Mr Bianco, what does “SAF” stand for in your company name?
The abbreviation stands for “stampaggio articoli fenolici”, which refers to the pressing of products with phenoplast, a thermoplastic material developed in the 1950s.
SAF Bianco celebrated its 70th anniversary at the beginning of the year. How did your company’s success story begin?
My grandfather spent a short time in Brussels during the 1940s. It was there that he got to know the injection moulding business and acquired the associated skills. In 1945, following his return to Italy, he started production at home in his own small workshop. I am thus a member of the third generation. The company is currently managed together by two generations : the team is made up of the fathers Diego and Eddo and their sons Massimiliano, Simone and Raffaele.
What does SAF look like today?
SAF employs 37 staff members, and our fleet of machinery includes 14 injection moulding machines, three sleeve systems and two offset printing machines. Our annual production volume stands at around 350 million packaging units which take various forms.
Which markets do you serve?
Italy is our core market. We specialise in the production of packaging for sauces, desserts, milk and cheese products and snacks. Many renowned brands in the domestic food sector, including Parmalat, Galbani, Sterilgarda, Emmi and Giovanni Rana, count on our products.
Those are major brands. What is SAF Bianco’s position on the Italian market?
I believe it is fair to say that we are one of the leading companies in our sector, in particular in terms of the quality of our equipment. Our leading position when it comes to quality can also certainly be attributed to the fact that we purchase our injection moulding tools abroad and can, among other factors, rely on the expertise of Otto Hofstetter AG.
In what areas does your company specialise?
Thanks to our modern and efficient fleet of machinery, the precision of our tools and the quality materials we use, we are able to produce very thin-walled packaging that is nevertheless dimensionally stable. Light packaging means that less raw material is required, which in turn has a positive impact on the production price and improves our environmental performance. The aforementioned relates to the production side of our operations. What also sets us apart, however, is our design department with our designer Luca Floreanini. This allows us to support our customers from the initial moment an idea is formed to the production of the finished packaging.
What form does this process take?
The customer contacts us and we arrange a briefing. We want to find out first-hand what the customer’s wishes and intentions are in connection with the product. I then sit down with our designer and we draw up an initial design. Working in accordance with the principle of “ form follows function ”, first a technical drawing is prepared, and it is only then, on this basis, that the design is developed. To enable customers to handle and assess their product, we produce a prototype on a 3-D printer. Should we get the green light, we then make a pilot mould and produce production samples. This process provides the customer with maximum security and generally only takes six months.
You have listed a number of major brands you serve. Why do these companies give preference to SAF over your competitors?
One aspect is, without a doubt, the benefits we offer from a technical and creative perspective. I find, however, that our customers also value our philosophy. At SAF Bianco, we do not talk about “ customers ” or “ suppliers ”. We work together with partners, in both directions. I will give you an example : Rana needs sauce cups and gives us a call. We then contact Otto Hofstetter AG, which builds the tool for the Rana packaging. It works as a circle, and we are more effective if we operate within this circle as a partner. After all, reliability, speed and flexibility are extremely important nowadays. And we can guarantee these qualities with our philosophy.
What are the biggest challenges when working as a partner to food producers?
Food safety is the key issue and demands a great deal of attention. On the one hand, international standards have to be meticulously adhered to and processes need to be recertified on an ongoing basis. On the other hand, we only use high-quality primary raw materials from first-class manufacturers. We also invest a great deal of time in training our employees in the areas of personal and working hygiene. Last but not least, we have a person who keeps the plant clean from morning to night.
Which areas do you believe offer potential for enabling SAF Bianco to grow further?
Our customers are international brands, and we work well together. We are therefore convinced that we will be able to grow together with our customers. It will not be easy, however. Our competitors are also well equipped, and prices are continually coming under pressure. Generally speaking, we want to grow slowly – firstly, in terms of our products, then, as regards our customers, and, finally, with respect to the areas in which we operate. This will help us avoid errors and ensure we maintain the current high level of quality.
In what respect can SAF Bianco become even better?
We have invested a great deal in recent years and now find ourselves at a very high standard in all areas. Nevertheless, our packaging should still be improved further with a view to the overall product. This is especially true from an environmental perspective. Until now, it has not been possible to use biodegradable products, as neither the transparency nor the price of the packaging were of a satisfactory level. We have specific plans in this area, but they still require some further development.
How can Otto Hofstetter AG support you here?
This is still an unknown in this specific case. Generally speaking, however, we expect that our partners follow our requirements. The Italian market is very unique and has its own laws. For us, it is important that we are able to manufacture our products using tools that are extremely precise and very reliable. To enable us to respond quickly to new challenges, we also attach great significance to regular dialogue.
Why are you working with Otto Hofstetter AG?
I am currently reading a book by Simon Sinek entitled
Leaders Eat Last. The book states that a leader opens doors for others and offers them support. One of the strengths of Otto Hofstetter AG is that we both view each other as partners. And partners are friends : a handshake, phone call or e-mail are all it takes to get the ball rolling. We have gathered wide-ranging experience and have seen what others understand by “ team ”. A further aspect relates to social responsibility. Just as we are committed to Italy as a location, Otto Hofstetter AG is committed to Switzerland. Both companies could produce their goods at a lower cost somewhere else in the world, but neither one does so.
What could your partner in Uznach improve further?
For us, it would be great if we were able to meet more frequently. If we were in slightly closer contact and our dialogue was more intensive. At present, we are still a small firm. Thanks to its successful work, Otto Hofstetter AG possesses a great deal of expertise in our area. If we were able to discuss our problems with them more frequently and at an earlier stage, this would be beneficial to both of us. We would be able to grow further, and they in turn could develop more tools for us. Otherwise, we are extremely satisfied with our partner in Uznach. They offer us a great deal of respect and treat us as if we were a big player.
You have officially been the CEO of SAF Bianco since 1 September 2016. What will change under your leadership?
For all intents and purposes, nothing will change. The targeted growth has been achieved together by the second and third generations ; all decisions and choices have been made together. In fact, it is only from a legal perspective that there has been a change at the top of the firm. I have actually been responsible for production and the development of the company since back in 1995. The changeover will thus be absolutely painless. Nothing will change whatsoever for customers, suppliers and other partners. SAF Bianco is both old and young at the same time. Our company is made up of two generations that help each other.
What will the future bring?
Over recent years, design activities have become ever more important, and the issues relating to materials and pricing have remained omnipresent. We will indeed have to find good solutions for tackling these challenges in the near future. In 2017, our turnover will total around EUR 12 million, and we know that we have the potential to generate further growth. However, to do so we will require a larger production area. There are opportunities here and plans are in place. We still do not know what we will be able to put into practice. I cannot look any further into the future. The world – and thus our industry – is changing far too quickly, and the third generation is still much too young to already start thinking about the possible addition of the fourth.
Thank you very much for the interview, Mr Bianco. I wish you continued success in the future.
