On 14th June, Hiteco inaugurated its new premises in Rimini. Hiteco is an Scm Group company, specialising in the development and production of hi-tech mechatronic components for machine tool manufacturers.
Established in Villa Verucchio (Rimini) in 1977 as an in-house department, to provide components (electro-spindles, bi-rotational heads, drilling heads and aggregates) for the group’s machines for machining wood and other materials, Hiteco has grown steadily over the last few decades, aided by a constant growth in exports.
A progressive growth which reached a turnover of around 40 million Euro at the end of 2023, and which has made Hiteco one of the main global manufacturers in the sector for high-tech components for numerically controlled machines used to machine a wide range of materials like wood, plastic, composites, glass, stone and metal.
The new headquarters in Rimini covers an overall area of 9,000 square metres compared to the previous 3,000 at the plant in Villa Verucchio, of which more than 7,000 is set aside for production. The investment will allow Hiteco to increase its workforce, as well as improve its production efficiency (100% Made in Italy) and its R&D work. The projects specifically concentrate on the development of new digital services, IoT services and intelligent products complete with AI algorithms, as well as an expansion of the range in the stone, glass and metal machining sectors and Industry 5.0.
More space and greater competitiveness on Italian and foreign markets also translate into more steadfast collaborations with schools, universities and professional training organisations and greater opportunities for growth for its co-workers, thanks in part to the training provided by Scm Group’s Campus for Hiteco and all the companies in the group.
“This investment is the crowning achievement of the continuous progress recorded over the years as well as a new starting point for continuing to increase the innovative level of our products and services”, comments the director of Hiteco, Massimo Benvenuti.
"Our industrial components are the added value, the technological heart of any machine that defines its quality in terms of performance, power, precision and reliability over time. Yet another reason for adding increased quality to the solutions produced which, in the case of Hiteco, are continually evolving to meet the wide range of demands from its customers”.
The market responds with a more than positive trend. In recent years, Hiteco has further consolidated its own leadership in Asia, a market which currently records the highest level of exports for this company and which, at the end of 2023, saw order growth reach into double figures. In Asia, Hiteco has a direct presence with a team of experts who guarantee all the necessary sales support and technical assistance.
Furthermore, the incidence of turnover in the European and North American markets is on the rise: for the “old continent”, an after-sales development is foreseen while across the Atlantic Hiteco already opened a sales outlet in 2020 in Atlanta, Hiteco North America, to provide direct, capillary and on-time support for clients and the sales network.
From a technological innovation point of view, all the products make their mark thanks to the use of sensors, in line with Industry 4.0 and a strong focus on keeping down the machinery's electricity consumption.
In terms of Industry 5.0, ERS (Energy Recovery System) makes it mark, a new applied system which allows for the recovery of 14.5% of the energy generated by the component, for subsequent machining work.
In terms of digital transformation and AI - Artificial Intelligence, Hiteco has developed new digital services linked to the Hiteco connect IoT system: thanks to the intelligent sensors applied to the electro-spindles, it is possible, in real time and at any time, to monitor their state of health and performance, as well as subsequently analyse all the data from the same component to optimise its use and required maintenance.
In more general terms, research and development which has been Hiteco's jewel in the crown for years, continues to be their mission. "We have a specific team within the company that deals with R&D, aimed at creating flexible, state-of-the-art technological solutions in continuous evolution. The entire production path is rigorously controlled during key stages of the process. All the controls and end testing are done using the most advanced instruments that have been properly certified and are constantly updated. All our investments focus on increasing the quality and durability of our products and, as a result, the performance of the customers' machinery".
Production is entirely made in Italy, and all the most important parts of the spindle are manufactured internally. That’s not all: every one of Hiteco's products are conveyor belt assembled: this ensures complete control over all the assembly work and, as a result, the customer can be assured maximum quality. An exclusive strong point which, together with extensive availability in the warehouse, dramatically cuts delivery times.
"The real strength behind our products - continues Benvenuti - lies in the people who passionately dedicate themselves each day to their development and production. This is the added value of important, steady growth that we continue to see year after year and this is the spirit with which we look to the future, focusing on further updating our range and in winning over new markets".
Present at the Grand Opening of Hiteco’s new premises were some authorities from the Emilia-Romagna Regional Council, with the councillor, Vincenzo Colla (economic development and green economy, work training and international relations), the president of the province and mayor of Rimini, Jamil Sadegholvaad, the Superintendence for Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the province of Ravenna, Forlì-Cesena and Rimini and different institutions present from the world of business and further education.
“This new investment confirms the desire to continue to compete globally at a high level, proud to produce top-quality products that are always technologically advanced and sustainable - explains the regional councillor Vincenzo Colla-. At the same time, the relationship with the local community is consolidated, something that is a prerogative for businesses in Emilia-Romagna, not just boosting high employment but opening up to training and cultural events that benefit the entire area”.
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”.
