Innovative ability, value for money, attention to design: the Italian security market is also highly praised abroad for some of its unique features. A story that often originates long ago, seeing some companies that began production in Italy in the early ‘70s later going on to become internationally recognised brands.

We spoke to some of the Italian companies due to exhibit at SICUREZZA 2021 as they told us about the elements of their production that enabled them to go global and become valued in foreign markets.

“Our company is one of the first Italian companies that, since the early ‘70s, has become established in the security sector, continuously investing in innovation.” — says Paolo Ricci, Managing Director of DAB SI — "Nowadays, ‘integrated approach’ is our keyword. By integration, we don’t just mean the ability to connect different types of systems and subsystems so they’re talking to each other, we mean a cultural – conceptual synergy that broadens the idea of physical Security, bringing different categories of adjacent worlds even closer: Safety, Facility and IT. We’re striving for a Global Security that puts customers at the centre, where their needs and demands are analysed and managed through an integrated approach that’s tied to physical Security, but also Cyber Security and Environmental Safety. Our work is constantly aiming to create a Security Culture, contributing to circulating basic skills for our customers’ industries and infrastructures. All of this is hugely appreciated by foreign buyers, both for its structural/organisational capacity and for the professionalism of the individual resources it’s composed of. Over the last few years, the company has, by choice, paid greater attention to the domestic market. We're expecting this pandemic to be over soon, and, when it is, we’ll all look outward again with confidence and drive!”.

Cardin Elettronica also began its journey almost 50 years ago. "Our company has been conceiving, designing and manufacturing its products in Italy since 1974. We use the latest technologies to achieve the essentials, to design efficient and effective products that comply with regulations and are highly regarded across Europe and the rest of the world for their quality and design.” — C.E.O. Cristiano Cardin states — "The product range is defined by its management and control systems (radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GSM-4G), security devices, access control and residential and industrial automation (for gates, doors and shutters, parking lot and road barriers). Our products and our Italian character are highly regarded, and not just in Italy, but in France and other countries like Germany, Holland, Belgium, Austria and Hungary too. We also operate in different parts of the world through our own subsidiaries and loyal distributors”. 

One of the defining features of Italian production is undoubtedly the focus on design, particularly when it comes to products which need to fit into a residential setting or a luxury build.

“Our products’ in-depth attention to aesthetics is the result of the insight and dedication of a company that has used functional design for very niche positioning, setting us apart from our competitors.” — Comelit Marketing Director, Bruno Pellegrini, tells us — "I emphasised the design’s functional aspect given that, even before consulting designers, Comelit’s marketing department focuses on the Customer's demands, identifying what matters to them and which issue the product is trying to resolve or improve. At that point, the aim is to respond to these needs with enabling technologies and design. Continuous and thorough research into materials, user ergonomics, style and elegance. I would go as far as to say that the attention we pay to design is internationally recognised and valued, as shown by Comelit’s numerous and highly prestigious international awards in the field of industrial design. To give you just one example, last year the Secur Hub radio control unit was awarded the highly prestigious honourable mention at Compasso d’Oro ADI, one of the most distinguished awards in the field of industrial design. Our company has deep roots in Italy: founded in 1956, high in the Seriana Valley, it later expanded to Bergamo where an R&D office was opened. This cradle of ideas gave way to the projects that now make up the vast majority of products in our range. This also enabled us to create links with the university world, because we want our young people to be able to pursue a suitable and stimulating career path without having to move abroad, impoverishing our Country. Obviously, our Italian character doesn’t stay in Italy: our products are exported to more than 80 countries worldwide. To keep in line with the various international regulatory frameworks, we work with very high quality standards. That and our high degree of technological development are our two strengths.

Even in vision applications that go far beyond the world of security, the combination of research, design and innovation are a plus, like Vincenzo Cetraro, Managing Director of Spark, tells us: “We produce video cameras and unique artificial vision systems. We’re an Italian company with headquarters in Reggio Emilia and, with our two sister companies - DPControl and Bridge 129 - we form part of TTM Technology, a group committed to creating made in Italy vision systems for security, smart city, retail and industrial applications. Our goal is to always provide the best solution for every project where technology can offer an added benefit. For us, Made in Italy means quality, creativity and, above all, something different. At Spark, everything is done in Italy. From hardware and software design to artificial intelligence development and final production, including assembling electronics in our SMT line and developing designs, which always have to be functional and elegant. We’re constantly looking for the best blend of all the components involved in creating products and solutions with unique features. We’re aware of how unique our project is, but we’re also very proud of the feedback we’ve received both in Italy and abroad”.