PLASTORGOMMA: from the marketing of technical materials for the ceramic industry to the personalized supply of articles and semi-finished products
2019
THE CHALLENGE
After celebrating 50 years of activity in 2019, PlastorGomma, based in Fiorano Modenese, is recognized as one of the historic companies in the Sassuolo ceramic district (MO).
Until 2015, the company’s main activity focused on the marketing of technical products for the ceramic industry. These included industrial transmissions, automation components, spare parts for the industrial piping sector, plastics, technical sheets, and a wide range of industrial materials and solutions for every need.
However, as the market began demanding increasingly personalized and semi-finished products, PlastorGomma decided to evolve. To meet this new demand, the company built a modern production plant dedicated to customized parts, even in small batches.
The investment, completed in 2019, led to the construction of a new 2,300-square-meter production area equipped with next-generation machinery and advanced production systems. Moreover, PlastorGomma took advantage of the Italian Industry 4.0 incentives, integrating digital systems that enable real-time planning, scheduling, and monitoring of production progress.
THE SOLUTION
To achieve this transformation, the company implemented RETUNER technology, which interconnected both new and existing machines. As a result, even equipment not originally designed for Industry 4.0 — including models from foreign manufacturers — became compatible with digital integration.
The SMARTEdge4.0 electronic component plays a key role. It simultaneously processes and integrates machine data from PLCs using various industrial protocols, analog and digital signals from control panels or sensors, and digital interfaces such as OPC-UA and MTConnect. In addition, it can handle multi-format or database files, transforming raw data into ready-to-use information.
This information is then transmitted — either wired or wirelessly — through the factory network to the company server. There, the RETUNER SMARTHinge4.0 Industrial IoT platform acts as an intelligent bridge between factory systems and end users.
Through APIs, the platform communicates seamlessly with all other company systems, including ERP, MES, CMMS, CAD/CAM, and BI software.
BENEFITS
Thanks to the digitization of production processes enabled by the Industry 4.0 project, PlastorGomma now relies on accurate data for industrial accounting by order. Consequently, the company can monitor the profitability of its production lines and make more precise cost estimates.
Moreover, the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies marked a turning point for PlastorGomma. The initiative not only introduced new production processes but also fostered a culture of innovation, supported by new professional skills and faster operational readiness across the organization.