The 73rd issue of S News is dedicated to ELAN with an interview with our CEO Cristina Andreoni.
It was a pleasure to speak and discuss with such an important publication in the field of security about experience, innovation, objectives and future initiatives that will characterize ELAN in the coming period.
Below are all the excerpts from the interview.
Eng. Andreoni, you have been the CEO of ELAN since last year. Besides the fact that you are a “daughter of art” and thus perfectly embody the generational transition in the company, would you tell us since when you have been passionate about the security industry and, specifically, cables?
ELAN was founded even before I was born, and for me, it has always been a very familiar environment in which I grew up and have been around since I was a child. I clearly remember that as a child, going to the company was like going to a large playground, where cable scraps would became material for having fun and weaving colourful bracelets.
After graduating in Management Engineering, an educational path I have undertaken between Milan and the U.S., for several years, I carried out work experience in different contexts, both in Italy and France, which made me grow a lot and certainly allowed me to expand my knowledge on international operating methods, gaining more market awareness and extending my technical and organisational skills. Returning to Italy and especially to the leadership of ELAN has also meant putting into practice what I have learned through years of experience in different areas, situations and territories, making a novel contribution to the company’s trajectory.
Generational transition in business is a topical issue, not only for ELAN but for the entire Italian business system. Suffice it to say that 85 per cent of Italian enterprises are family-run SMEs. The transition is always an impactful turning point, and we are trying to go through it in the best way, considering it not just as a mere change but as an opportunity for growth and evolution for the company.
First and foremost, it’s not an event but an articulated and complex process that began a few years ago and concerns the entire corporate structure. To ensure business continuity, we are adopting a strategy that, on the one hand, highlights skills and resources based on 30 years of experience and, on the other hand, values innovation. For example, my father, Adrio Andreoni, retains the role of President of ELAN so that we can ensure that values and knowledge are respected and transferred.
ELAN has a long history, beginning in 1986. So many evolutions from then to now, in many ways. So what is ELAN today, what are the principles that guide it, and what are your goals?
ELAN always aims to meet the market demand, which is in constant evolution and increasingly looking for products of the highest quality. As a result, it developed a productive facility, which turns its attention to the processing of products with high technological content, thus satisfying the different fields of application. Attention to detail and continuous quality control are the principles that guide our in-house production, enabling us to achieve the high standards needed by our customers.
Our laboratory is fully equipped with instruments that allow us to carry out all the necessary mechanical, electrical and fire resistance tests, ensuring compliance with the stated parameters and the current regulations, which, as we know, are constantly being updated.
Moreover, even from a business structure point of view, we are always available to promptly respond to the market needs, thanks to ready delivery and flexibility in order management.
If I asked you to encapsulate three ELAN strengths, which ones would you highlight?
The first strong point is certainly the quality of the product. A careful choice of raw materials and the guarantee of Made in Italy, thanks to production in our Camerano plant in the province of Ancona, allow us to maintain the highest quality standards.
The second asset is service. We manage a portfolio of 400 products available in stock in prompt delivery that, in case of urgency, we can ship extensively throughout Italy in 24/48 hours without a minimum order quantity.
Finally, the third point is customer care. Thanks to our multilingual technical sales department, open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., we guarantee maximum availability to satisfy any request in a short time.
Speaking of products, what proposal have you recently presented at the Sicurezza Trade Fair?
For over 35 years, ELAN has been a leading company in the production of CABLES for SECURITY AND FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS, CCTV and DATA NETWORKING and the sale of DRY RECHARGEABLE LEAD and LITHIUM BATTERIES distributed under the BIGBAT brand. The entire production range of CABLES and BATTERIES, conform to Italian and international standards due to accurate production techniques and strict quality control.
We presented our entire range at Sicurezza 2023, where we noted an excellent response for our company, confirming our positioning and appreciation by the market and proving the solidity of our historical business.
We boast a portfolio of cross-cutting products for most of the players operating in the security field, both in intrusion and firefighting. We are currently working in more than 50 countries and serving over 800 customers.
As a result, Fiera Sicurezza for ELAN is a crucial event in which we have been participating since our foundation. It represents an international landmark for our industry, allowing us to strengthen our capillarity in both domestic and foreign markets.
Speaking instead of upcoming developments, what is recent news in ELAN?
In 2024, we have decided to join the CEI, to officially contribute to the spread of the use of the “rule of art” in our country. The prestigious Italian Electrotechnical Committee (CEI) recognizes and highlites this value, which has always been close to our company’s heart.
In particular, through my participation, I will be at the forefront of technical committees:
- CT 21/35 ACCUMULATORS AND BATTERIES
- SC 64C PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE HAZARDS
- GL 79 GR1 ANTINTRUSION
- GL 79 GR7 VIDEOSURVEILLANCE
- GL 79 GR8 ACCESS CONTROL
In addition, ELAN will be present at the CEI Free Training Conference Tour, the landmark event involving thousands of industry professionals throughout Italy, who can thus get a preview of regulatory, technical and technological developments in the sector.
The first appointment is in Rome at the Istituto Superiore Antincendi (ISA) on 7 March 2024 for the Conference “Energy Transition and Sustainability”. The event will be divided into two Seminars and aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the regulatory innovations and practical challenges that designers and installers face with electrical systems. It will provide essential tools and knowledge to operate successfully in the sector, contributing significantly to the energy system transformation towards a more sustainable direction.
Next, you can find us in Florence on 20 March, in Catania on 23 April, in Turin on 23 May, in Naples on 30 May, in Bologna on 6 June and in Bari on 4 July.
Looking forward now, how will the cable and battery market evolve in your view?
The cable and battery markets are both already quite mature, so it is difficult to imagine any changes in the short term. As far as it concerns batteries, lithium or “LiFeP04” lithium-iron-phosphate technologies will substitute lead, eventually, but currently this technology is still not fully competitive on the market. In any case, ELAN is anticipating this transformation and is ready to serve and to go along with this change .
Regarding intrusion alarm cables, the rise of wireless technology will gradually reduce the need for such types of cable.
On the other hand, increasing market sensitivity to CPR regulations and international geopolitical situations will generate greater difficulty for Extra EU manufacturers to operate in the European market. As a result, we see much room for growth. That is why at ELAN, we constantly recognize and adapt to the market demands and requirements, pursuing our desire to expand our range of certified cables.
On top of this, the cables for fire safety systems represent a growing market. Considering the difficulties for Extra EU players already mentioned, we are optimistic about prospects for strengthening our market share even in this area.
Thanks to the experience and focus on innovation that distinguish our company, we are ready to look at the future with solid certainty and ever-new ambitions.
