[Dreams do come true..The Campagnolo factory visit] When I heard that Campagnolo were finally opening their doors to a select few, after 80-odd years of absolute secrecy, I knew I just had to go. I have loved everything Campagnolo for such a long time and I have sold thousands of Campagnolo components since Comtat was launched 2009. I’m a Campagnolo end-user, a fan, and probably the only retailer who sells just Campagnolo components. So, when I got an invitation from the UK’s official Campagnolo dealer, Chicken Cycle kit, I felt like Charlie in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, when he finds the golden ticket. Chicken’s had decided to reward their loyal customers with a once in a lifetime opportunity. And so it was that after an early flight from a cold and dark Stansted Airport, twelve of us from the UK’s key dealers jumped on a coach from Trevsio to Vincenza. Vincenza is populated with huge industrial units, housing all types of industry so we pondered on how we’d know when we’d reached our destination. We needn’t have worried however, as upon turning a particular corner we found ourselves staring at a huge, blue, Campagnolo sign that spanned the length of the factory wall. The gates were high and closed up tight. It was clearly a high security operation. We were asked to stay on the coach until we had the go ahead to move into reception. From the outside the building looked dated and very industrial but the excitement and anticipation of being at Campagnolo HQ was high amongst our coach party. In reception we picked up our name badges and I immediately clocked 3 vintage bikes; from 3 decades. These three bikes had been the recipients of previous incarnations of electronic groupsets which didn’t make it to market. All of which had helped Campagnolo gain the knowledge for the EPS we know today. We were then introduced to our host the day, Massimo, who heads up European sales and marketing. He seemed very happy to see us and spent time talking us through the 3 bikes in reception and the reason why those versions of the electronic groupsets never made it to market. Massimo then took us to the conference room where we were greeted with welcome refreshments. However the refreshments were soon forgotten when we realised the room featured an EPS equipped, Campagnolo-branded, bike built with Boras - everyone just stared at it while Massimo is getting his presentation ready. The presentation took about an hour and I learnt a lot. For instance when Valentino took over from Tulio Campagnolo (the founder) some years ago now he had some difficult decisions to make. How could he maintain a competitive price but still keep the manufacturing in Europe? When all the other big players in Italy were moving production to Asia, Valentino realised that once you made that move you would lose the expertise forever and you would never be able to move it back. His answer was to develop and manufacture everything in Italy but to open 2 factories in Romania to handle the volume required. Next week sees the 10-year anniversary of the 1st Romanian factory being opened. Today, there are 2 factories in Italy, 2 in Romania and a logistics hub in Taiwan. I quickly ask why this is needed and the response is concise and clear, 2 entry level wheelsets are manufactured in Asia along with 2 entry level brake callipers. Massimo is keen to point out that there is close monitoring and testing of these items. I’m also told that any new product is not only developed at the Vincenza HQ but it is also manufactured there for at least the first 6 months before it’s moved to Romania. Ensuring the process is 100% efficient and the quality is the best that can possibly achieved. Some items are always made in Vincenza. We then start to discuss the challenges of the new 2015 range, and it was revealed that the new chainset had Valentino questioning the aesthetics himself and insisting the designers tone down the dramatic change from the previous versions. At this point Dino Cento enters, who is in charge of worldwide OEM but also an expert in each manufacturing process, as he’s been at Campagnolo for 26 years. Dino explains the benefits of the new chainset and why it looks like it does. A discussion ensues and it is finally agreed in the room that whilst it was a shock initially, the 2015 chainset is now considered a thing of beauty and something that grows on you. Lunchtime is called and we head to the staff canteen, we sit amongst hundreds of blue Campagnolo t-shirt wearing workers – which is all a little surreal. The food however was simple, but bloomin’ lovely. Next up was what we had all been waiting for, the factory visit. We were given headphones and receiver so that Dino could talk above the noise of the working factory. We enter the factory and are quickly told that no photographs are allowed as sensitive prototypes are being worked on. The first machine we arrive at I hear Dino starting to explain how it machines the bottom bracket cups, but to be honest I wasn’t paying attention as I was too busy looking around at the vastness of the whole factory and the size of some of the machines. It’s then that I notice a mould containing a carbon Bora TT crankset body, which re-affirms my belief that everything is made in–house. We move to another machine where an operative is taking huge blocks of steel that is being machined into moulds for the new Bora 35 clinchers, it is quite something to see and something I will never forget. I had always assumed that the rims were 3rd party rims and it was really nice to see that this wasn’t the case. We also witness some of the new Shamal Mille receiving a treatment to the rims, which enables better braking in wet conditions. I was keen to see this treatment move a little quicker as we have a long line of customers waiting on these wheels. The most impressive machine in the factory is a machine that weighs 2000 tons. It makes the titanium sprockets and features a huge piston moving up and down from the height of the ceiling of the factory. I.e. enormous, and something you would expect to see at a science museum, just on a bigger scale. As we move through the factory we see chains, sprockets, rims, cranksets, bottom bracket cups, carbon hubs, and chain-rings, all being manufactured right on front of our eyes. I’m like a kid in a candy store. We then move into the testing area, room after room within the factory floor with testing machines putting groupset components and wheels though their paces. We see EPS components submerged in water and mud, this is heavy duty testing. Dino and Massimo are keen to point out that Valentino is always pushing the testing department saying if a component satisfies double the testing standard, then let’s make it triple the standard. As we pass the logistics department I spot the team having a video-link meeting with a factory in Romania. I ponder that it’s good to know they’re utilising modern technology as well as keeping the old expertise alive. I start to think how many meetings go on, the logistics of launching the 2015 range and then fulfilling all the pre-orders in time must take some organising. When we finally move into the despatch area I’m dumbfounded. It reminds me of the warehouse at the end of the film Indiana Jones, endless rows of stacked boxes. In this case housing wheels and groupsets - all ready for despatch. I check out some of the destinations, Argentina, USA, Spain, and the UK. Everywhere basically. After our factory tour, we are all upbeat about what we saw and chatting away merrily. It was then that the man himself, Mr Campagnolo – Valentino, to his new found friends, walked in. We all felt so honoured that he’d take the time. But that is the sort of chap he is. He was incredibly humble and was genuinely pleased to see us. The first thing he wanted to know was whether we had any feedback or ideas on how Campagnolo could do better. A few of my colleagues suggested that a marketing focus on heritage could possibly attract younger riders to use Campagnolo. And he took this and all the other suggestions and comments on board. I thanked him for making the decision to keep manufacturing in Europe and he told a great story of when he visited Ferrari. He saw these very happy Italian ladies sewing leather by hand and he said it was at this point he knew he’d made the right decision about his business. He said he doubted that Toyota or any Japanese car makers hand stitched anything which I thought was a great analogy. I recalled all the happy workers we saw on the factory floor; years of expertise behind them and treated so well by Campagnolo that they stay for life. They are cyclists, they are artisans, they live for cycling and they love Campagnolo. And so do I, but now even more so after this amazing experience. Thanks Chicken Cycle Kit and thanks Campagnolo. Adam Roberts -Director, Comtat Cycling LTD.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 01:26:40 +0000
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