The historic company in Solbiate Olona, founded in 1878, has begun a new generational transition
“Ensuring continuity for one’s company is also a responsibility of social value.” Roberto Calati is the Industrial Director at Rodolfo Comerio Srl, the company based in Solbiate Olona, founded in 1878 and active worldwide in the design and manufacturing of calendering lines for the production of rubber and plastic films. These machines and systems are designed for manufacturers of tires and automotive components, conveyor belts and crawler belts, as well as flooring and PVC sheets for packaging or credit cards, for example. Not to mention smaller production lines, such as machinery for aseptic rooms in the pharmaceutical sector.
A historical reality of industry in the province of Varese whose top management, a year ago, entrusted Calati with a specific task: to lead a generational transition that is not just a handover of the reins from the current owners to their heirs, but one that includes a clear vision for innovation. All this, alongside Nicola Fedele and Francesco Fiamminghini, the fifth generation who will carry on the business of the brothers Enrico Comerio—recently deceased—and Carlo, the current owner.
“I was brought in to guide the company through a long-term renewal process,” says Director Calati, “with the aim of continuing to create added value, not only for the business itself but also for the local community. Starting with a commitment to offer new job opportunities. My role is to ensure continuity of the company’s core values while introducing a more managerial approach to face the future. In this spirit of evolution, we introduced the idea of forming an executive team made up of all the key figures who will lead the company. The complexity of today’s world demands increasingly team-based work.”
The move to bring the fifth generation—represented by Nicola and Francesco, respectively the Sales & Marketing Manager Director and Purchasing & Finance Manager Director—into the field was driven by the owners themselves, Carlo and Enrico Comerio. “Visionary.” That’s how Calati describes them: “Carlo knows perfectly well, and so did Enrico, that Nicola and Francesco, together with the executive team we’re building, will carry on the business in a way different from what they would have done—but that’s exactly what they always wanted. Evolving means doing things differently from the past.”
“We’d like future decisions to be made by the entire team, together,” adds Nicola Fedele. “We don’t want to go down new paths alone.”
The company designs machines and calendering lines that require continuous innovation. Eighteen patents have been registered in just five years—an indicator of the company’s ability to innovate not only technologically, but also in how it responds to diverse customer needs. Every machine or calendering line is made on order and requires a custom project and developed know-how.
“It’s not easy to find the human resources that Rodolfo Comerio needs,” Nicola emphasizes. “We’re looking for about ten different profiles in the short term, both in the commercial and technical areas. But since it’s a niche sector, it’s not easy. Often, in hiring, we have to base our decisions on untapped potential that we identify and believe could be valuable to us.”
The company currently has 80 internal employees, but “depending on the order, the number can be much higher,” Nicola explains. “Through trusted partner companies, we can engage teams—even hundreds of people—to work on our projects.” Orders can range in value from €2 to €15 million and may require up to a year and a half of work.
Rodolfo Comerio’s order portfolio is primarily international, with revenues in recent years between €30 and €40 million, about 95% of which comes from exports. Europe, but also Asia, Africa, and America. From China to Canada, including India, Pakistan, Algeria, Brazil, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Not to forget markets in Italy, Germany, Poland, France, Sweden, and Belgium. These are some of the company’s key markets.
Among the goals of the Solbiate-based company are growth in terms of revenue, products, welfare, and organizational structure, through the evolution of processes, work-life balance initiatives, and the onboarding of new talent. Manuela Meroni, Executive Assistant and HR Business Partner, explains: “On one hand, we’re working to improve workplace wellbeing to retain current employees, while on the other, we’re analyzing strengths and weaknesses to understand how to attract new talent. All through small pilot projects. For example, an internal climate survey. Many candidates ask about the company culture. Some team members have told us they feel valued by the company and not like just a number. To show this to candidates, we invite them to take a day off to visit us, observe how we work, talk with our people, and even have lunch with us. Our doors are always open to those who want to get to know us, because we’re confident in the added value we offer to those who choose to work with us.”
