Work ethics, professional attitude, and excellent quality: interview with Valsecchi Orazio & C. Srl

In the ‘50s Mr. Giacomo Valsecchi, thanks to a wide experience in the field of small metal parts, with his brother started a small workshop for the production of snap-hooks and barbs. In the ‘60s his son Orazio joined the family business and Valsecchi Giacomo & Figlio Snc - specializing in the manufacture of rolled and drawn iron wire - was formally established.

Leveraging its work ethics, professional attitude and excellent quality, the company gradually carved out its own niche in the market. Today, 70 years later, the company is known as Valsecchi Orazio & C. Srl and is led by the third generation of the family with just as much passion and dedication.

We had a word with Ione Valsecchi, owner and sales manager of Valsecchi Orazio & C. Srl, to learn more about the company and take stock of the current market situation.

Tell us the history of your company, how was Valsecchi Orazio & C. Srl born?

Our story begins in the early years after World War II. My grandfather Giacomo started the business as a manufacturer of hooks and snap hooks. Later, the finished product was abandoned to focus exclusively on the production of drawn and rolled wire. In the '60s - the years of the so-called economic boom - my father Orazio joined the company.

He immediately realized that the customers' needs were starting to change. So he gradually integrated the machine shop with new cold rolling lines, in order to expand the production range.

In the late ‘70s he and my mother opened another company: Siderlecco Srl. Specializing in the processing of strips and bands, this company remained operational until 2007. After the untimely death of my father, in fact, we chose to focus exclusively on what is our current core business, namely the production of cold rolled products.

How’s the relationship with the previous generation? How did you experience taking the lead?

They have always had great confidence in our abilities. Our father was a great guide for us, but as he unfortunately passed away prematurely, there wasn't the kind of rift or disagreement that can sometimes occur in these transitions. Of course, we all had to pay our dues: when my brother Raffaele, now production manager, initially joined the company, he started working on individual plants and assimilating the technical skills that are vital for production management. I, on the other hand, took my first steps in administration and after gaining a greater understanding of the industry dynamics, dedicated myself to commercial management, working in complete synergy with my brother.

What are your strengths? What makes Valsecchi Orazio & C. Srl an appreciated and competitive business in the industry?

Our business is fairly niche: we are a small company mainly serving small and medium-sized companies. We boast fifty years of experience, a highly specific know-how, and a quality supply service. We still strongly believe in the interpersonal relationship with our customers. Their trust and satisfaction are among the cornerstones of our work ethic. We also rely on our employees, capable people who are the soul of our company.
As long as I can guarantee these fundamentals, the task entrusted to us by our father - and by our grandfather before him - will be fulfilled.

What are the main target sectors at the moment?

Our production range is used in countless applications, from automotive to furniture, fashion, small metal parts, but also in household appliances and DIY. The pandemic we are all experiencing has pushed us to make our production even more versatile. Now, in order to remain competitive in the market and satisfy our customers, we have to adapt our rolling departments, making them even more flexible.

How has the current increase in commodity prices impacted your business?

In recent months, particularly from November to today, the market has been pretty turbulent to say the least, with a daily surge in raw material prices.
Of course, there had been warnings from China, Turkey, and the USA. With the European markets being destabilized, one of the repercussions has been the sudden increase in quotations. Initially the fear was to relive the crisis of 2008, when the anxiety of running out of materials led to frantic buying, only to end up with a drastic drop in price and therefore huge losses. Today, the situation is more linear and the economic indicators are giving positive vibes. So we can get back to focusing on our plans for new investments.