Our appointment with the Seniors returns: a selection of Solema employees who have seen the company grow and have contributed to the development of younger employees, motivating them day after day in their training and integration process.
Today we meet: Roberta Natali, Head of the Administrative Department, and Francesco Caglioni, Head of the Software Office and the Software Production Research and Development Area.
Roberta, head of Administration: at Solema for 16 years!
Roberta Natali, 35 years old, holds the position of Head of the Administrative Office.
She has been working at Solema since 2008, and her daily dedication to work, always carried out with passion, precision, and punctuality, has made her a valuable asset to our company.
Roberta, tell us how you came to work at Solema.
«It was February 2008, and after my accounting diploma, I learned that Solema was looking for someone to join their administration team permanently. I immediately realized I had a great job opportunity in a field that matched my studies, with an immediate offer of full-time employment. I accepted Solema’s offer, and considering I’m still here 16 years later, I’d say it was the right choice».
Tell us about your first steps at Solema and what administrative work entails.
«I immediately found a welcoming and family-like environment at Solema, with collaborative people willing to teach me the “tricks of the trade”. After the initial training period, I gradually gained confidence, expanded my skills, and earned the trust of the management. Indeed, in June 2023, I was promoted to Head of the Administrative Office, a role responsible for everything related to the company’s administration: from general accounting to tax and fiscal compliance to balance sheet data processing».
The administrative department of a company is often seen as a separate world that deals only with numbers and payments. Is that the case?
«Yes, it is! The administrative office is sometimes viewed as a sector that only handles invoices and payments, but this is a very limiting definition. For example, even recording a simple invoice involves many operations and requires meticulous checking of various data: matching the issued order, verifying correct inventory loading, price checking, correcting any errors, recording, and finally payment.
Additionally, laws change every year, and fiscal obligations become increasingly demanding».
How important is communication with other Solema departments in your work?
«Communication among colleagues from the various departments is essential. Although our office is considered the last link in the chain, the relationship with all other departments is indispensable. I believe it can help prevent potential errors, saving time, especially when information needs to be timely because a transaction is about to be closed. Nothing should be considered superfluous! Better to ask one more question today than to solve a problem tomorrow!
Communication is a form of respect and attention towards others’ work; it allows sharing experiences and difficulties to find shared solutions».
What advice would you give to young people who want to pursue a profession like yours?
«In any profession, the advice I would give is to never lose the desire to learn and acquire knowledge, to be willing to take on challenges, and to be ready for any change. If I had to choose an essential and highly requested characteristic in my field, it would undoubtedly be precision».
What do you think is Solema’s main strength?
«I could list many, such as the company’s solidity or the staff’s expertise, but the true strength of Solema is the determination to always seek the best solution, never giving up in the face of challenge, always finding the right way to address any need».
In these sixteen years of work at Solema, is there a moment or work-related event that particularly impacted you?
«I fondly remember my first time at Drupa, right in 2008. I was only 19 years old, and participating in an internationally renowned fair represented a great opportunity. At that moment, I realized how much work and organization such an event requires.
During those days, curiosity and the desire for knowledge characterized my days, behaviors that still guide my work today.
I wish all employees the opportunity to have similar experiences.».
Francesco, our Software expert, who will celebrate 20 years at Solema next year.
Francesco Caglioni, 43 years old, holds the position of Head of the Software Office and the Software Production Research and Development Area.
He has been working at Solema since 2005, and his work is crucial for the perfect functioning of our machines. While mechanics are important, it is equally important to pair them with dedicated software that makes them operate flawlessly, saving time and resources.
Regarding Artificial Intelligence, Francesco reveals that in the future it could become a significant opportunity to improve the performance of Solema machines.
Francesco, tell us about your studies and how you joined Solema.
«I graduated in electrical engineering from a vocational institute in Bergamo. Then I took a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) programming course, a device used to control automated processes, a specialization that allowed me to enter the job market more easily. After a brief work experience, I learned that Solema was looking for someone to handle electrical design. And so I came here. It was 2005».
How were your early years at Solema?
«Interesting and stimulating! I found a dynamic environment where I quickly integrated, which allowed me to grow further and specialize in something different. Indeed, I was immediately encouraged to deepen my knowledge of PLCs and the creation of automation programs, a sector where Solema has always been a top player. So I was able to make a leap in quality, thanks to the help of my superiors, colleagues, and the valuable collaboration of external professionals – with whom the department continuously exchanges ideas».
And then, over time, you became head of the department. Tell us how it happened.
«The Research and Development and Software Production department is independent of the Electrical Production department I was part of, but with which close collaboration is necessary. Given my good knowledge of PLC language, my experience, and the concurrent growth of programming software, I was offered to become head of the new department».
What exactly does the Research and Development and Software Production department do?
«Compared to the Electrical Production department, which designs the machines electrically, our department ensures that those machines run and operate perfectly, with custom-designed programming software. I would like to emphasize that Solema has three specific divisions: Graphicart, Paperboard, and, the latest addition, Robotics division, each requiring different types of machines, each needing dedicated hardware and software. This is why, as I was saying before, communication and collaboration between the two departments is crucial».
Speaking of robotics, what changes has the advent of the Robotics division brought to your work?
«First, we equipped ourselves with a resource who knew about the world of robotics and its applications in automation. Robotics was new to us and required a specific programming system to operate the various types of robots. At the same time, my colleague Mario Pesenti, head of Electrical Production, and I are studying both from the point of view of the functioning of the robots and from the point of view of interaction between the robots and other existing systems».
Staying on the topic of robots, today there is a lot of talk about Artificial Intelligence. How much can this phenomenon impact your work?
«I believe that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can significantly impact my work. It is an opportunity that could improve our machines’ performance. Obviously, we need to proceed with caution; the topic is not yet well-defined, and the risk of missteps is substantial... We all know that creating a production machine is a delicate process, involving the lives of the people working on that machine, so everything must be tied to safety. It’s a project we are working on, and I am convinced that good results will come soon».
You have been working at Solema for almost 20 years; what is the best part about working here?
«I clearly remember my first months of work in 2005: I couldn’t believe someone was attentively listening to what I had to say. This still happens today with new arrivals, be they interns or apprentices. Besides bringing innovation, young people propose constructive ideas that are valued and integrated into our work methodology. I find it wonderful being able to give a chance to a young person joining our team. It is a sign of maturity and professional honesty from the company».
And what would you say to a potential customer to convince them to choose Solema?
«Here, you will find the right and personalized solution for your every need. It is one of the characteristics that everyone recognizes us for, our trademark. Solema’s mission is indeed to “be able to create customized systems using the standard elements at our disposal”. I always try to put this mission into practice, creating each machine as if it were my own».
For more information on Solema, write to info@solema.it or call us on +39 035 654111.