“The socio-economic impact of this pandemic on a global scale is significant and it is likely to have a knock-on effect similar to that of the crisis in 2008 or even beyond. Nevertheless, SCM is facing this situation with confidence and the awareness that the company can build on some strengths, perhaps more than at the time: the financial solidity of the Group; the competitive positioning of our products, which meet all the requirements of the woodworking industry; the strong customer focus, innovation and customer service with digital services, with which we are a reliable partner with all-round solutions for companies in the industry, even during this period and via remote support; the professional expertise in each country in which we operate, in which we continue to invest with our locations and for which we are expanding the range of online courses; and last but not least, the attention and constant presence of our shareholders.

In terms of sales, the distribution of the export quota across several strategic markets, which currently stands at over 90%, is proving to be another positive element, as some countries and sectors are already recovering.

SCM has responded quickly to the current health emergency with responsibility and foresight. The Group immediately set up its own steering committee. This committee is monitoring the continuous development of the pandemic and is to implement strategies to cope with it. All this serves a dual purpose: to ensure that all security measures in accordance with ministerial guidelines are complied with at the sites and production centers, and at the same time to continue and further develop all remote support and customer service offerings for customers, the sales network and the branches worldwide.

SCM transforms the need to maintain relationships into a digital strategy that allows us to maintain remote relationships between us with no limits on space and time. There are no longer limitations, but opportunities. Our team continues to work in the form of “smart working” to provide remote support to customers and distributors. We have intensified our collaboration with companies at all levels, including tradesmen, and offer meetings, conference calls, practical demonstrations and online courses on our technologies. With the “Maestro connect” platform, we offer immediate access to a wide range of services, so that companies in the woodworking sector can be supported and assisted by the SCM team, even in “virtual” mode, and all customer service and maintenance activities can be optimised. With the “Smartech” augmented reality support service, which integrates video, camera, microphone and speaker functions with wireless connectivity, our experts can diagnose and solve problems in real time using portable computers and special control software. This enables two-way communication with interactive data sharing without the need for the operator to use hands. In addition, through our “e-Campus” platform, we have further expanded our extensive program of online courses, video tutorials and webinars with qualified experts on the latest trends and topics of interest to the woodworking industry. And dealers and sales staff are taking up this offer with great enthusiasm.

As far as the supply chain is concerned, the current situation that the world is facing shows that the SCM supply chain is one of the great strengths. This strength is illustrated by the extremely high vertical range of manufacture and, above all, the local production of many components such as the machine stands, castings, electrospindles, switch cabinets in companies belonging to the SCM Group. These structures enable us to actively serve our customers even in times like these when we are confronted with the new situation with China and the rest of the world. This will also be our strength when all activities are resumed and the market picks up again.

We should see this crisis situation as an accelerator for change. We are facing a challenge that we have never experienced before. And that is why our ability to react appropriately and decide on the measures for the future will be crucial. We should take this time to rethink the way we work, to optimize our production environments to make them safer, healthier and more comfortable, and to transform and improve our processes to make them more sustainable and efficient. Many companies in our industry are now investing even more in research and development, technological innovation and “human capital”: the factors that will make the biggest difference when we get back on track. Many client companies have stopped production, but not their creativity. They are using this time to explore and implement new production strategies, new business opportunities, new ways of working smart and communicating with customers and suppliers that they might not have considered before.

The SCM company continues to invest heavily in technology, know-how, skills and innovation to support customers in these projects with the “Smart&Human Factory”. Behind the “Smart&Human Factory” lies the vision of a digital factory with state-of-the-art automation systems, accessible to all, based on a human approach and, above all, good customer relations with all-round support from a single source”.