EICMA 2005

A trade fair event like EICMA held in Milan is expected. It is a definite reference for anyone who wants to get a feel for a difficult market like the motorcycle one. It is really a difficult market! The reasons are tied to the structure is uses but also to the current situation and multiple problems caused by globalization.
The reasonably troubled job market, business world in an uproar and facing the de-localization dilemma. Following the beaten path and moving production to where labor costs yield competitive margins? How to deal with developing markets? China, India or Eastern Europe?
No businessman can avoid these questions.
This dominating capitalist system where Italy sets its wheels in motion makes room for business strategies that tend to combine conflicting production aspects with necessary ethics.
Italian businesses are made of men as well as of machines. Of brains as well as arms. That a change in production organization is required is unquestionable. A profitless business is bound to fail and the consequent damages are worse than the painful adjustments.
Thoughts and worries that need answers.
The Fi-San group, including companies like Paioli Meccanica Spa, Galvanotecnica Srl, PM srl and Fonderia Artigiana, has been on the motorcycle market with its front suspensions for a hundred years. Products that have found the way to business success thanks to continual research efforts and careful management. We asked this group's management staff the same questions found in this introduction.
We were answered by Santovito, the group's managing director.
- More than ten years ago, we already perceived the onset of the problems you point out and began to create partnerships with motorcycle market leaders. Various business alliances were formed: Joint-venture, shareholdings and other partnerships.
Some are still standing like Yamaha and Kayaba, but there are more. In the past, we acted as executors. Today, these contacts have matured into a greater understanding of our capacities. An "Italian" way to work which, even if far from the typical aggressiveness of certain forms of capitalism (or, if you may, from a certain way of interpreting the business role) lets us play very powerful cards in the international sphere.
It is, conclusively, the Italian specificity gradient. Over the years we have cultivated a professionalism that is not in the least bit negligible: engineers, technicians, designers. The labor cost handicap? The professional I mentioned are well-paid anywhere!
Therefore we have to move competitive terms to values that developing countries find hard to threaten -
Luciano Santovito doesn't reveal anything on the future, shuffling through newly printed folders ready for EICMA distribution, but it isn't hard to guess where this Group is going. One of the communication tools offered at the Paioli Meccanica stand is a DVD. We got a preview: it may be the most complete documentary on this sector's processes and tangible proof of the reasons for business success.
A complete production process that employs unique technologies and offers a peak at financial "strength" of this group. It begins with piece casting and moves through all processes (deburring, rectifying, turning, polishing, lapping) continuing through galvanization and painting (the size and modernity of these systems are impressive) ending with assembly and inspection tests. The originality of the latter is impressive and their "tests" convincing: “MTS" test (Dumping shock absorber test system) - Physical simulation test (Bending Durability Test) - “Roller bench” (behavior simulation on rough terrain - Stress Test) - the “Multi axial fork road simulator”- perhaps the most sophisticated of all! where stress on the various axles let you test suitability and design correspondence, unequalled”.

The "Special product" department worked incessantly this year. This department, referred to by the best engineers and designers, churned out feasible proposals that can be applied to new products: these "innovations" will be presented at Eicma, covered by many patents and truly innovative solutions.
Many were designed for the After Market.
For racing, fans, in short, for an elite market.
They're called USD 37 GP for 125 cc. bikes. Grand Prix, but also, Super Bike 43, USD 46 SBK radial, USD 48 Contender Super Motard racing bike, USD 36 Mini Cross also a racing bike.
To sum up, these are highly detailed front suspensions: inner tubes made from solid and anodized Ergal aluminium, removable internal cartridge systems only made of aluminium, regulations on both piston rods in both extension and compression, TiN, DLC or Rainbow treated tubes. A sight to see and with high performance!
As you may have guessed, Paioli Meccanica is not suffering from the crisis. Relations with motorcycle manufacturers are excellent and lead to believe in economic recovery. We what we saw and heard, we don't think its just optimism!