Founded in Italy in the 1950s, Bonfiglioli was a maker of gear components for the agricultural and motor industries. The market soon presented the company with the opportunity to expand beyond component manufacturing and develop its own range of gears, which saw the introduction and immediate success of Bonfiglioli's worm gears.
Following the acceptance of its worm gears by the market, the company brought its range of helical units and then a parallel shaft series to market. All were positively received and are still well regarded, both in Italy and the world over. As the company grew it acquired a number of companies, such as Trasmital in 1976, which gave it a presence in the high-torque planetary gear market. The company also expanded globally via distributors as well as developing a local presence in various countries. This expansion ultimately saw it establishing its South African branch, Bonfiglioli SA, in 1991.
"Today Bonfiglioli is dominant in the light industrial sector and because it is responsible for its own products it has been able to continually improve its range of products, delivering better quality at lower prices," says Robert Rohman, MD of Bonfiglioli SA. "In order to improve its delivery times as well, the company decided in 1995 that it would improve its manufacturing processes to allow for local assembly of its products."
This local assembly would allow for faster delivery times and hence better customer service. The intricate manufacturing is still done in Italy, but final assembly to customer requirements is done, for example, in South Africa. Rohman says the use of pre-assembled modules in the assembly process is more innovative than the company's competitors in terms of quality of the final product and delivery time to customers. And since the quality of the goods is not impacted in any way, customers are too happy to be able to have their orders fulfilled faster.
Despite its powerful presence in the markets it addresses, the company's growth strategy continues. Rohman says Bonfiglioli decided to expand its range of products on offer by adding a new series of high-powered planetary reducers to its portfolio. The reducers would also allow it to expand into markets it could not previously address and take advantage of global growth areas.
"With South Africa's capabilities in the production of raw materials, this market has a large demand for reducers," Rohman says. "Following the corporate philosophy of local assembly, our Johannesburg office is the first to offer clients locally assembled large power reducers."
These components are currently in short supply, making this a great time to enter the market. And with the quality recognition that accompanies the Bonfiglioli brand, the company has had no trouble in attracting attention in the market. "We have made a R20 million investment in stock to ensure we are able to meet the requirements of local customers requiring our new reducer range," adds Rohman, "and the first orders have already been dispatched."
Bonfiglioli has notched up over half a century of innovation and growth, with the original founder still actively involved in the company and his daughter now working in the position of CEO. And looking at the new market the company is addressing, it would seem this drive to grow and produce quality will continue for some time, especially with the current global frenzy for raw materials and commodities.
For more information contact Bonfiglioli Power Transmission, +27 (0)11 608 2030, [email protected], www.bonfiglioli.co.za
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