This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
34
Achieving the gold standard
Beneri S.p.A, Valmadrera, Italy
Beneri’s four manufacturing facilities, totalling more than 10,000 square metres, nestle between the mountains and lake in the Lecco
region of northern Italy. Widely acknowledged as a world leader in the production of standard retaining rings and toothed washers this,
still very much, family run company is about to celebrate its 50th year. No better occasion, then, to open its doors exclusively to Fastener
& Fixing Magazine.
In October 1958 three young toolmakers, were being used in huge volumes at the time, change in its strategy – switching entirely from
working in the Lecco area, decided to start “a hundreds of millions of pieces per year, not supplying OEM customers direct to servicing
new adventure” as independent businessmen. least by renowned Italian typewriter carefully selected distributors in each of the
In a space of less than 100 square metres they manufacturer, Olivetti. “It was thanks to the major European markets. Behind the decision
began producing tooling. One of the three was trust of one Olivetti purchasing manager,” Mr was a recognition that the business needed to
Giampietro Bernabeo, now president of Beneri Bernabeo recalls, “that we had our lucky focus on the efficient manufacture of high
S.p.A.. “We had only the simplest of break. He gave us our first volume order.” The quality products and could not also dedicate
equipment and relied on the power of our customer was pleased with both product and resource to meeting the increasingly specific
arms and our minds – plus a vision for the service and such was the power of the Olivetti and diverse needs of the OEM customer.
future and a great enthusiasm.” The company name at that time that other companies Beneri concentrated its investment in
name came from the initials of the three confidently placed orders with the fledgling specialised equipment to improve and
founders – BErnabeo, NEgri and RIva. “We retaining ring manufacturer. By 1970 Beneri increase production capacity and capability. It
started manufacturing various types of tooling had secured business from FIAT, Zanussi and introduced automation to many of its working
and equipment to drawings,” processes in order to reduce
recalls Mr Bernabeo, “including labour costs – the result of
for some important which are immediately
companies in the area. We evident if one tours the
never thought to become a production facilities,
leading manufacturer of where a single
standard DIN retaining operator is responsible
rings.” for three high output
In 1960 they did start to machines and many
systematically explore tooling operations are
opportunities in the Italian entirely computer
market. “It was an controlled so they can
important time for Italy, be run overnight.
industry was being rebuilt “Today, after fifty
and it was a period of great years,” says Mr
enthusiasm and Bernabeo, “we can
commitment to hard work. proudly affirm, without
I have very good memories any doubt, that Beneri
of those years.” is the foremost
“We were looking for manufacturer of DIN
some specific items we standard retaining rings
could begin to manufacture. and toothed washers –
We thought about bolts, with a daily production
screws, nuts, pins and springs. output of over 20 million
However, from our market pieces. These products are
research we realised Italy already had successfully sold through a carefully
important producers of all these kinds of Indesit and begun to export to France and selected distributor network, most of whom
fasteners and we would just have Switzerland, competing against established operate on an exclusive basis with Beneri.”
become one among many.” producers from elsewhere in Europe, many of There is no doubt that Giampietro Bernabeo
They did, however, identify that no one was whom had over 50 years experience in the is most at home in the production
producing DIN 6798 toothed washers. field, strong financial support and large environment. His office is in the main plant,
Expanding the business, which meant a larger workforces. “It was not easy for us,” says Mr where he is regularly to be seen touring the
industrial building, investment in high-speed Bernabeo, “but we kept in our minds always production floor. The heritage of his personal
presses and the recruitment of more people, the philosophy of quality and price.” expertise is a toolmaking operation, quite
they began to service the Italian domestic During the rest of the 1970s and into the extraordinary in its level of technology,
market. “This first line proved a great success early 1980s Beneri extend its range to include automation and systemisation. Today the
in the market and allowed us to look at further DIN 471 and 472 retaining rings. In 1984 the Bernabeo family are sole principles of the
ranges.” DIN 6799 standard retaining rings company made a definite and fundamental Beneri business. Giovanni Bernabeo works
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com