Tratos Cavi was born 40 years ago from the dreams and aspirations of the engineer Egidio Capaccini who, upon his return from Argentina, decided to build a factory for the drawing of copper wire. The name “Tratos” is formed directly from this (Trafilerie Toscane). Over the years that followed the company grew and flourished until the death of it’s founder. At this point the young Engineer Albano Bragagni took up the reins to guide the company forward.
He made exceptional progress and is to this day the president of the company which has, under his guidance, grown to the point where today it has over 300 employees and a turnover well in excess of 100 million Euros (with a turnover in 2006 of 86 million).
We asked President Bragagni how he made the progress he has over the last four decades?
AB: “In steady, progressive steps, Tratos began to appear in almost all areas of the world cable market. We began with simpler easier designs, gradually developing towards the most complex and technically demanding. Now we’re distinguished as a company with one of the broadest ranges of products, operating in a number of high-tech fields”
“Today the Tratos group includes “Tratos Cavi Spa” the administrative and production headquarters located in Pieve S. Stefano in the province of Arezzo, which has a production plant of over 15,000 square meters. Located nearby are “Tratos H.V.” and “Tramet” (5,000 m²). Then there’s another factory in Catania (12,300 m²) and finally, the British arm, Tratos Ltd. Based in Chesterfield and Knowsley for production and distribution to the UK market.”
TT: One of the key areas of application for your products are port areas and terminals, what are your relations with the big players in the shipping and transport industry?
AB: “Tratos are present in almost all sectors, and nowhere is this more true than with off-shore and port based operations. We supply the largest manufacturers of lifting and handling equipment, our customers are mostly large, industry and port related groups including China’s ZPMC, Hyundai, Doosan in Korea, and Konecranes and Fantuzzi Reggiane noelle in Europe. Our most recent significant supplies are destined for the ports of developing countries, particularly in Asia, which are in the grip of their own industrial revolution. Currently we are supplying the ports of Dalian (China), the port of Qinghuangdao (China),and the port of Damietta (Egypt) to name a few. Putting it simply, of the worlds 100 largest ports, 74 are already using cables from Tratos. Including Thamesport (UK), the port of Rotterdam (Netherlands), the port of Busan (Korea) etc.”
TT: Your company has a history of investment in new technology, have you any plans for growth in the near future? And what are the next major projects for Tratos?
AB:“In this sector, it’s only with continued investment and the constant updating and improvement of products that we can continue to progress as we have. In the last three years Tratos has invested 10 million Euros, 5 of which just in the last 12 months for the construction of a new plant, 6,000 m² in size which has equipment for sheathing armoured cables and, most importantly, a vulcanisation line to allow production of High Voltage cables.”
TT: What new developments have you seen with regard to supplying ports?
AB: “With ports, we are competing in a truly global marketplace, in which we are constantly called upon to devise new solutions to support our clients and meet their needs. The hectic pace of work in terminals, where time is always at a premium, subjects cables to stresses far beyond normal applications, increasing the risk of problems which could potentially halt a crane. Our challenge has been to maintain levels of quality and competitiveness while responding to market needs by providing innovative products which can handle the demands of modern ports and cranes.To achieve this, we apply the experience of two experts in the art of cables, Alfredo Gobi and Silvano Notti, each with over twenty years of cable making experience. From our wealth of expertise and technology we have created TRATOSFLEX 3ES, Innovated, developed and produced in order to meet the demands of modern operation.
