A company’s choice of pictures can often tell you something about the company itself – and this is also the case in Bedizzole, not far from Lake Garda. In the conference room of Industria Metalli, there is a picture titled “Obiettivi” (goals). The picture shows a hiker standing on a mountain top, gazing at a far-off mountain range. The caption also sounds exciting: “Look to the future and then look even further ahead.”

While hikers can simply enjoy the view, looking ahead is vital for companies such as Industria Metalli as its customers come from the automotive sector – one of the most demanding industries. The company specialises in vehicle components, from supports and brackets through to all manner of housings. With a high level of vertical integration, each year the factory produces more than five million cast aluminium parts for 160 customers around the world using 8,000 tons of secondary aluminium. The medium-sized company from Lombardy generates 40% of its turnover from the automotive industry, around 30% from commercial vehicle manufacturers and around another 30% from agricultural technology companies.

The first step is the melting process, which heats the secondary aluminium up to the ideal processing temperature of 700°  C, ready for the die-casting presses.