The entrepreneurial adventure begins
I’m Attilio Ronchi, entrepreneur. The company was born from the will of my father, for his desire to be useful to this society, in 1947. I took over later. The company had some troubles at the beginning, from the financial standpoint, because the initial investment was considerable. But then over time it became successful. The pharmaceutical industry was a very favorable field from the occupational and economical perspectives. The desire to build in Italy was so big at the time, that it was easy to create this company.
Compression is not only important in the pharmaceutical field, compression is needed for all powders that can become tablets. So, those who start an activity [in this area] do not have to think only about the pharmaceutical tablet. For example, watercolors, detergents: here is a very large field where new entrepreneurs will be able to draw on and to develop compression. For example, one could also get to compress coffee pods, something that someone already tries to do, and other things that are still in the imagination of the entrepreneur. Nowadays young people are very imaginative and they could develop very well this sector, and not just the pharmaceutical one, where there are also health considerations.
After the war this Country was devastated. No raw materials, there was nothing, but the great will of Italians to rebuild, starting from scratch. And starting from scratch is much easier than starting from higher standard. The first company that I came across is the great Bracco and the first equipment was built with some gathered pieces, there was nothing else and the machine worked. The ability of Italian artisans, at that time, was exceptional. The first product we compressed was called “Mindol”, and maybe it still exists.
Banks were basic for reconstruction of Italy, especially the savings bank of Lombard provinces and this is a very important problem, because the banks no longer respond to those requirements then, so for young people, it is impossible for young people to have an economic base.
The money to start
Banks were essential for the reconstruction of Italy, especially local banks in Lombard provinces. This is a very important problem nowadays, because banks no longer respond to those requirements. So, for young people, it is impossible have financial support.
On this basis, it’s absolutely essential that the banks dedicate, through government provision, a certain amount of money for investments by young people. If you do not do this, you cannot start again, because if this company exists is because the banks had confidence in the work of my father and me. We even managed to accumulate a huge overdraft, and the bank secured the debt.
A negative and a positive event
Positive that led to a turning point.
Two positives: the meeting with the Germans at Horn. Instead of the Italians, the Germans quit first, leaving me free space, because at the beginning, there was a great friendship with the Germans.
Second: Ferrero’s entry into Ronchi, the “giants” from Alba, because we started to produce plants all over the world starting from Puerto Rico. Some Ferrero workers even came over here to learn certain tricks about molds that they then reproduced in Puerto Rico.
These are the things. Then an extraordinary event was the supply of Italian-German equipment in Cuba where Castro came to the fair to thank us. They told me that he would call me to thank me, but this phone call never came.
Doing business in Italy
I must absolutely trust young politicians who know how to impose themselves to this system that is completely against people at work. It’s not about genius, not genius, people who have the willpower to build, not alone, but with others.
That is, I hope new policy will be made in order to force institutions, and to say clearly in Bruxelles that the economy is not everything in the life of one person; lifestyle and a minimum standard must be guaranteed to everyone, especially, this is serious, in your own country. We must hope Italians understand, as they have abroad, that the vote is an important thing and that politics is not a dirty thing. We make politics every day in ours small factories and it gives back to everyone, especially to the entrepreneur who can rely on people who are more friends than employees.
The key traits of an entrepreneur
The entrepreneur must be equipped with great love for life, great respect for others, and great patience. He must get married. In my opinion, marriage is an important thing. One must take that step when he is responsible, especially for his children, but only once!
It should not be a struggle, it must be pleasant to enter the factory. And since you cannot live it entirely, you should go and still feel good. That is just one place where the existence is satisfied, it happened to me, so I’m privileged.
The future for the new generations
If you want to do business and fail, we must protect you, because you failed to make a something good. But it shouldn’t be deceiving. It would take many like me, who at the trial would say: she should not be condemned because it was a good endeavor.
Young people must realize that we are at the service of the customer, as it once was and how it will become again. But I’m very confident that young people will understand the mistakes we made, and will not repeat them.
IP Crew
