SCM was pleased to share its insights and vision at the conference “Orizzonte Legno: Wood as a Driver of the Economy of the Future”, organized on 26 November by Unione Industriali Torino.
As highlighted by the speakers, including Pietro Gheller, Director of the Wood Division at Scm Group, the sector faces several challenges: the cyclical nature of the construction industry, fluctuating energy costs, a shortage of skilled labor, and instability in international trade flows.
Nevertheless, wood remains a key driver of a virtuous economy that embraces sustainable materials and processes, continuing to propel the growth of an industry made up of highly innovative companies both in Italy and abroad. Among them is Nord Legnami Group, represented at the conference by CEO Davide Benedetto, President of Associazione Legno, who stressed the importance of “giving a positive boost to the role of wood in the economy of the future.” Achieving this goal, he noted, “requires competent and determined organizations, with strong commitment at the local, national, and European levels.”
Standing alongside these companies is SCM which, as Gheller reiterated in his remarks, is strongly investing in automation, AI, and servitization to increase production efficiency, address the shortage of specialized professionals, and support the entire wood industry in facing increasingly complex challenges. “Today, more and more companies, including in Italy, are automating their processes to remain competitive in a constantly evolving market. It is the responsibility of manufacturers of machinery and services for the wood industry to support and drive technological evolution with solutions capable of guaranteeing a rapid return on investment,” stated Pietro Gheller.
The panel also featured Professor Carlo Cottarelli, economist, columnist, and Italian public figure, Andreas Steiner, CEO of Mayr Melnhof Holz Holding G, Silvia Melegari, Secretary General of Cei-Bois, Erica Azzoaglio, President of Banco di Credito P. Azzoaglio, and Marco Pari, CEO and Co-Founder of Neurality.
The wood industry is rapidly moving toward new horizons, and in areas such as AI, this is only the beginning.
