Fifth interview as part of the special dedicated to the national conference of AIMAT - Italian Association of Materials Engineering - event, held in Catania at the Hotel Plaza from May 28th to June 1st. The following is a transcript of a conversation with Enrico Pisino, CEO of the Competence Industry Manufacturing Center 4.0 (CIM4.0), one of the eight Italian competence centers based in Turin, supporting companies in industrial digitalization and technology transfer.
by NICOLA CATENARO
Enrico Pisino, with the Competence Industry Manufacturing Center 4.0, you support companies in industrial digitalization and technology transfer. What does this activity involve, and what results are you achieving?
«The CIM4.0 is one of the eight national competence centers, established by the Ministry of Economic Development, based in Turin. Comprised of the Polytechnic University of Turin, the University of Turin, and important industrial partners, it serves as the reference point for technology transfer, the dissemination of skills and specializations related to technologically advanced production cycles, and the training and culture of 4.0 companies. The mission of CIM4.0, through its two pilot lines, 'Digital Factory' and 'Additive Manufacturing,' is to support the technological maturity of innovative processes and products. We have also developed a new model of continuous training: thanks to the courses offered by the Learning Hub and CIM4.0 Academy, a high-level training program developed in collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino's School of Masters, it is possible to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to lead and manage the digital transformation of companies. The latest asset that characterizes our activities is the publication of calls for training and research projects, in which companies operating throughout the national territory can actively participate».
You have worked extensively in the automotive industry. Is the transition to electric vehicles the right direction?
«I would say that we are heading in the right direction when we develop 360-degree sustainable mobility solutions that are economically accessible to citizens, enabling the economic development of regions, and, above all, environmentally friendly, ensuring a healthy future for the planet. Therefore, solutions that guarantee the elimination of CO2 emissions and pollutants. Electric vehicles with batteries or fuel cells, as well as internal combustion engines using 'E-Fuels' or biofuels, allow for the development of sustainable mobility, so I would say we are going in the right direction. However, it is important to emphasize that much more needs to be done to achieve full sustainability. Today, battery-powered vehicles are not yet an affordable product, renewable energy is not sufficient to meet potential demand, production chains are not consolidated, and charging infrastructure is insufficient, especially in Italy. We have over ten years in Europe to prepare the infrastructure, optimize and innovate products, ensure the production of electricity from renewable sources, and develop the circular economy, which is essential for achieving full sustainability. In summary, we need to act at the speed of light, everyone in a 'proactive' and 'innovative' mode; the roadmap is clear».
Do you think composites could have a greater presence in the cars of the future?
«Certainly, the issue of lightweighting vehicles, from structures to finishes, which is particularly important in the development of battery-powered electric vehicles, will promote the approach of metal replacement and therefore favor the use of polymeric and composite materials. However, it will be crucial to ensure the use of manufacturing technologies for high production volumes and promote concepts of circular economy to achieve total product sustainability. The development and diffusion of new vehicle concepts (e.g., quadricycles) with less extreme structural requirements will also support this process and thus the use of composite materials».
Are innovation and sustainability an added value or a mandatory choice for companies?
«Sustainability, I would say, is a mandatory choice for businesses. There is no other option to operate in Europe and Italy. However, it can be seen as an opportunity given to our companies to close the competitiveness gap that we currently measure on average compared to the best in Europe. Innovation, as well as digitization, should be seen as the lever available to close the gap and accelerate the green transition towards full sustainability».
Do you see a truly green future for materials science and technology?
«More than ever, we need a deep and scientific approach to the use of materials in different industrial sectors, all driven by the technological transition toward economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability is not an option but a must, so I would say that the future for materials science and technology will undoubtedly be green».
WHO IS
Graduated in Engineering, Enrico Pisino has had a remarkably long career initially at Fiat, and subsequently at Chrysler and FCA. He has developed twenty years of technical and managerial experience, contributing to the digitalization of the product development process in FCA, now Stellantis. In the early 2000s he worked for Fiat in research programs and concept cars, and soon became Advanced Manufacturing and Materials director of the Fiat Research Center. In the product development field, he led the Interiors Department from 2008 to 2011, helping in redefining a global supply chain consistent with the Brands expansion.
From 2011 to 2019 he was Head of Research & Innovation, first at Chrysler in the USA, and after at FCA, covering the role of global head of the Innovation Plan. From 2016, Enrico Pisino was President of the National Transport Technology Cluster, and member of the Milan Polytechnic Foundation Scientific Committee. In the same year he started representing the Italian industry at the G7 of Transport in Karuizawa in Japan, up until 2021. Since 2019 he has been CEO of the Competence Industry Manufacturing Center 4.0 (CIM4.0). In 2023 he is appointed Chairman of the "World Class Manufacturing" Association.
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02 June 2023
