October 7, 2024 15:30
IMG (Industrie Meccaniche Generali), the Italian manufacturer of injection molding presses for rubber and composite materials, recently held its R-evolution Days at its headquarters in Capriano del Colle, Brescia (Northern Italy). The event focused on industrial process digitalization and emerging technologies shaping everyday life.
Over two days, speakers presented a variety of topics, unified by the need to understand and adapt to technological, economic, and cultural changes impacting both life and production. The event took place on a stage set up within the factory, amidst artistic installations and machines under construction.
Barbara Ulcelli (picture), CEO of IMG, welcomed the participants, followed by Lorenzo Montagna, an expert in immersive technologies, who discussed the industrial applications of virtual reality, augmented reality, and the metaverse. These technologies, combined with AI, offer various benefits, from operator training to predicting equipment malfunctions.
Filippo Ghelfi, CTO of 40Factory, introduced two key innovations for IMG's machines: IMG Prime and the Wilson AI chatbot. These projects aim to enhance process efficiency and assist operators in daily press management. IMG Prime is a predictive maintenance system using real-time data collection and AI algorithms, while Wilson AI is a generative AI tool that can answer complex technical queries and provide machine operators with instructions.
"These tools rely on data, and for this reason, we need the collaboration of our customers in a climate of mutual trust," emphasized Barbara Ulcelli. "Before offering them to our customers, we carefully analyzed and evaluated them to ensure they are safe, reliable, and guarantee maximum confidentiality."
The first day of the event also included a remote presentation from the United States by Italian journalist Federico Rampini, who analyzed the global geopolitical and economic situation.
Ulcelli concluded the day by announcing IMG's internationalization strategy, aiming to reduce reliance on the local market and support Italian customers abroad.
Currently, 80% of IMG's sales come from Italy, with 20% from foreign markets, a figure Ulcelli aims to increase to 30% in the next two years. The company already covers the entire European market, with spare parts storage in China and agents in key Asian markets.
IMG is also considering establishing a commercial presence in the U.S., following their participation in the International Elastomer Conference in Pittsburgh.
IMG's CEO announced the signing of a significant multi-year supply agreement with ABB, which has qualified the Brescia-based manufacturer among ABB's own customers.
The second day of R-evolution Days focused on environmental and ESG topics, with Marco Pugliese speaking on these subjects, followed by Emilio Moroni of Moor Safety, who delved into the technical aspects of Italy's 5.0 Transition Plan.
The event concluded with presentations by IMG's partners, including ORP Stampi, Franciacorta Stampi, Moor safety, Mongodi, 40Factory, T.System and Imago.
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