An exceptional technology exhibition centre that brings together innovation, solutions and processes in a floorspace of over two thousand square metres. This is our new SCM ‘Superfici’ Technology Center in Brianza. Unveiled in May 2024, it is just one of numerous investments that SCM has made in the past year.
Beyond Italy, the Group has also opened a new branch in Slovenia and continues to invest in its directly operated sales offices in other markets too. This is shown by the Group’s next project: the new SCM France branch, in Lyon. An investment that confirms the success SCM is currently enjoying in France.
Gabriele Patti, the SCM Commercial Director, illustrates the Group’s current and future strategies, starting from Brianza, in Italy.
“Our new Technology Center in Villasanta is a vital hub for SCM in a key area for Italian woodworking, furniture production and more. Our previous showroom focused on the world of surfaces and finishes, but today, we offer a wider and more diversified selection of our technologies and processes. This hub, in fact, exhibits a portfolio of over thirty solutions that make it the most complete and advanced SCM Technology Center outside the one at our Rimini Headquarters.”
This investment also reflects SCM’s vision for the future and its increasing focus on digitalization. Is that true?
“Absolutely! The SCM - Superfici Technology Center is a strategic asset, where in addition to classic technologies, we also exhibit the latest software developments and digital services we offer customers with machines connected to our IoT platform. This includes our Digital Control Room. a model that we are replicating in a more general way, at our Technology Centres in other markets too.”
Talking about investments, the Group has also invested in centers in Germany, Spain and Australia... Is there a common rationale behind these actions?
“Our strategy is to offer customers a place where they can enjoy a direct experience with our technology and service solutions, and look at entire processes as well as individual machines. Our aim is not just to provide technologies and services, but to present customers with a new way of reviewing and optimising their workflows, starting from their own specific production and business needs.”
How important is it to have directly operated branches in different markets?
“It is essential, as they are just as decisive at an international level as our partnership with our dealer network, we will continue to strengthen that too. In recent years, we have made investments in specific geographical areas such as India, Turkey, Vietnam and - more recently - in Slovenia. On one hand, we have consolidated our position in certain markets, while on the other, we have opened new sales offices in markets with high potential. These investments have also allowed us to drive servitization and a new approach that goes beyond the supply of machinery and systems.”
SCM has recently opened its first branch in the Balkans. What is our vision there?
“The branch opened in Ljubljana, in September 2024, was set up to guarantee customers in Slovenia, and more generally in the Balkans, direct, capillary and highly specialised sales and service support. Our aim is to strengthen SCM's presence in the area and to foster even greater synergy with our network of partner distributors. The numbers recorded by SCM in recent years indicate a scenario with a clear growth trend and companies that are more and more technologically advanced.
We wanted to offer these companies a next generation branch with a Technology Center covering an area of over 1600 square metres.”
Let’s talk about the DACH area. What is SCM's strategy there, given that the wood industry has not exactly enjoyed a positive trend in the past year?
“Despite the general decline recorded in the sector, it is essential to continue to maintain a medium to long-term perspective and strengthen the team at both a sales and service level. Today, we are investing in gaining market share at the top end of the industry through two main drivers. The first is technological innovation, which includes the development of automation systems and plants that meet industry demands; and the second is a specific Key Account Management project focused on hiring dedicated human resources with extensive sector experience. It is another challenge that we have taken up, together with the entire DACH region team, with determination and optimism.”
Remaining in Europe, France is a market where SCM is currently enjoying great success. What actions have influenced this positive trend?
“Laurent Mazies, who has over forty years' experience in this industry, took over as head of our French branch in April 2024. Under his management, the branch has continued on its path of solid growth with a plan for further strategic reinforcement, focused particularly on the teams in charge of sales consulting and technical assistance. Before the end of 2025, we will be opening a new branch office in Lyon, four times as large as the current one, and including a top-level Technology Center.”
In terms of exports, the United States and the whole of North America remain SCM’s main market. What's new on this front?
“To support our North American customer base, SCM has an extensive network of distributors as well as branch offices in Georgia, California, Mississauga (Toronto), Port Coquitlam (Vancouver) and Jalisco. We also have a Superfici Center in North Carolina. To grow our business further, the company recently appointed Matt Fleming as Managing Director for Canada and we have hired additional sales staff for the Canadian regions of Quebec and the West Coast.
In North America, we are confident that the investments the Group is making in digitalization, servitization and automation, in response to the shortage of skilled labour, will enable us to gain market share.”
From Brianza to the rest of the world, SCM looks to the future with confidence and always at our customers’ side.
