Page 48 - Glass Machinery Plants & Accessories no. 2/2017

BUSINESS AS USUAL
Decorating Lehrs
manufacturer, Vitro, for a fur-
ther ten lehrs. While these discus- in 2016. So we are used to programming our work to suit our capacity and our production
sions were in progress, Vitro was
acquired by Owens-Illinois but
this development did not interfere
with the deal and so at the end of
the day the final order from O-I
was for the equivalent of forty
standard units. The lehrs are fairly
similar, so once the design of the
first was established, the produc-
tion times of the remainder are
more or less the same.
EX-WORKS
Shipping the containers is the
client’s responsibility. The rate of
delivery is coordinated with the
installers on site so that shipments
arrive regularly just as soon as
they are needed and dead-time
is minimized: the installers are
never idle waiting for containers
to arrive, and containers are never
stacked up waiting to be unloaded.
We ship out about one lehr every
three weeks so the whole operation
proceeds smoothly. Installation on
site is done by a local firm that is
already familiar with our products
and procedures, so we don’t antici-
pate any serious problems in that
area. One of our technicians is also
on hand to certify that the instal-
lation is in conformity with our
technical requirements and legal
obligations.
glass machinery plants & accessories 2/2017
46
Are there any particular difficulties on the production side for an order as large as that
you got from O-I for Mexico?
Not really. We are a well-established company with a lot of experience. In recent years we
have done quite well, our turnover has been growing steadily – from 25m in 2015 to 27m
facilities. It’s integral to a well-run business.
Outsize – the same only different
This is a big order but we are by no means over-extended by it. We don’t have to deliver it
all at once!. You must remember that the delivery will be phased over a certain time span
so that the client too can plan their side. We have our suppliers for components and subsy-
stems and these operate according to a schedule worked out with us. The decorating lehrs
for Mexico are large – twice the standard size – so we would count on building one large in
place of two standard machines. It’s as simple as that. We do have other clients and other
orders to fill, so it’s all in the day’s work. We are very flexible as a company – it’s one of
our strong-points.
Big means more – on schedule
In some cases we are directly involved in shipment and reassembly on-site. For shipment
in Italy or Europe we use containers or low-loaders. This contract is ex-works for overseas
so everything has to go into containers. Transport and assembly is organized by the client.
In fact, we build the lehrs completely at our factory and then dismantle and pack them into
containers ready to be shipped. The lehrs are large but that just means each takes more
containers than usual. We could pack about eight a day so that would mean one machine
in a day and a half. It’s all scheduled to minimize delays and uncertainty.
Room for more
Of course, there is always a chance that something will not go according to plan, but we
pride ourselves on our ability to cope with such circumstances. There have been no unfore-
seen developments up to now. We could easily handle twice this volume if it were necessary.
Footnote:
Following on their success in Mexico, Antonini have also landed their first contract – for two
machines in the late summer – in Bolivia, a new country for them.
A new country, a new contract with all its own unique aspects – very much business as usual.
MEXICO
Mexico is one of our bigger markets and
we supply other companies there besides O-I.
Between old plants modernizing and new plants
starting up, there is a growing need for new
machinery and we expect to be as competitive as
always. We know the territory and we know the
people; but we can never rest on our laurels or
take anything for granted. Each new job is a new
challenge and gets our best shot. O
Via Medaglie d’Oro
della Resistenza, 2
50053 Ponte a Elsa
(FI) - Italy
ANTONINI SRL Tel.: 0571-93221
Fax: 0571-931828
E-mail:
www.antoninisrl.com antoninisrl@leonet.it