PASSION AND RESEARCH AS A WAY OF LIFE
Interview with Franco Stacchiotti, President and CEO of Euromet di Euromet
Chiara Benedettini e Matteo Fontana – CONNESSIONI
“Passion” is the key word that comes round several times during the chat with Franco Stacchiotti, founder of Euromet. On his business card he would write, perhaps: “Passionate about mechanics”, which is his way of saying “dreamer” …
A figure that is both simple and complex, immediate and lay ered: here is Franco Stacchiot ti, founder and soul of a brand–that makes Made in Italy its flag, also in the mechanics applied to entertainment and AV: Euromet. Over the years we have got to know his shy character: we would expect a “Baron”, a “Lord of mechanics” able to give lessons to everyone but, when we interviewed him, flanked by his witty and very nice wife, Franco turns out to be a conversationalist as amiable as he is awkward, as brilliant in his anecdotal ways, and in the spirit with which he answers questions, as shy and reserved when it comes to recalling successes. Because after all (it is very clear right away), he is not so much interested in the solutions already found, but rather those still to be found; he soon gets tired of talking about the challenges he has won, while his eyes shine as soon as the possibility of a challenge yet to be undertaken appears in front of him. Even now, having passed the age of 70, he is thinking of an “almost peaceful” retirement, even if postponed until a later date.
What is his “creative” story?
My story starts with the end of the company where I was an employee, I was a toolmaker and mechanic in the field of music accessories. Unfortunately, the owner passed away, after just a couple of years working there, I was young then … In short, things were going badly. I had no experience in managing companies, but I had a passion: yes, I was passionate about mechanics, I loved devising solutions to the problems that arose. So with some partners in 1983 we founded Euromet, and I began to develop solutions, rather than products, for the world of music: stands and lecterns, stands for musical instruments, etc.
A very interesting topic: solution or product? What comes first?
Ideas come first. If you are presented with a problem, the challenge is to have the right idea, which combines simplicity and effectiveness. I’ve always enjoyed realising the ideas I had. At that time, to give an example, telephony began, the electronic keyboard was passing from the electromechanical one, the first hands-free solutions, memory numbers and so on were being developed. Then, alongside the main trend for music, I made one of the first electronic keyboards and also developed a desk phone model … at the time it was something futuristic, innovative.
So, how did your career start, with an idea or a product?
The market dictates its demands, I have always looked for the most suitable mechanical solutions to satisfy them, from time to time. It is necessary to combine genius with simplicity, the simplest product is always the most appreciated. The music stands that I built at the beginning of my career, in fact, were appreciated for their functionality and durability. The duration of a product is another very important aspect, it distinguishes a work that is perhaps deliberately cheap (there are companies that make products that cost little and last as long) from a craftsmanship, done with passion, to give the customer a product that can be used for ten or more years.
Today Euromet is well known in the world of video and, in particular, of video projection, for projector supports. How did you enter this sector?
As I said, at the beginning we mainly made elite pieces, without making large numbers, also because we were already feeling the competition from the Far East, with lower quality products but capable of filling the market. So, in order not to go down on the terrain of these producers, we decided to maintain our quality but also diversifying, and we also dedicated ourselves to video as well as audio, to have a wider range of products. I focused on projector supports and made UFO: it allowed you to adjust the position of the projector by simply squeezing a sphere inside a cone, with a catch, and you could either hang it from the ceiling or mount it on trusses. For several years it has given us great satisfaction, then obviously… many have copied us!
It’s the fate of good ideas, isn’t it? That of being filmed by others …
It is inevitable, in fact we must always experiment and grow, put ourselves to the test, accept the challenges of the market and make them our own … For example, in 2009 we launched the famous Arakno, to react to the fact that they had copied UFO: thanks to its screws threaded you can adjust the arrangement of a video projector to the millimetre, and on all axes, replicating the success of UFO. It lends itself very well to small and medium projectors, while in recent years we have been focusing on cages for large format and heavier projectors
Once the idea is in focus, what other factors determine the success of a product?
The choice of materials is very important, they must not wear out or create unwanted friction. And then it is necessary to work in partnership with the big brands, in order to experiment with the most effective solutions. We have worked a lot with Christie, Panasonic, who put us to the test with very particular requests… And also with NEC, with Epson… For each brand we have studied dedicated solutions. We have tried to offer more and more sophisticated ones while maintaining compactness and functionality: the products must not be difficult to assemble and use.
And beyond the projectors?
There is the very interesting trend of large monitors: not only must they be able to be hung, but with their greater use in the Corporate sector, they must also be able to stand on ground supports and be handled safely. We have therefore developed excellent structures, even for large LED walls. We usually go out into the field when there are new solutions to be found: Euromet does not supply things that already exist, but designs products that cover needs that have not yet been met. (Mrs. Stacchiotti raises her eyes to the sky, she smiles: we seem to intuit a thought of her for the many hours of work spent by Franco in the development of the products!)
Is there any product in this sector that you are particularly proud of?
For me the really beautiful phase is that of conception and development, I put all my passion there … and I think Volta is an excellent solution to a common problem. It was born in 2019-2020, and today it is joined by Opera, presented at ISE 2022. The clutch system can be calibrated according to the weight of the monitor, so that it can be moved and rotated with a finger. We can also leave the monitor in a free position, but it remains locked. The patent is called Turn System, it allows you to freely rotate even very heavy touch monitors in total safety, without blocks.
How do you at Euromet deal with the problem of scarcity of materials in this period?
The difficulty is there, it cannot be denied. Today it is objectively more difficult to find raw materials, and I would add that the global market is increasingly unbalanced, due to the competition from distant countries that exploit vast resources. We are experimenting with new materials, trying to adapt products to the materials we have in favour of projects, which have deadlines and dates to be met. We have the humility to adapt our technologies to the needs of customers (and products!), And we know who to turn to for certain processes, taking advantage of the related activities. Obviously, when we can, we build everything internally, with our machinery.
Is the related business important for Euromet?
Yes a lot: the Marche Region has an important history in musical instruments, also translated by some companies into the production and distribution of audio and lighting brands. We were born here to meet their needs and only later we started working on other areas, also approaching international markets, but we have always kept our headquarters and factory in Loreto, in the province of Ancona. Today, Euromet is distributed in 60 countries, including some that produce products for the same applications. The related industries are also important as a resource: we only work in the field of Made in Italy and, fortunately, there are still many companies around here that, in case of special needs, can give us the necessary support.
To conclude, allow us a “challenging” question: how do you build a successful and prestigious company like Euromet?
(He smiles, he would like to avoid answering but, being prodded by his wife, he decides to say) Well, these results are achieved thanks to passion, but also to the support from family. For me, research is a way of life. Also, you need to put the right people in the right place and trust those who deserve it. Finally, by choice we have always preferred quality: our products last ten or more years, well beyond the user’s needs. It is a choice, of course we cost more, but in the long run, it has paid off!
CONNESSIONI 01/2023
