Andrea Bernardini: “Our strengths? Innovation capacity and family management”
The Commercial Director of Technoilogy speaks to TgcomLab about the company’s leadership in the supply of plants for vegetable oil Extraction and Refining and Animal Fat Processing.
Over 65 years of history, experience and excellence. These are the winning ingredients of TECHNOILOGY, world leader in the supply of plants for vegetable oil Extraction and Refining, Animal Fat processing and Biofuel Production (www.technoilogy.it).
Andrea Bernardini, grandson of the founder Ernesto, grew up in this context and then became part of it. Today he is the Commercial Director of the company.
TgcomLab asked him to speak about the company, the sector, the consequences of the pandemic and what it means to be a manager at 33 years old.
How and when was Technoilogy born?
TECHNOILOGY was founded in 1950 by my grandfather Ernesto Bernardini, a very talented engineer who pioneered the Oil and Fat Processing sector. The textbooks he wrote in the 1970s became a landmark of the engineering sector and are still used by many universities and international companies.
In a few years, first under his leadership and then under my father’s leadership, our company established itself as a world leader in the supply of plants for vegetable Oil Extraction and Refining and Animal Fat Processing. At the beginning of 2000s we were the first company to enter the field of Biodiesel Production from UCO and low quality fats and to develop cutting-edge technologies for environmental sustainability in this field. Today we are recognized as a leading company in the Treatment of waste materials for the production of Biofuels for low-pollution means of transport.
How did you come to fill the current position?
My training started very early. At 17, I had already accomplished my first summer internship on a Palm Oil Refining and Biodiesel Production plant in Colombia. I spent my university period jumping from manuals to business trips abroad. My father projected me into the world of work right from the start – as my grandfather did with him – and this allowed me to learn the basics of the business and to acquire a mental openness which became a crucial element in my role as Commercial Director. At 21 I had already seen much of the world, I spoke 3 languages and I had met clients who still work with us. Today I am 33 years old and it’s 6 years I’m working in this position but I had to get there, this is not an area where you can improvise.
What is the strength of your company?
First of all, our innovation capacity. It is necessary to track market trends, to be open to changes, and to get there before others do. I would also like to add – even if it might sound an unusual statement in a globalized world like ours – that another of our strengths is certainly family management. Everybody knows that the Italian industry is mostly made up of small and medium-sized enterprises that have reached incredible levels of excellence. Just think about “Made in Italy”… it is considered an international trademark everywhere in the world.
Multinationals often prefer to rely on us not only because we are a technologically advanced company but also for our functional and efficient way of working. Our team is very close-knit and comprises international professionals of different ages and skills covering all geographical areas.
What is the most important skill of a Manager?
You need to have different skills: in-depth knowledge of the sector, ability to communicate in different languages and establish a feeling with the customer, quick thinking, ability to be a team leader. The list is quite long. However, many people are highly skilled so you need something more. You need to know how to make the difference, to understand where the market goes and always be a step ahead of others. Going back to what I said before, you need to innovate, especially in highly competitive sectors. There are skills that no one teaches you, such as intuition and creativity. And let’s say a good dose of optimism too.
What advice would you give to those who want to build a career in your sector?
First of all, you have to study in depth what you sell and be up to date on the new technologies that the market makes available. This is the only way to be a competent Commercial Director. Although it could sound trivial, you need to know what you are saying.
TECHNOILOGY is a company that works in all the countries of the world and therefore it has to deal with very different needs, even when it comes to the same type of plant. There are environmental, economic, cultural factors that can be very conditioning and therefore it is necessary to have a deep knowledge of the subject. Engineering applied to the vegetable oil industry is a niche sector but very complex and competitive, we cannot afford to make mistakes.
You also have to love your job, because being a Sales Director is an extremely demanding job, which requires total commitment.
How has the pandemic changed the industry?
I would say that it gave a big shake to the industry. The pandemic is not a localized phenomenon, it involves all the countries of the world, even the most industrialized ones, and the consequences are not yet clear. Speaking of us, we did pretty well because we work with commodities such as oils and derivatives. The oil industry cannot stop but a kind of slowdown is endemic to the pandemic phenomenon. What has changed is certainly our way of working because with the travel restrictions imposed by COVID-19, the relationship with customers has become virtual and, like many, we have to rely on online platforms for all those activities and meetings that used to take place in person.
Looking to the future, what will be the main challenge for you?
I believe that the main challenge will be to diversify the activities and position ourselves on new market segments. We have already started doing this, but we will continue. We aim at expanding as much as possible, since the beginning of the year we have already opened new sales offices in India and Malaysia. I like to look to the future with optimism… and I love challenges.
How do you keep up to date?
Mainly through the web. I don’t know what I would do without the web as I am always on the go.
How do you spend your spare time?
The word “spare time” makes me smile because I have very little of it. I have a 2-year-old daughter and therefore I spend the little time I have with her.
Can you tell us a memory linked to the company?
The best memories are related to trips with my father. His closeness allowed me to build my career and if I got to where I am it is only thanks to him, to Mario Bernardini, a tireless man whose name is now a point of reference for the whole Oils & fats sector. That’s why I would like to end this interview with a special thanks to my father.