Sinteco was founded in 1984, driven by the insight of Ernesto Vecellio Reane. During his career at an electronics company in Longarone, he identified the need for an innovative automation model to revolutionize production processes.
At that time, Paolo Cannicci, president of the historic eyewear company Sover in Belluno, sought skilled technicians to develop cutting-edge production lines. Vecellio saw this as the perfect opportunity to bring his ideas to life.
The fusion of Vecellio's vision with Cannicci's financial backing marked the beginning of what we know today as Sinteco, a significant player in the industrial sector.
Like many great ideas, Sinteco started modestly, operating out of a garage within a historic eyewear factory in the small town of Soverzene (BL). It was in this passionate and determined space that our adventure began.
The first successes
Sinteco's first project, the Mastermac, was an automatic machine designed for the eyewear industry. It stood out for its flexibility and innovation, meeting market needs exceptionally well.
Sinteco officially began operations on September 3, 1984, with a team of three employees, which quickly grew with the addition of new talent.
Thanks to these dedicated collaborators, Ernesto pushed Sinteco to tackle complex and innovative automation solutions, significantly enhancing productivity and the quality of production processes. Sinteco quickly gained national recognition, distributing machinery and automation systems for eyewear production across Northern Italy.
Diversification and Growth
From the automation ideas developed for the eyewear sector, Sinteco successfully evolved and significantly expanded its scope. The company identified and exploited vast potential in various sectors, including electronics, mechanics, electromechanics, locks, cosmetics, and automotive.
This diversification process allowed Sinteco to grow and become a versatile and highly specialized player in the Italian industrial landscape.
In 1991, the opening of a new facility in Villanova di Longarone marked a significant milestone for Sinteco. The event, attended by prominent figures such as the Minister of Transport, Carlo Bernini, was a testament to the company's value and quality.
«A facility of this caliber had never been seen in this area»
remarked the Minister in his first statement.
In 1991, Vecellio said to the magazine "Robotica e automazione chiavi in mano":
«The company was established years ago after the departure of some highly skilled individuals from a large Italian company specializing in custom automation. We considered developing this type of automation due to high demand. With the expertise available, we responded to a local entrepreneur's request, which enabled us to establish this company.»
In 1994, Sinteco was honored with the Regional Award for Economic Development from Veneto and won the International Belluno Award for Innovation in the eyewear sector.
The Birth of Hospital Automation
In 2002, driven by the desire to explore new horizons and achieve even more ambitious goals, Sinteco launched a new business unit dedicated to Hospital Automation. This division aimed to develop cutting-edge technologies for the healthcare sector, focusing on quality, process automation, and reducing patient risk.
Within this context, Athena was born as a promising software solution initially conceived as a tool for managing unit doses of medication. Refined and improved over the years, Athena has become the flagship product of the Hospital Automation division. It is the foundation of a flexible and modular system that has revolutionized the administration of personalized therapies, enabling the grouping of medications by patient and distributing them in unit doses labeled with the recipient's name. Integrated with the management software of healthcare facilities, Athena automates the production of personalized therapies, offering significant benefits in terms of safety and cost savings for hospitals.
The inception of Hospital Automation was a pivotal moment in Sinteco's history, showcasing the company's ability to continuously innovate and diversify, while consistently leading the automation industry.
TESTIMONIAL
Sinteco pours its soul into its robots,
meaning that a soul is put into their creation.
So, whether you believe it or not,
Sinteco’s robots
do have a soul:
I’ve seen it!»
Mauro Corona
Joining the Bucci Group
In 2003, Sinteco became part of the Bucci Industries Group.
This partnership represented a crucial turning point, allowing the company to benefit from the strength and resources of a large international group.
This synergy enabled Sinteco to further enhance its automated solutions, expanding its capacity to increase customer productivity on a global scale while continuing to innovate with the same pioneering spirit that characterized its early steps, always respecting its geographical and human specificity.
«Sinteco is a company with impressive expertise in the field of automation for assembly. It harmonizes and integrates perfectly with the other activities of the Group.»
Interview with Cav. Massimo Bucci, President of the Bucci Group, for Obiettivo Industria, October 16, 2017
«Since the beginning, we have strongly believed that this company possesses unique qualities, one of which is its deep connection to the specific region of Belluno and Longarone. For us, this has always been a reference point: the development of businesses can be facilitated if certain foundations are established, allowing the people involved to feel confident and at home.»
Interview with T. Tarozzi, CEO of the Bucci Group, 2017 for Obiettivo Industria, October 16, 2017
Transitioning to the Future: the Generational Shift
In 2008, at Ernesto Vecellio's proposal, who continues to support the company as honorary president, the Bucci Group appointed Stefano Giacomelli as the general manager of Sinteco.
This transition marked the beginning of a new era for Sinteco, and under Giacomelli's leadership, the company continues to innovate and grow while staying true to its roots.
Navigating through times of challenges and opportunities, Stefano Giacomelli preserves and strengthens Sinteco's excellence, steering the company with a clear and determined vision towards new milestones.
This change in leadership marks an important chapter in Sinteco's history, bridging its past of innovation and success with a promising future, while continually upholding the philosophy of excellence and commitment to progress.
The New Medtech Hub
The company continued to grow and expand, conquering new international markets thanks to the network offered by the Bucci Group's foreign subsidiaries. This environment fostered the development of an international mindset, which solidified with entry into new strategic sectors such as medical, pharmaceutical, and aerospace.
In 2017, Sinteco reached a decisive milestone with the inauguration of a new facility dedicated entirely to the design, assembly, and testing of systems for the medical, pharmaceutical and hospital sectors.
The new production unit is designed to resemble the structures commonly used by medical clients. Engineers, designers, and mechanical assemblers are specifically dedicated to this sector.
Creating a dedicated area for the Medtech sector is a crucial foundation for supporting Sinteco's growth. This is closely linked to the introduction of new machines, acquiring new clients, and expanding into emerging sectors.
Apart from designing and building systems that adhere to strict medical regulations, the entire testing and validation process is carefully developed to meet high standards. This ensures maximum reliability and quality of the products assembled with Sinteco's automation lines.
Recognition for Excellence in Mechatronics
In 2019, Sinteco received the Italian Mechatronics Award for adopting mechatronic solutions that enabled the development of innovative products, resulting in distinctive competitive advantages in international markets. The Scientific Committee highlighted:
"Sinteco has established itself globally in the design and production of industrial, medical, and hospital automation systems, with over 5,000 installations to its credit. In particular, the award aims to recognize the leadership achieved in the design and implementation of systems for the assembly and testing of medical and pharmaceutical devices, as well as the significant investment in research and development activities supporting the digitalization of systems with a focus on predictive maintenance."
Industry 4.0 and the Future
Sinteco has always placed research and development at the center of its strategy, making these elements the driving force behind its success. Embracing the core principles of Industry 4.0 and adopting them as a work philosophy, the company has been ahead of industry trends. For years, Sinteco's automated systems have emphasized the human-machine interaction essential for building the intelligent factory of the future.
Over time, Sinteco has enhanced production planning and plant management through the sharing and analysis of data between machines, optimizing work cycles and real-time monitoring of every stage of the production process.
Today, Sinteco's after-sales service uses advanced predictive technologies to ensure timely interventions and high operational reliability. These solutions, in line with Industry 4.0 principles, enable immediate actions, reducing downtime and ensuring high operational reliability in the production flow.
Doubling the production space with Sinteco 4
Thanks to the constant integration of people and technologies, and with the new area inaugurated in 2022 that doubles the production space, Sinteco sets another milestone towards the future.
Innovation, digitalization, sustainability, and a strong focus on training are the pillars that define Sinteco's development according to the company's leadership, who extended a special thanks to everyone who made this significant achievement possible.
Today: Sinteco Around the World
Today, Sinteco boasts four production facilities, over 2,000 automation lines installed worldwide, and a team of 250 highly specialized professionals. With a track record of success and consistent growth, Sinteco has become a symbol of Italian engineering and quality, winning prestigious clients across the globe.
Continuing to stay ahead of the global market evolution, Sinteco celebrates its fortieth anniversary with an eye on the future, exploring new opportunities to bring the excellence of its solutions to the world.
However, the true heart of our success lies not only in the numbers or technical innovations but in the people who bring passion, expertise, and dedication to their work every day.
It is thanks to the talent and commitment of every single team member that Sinteco has achieved these milestones and will continue to do so. Our future is bright because it is driven by the extraordinary people who make Sinteco what it is: a great family that has transformed the vision of a few into a reality for many.