SCM is reinforcing its global footprint with a strategic expansion of its branch network and technology centres, aiming to deepen customer engagement through innovative woodworking solutions and digital services. Central to this initiative is the inauguration of the SCM-Superfici Technology Center in Villasanta, Italy, launched in May 2024, which represents a significant evolution in the company’s approach to woodworking technology demonstrations and customer interaction.
The Villasanta centre, sprawling over 2,000 square metres, consolidates more than thirty advanced woodworking solutions under one roof, ranging from finishing and sanding technologies to cutting-edge digital services. It features dedicated workstations for SCM’s proprietary software platforms, including Maestro Lab for CNC machining and Maestro Optiwise for cutting optimisation. A standout feature is the Digital Control Room, which exemplifies SCM’s commitment to proactive production assistance, leveraging data analytics to maintain seamless operations. Gabriele Patti, commercial director of SCM Group’s wood division, emphasised that this facility has transformed from a traditional showroom focused on surfaces and finishes into the most comprehensive SCM Technology Center outside the company’s Rimini headquarters. He describes it as a vital hub that demonstrates the integration of physical machinery with digital transformation tools designed to support clients throughout the production lifecycle.
This investment reflects SCM’s broader global strategy, combining technological innovation with enhanced customer service to better meet evolving industry needs. Beyond Italy, SCM has recently opened a subsidiary in Trzin near Ljubljana, Slovenia, with a 1,600 square metre Technology Center tailored specifically to the woodworking and furniture production sectors in Slovenia and the Balkans. This move reinforces SCM’s commitment to providing locally responsive support while preserving the unique industrial characteristics and identities of the regional markets it serves. The Slovenian facility, which also collaborates with partners in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia, underscores the company’s focus on regional specialisation alongside direct service branches.
Further European expansion includes plans for a new branch and Technology Center in Lyon, France, scheduled to open by the end of 2025. The French operation has been bolstered under the leadership of Laurent Mazies, a seasoned industry veteran with over four decades of experience, who has strengthened both the sales consulting and technical assistance teams. This aligns with SCM’s efforts to serve the DACH region with enhanced technological innovation, particularly in automation and customised systems, despite recent sector challenges. The company is targeting the high end of this market through specialist-led Key Account Management aimed at securing increased market share.
North America remains a primary international market for SCM, supported by an extensive network of branches and distributors, including sites in Georgia, California, Mississauga, Port Coquitlam, and Jalisco, alongside another Superfici Center in North Carolina. Recent leadership appointments and sales team expansions in Canada, particularly focused on Quebec and the West Coast, reflect the company’s ambitions to tackle skilled labour shortages and broaden their footprint by enhancing digitalisation, automation, and service offerings.
SCM’s sustained investments highlight its dual focus on evolving both the technological frontiers of woodworking machinery and the ways in which customers engage with these innovations. Patti underscores the importance of mixing direct branch management with strong dealer partnerships, a combination that has driven SCM’s recent expansions in varied growth markets such as India, Turkey, and Vietnam. Collectively, these centres and initiatives represent SCM’s ambition to be more than a machinery supplier; they aim to be partners in transforming production workflows through digital integration and tailored solution delivery.
With its upgraded Technology Centers providing practical demonstrations and hands-on experience, alongside innovative digital platforms like the Digital Control Room and Maestro connect services unveiled at events such as Xylexpo 2024, SCM is positioning itself at the forefront of woodworking industry transformation. This global strategy, rooted in innovation and customer-centric support, reflects a proactive response to both market demands and challenges, ensuring SCM remains a key player shaping the future of wood processing worldwide.
Source: Noah Wire Services
