DRAFT Comerio Ercole plans IT-led acquisition

Italy: Rubber calender maker Comerio Ercole is preparing to acquire an “engineering company” this year to enhance its IT-based services to customers, according to Riccardo Comerio, managing director of Comerio Ercole.

In addition to providing machinery, engineering-support capabilities are an important requirement, for example, in building a new tire plant and/or optimising workflow in the factory.

The aim, explained Comerio, is “to enlarge our competence and our skills-base in supporting customers whether in refurbishing or establishing a new tire factory.”

There is, he insisted, a clear demand in this field as “there is no specialised company providing a turnkey service in terms of engineering.

“Usually tire companies rely on support from internal engineering departments. But in future, I think, they will reduce their own engineering departments in order to purchase from outside.”

Comerio Ercole is, therefore, developing its structure to supply all such services, including by integrating an engineering company specialised in this area.

Comerio went on to highlight demand “not just to supply a machine but also to provide a 360-degree service for engineering to machinery supply.”

The 200-employee company, he added, is leveraging Industry 4.0 technology to raise productivity and process reliability and provide 24/7 support to tire plants worldwide.