Experience, expertise, and a good dose of forward-thinking. This is the recipe that has allowed ACM of Novellara, in the province of Reggio Emilia, to design and build ever-new solutions in what might seem like a “mature” segment: band saws. Exploring industries beyond woodworking, new applications, and even the realm of education…
This sector never ceases to amaze: innovation, creativity, and skill can be found every day if you look around. This applies to the “great revolutions” driven by large industrial groups, but also, and perhaps especially, to small and medium-sized enterprises—those manufacturers who work daily to defend their turf and stand out amidst strong competition, particularly in more traditional, established solutions.
Yet, things are not always as they seem — or at least, not entirely so — and opportunities to realize this abound. Such was the case when we at Xylon were invited to ACM’s headquarters in Novellara (Reggio Emilia) to discuss education, only to discover a completely redesigned band saw equipped with new “digital appendages” to create something innovative, safe, and efficient.
But let’s proceed in order and first try to understand the “territories” ACM operates in today. Their journey began in 1979, with about thirty employees and an export share reaching 85 percent of production. Known worldwide for their strong specialization in manufacturing band saws, perhaps the most iconic and historic machines in woodworking and beyond.
Redefining Niches in a Changing Market
“The sector has undeniably evolved in many directions, at times creating an ever-widening gap between small-medium enterprises and industry giants,” begins Angela Ascari, who runs the company alongside her father Tiziano. “For a historic brand like ours, known worldwide for a catalog of ‘analog’ solutions, this has meant reassessing our market to identify niche positions and drawing closer to people to better understand their needs and feelings. This approach has enabled us to add value to our machines, making them increasingly safe, efficient, and, above all, effective.
The woodworking sector has certainly seen a contraction in artisan businesses, traditionally the primary users of our machines, especially in Italy. However, as I mentioned, there are fortunately niches and other industries where our products continue to thrive: plastics, aluminum, special and composite materials.
One of our key innovations focuses on increasing operator safety, reducing fatigue, and ensuring the machine adapts to the user, not the other way around. For example, when cutting complex pieces that might have stability issues as they advance toward the blade, we offer solutions with sliding tables and dedicated clamps. In many cases, a band saw is the ideal solution and cannot be replaced by a circular saw.
Another significant area for us is cutting sandwich panels. Over the years, many interesting and innovative solutions have been introduced in the market. These panels, used in various applications, typically consist of two external layers made of different materials and a core, often thick insulating material. A band saw is the perfect cutting tool for these, capable of reaching cutting heights up to 1,500 mm without issues, delivering excellent cut finishes.
There is a strong demand for customization even in seemingly ‘standard’ solutions like ours. At least 50 percent of ACM’s production involves varying degrees of bespoke modifications”.
Innovating in the Era of Panels and Automation
“As we all know, solid wood has gradually given way to paneling, and CNC machines have replaced many tasks once performed by diverse machinery, including cutting,” adds Tiziano Ascari. “This transition has undoubtedly shaped who we are and what we do, leading us to explore new production segments. Every day we encounter new materials, address new needs, and gain experiences that serve us the next day in finding further solutions.
We’ve embraced the joy of ‘inventing,’ proving how a ‘simple’ band saw can become so much more. Ultimately, we’re enhancing the flexibility that has always set us apart, tailoring our machines to customers and markets. Our ability to listen helps us immensely: we let customers explain their needs, imagine a solution, and pass the idea on to engineering and production.”
“Einstein famously said that creativity is intelligence having fun, and I must admit we often enjoy finding solutions,” Angela Ascari reflects. “I sense a revival among young people in seeing wood as a material on which to build their professional futures. We observe this at trade fairs, in businesses, and among those who visit us to explore what we can offer—a return to manual work that perhaps requires greater support from specialized training programs”.
Innovating for Education: Tailored Band Saws
Among ACM’s recent developments are band saws specifically designed for schools and educational institutions.
“Indeed,” Angela confirms, “recently, we’ve noticed increasing interest in this area, particularly from international dealers reporting strong demand for a band saw tailored for students’ experiences while ensuring absolute safety.
We developed this idea and created two machines: one I’d call ‘basic’ and more analog, and another that’s decidedly more digital. Both share the ability to clearly and safely demonstrate what a band saw does, its applications, and proper usage”.
“The simpler model is the BS440 Education, also available in two larger versions. It’s a highly reliable machine equipped with multiple safety features, spacers, and control systems, making it ideal for schools. For example, a light tower indicates whether the machine is connected to power, in operation, or in an emergency. The main switch is lockable, so if the teacher steps away, they can take the key with them to prevent unauthorized use. This allows instructors to safely demonstrate cuts to students, who can then replicate the operations themselves—all in maximum safety.
With the “BS 540 Evolution” and “BS 640 Evolution” models, we’ve taken a further step, building the perfect solution for modern teaching. These band saws include all previously mentioned safety features, plus a camera on an adjustable mount for capturing any operation from any angle. The system transmits images to a large screen mounted on the machine, providing excellent visibility for groups of students, including those with special needs.
Moreover, the built-in computer includes USB ports, Wi-Fi extenders, and Ethernet, allowing recordings to be stored or transmitted to a smartboard, local network, or even streamed online. This ensures absolute safety while letting teachers work in front of the machine without obstructing visibility. The large screen also supports lesson presentations, enabling modern, engaging, and accessible teaching.”
“We aimed to let more students see what the teacher or operator was doing, and I believe we’ve surpassed that goal,” Angela emphasizes. “The initial feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive. While we’re completing the bureaucratic procedures for accreditation and certification, we’ve already received enthusiastic responses from institutions and strong interest from our international dealer network.”
A Promising Niche for the Future
“We are confident this niche is both vital and promising,” Tiziano concludes. “We focus heavily on global markets, where there’s often greater awareness of these themes than in Italy. There’s widespread recognition of the need for qualified operators, an issue the industry has lamented for years. We’ve sought to make a small yet concrete contribution to addressing this problem, confident that these band saws will exponentially reduce the responsibility borne by teachers and technicians in schools. By raising the safety bar, we believe we’ve made a decision to be proud of.”
