "We aim to be even closer to our customers with highly personalised solutions, which are tailored to suit their specific requirements." SCM is taking a further step in that direction to guarantee even more direct contact, from consulting and sales to after sales. Luigi continues: "To us, this means offering continuous and more valid support to our customers; fully understanding and anticipating what they really need, as well as providing even more proactive recommendations."

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SCM's current Board of Directors

In order to achieve this goal, SCM is investing in the skills of its global team, on the technical, sales and after sales side, and the Group's training Campus centre is playing a key role in this. Simultaneously, the Group is upping its digital transformation process on two levels: internally - renewing organisational and international models with the customer, throughout their journey, and at the level of product and services offered - "to be even closer to their business needs and jointly study the best strategy for smart manufacturing."

For SCM, all this translates into digital and connected technologies designed for more efficient, sustainable factories; IoT systems that allow the customer to preserve and enhance their technologies throughout the entire life cycle; tools, such as the new My SCM portal, which enables a vast range of services to view, gather and analyse all the information on production performance in real time; and a Service team that can deal more simply and effectively with cases, providing faster answers and 'how to' solutions to guide customers in a knowledge sharing logic. The research and development investments are another pillar: "Not only do we set aside 7% of the Group's annual turnover for R&D," continues De Vito , "but we can also rely on an Innovation team with multi-disciplinary skills that allow us to have an open, forward-thinking approach, which goes beyond the specific applications of our sectors, once again to the full advantage of the customer."

The investment plan places sustainability at the forefront, both for internal processes as well as products and services, "to offer the customer solutions that reduce the space occupied in the factory, machining times and margins of error, as well as minimising costs linked to energy consumption and waste of resources and material."

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The company's new headquarters in Rimini, Italy

Keeping a global team united
Over the last 70 years, SCM has managed to establish an increasingly more direct and capillary presence on an international level, but how do you keep a global team united? Luigi De Vito explains: "With a very strong team spirit; the same one that allows us to continue along our growth path with a convergence of objectives that's not automatic, even in the most difficult times, as has been the case in recent years during the pandemic. The centrality of the customer as well as a smart approach, are the values that guide our daily work in the industrial plants in Italy and branches abroad. As well as this, we'd like to continue to be open to collaboration and partnerships in every field – research, information technology, training, sales support, technical support, etc. – but ensuring to keep customer value as our key goal."

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A view inside the company's production plant in Rimini, Italy

Despite current uncertainties linked to the rising costs of raw materials and energy, SCM continues to invest in its plants in Italy: "We're increasing the production capacity of our industrial sites, which currently record an average production of 20 thousand machines per year. As well as expanding surface areas, we're carrying out modernisation work – such as the current ongoing work in Rimini – to achieve more eco-sustainable spaces congenial with our human resources. Another important driver is the digitalisation of our production lines, that sees the spread of lean processes and FCS (Factory Control System) control systems in the various plants, in line with Industry 4.0 requirements. The aim is to improve industrial organisation by enhancing integration of the factory with IT systems.”

Last but not least, the company will continue its investments in foreign sales branches, as was the case with the renovated SCM North America branch in British Columbia (West Coast), in Canada and the opening of new branches in India and Turkey, to guarantee a more direct and capillary presence in strategic markets.

Stability, internationalisation, innovation and people – these are the values that have always been a part of SCM Group, as much today as in the past.

For more information on SCM Group, see www.scmgroup.com.

COMPANY INFO
SCM Group (UK) Ltd
Blenheim House, Camberley Road
Nottingham
NG6 8UW
0115 977 0044

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