There can’t be much that the Galante family doesn’t know about timber.
In 1964, Alessandro Galante, together with his sons Carmelo and Narciso, established a new business in Condino, northern Italy.
He wasn’t exactly new to the work. The spectacular Southern Alps region had no doubt played a part in stirring the passions of Alessandro’s father and grandfather, both woodworkers – a family heritage stretching back to the 19th century.
The family sawmill is now in the hands of cousins Catia, Elisabetta, Luca and Stella, descendants of the founder, and the team responsible for the business’ future.
“The challenge is to continue investing in quality as our fathers and grandfather have always taught us,” said Catia. “The quality in the production processes and in the choice of raw material is the real added value.”
Ties to the area then are deep rooted, but it hasn’t always been an easy road. Decades of steady growth, as well as the occasional setback, followed. In 1993, a fire caused by a malfunctioning machine destroyed half of the plant.
The company had just been restructured and the damage was enormous. Rebuilding from scratch, it was back up and running within months, and without laying off any workers.
“We are a traditional business but change is important,” said Luca. “In 2013, to expand the offer and be more competitive, we started the production of lamellas for doors and windows. We had to open up to markets, differentiate ourselves and make better use of the most valuable part of the timber. It was an important economic commitment at a difficult time for the economy. Consequently, we are committed to training the personnel and to recruiting them.”
If any company is well placed then to handle the post-Covid challenges, Galante Fratelli is one. Investment is continuing, with the latest acquisition being a 120v electric ELX sideloader from Baumann.
The model is the most compact of its kind ever produced, measuring less than 4m in length and 750mm in deck height. The compact sized model was chosen to maximise the available storage space (the site is 24,000m2) and also to work in those areas that require the flexibility of the small turning radius.
As raw material from company forests in Trentino Alto Adige is used for the production of glued laminated timber, it is stored in narrow runs, whilst larch and fir are also sourced from “the best forests of Austria and Scandinavia”.
“The ELX is a model we are very proud of,” said Baumann’s Italy sales manager, Andrea Zuliani.
“The reduced overall length and improved turning circle have been achieved without sacrificing the mast or well width, clearance and low bed height, whilst the combination of 120 volt power supply and 2.5 tonnes weight reduction is expected to increase battery performance by up to 30%.”
With Luca being hands on in the business, he’s well aware of the machine’s capabilities.
“As you might expect for the location, our yard is uneven in places,” he said. “The Baumann keeps the load level even when we are on an incline, which is great for our productivity and peace of mind.”
Designed and built from the ground up, the ELX followed two years of painstaking research and development, and features a completely new chassis, battery and power train configuration.
The operator cabin was also designed from scratch, maintaining the company’s reputation for comfort and uncluttered operability, all within a reduced footprint.
“The war against weight was won,” said Baumann technical director, Riccardo Bove. “By looking at every component, every system and every material, three tonnes was saved – a huge amount for a small machine. It allowed us to add weight back in to improve weight distribution and operability.”
With less power needed to achieve high levels of performance, running time between charges has been extended. A specially designed intelligent system developed in conjunction with Midac can be paired with a charger system to re-energise in mid-shift without damaging the cells and a battery change option.
“The size, battery integration and cabin were all big challenges,” added Mr Bove, but the overall results add up to a truck that is much more than the sum of its parts.”
For Galante, the result is a productive machine that allows the business to efficiently move forwards.
“It’s a fairly large site, with a lot to fit in the available space,” said Mr Zuliani.
“There’s no danger of overheating or tyres delaminating. It has the quality associated with Baumann and if we can play a small part in the business being a success for another 50 years, we will be proud to be part of the family.”
