Boosting Michelin’s efficiency drive: Giordano & C. rolls forward as part of the Actemium network
When Giordano & C. became part of the Actemium network last autumn, the family-owned company’s CEO, Luigi Giordano, said the transaction would allow the Italian company to “to remain true to ourselves and to lay a solid foundation to grow together with VINCI Energies.”
Giordano’s recent project for Michelin embodies that statement and fulfils the company’s mission to save its customers money by implementing innovative solutions. Michelin is a longtime client that exemplifies another of Giordano’s goals: building loyalty through a global mindset and deep understanding of customer needs.
The 100-year-old company started in 1924 with sales and installation of electrical equipment. Now it consists of an industry unit and a mechanical, electrical, and plumbing unit, with 180 employees spread over Giordano’s operations in Italy, the United States, Britain, and Mexico.
Handling ingredients
Currently, Giordano is making Michelin’s flagship plant in Cuneo, Italy, even more efficient with its Flexi Zac project.
Tyre manufacturing is like baking, on a gigantic scale. You take several different types of rubber, mix in key additives and reinforcing materials, and bake (vulcanize) at high temperatures. The main reinforcing “fillers” in modern tires are carbon black and silica. Giordano’s project is making the unloading and storage of these materials more efficient by installing a pneumatic conveying system to get the materials from trucks to silos.
Farther down the line, a separate pneumatic system feeds the dosing units more precisely, sometimes two at a time.
This ingenious system accomplishes several feats at once: unloading times are cut in half, malfunction and breakage are greatly reduced, and worker safety is reinforced.
Giordano was also responsible for the construction of the new building that houses 32 storage silos and de-dusting and vacuum systems.
Keeping the family name
The Boves-based company is officially part of Vinci Energies Italia, though the Giordano family is represented with Luigi, the great grandson of the founder, at the helm. The venerable family name, instantly recognized in its key markets, also remains.
