I’m writing this editorial just a few days after the terrorist attacks in Paris. As well as the concern and sadness for the victims of the attacks, as a businessman I can’t not think about how this escalation of violence is yet another in the long line of blows dealt to the economy. Fear will perhaps cause people to travel less and to consume less and as a consequence there might be fewer goods needing to be transported and fewer lorries in action, with the result of a reduction in requests for maintenance in the transport sector, leading to fewer sales of spare parts.
The economic recovery, much heralded by many, isn’t as rosy as the managerial class seems to be announcing. Potential for the future remains uncertain, also because Italian companies are still weighed down by an exaggeratedly high total tax rate, which puts the brakes on any kind of recovery.
It isn’t all bad, however. This year we have continued to consolidate the Italian market, managing to increase our market share, particularly thanks to greater competitiveness in the market for air springs following the opening of the Sabo Suspension System in Turkey. We shall be continuing with our internationalisation plan in 2016, establishing new countries such as Iran, where the embargo has recently been lifted, and developing countries in Africa.
Also next year we’ll be taking part in seven trade fairs including two for the first time (see the Sabo in the world article LINK). Our aim is to present ourselves ever more as an export-oriented company. This challenge can only be won if faced with an eye to change, or rather the evolution of the company towards new higher levels of organisation, expressed through new techniques for managing the skills of those who live the company and constantly updating the industrial processes adopted.