Riccardo Ferrario elected as the new President of Italian Foundry Suppliers' Association – “AMAFOND”

The 74th Ordinary Assembly of Amafond, the Italian Foundry Suppliers’ Association, took place on 23rd July’20, in the setting of Borgo Santa Giulia in Brescia area.

On this occasion, elections were held for the renewal of the Executive Committee for the 2020-2021 periods: Riccardo Ferrario was elected new President of Amafond. He is the General Manager of Idra Group of Travagliato (Brescia area) since 2009, a company that boasts over 70 years of experience in the production of die casting machines and auxiliary equipment, with a background in Fiat Teksid, Meridian Technologies and EurAlcom. The following people were elected as Vice Presidents for the Product Group: Luca Casella (Director - Sipag Bisalta Spa) and Angelo Vezzuli (General Manager - EKW Italia Srl), while for the Machinery and Equipment Group were elected: Paolo Magaldi (Deputy CEO - Magaldi Power Spa) and Michele Pietribiasi (Chief Executive Officer - Euromac Srl).

Councilors for the Product Group: Amedeo Mazzon (Manager - HA Mazzon Spa Division), Enzo Pederiva (Director of Foundry Division - Vesuvius Spa), Andrea Todeschini (Chief Executive Officer - HA Italia Spa) and Lorenzo Vincenti (Commercial Technician - Ask Chemicals Italia Srl), while for the Machinery and Equipment Group the following were elected: Mario Cincotta (CEO - Italpresse Spa), Paolo Claus (Technical Manager - Tecnopres Srl), Mauro Inverardi (Owner - IECI Srl), Ruggero Pederzoli (Owner - Meccanica Pi.Erre Srl ), Francesco Sauda (Area Manager - Colosio Srl), Massimo Sbrosi (Commercial Manager - Engitec Technologies Spa), Fancesco Tieghi (Chairman of the Board - Fomet Srl), Giovanni Triulzi (General Manager – Bühler Brescia Srl) and Rocco Vigorelli (Manager - Sogemi Engineering Srl).

Elected Arbitrators: Valerio Cantoni (Sole Director - Protec-Fond Srl), Giorgio Pulcinella (Sales Specialist - ABB Spa) and Rocco Vigorelli (CEO - Sogemi Engineering Srl). Auditors: Enzo Dell’Orto (CEO - Omsg Spa) and Claudio Romagnoli (Commercial Director - Belloi & Romagnoli Srl).

Past President Piero Starita was elected Amafond Honorary President.

During his last speech, President Sala, after thanking everyone for the support and help received during his mandate, pointed out the difficult moment in which we are living: a strong recession was already worrying us before the virus due to the brake on world trade and our exports due to protectionist wars, the lack of public and private investments and structural reforms.

At this moment he thinks there are three essential priorities.

First is productivity: the great absence for 25 years in the Italian public debate, 25 years off substantial stagnation. Stagnant productivity has effects that accumulate negatively not only in production but in the entire sustainability of Italy. Furthermore, stagnant productivity discourages the dimensional growth of companies, their greater capitalization, their rise in international supply chains, and their margins for investment.

The second cross-cutting priority is the measurement of the quality and effectiveness of public expenditure. “We cannot think that we will solve the problem we have been dealing with for years simply by ignoring it. The suspension of the EU stability pact will not be eternal. We will have a similar amount of resources available not only if we present Italy with a serious and credible plan, but also through the results that will testify our work.”

“The third priority must be to guarantee our future and the future of our children. A credible multi-year framework for the sustainability of Italian public finance and the reduction of public debt is immediately needed. The public debt will rise this year and at the beginning of the next towards an amount of around 160% of GDP.”

Investments in innovation and research, human capital, environmental and social sustainability of our productions, new contractual forms, international vision,  an extension of presence in strategic markets and innovative supply chains but also a great recovery of the national market.

The government will soon say how it intends to operate on the tax lever and the tax wedge, not only in this 2020 but also in the next years. “It should tell us now if we can count on punctual measures such as those implemented by other European countries on the automotive, steel and export supply chains.”

The newly elected President Riccardo Ferrario after thanking all the companies present, the Board of the Steering Committee and in particular his predecessor Maurizio Sala for the time and the efforts made for the Association in these years, focused his first speech on the lines guide that will characterize his mandate:

• Made in Italy
• Innovation
• Team

Italy is known all over the world for the luxury sector for example, but still too little for its excellence in casting industry. The President will aim to make companies known as much as possible by putting Amafond at their full service.

Another key theme for President Ferrario will be innovation: only by having the courage to think innovatively, will be possible to continue to be present and competitive on both international and national markets, even if the scenarios have drastically changed and will no longer be the same of before the pandemic.

Also in AMAFOND it will be necessary to have the ability to be innovative: in marketing, making new promotional ways in the WEB world, but also increasing relations with Foundry associations, Assofond in the first place but also with the international foundry associations, which are our counterpart and represent our customers.

“In addition, innovation also passes through our relationship with universities, which must be useful to get rid of that old and obsolete patina that carries the world of foundry behind, and that does not attract talent.”

“We must also be innovative in the sector of eco-sustainability.” The last fundamental point expressed by President Ferrario is the concept of team. To provide a useful and effective service to all the Associates, each member of the Steering Committee must have a specific role.

Although the moment is particularly difficult, the President looks to the future with optimism.

During the public part of the Assembly, a round table was held with Roberto Vavassori (President of Clepa) and Roberto Ariotti (President of Assofond). The two speakers gave rise to an interesting debate moderated by President Riccardo Ferraio, centred on what are the prospects of a revival in 2021 following the moment of great difficulty that we are experiencing generated by the outbreak of the pandemic.

In particular, the President of Assofond Roberto Ariotti focused on an interesting analysis of the present and future of the Italian and European casting sector, while the President of Clepa Roberto Vavassori focused his intervention on the automotive sector.

source https://www.alcircle.com/news/riccardo-ferrario-elected-as-the-new-president-of-italian-foundry-suppliers-association-amafond-57618