64
When SME and multinationals
co-operate
On July 2008 the workshops of the Working Group CEN TC213 relating to powder actuated tools closed. Since the very beginning, the ECAP
(European Consortium of Anchors Producers) has been monitoring the work of the group, begun on March 2007, to counterbalance the
presence of the multinational companies of the same sector.
The training took place in a climate of full wide network of scientific European or product. To invest in research is one of the
co-operation. The multinationals of this sector institutions, ECAP communicates with ECAP’s ways of assisting SMEs in overcoming
and the SMEs (Medium-Sized European organisations and laboratories, coordinating the challenge of entering sectors that have,
Enterprises) represented by ECAP, combined institutions of the different European States in for structural and economical reasons, tended
their technical background and experience in order to get the CE marking of its members’ to be the exclusive domain of the
order to maintain the high security standard of products at the best price and with the best multinationals for many years.
the machines and accessories, rivets and procedure currently available.
powder actuated tools. Shortly after one year, • Realisation of a calculation program for Many projects are in the process of being
as scheduled by CEN planning, the Working structural engineers that allows the design of realised, others in the course of being devised.
Group CEN produced a normative textbook, anchors following the Euro codes. Computer All the projects arise from the initiative of the
considered to be entirely satisfactory by the CEN and normative experts constantly update this members, stimulated by the ECAP’s activity
consultant who works in the Working Group. program and it is managed by a group of and the dialogue existing among the
The presence of ECAP in the CEN TC213 group is ECAP members who rent it to the other enterprises. The ECAP’s members met for talks
just one of the services developed for the members and their customers, sharing the during the year on a whole range of different
Members of the Consortium. ECAP is a not- cost of the management and the normative themes and projects. These are discussed and
for-profit consortium, completely approved by the Board of
funded by European SMEs that Directors, which also meets
recognise the target set by the several times a year. Five
European Commission in the members from three
Lisbon Treaty, that is: the only different European countries
European SMEs that can be form the Board of Directors.
competitive in the global market The Members meet every
are those able to pass quickly year in order to define the
from simple product supply to future objectives and
integrated supply of products and
direction of the Consortium
services.
itself. The latest annual ECAP
ECAP members are all
meeting took place in May, in
competitors, but they meet and
the renaissance cloister of
speak, exchanging their different
the Saint Agostino University,
European experiences and their
in Bergamo, Italy. Seventeen
common needs. Creating groups
enterprises from seven
that are able to obtain high
different European countries
quality services by sharing costs.
were present, together with
The services developed by the
other enterprises invited as
ECAP members in recent years are:
guests, who were interested
in the prospect of becoming
• Participating in and providing
members of the Consortium.
members with information on the drafting of updating. ECAP supports the management of
Mr. M. Grzeszczyk, member of NORMAPME ,
CEN and EOTA’s guidelines relating to the technical database of every single
the unique European organisation focused on
structural and non-structural mechanical, enterprise that may require it.
small enterprise interests in the European
chemical and plastic anchors. ECAP takes part • Staff training courses, lasting one or two days,
standardisation system, and Ing. G. Muciaccia
in every meeting of the CEN and EOTA’s work- held by ECAP engineers. Improving the
from the “Politecnico” University in Milan were
shops where it represents the requirements know-how of member companies is a major
also invited to the meeting.
of its members, presenting modifications and goal for the ECAP. Its courses are aimed at
The Municipality of Bergamo allowed an
technical proposals based on co-operation every member and are one of the best ways
extension of the exhibition “Kantieri”
with consultants from different European to improve the quality of the business, of its
(“cantieri” means “building sites”) to create a
Universities. This activity creates constructive products and customer service by ensuring it
synergy between the visit of the international
debate within the Working Group that helps is updated according to the international
ECAP’s members and the exhibition itself that
to achieve the realisation of shared standards and the latest technical knowledge.
re-created the building sites of the Lombardy
guidelines, based on the technical and
area. The visit of the ECAP’s Members to the
economical reality of global and European • Attendance at international scientific
exhibition closed with an extempore
markets. workshops and realisation of research
performance and souvenir photograph, with
• Project management of CE marking, programs funded by groups of Members that
everyone wearing a safety helmet
“customised” for every Member. Thanks to its have the same interest in a particular subject refashioned by an artist.
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