New projects, new technologies, and clear ideas for the future: Giardina Group Academy and Giardina Group Network are Giardina Group’s keys to further developing its business, from Figino Serenza (Como), in Lombardy, to all markets around the world. We discussed it with Stefano Mauri, co-owner of the group alongside his brother Riccardo Mauri.
An Academy to export the know-how and expertise acquired over more than fifty years of history, a new network to address international markets even more thoroughly, and constant technological research: new machines, new solutions increasingly capable of meeting the demands of an ever more demanding market.
Giardina Group is one of the outstanding names in “Made in Italy,” a group “born and raised” in Lombardy that has managed to expand its horizons in major global markets without losing its connection to its roots, preserving in its Dna the Lombard and Brianza way of approaching work, characterized by pragmatism and attention to detail.
“Growing up in a district like Lombardy has been fundamental for us because it allowed us to be immersed from the start in an important, competitive, and challenging industrial fabric, rich in expertise, opportunities, and history,” explained Stefano Mauri, co-owner of the group alongside his brother Riccardo Mauri.
It was the starting point for a story that began in 1972 with Giampiero Mauri and that continues today, always looking toward the future.
“We want to keep growing, to look far ahead, meeting market demands, anticipating requests, and being ready for tomorrow. You see – Stefano Mauri explained – industry, and consequently our sector, continues to change, to accelerate its pace, requiring ever greater expertise. A supplier can no longer ‘just’ provide technology but must be a reliable partner, present, able to act as a consultant to the client, and respond promptly to requests while paying attention to detail.
Let’s be clear, the market has always required reliable partners and suppliers, but today this need continues to grow. Industry and the market move at an increasingly rapid pace, and they cannot afford downtime or delays due to service issues. And, I can say with pride, servitization, service, and after-sales support have always been our strengths and are aspects on which we continue to invest. Because innovation is not just ‘hardware’; it is also this: knowing how to shift perspectives when the market demands it, launching new initiatives, and creating new projects”.
New projects like the Giardina Group Academy and Giardina Group Network…
“…Exactly. Academy and Network are two projects born from the desire to put our know-how and expertise at the service of our clients. The Giardina Group Network will be a network of agents and technicians present in various markets to reduce waiting times and offer clients a high-quality, all-encompassing standard: from technology to after-sales assistance, including testing and client training on how to use our solutions to ensure they achieve maximum performance, with increasingly direct relationships. This model will represent a double advantage: for the client, because – as we mentioned – they will always have a consultant available to answer any question, and for us, because it will give us even more feedback on our technologies, enabling us to continue improving and finding new solutions, engineering new products. Additionally, the Network will allow us to offer increasingly specific solutions for each market”.
“And the Giardina Group Academy – continued Stefano Mauri – also stems from this approach. As we mentioned, Giardina Group aims to act as a partner capable of helping clients achieve the best results. We know the market well, thanks to the experience accumulated in our fifty years of history, and we have realized how today – due to the difficulty in generational turnover and the constant shortage of labor – knowledge and skills are increasingly difficult to transmit. With the Academy, we want to pass on expertise and know-how not only in technologies but in finishing (sanding and painting) and industrial processes at 360 degrees. We will organize courses, led by our technicians and dealers, and in-depth sessions based on a true manual that will contain all the accumulated knowledge: machines, operations, processes, paints, technologies.
We are aware – Mauri continued – that providing increasingly innovative technologies is essential, but to get the most out of a machine – in terms of both performance and durability – it is necessary to know how to use it, understand the processes, and know the goals. For us, training has never been just a buzzword, and the Giardina Group Academy demonstrates it once again.
At the end of the day, the equation is simple: the greater the skills, the better the approach, and the more efficient production will be. Because it’s clear that the machine ‘creates quality,’ but without in-depth knowledge, its full potential can never be realized”.
Where will you develop the first Network and Academy?
“We decided to start with the Brazilian market. It’s a market that is giving us excellent feedback and has always shown great interest in ‘Made in Italy’ technologies, with room for further growth. It is also a market that, in terms of interests and trends, is very close to Italy and ‘hungry’ for knowledge and skills. We achieved excellent results there in 2024, with promising prospects for 2025 and the near future.
It’s a starting point for exporting to other markets that are eager to grow and develop their potential in finishing”.
You mentioned the Brazilian market results. How was 2024 overall?
“I must say that 2024 was overall a positive year. Of course, it wasn’t and isn’t an easy time for businesses. The industry felt the effects of the contraction following the end of incentives, from the Superbonus 110 to Industry 4.0, and the current macroeconomic and geopolitical situations. However, our order book is solid, so we can only look to the future with optimism.
In such complex times – Mauri explained – it’s crucial to understand that business plans can’t be long-term but must adapt to a market experiencing ups and downs. There are months when we work more, and months when we work less. It was natural after a record-breaking three-year period for the industry.
Giardina Group responded positively to the situation, continuing to invest to further improve our capabilities and offer the best possible service, as we mentioned, to our clients. Because one thing is clear: clients choose quality, especially in times when investments are scrutinized more carefully”.
In late 2024, the Industry 5.0 initiative was introduced. Could it boost the market?
“It’s hard to say at this point. It could certainly help, but right now, its understanding and applicability are still unclear. I’m not sure it will be a usable tool for our clients.”
“Robotech Gs15 Doors”
Which sectors are performing best?
“Currently, we’re seeing strong interest from door manufacturers, and we have the right technologies to meet their needs. In particular, the ‘Robotech GS15 Doors,’ a painting system that includes two types of equipment for automatic spraying of doors and panels. This technology has received excellent feedback and interest in both the Italian and international markets.
Moreover, in recent years, wood has continued to play a significant role for us, but the key word for the future is multimateriality: solutions capable of working with different materials – composites, plastics, aluminum. This is a trend for which we have the right solutions”.
Recently you presented an upgrade of the “Rolltech Flexy”; do you have other innovations in the pipeline?
“Certainly. As I mentioned, our goal is always to offer more high-performing solutions. We’ve just developed a new version of the ‘Singletech 300‘ a single-arm sprayer ideal for small-batch production with many colors. It’s simple to use and achieves performance levels close to a painting robot. This solution immediately garnered great interest, and we recently updated it.
“Singletech 300”
“The coming years – concluded Stefano Mauri – will be important for us, and we are optimistic about the future. We know how to navigate, which technologies to focus on, and which projects to implement. Investing in expertise, investing in people, in human resources, in preparation, seeking the right individuals to always be an added value – for us, for our clients – to always be ready to meet future needs.”
