Pietro Gheller, the SCM Wood Division Director, illustrates our new challenges and strategies. It is an innovative vision that goes beyond the machine to combine the cutting-edge technologies that have always been the group's strength, with the services and skills that are increasingly the strategic leverage woodworking companies need.
We are constantly at the customer's side, ready to turn every challenge into an opportunity for growth. SCM has a clear strategy for 2025 and beyond: to continue investing in research and development while focusing increasingly on customised services and specialised consulting. The goal? To accompany woodworking companies throughout their business operations.
A vision that goes beyond the machine. How and why? Pietro Gheller, the Scm Group Wood Division Director, is here to tell us.
“Over these many decades of operating alongside the woodworking industry, SCM has demonstrated its ability to supply the international market with the widest range of technologies for this sector,” Gheller explains. “For over 70 years, in fact, SCM has been developing state-of-the-art solutions and complete processes that help customers meet every production requirement in every sphere of application: from the furniture industry to doors and windows, and timber construction to carpentry. Today, however, our vision goes further. Today our position is that of a strategic business partner for the market. Our innovations, as demonstrated at the latest edition of Ligna 2025, demonstrate SCM's ability to develop a long-term, ongoing, shared relationship with the customer that meets their needs not only throughout the life cycle of the machine, but for the entire duration of their business. This is enabled, not only by technology, which remains at the heart of our group's expertise, but by guaranteeing an ecosystem of integrated solutions that combine next-generation technologies, digital innovation, specialised consulting and customised services. This is how we aim to help companies in this sector reach increasingly ambitious goals.”
How will this vision be achieved in practice?
“Firstly, through the development of technological innovations designed to ensure a level of precision, efficiency and sustainability that meets current automation and flexibility requirements and satisfies the needs of different industrial enterprises: from small companies to large international groups. This is the first, indispensable condition for guaranteeing our customers an added value partnership.
Equally decisive is the offer of state-of-the-art services, which in the case of SCM is achieved with a new, proactive approach. What we call ‘servitization’ not only means selling high-level services, but guaranteeing a model of after-sales excellence, of ‘service excellence’, which is what increasingly makes the difference. This also prompts us to rethink products with an even longer-term logic to continue offering our customers added value.”
The Digital Control Room we opened in 2023 is part of this approach. What are the benefits of that for customers?
“Thanks to this new service, enabled by our IoT system, we can manage data and information in real time. This opens a continuous smart information channel with our customers, wherever they are. It is a service that allows us to constantly monitor the performance of connected SCM machines around the world. This ensures proactive assistance by offering and obtaining information that will also help drive a different design process. It is the focus of an entirely new strategy in line with the way markets and this industry are developing.
You are describing a world that is significantly different to the one we know. Will it be available to everyone?
“Yes, absolutely. Inevitably, from some perspectives, the gap between the needs of large groups and small and medium-sized craft companies will widen, but that does not mean we have to choose sides. SCM's history shows that we can build relationships with anyone by providing the right product, thanks to our highly diversified portfolio of solutions. We are honoured and duty-bound to think of all customers in this sector, and the Digital Control Room helps here too, as it allows us to structure and offer a service range model that can and must be calibrated to the needs of everyone through packages tailored to the specific requirements of each individual company.”
To return to SCM's latest technological innovations, which application areas are we focussing on most?
“In 2024 we presented new solutions for various stages in production. For nesting, we launched the new ‘morbidelli x50’ and ‘morbidelli x100’ CNC machining centres that further enhance a range already widely applauded by the market and firmly in line with the needs of ‘batch size 1’ production. Another major focus is edgebanding. This features our new ‘stefani m’ - a solution specifically developed to meet the needs of a market that is increasingly shifting towards flexible production.
Another area SCM is continuing to invest in is timber construction. On this front, we are continuing to enhance and expand our range of ‘oikos’ CNC machining centres and ‘dmc’ sanding solutions for machining CLT panels. At the same, we have further expanded our production site in Tuscany to a total of 10,000 square metres. This expansion aims to increase our production capacity and optimise our internal logistics to make us even more competitive.
Our innovations are continuing in 2025 too, with our new ‘topset xxl’ spindle moulder and the ‘celaschi xl’, our new double squaring and profiling machine.”
Software is also becoming increasingly decisive in meeting customers’ efficiency and production flexibility needs. What are SCM's latest developments in that direction?
“In the CNC machining centres area, one of our most interesting innovations is our Maestro lab software for office and machine-based CAD/CAM programming. This transforms ideas into finished products in a simple and intuitive way thanks to smart and technologically advanced programming functions and over 150 integrated apps. We have also recently presented a version
specifically dedicated to CNC machining centres for timber construction, called the Maestro lab beam&wall.
Another focus is our MES/MOM software (Manufacturing Execution System/Manufacturing Operation Management”) that offers complete factory integration solutions for both industrial and craft enterprises.”
We are living at a time that is certainly not the most encouraging or promising due to the complexities of the current macroeconomic and international geopolitical context. What is the spirit SCM is looking to the near future with?
“It’s true, the current period is certainly not rosy, but we must put it in perspective. The pandemic years were exceptional from every point of view. But now we have returned to normal, as expected.
As far as SCM is concerned, our goal is to continue gaining market share. Developing complete processes and engineering projects for the industry plays a decisive role in this. As does our partnership with Tecno Logica, a Veneto-based company that Scm Group took over in June 2024. Tecno Logica manufactures fully integrated, industrial, high mix and productivity automation solutions and robotics, that are the ‘premium class’ of woodworking. This acquisition allows us to further enhance the Group's product and service range by setting a new benchmark in industrial production.”
