FAQ 3 – What’s the difference between thermoplastic and thermoset material?

Eric Pallante, Thermoplastic Moulding Dept. Manager, tells us about 20 years in NTS and his life rich in meaningful events. The childhood in France, passion for sport and music, constancy in dedicating to his job with a method aimed to continuous improvement.

INTERVIEW TO ERIC PALLANTE

When and how did you join NTS?
I joined NTS in 2001 but I have been working in the branch of plastic material molding for forty years. I have always liked this field and it has never been a burden to me to wake up early in the morning or come back home late in the evening. Often, especially in the past, I used to work on Saturdays and Sundays as well, since I have always been motivated by passion towards my job.

What do you take care of today?
I am the technical and organisational manager of the thermoplastic molding department.
I coordinate about 15 people: I always try to establish a relationship based on dialogue and respect with my team. I believe that, in particular, it is correct to work together to create a functional and efficient working method, where everyone has to feel protagonist for a continuous improvement. It is necessary to celebrate working successes and improve one’s critical areas: this is the only way to empower the individual and the team as well.

They say you are a perfectionist. Do you confirm it?
I believe it is fundamental to have a precise working methodology. When you are logical, organized and prepared, results appear in no time. Someone thinks I am too meticulous and I admit that the years have reinforced my perfectionist nature but making an excellent work is, most of all, a personal challenge to me. Every day I ask myself: “Will I be able tomorrow to do better than I did today?”
In a few years I will retire and I decided to include my experience in a “manual” about molding (in particular about setups), that I’ll leave to NTS as concrete sign of professional continuity.
I wish to avoid difficulties to who will take my place, because I believe that the company’s benefit  must be put before everything.

What do you like in NTS?
The collaborative atmosphere, the freedom to do one’s best, the pleasure to work in a family where also those belonging to the top management “dirty their hands” with the people in the production department. Many of us really care about the company well-being and take care of it.

How is the company climate in NTS?
In these years I have established solid professional relationship, in addition to sincere friendship.
Even though I am 56 years old, I have still have fun like a little boy when I play football with my friends-colleagues and we end up, at the end of the evening, to eat a pizza together. Simple things are those that make us feel satisfied.

Do you love football?
A lot. I did everything: the player in all roles, the referee, the coach till the I became president of Society Calcetto Canonica d’Adda. This sport is also linked to a great regret: when I was 14 I used to play in D series as goalkeeper, I was also quite good at it. But I needed to work and nobody has ever pushed me to follow this passion that could have also become a job.

Do you like to travel in your free time?
I keep France in my heart.
My mother comes from lake Endine and my father has Abruzzese origins, they got married and left Italy in the post-war period, when France required labour force from Italy.
I was born in a beautiful place, Mont Saint Martin, same as my brother Marc.
I was six years old when my parents decided to come back to Italy, a choice that I did not accept very well: I loved France and love it still. As soon as I can, I go to visit it, I have also kept the dual nationality, as proof of my loyalty.

What did that experience teach you?
In France I used to live in a ghetto with people from Senegal, Tunisia, Italy. I grew up among the others and I have always integrated myself. To tell the truth, I have never felt differences. The bad thing has been when I came back to Italy and experienced racism on my skin: I was discriminated for my accent, for my clothes, even for my name that was considered too exotic. Since then, I have decided that I would have never been racist and that I would have taught my children that diversity is always an enrichment.

Is there another passion, apart from football?
Music. I manage a 80s music band and play some instruments by ear. Nobody has ever taught me, yet I get by quite good. Music is a universal language and it transmits energy and positivity, that’s why I like it so much.

NTS S.p.A. confirms its commitment to consolidate the relationship between school and company by participating to the JobFestival, an event organized by Confindustria Bergamo in collaboration with schools, companies and institutions to promote the meeting between students and local companies.
An opportunity to meet young talents to introduce our industrial reality by providing them with a focused and complete overview of the work market, professional opportunities, internships and school/work alternation.

Here are the steps you shouldn’t miss:

FIRST STEP: May 27th – ITIS Pietro Paleocapa – Bergamo;

SECOND STEP: June 5th – IISS Ettore Majorana – Seriate;

THIRD STEPE: June 6th – IIS Guglielmo Marconi – Dalmine.

Last Saturday we have been pleased to celebrate 60 years of history.

A unique and touching event where, in presence of the whole NTS team, different voices alternated to narrate our company, a reality boasting a solid past and, at the same time, an exciting future.

“I am very excited today, this is an important goal we achieved thanks to the determination and the desire to succeed, despite everything. We have to give NTS a piece of eternity and this will be possible only in as much as we are able to make the company more and more solid, autonomous and performing” –began a moved Marinella Manzoni, NTS President.

Fabio Daminelli, NTS Operations Manager, also intervened during the morning and recalled many fundamental milestones of the company, such as the opening of the plant in Romania. “I monthly  meet our Romanian colleagues and always feel impressed by the enrichment of our meetings. Distance does not matter if we are supported by the same values and the same vision”.

Also Prof. Lucio Cassia, full professor and president of the Research Center for Young and Family – University of Bergamo, reiterated how familiar companies are still the cornerstone of Italian economy: “Companies like NTS remind us of the importance of the family and of the key values that animate every big company: resilience and determination”.

At the end of the morning, the gloss by Marco Manzoni, NTS executive Vice-President: “Today we have recalled our past, rich in endless teachings. I believe that, in particular, it is important to enhance an essential aspect: we are strong and able to face personal and professional hard times. All this owing to two great features that are innate in our DNA:  flexibility – typical of the plastic material we work with – and the deep union of purposes that has always been feeding our team”.

During the morning we shew this celebrative video:

Mauro Cattaneo works in the Mould Workshop at NTS.
In NTS for more than thirty years, he has recently surprised all the colleagues with a great gesture.

INTERVIEW TO MAURO CATTANEO

Mauro, which initiative have you promoted?
To celebrate my thirty years in the company, I made about a hundred party favors with white and green sugar candies, which is in coincidence also NTS corporate green.
Then I personally gave the party favors to the Management and my work-mates.
I believe that these anniversaries deserve to be celebrated, as they remind us of the values that really matter, the ones that make us wake up every morning with a strong motivation.

Tell us, what values matter to you?
Continuity, perseverance, union and will to learn every day something new.
Working for many years in NTS taught me that being a united team allows you to improve yourself both personally and professionally.

In which sector do you express your working energy?
I deal with mould maintenance service, sometimes it is also known as “moulds first aid”.
NTS peculiarity is having an own workshop that takes care of construction and maintenance of its customers’ moulds. This helps productive continuity, for this reason it is a highly appreciated service.
During these years we equipped ourselves with efficient organization and machineries that help us to always keep our customers’ moulds in perfect conditions: we plan ordinary and preventive maintenance for them. When needed, we intervene immediately, in case of unforeseen events that require a prompt action to reduce waiting times caused by a break.

What do you remember about these thirty years in NTS?
It does not seem that so many years have passed.
I remember the founder of NTS, Gianrenzo, and his brother-in-law Bruno, tireless workers.
There were no Saturdays nor Sundays, they were always here and brought here their children as well, to make them breath the company atmosphere.
When I joined NTS I was 23 years old, my first working experiences had been in the wood sector and I knew very little about plastic. But, leading the company, there were people of great depth we could count on: their constant presence and their hard work contaminated and trained us all.
That same energy has been transmitted to the new Manzoni generation as well.

How important is the human relationship between management and employees?
It is essential. How many times I got together with Gianrenzo in the workshop.
On Saturdays, after work, it was not uncommon to meet up with him and other colleagues for a simple aperitif with bread and salami. I keep a beautiful memory of those moments.
I believe that moments of conviviality and exchange are really important to be aligned with each other, to create team and share the company goals.
When you are fond of your job, week-end sometimes does not exist, there are no obstacles to improvement.
Everything is fluid, simple and even in hard times you work in a constructive way.

Which features help you the most in your job?
I like feeling useful, especially in circumstances where you must act promptly, maybe because a machinery has stopped and it is necessary to intervene quickly. Concentration and problem solving are often required in my job.

What do you do, when you are not at work?
I have been a CSI soccer referee for twenty years.
Players often remember me for my fussiness in applying the game rules and I believe that, in the end, fairness is always appreciated.
I have always tried to set a good example, even with my colleagues at work, because I believe that observing the rules is one of the first teachings to transfer, especially to young people. I often notice that young people find it difficult to recognize the authority and I do my best to make them understand that respecting the roles is important, when you are in a social context.
It is a concept on which I am very focused because I find it useful in all the fields of our lives, even at work.

Today we interviewed Gianluigi Benedetti, manager of NTS Technical Mold Design Department.
Here since 1986, he tells us about his passion for work and music.

INTERVIEW TO GIANLUIGI BENEDETTI

Which business evolution have you witnessed in thirty years of activity?
I’d say to an epochal evolution. We went from the drafting machine to 3D design but, what’s even more important, is that we turned from a craft company into an international and structured reality.
I think that the most surprising aspect in the history of NTS is for sure its pioneering attitude, the constant wish to get involved and to keep growing during the years.
Personally speaking, I am a man who constantly looks for new professional challenges and without them, I think I wouldn’t have remained here for such a long time.  NTS is always able to challenge and surprise me.

Is it important to adapt to change?
Change is a part of life. The market inputs, for example, are fundamental to make us understand how to retain long-standing customers and find new ones. If we were always the same we would not have any competitive advantage to spend: innovation is deeply rooted in NTS’ DNA.

In your opinion, what’s the strength of Technical Department?
All our designers have spent an initial period in the mold workshop.
This means that before being able to “design” they are able “to do”,  I’d say this is hardly a small thing. An approach which is always rather pragmatic together with the gained field experience allow us to make the difference – especially in all those situations – and it happens most of the times –that are out of the standard since their beginning.

How does your staff react to the entrance of a new resource?
We do our best to be welcoming and kind. What we search for in new hired staff is enthusiasm, proactivity, ability to get involved. There is a great team spirit among colleagues, we work side to side and believe that confrontation always generates good ideas.

NTS strongly believes in training of human resources. Is it a useful approach to business?
I think that the multilevel training paths we undertook up to now have been a great motivation for the improvement of every one of us.
I became aware of many aspects, but one of them has a special importance to me: the ability to listen. Understanding different points of view, adapting the approach to the interlocutor, making confrontations to reach a common goal are all skills that confer added value to a company. They donate efficiency and, especially, offer the staff the wish to constantly improve.

What makes you happy about your job?
Feeling that my team is appreciated.
Recently, after the presentation of a project for an international company of the electromechanical branch, my interlocutor said: “When I deal with other companies, I always have to tell what they have to do. You are able to anticipate my expectations and my requirements”.
When a customer has such a trust towards us I feel satisfied and I am sure I can offer him the very best.

Do friendships also arise at work?
Yes, they do. Sometimes I go out for a pizza with some colleagues and their families: we often end up talking about work and spouses punctually poke us with sentences like “But do you only talk about NTS?”.

What is your big passion, outside work?
Music and, in particular, piano.
I have been attending the Conservatory in Bergamo for eight years and till a few years ago I played the pipe organ for two chorus in the Church. I love classic sacred music, because I adore the dimension of extreme sensitivity in which it leads me every time I listen to it.
Last year I spent three hours in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Montmartre to listen to a greatly talented organist. I closed my eyes and felt pervaded by unique emotions; I will never forget that experience.

Vittorio Subacchi has been working in NTS since 1991.
After a long period in the Industrialization Department, he is now the technical manager of the mold maintenance area. We asked him to tell us about his story, as it concerns his job and his life.

INTERVIEW TO VITTORIO SUBACCHI
How did your adventure in NTS begin?
I used to work in the branch of metal carpentry.
I have always paid attention to technology and innovation and started to feel fascinated by the world of plastic. Then, when I got to know Gianrenzo Manzoni – the founder of today’s NTS –editor’s note – I had no doubts about the direction of my future.
I have had the pleasure to work at his side for many years and I remember him as a very illuminated man. He often became upset and said: “If only I could turn all the technology I have in my mind into reality, I would be a happy man!”. He was a tireless innovator and was able to transfer his enthusiasm to other people; moreover, he had a deep respect towards his neighbor, a quality which is now more and more uncommon.

Is it important to work in a contest of reciprocal trust?
For the way I am, I’d say it is essential. I have now the pleasure to work in close contact with Gianrenzo’s sister, Marinella, and I am very glad because I have been able to establish a good relationship based on esteem and mutual trust even with her.
When Gianrenzo died twenty years ago, it has not been easy to keep all the customers but the Manzoni family managed to team up and give continuity to all previous activities, working with strength and determination. I always like to remind my colleagues that the Manzoni family created a company, not thanks to strokes of luck, but with sacrifice, commitment, effort and humility.

How important is it to keep a historical memory in a company willing to project itself into the future?
It is essential, otherwise we risk losing the values on which we are building our future.
I personally thank Rosanna, Gianrenzo’s second sister, and his husband Bruno who have always worked a lot in the company, same as per Marisa, who is Gianrenzo’s wife, that still gives her precious contribution to the company. We owe a lot to all of them.

Is there a feature of your character which helps you with your job?
I like to get on well with all my colleagues. I believe that kindness is an important value: it is normal to have some disagreement or not to share the same opinion, but you have to learn to harmonize the different points of view. I always tend to take the first step when I realize that there is a bit of resistance towards dialogue on the other side, maybe right after a confrontation of different ideas. A great aspect of NTS is being a lively and sparkling reality, where everyone can contribute to the company wellbeing.

What do you think about the new generations which are now coming forward in NTS?
I have a really positive opinion. I believe that in the last few years NTS got enriched by the presence of highly talented people: each one with different features, but every one of them with laudable commitment and motivation.
Specialization is a theme that will make the difference in the incoming year, same thing will be for the generational switch. The old generation transfers a knowledge based on experience and historicity, while young people bring study, novelties, energy: when these two worlds meet each other, the company cohesiveness is granted.

What is the proper attitude to start a new project?
First of all it is necessary to understand that at work you can’t behave as if you were at school.
Nobody teaches, nobody is the top of the class: everyone must roll up his sleeves for a common goal since everybody must give his contribution. It is often necessary to keep a certain objectiveness while taking decisions that must be determined by the only parameter that matters: doing what is best for the company.

Where do you see NTS in ten years?
In the future, I see a company able to keep its name and strength.
NTS will increasingly become a hub of great innovation and attractiveness for new international talents. The investment on skilled people, distinctive factor in NTS, is our greater strength.

What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to keep myself updated as it concerns my job and technology, in general.
I also play many sports and try to dedicate my time to my family: I have a lot of nieces and nephews and my biggest satisfaction is spending some precious time with them to watch them grow.

NTS confirms and reinforces its commitment in Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) by generating its first Sustainability Report referred to yr 2017 according to ONU Global Compact requirements.
Business continuity and sustainability are the core of a commitment which goes beyond promises and proves to be an everyday reality.
NTS’ path proceeds in its strategical evolution towards the empowerment of human resources and the enhancement of their soft skills. In particular, the subjects examined in 2017 have been:

• Safety, Ergonomics and Well – being at work (WHP project)
• Continuous staff training

The attention to these aspects allowed the company to empower qualities such as professionalism and know-how in its team, features that have always been the most appreciated in NTS.
To confirm the strategical direction aimed at “making the difference” with innovative “beyond moulding” services, NTS announced the change of name and logo, with the intent of creating an even more decisive positioning in the thermosetting and thermoplastic market of technical industrial products. The perspective is also building an effective sectoral and geogrphical diversification.
In this branch, we have planned actions of crossmedial communication, with the awareness that an even stronger brand identidy can generate attractiveness of skills and a stronger sense of belonging inside a team wich is already very compact.

Are you curious to find out more?

Read the enclosed Social Responsibility Report of year 2017.