I’m Silvio Ellena, chairman of Ellena S.p.A., a Piedmont-based company with over 80 years’ experience in precision engineering, the assembly of mechanical and mechatronic units, and innovation through additive technologies. Our aim has always been to combine artisanal craftsmanship with modern engineering, creating reliable processes and products capable of meeting the market’s most rigorous standards.
Over the years, we have come to understand that true production efficiency does not stem from the use of a single high-performance device, but from an integrated ecosystem in which design, management and production interact seamlessly.
It’s in this spirit that we have introduced an advanced management system, capable of connecting with all key business functions, including:
- Automated warehouses and vending machines, for dynamic and intelligent stock management, reducing waste and ensuring immediate availability of materials
- CAM systems and SIMULATORS, to synchronise design with tool preparation, increasing consistency between the technical department and the production department
- Presetters and Tool Flow systems (intelligent tool management), which guarantee precise measurements, secure data transfer and full traceability of assemblies
- Machine tools that automatically receive, via Wi-Fi, up-to-date data on tools, machine set-up sheets, drawings, part programmes and self-inspection plans, thereby avoiding manual intervention and potential errors, and send real-time production reports back to the MES.
This integration now allows us to have a complete, organised and controlled view of every stage of the process: from design to the finished part. The result is a smoother, safer production process focused on consistent quality.
A strategic partnership: Ellena S.p.A. and Elbo Controlli NIKKEN
The partnership with Elbo Controlli NIKKEN has proved to be a cornerstone of this evolution. Their solutions have brought a high level of precision, reliability and safety to every key stage, transforming tool management into a genuine strategic strength.
What are the main benefits this integration has enabled us to achieve?
1. Fast, safe and repeatable set-up: the integration between TP32 – presetter – machine tools allows assemblies to be prepared in advance and tool data to be transferred automatically, eliminating manual errors, speeding up set-up phases and ensuring process repeatability, even in complex production runs
2. Superior precision and advanced quality control: every tool is measured, verified and monitored in real time. This allows us to drastically reduce scrap, limit micro-variations caused by wear and tear, and produce parts that meet the highest standards, with quality control based on data rather than just final inspection
3. Complete digital traceability and smart maintenance: thanks to the integration between TP32 and Tool Flow, every tool is identified, tracked and documented throughout its entire lifecycle. A crucial advantage for adopting predictive maintenance strategies, meeting audit requirements and fully aligning with the principles of Industry 4.0
4. Total synchronisation between design and production: the direct link with the CAM allows us to prepare tools as early as the design phase and verify their correctness using the 3D SIMULATOR, avoiding inaccuracies and reducing validation times. This makes the transition from the design office to the production department faster, more consistent and more transparent
5. Increased productivity and reduced machine downtime: full integration minimises inefficiencies, prevents interruptions caused by tooling errors, reduces set-up times and enables superior operational continuity. The result is higher and more stable productivity, with fewer unforeseen issues
6. Consistent quality and added value for customers: more stable and controlled processes translate into reduced lead times, consistently high quality, and greater competitiveness. For our customers, this means reliability, guaranteed lead times and products that fully meet their expectations.
A look to the future
The partnership with Elbo Controlli NIKKEN has transformed tool management from a simple operational support function into a true strategic asset, capable of generating value throughout the supply chain. For Ellena S.p.A., this represents a decisive step towards an even more digital, integrated and quality-oriented future, where machine, tool and data work together in perfect synergy.
