From a sawmill to a specialist in the design and manufacturing of an increasingly strategic element in construction: the roof. The history of Segheria Fornoni, located in the province of Bergamo, has deep roots. The brothers Battista and Bonaventura Fornoni, who currently lead this historic company, are descendants of a large family that has been dedicated to woodwork since the 1800s. The first key figure in this adventure, as far as memory serves, was their great-grandfather Serafino, a lumberjack by tradition, followed by his son Bonaventura. Over the years, the latter passed the torch to his four sons - Luigi, Pietro, Angelo, and Maurizio - who, as young orphans of their father and barely adolescents, emigrated and worked as lumberjacks in France, Switzerland, and northern Italy, gaining a deep understanding of wood and its processing. In 1979, it was these sons who took over a small local sawmill in Villa d'Ogna, which would become the current facility. Later, Angelo's children, Battista and Bonaventura, along with their cousins, uncles, and father, gave the company a further boost, transforming it from a small artisanal business into a modern and versatile enterprise, capable of adapting to the market's needs.
From tradition to innovation
Over the years, the wood processing sector has undergone profound changes with the introduction of new technologies and the evolution of construction techniques. Battista and Bonaventura, along with their cousins, uncles, and father, have been able to embrace these challenges. Faced with the growing competition from large sawmills in Northern and Eastern Europe, they decided to complement their initial activity - the production of semi-finished products primarily for the manufacturing of non-engineered roofs, pallets, and other packaging products - with a new business: the construction of engineered roofs, coverings, and floors using interlocking technology, which ensured higher profit margins. Since 2021, this activity has been led solely by Battista and Bonaventura Fornoni.
"Today, we work both for construction companies and private clients to build predominantly residential or industrial buildings," says Bonaventura.
"The main change that has affected our sector is undoubtedly the new concept of the roof compared to the past: today, the aesthetic aspect is increasingly decisive. The exposed roof, for example, has become a true furnishing element, a custom-made product, so it is essential to work the beams with the utmost care and precision."
Each roof has its own story
"The beauty of our work is that every building has its own story, its own uniqueness, and the roof is no exception," continues Bonaventura Fornoni. "In our work, we start with an initial phase of cost estimation: based on the designers' requests in terms of roof dimensions, lengths, and slopes, and based on the surveys carried out on-site, our technical office processes all the data. With the help of CAD/CAM software, we begin working on a 3D simulation and the modeling of the roof. Once the structure is defined, the order data is reprocessed to be transferred to production."
Until last year, Segheria Fornoni relied on a machining centre provided by a German manufacturer, but today, Battista and Bonaventura, together with their team, can rely on a technological solution that has opened up new business opportunities for their company.
A huge step forward
When the Fornoni brothers realized that their machine was no longer suitable for more complex operations and larger roofs, they began to look around. This is how, in 2022, they began talks with SCM for the purchase of a new CNC machining centre. “In recent years, technologies have become increasingly advanced, both in terms of software and mechanical features, as well as operating units. With the previous machine, which was becoming outdated, we were starting to face significant difficulties when working with large sections and complex shapes.”
After visiting the SCM headquarters in Sinalunga, Tuscany, Battista and Bonaventura opted for the CNC machining centre “oikos xl,” a 6-axis solution specifically designed to meet the most complex requirements in the production of solid wood and glulam beams. The machine, equipped with a 24 kW continuous-duty electrospindle, allows for the automatic handling and processing of elements weighing up to 4000 kg and with sections up to 1250x610 mm. The 6 axes of the operating unit ensure maximum production efficiency and allow work on all faces of the element in a single positioning.
The Maestro beam&wall software, developed by SCM, is compatible with the most widely used design CAD systems and makes both programming and managing the machining centre simple and intuitive. All these advantages deeply convinced the owners of Segheria Fornoni, who became the first in Italy to use this model to distinguish themselves in the market.
“With this machine, we can now work with great precision on sections up to 50 cm high, whereas the previous one could only handle 30 cm. Beyond this practical advantage, we also appreciated the way SCM welcomed and supported us: the assistance was excellent, and they immediately showed us, in practice, what we could achieve,” says Bonaventura.
With such a powerful solution, Segheria Fornoni can now aim for new ambitious goals. “We have a family motto,” says Battista: “Learn from the past, live the present, and dream of the future. Our future will be to continue to lead the sector, in our region and - hopefully - beyond, and to become increasingly prominent in the world of wooden houses.”
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