The decision to announce the joining of IEC+ six months after IM GROUP’s launch was based on a two-pronged strategy. ‘The initial phase was to lay the foundations of IM GROUP by structuring our brands to focus on their individual specialities, yet for them to come together to offer total process-engineering solutions under a single group when required,’ explains Christophe Rizzo, CEO of EMEA/Americas. ‘The second phase was to evolve this to an “advanced” stage. We are adding a significant boost to our portfolio with the addition of a company that will act as a central catalyst to unite and spearhead each of our other brands into “advanced” engineering solutions.’
IEC+ has been partnering with IM GROUP for several years. ‘By offering dispersing, grinding and mixing equipment, IEC+ effectively becomes IM GROUP’s crowning stroke as it is set to elevate the group to a higher playing field, asserts Roberto Guerra, CEO Asia Pacific.
‘We are ready with our industry 4.0-equipped factories to offer customers this next phase. We have been busy paving the way by strengthening our bond with Malaysian-based IEC Plant Engineering, which has an extensive sales and service network throughout South-East Asia. Additionally, its CEO, PM Ravi, an existing shareholder of IEC+, has been fine-tuning an excellent inter-brand relationship with us, which is a bonus,’ Roberto states.
Valentina Cigna, global director of HR and president of IM GROUP, explains that many resources will be shared throughout the group’s brands, thus reducing waste, and that IM GROUP will be consolidating its forces to include IEC+ into its overall circular economy plan. Plans are also being made to create additional jobs in Italy’s Parma region. ‘We plan to increase IEC+’s workforce by around 15% to 20% within the next five years and invest in human capital initiatives such as advanced IoT training to improve industry 4.0 experience and skills,’ she adds.
Lau Kar Seng, general manager of Inkmaker Shanghai and member of the board, notes that in China too, since IM GROUP’s launch in April, preparations were being finalised in two main areas. Firstly, by expanding to larger premises to align with IEC+’s specifications to manufacture and customise large heavy-duty equipment for dispersing, grinding and mixing, and secondly, to form a joint-venture company with Zhuhai Longtec Corporation, called Inkmaker Intelligent Systems, in anticipation of offering IEC+’s service, expertise and machinery. ‘Longtec will significantly boost our market reach throughout China,’ he explains. ‘The addition of IEC+ is a bonus that many competitors will be unable to match in China, especially with IEC Plant Engineering (in Asia) as our partner.’
The entrance of IEC+ into the group presents a unique opportunity for the evolution of the group as well as for IEC+. ‘IEC+ is an extraordinary company with a technical know-how gained from over 20 years’ experience of its team. It can offer advanced engineering – and by this we mean that the design, projection and management services are extended to all the production processes, site management and software interface. This starts from preliminary engineering studies through to the complete project implementation and delivery. As such, this will use the specialisations from all our brands,’ explains Gianluca Incerti, global commercial director of IM GROUP. ‘Each brand will continue to be differentiated through its expertise and compete in its individual market sectors and, when required, they will come together on large projects for IM GROUP.’
IEC+ shareholder and long-term partner of Inkmaker PM Ravi, CEO of IEC Plant Engineering, says: ‘It is an ideal collaboration for IM GROUP, IEC+ and IEC Plant Engineering. With over 30 years’ experience in the region, IEC Plant Engineering’s South-East Asian stronghold includes an extensive network of branches, factories and after-sales service facilities backed by a workforce of skilled engineers.’
Founding member of IEC+ Fabrizio Musi, who will stay on as operations manager, says it was a pleasure to see it join IM GROUP. ‘I am confident that by joining the IM GROUP family of brands, IEC+ has secured the continuity of its business and is set to make the group stronger and increase its market position,’ he says. ‘Antonio Riggio is a proven general manager with a very good track record and I warmly welcome him in his new role at IEC+.’
Antonio Riggio, operations manager of Tecnopails, who has also been appointed as general manager of IEC+, adds: ‘The strategy for IEC+ for the immediate future will be based on three pillars: to enhance services, to reinforce system-engineering capacity and to increase production capacity. IEC+ is, therefore, aiming to double the size of its facilities by year end.’
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