Just days after the disaster that hit the company in Lugo among many others, UNITEC is already working at full speed. "We're not giving up, but immediate structural interventions are crucial," says Angelo Benedetti, president of UNITEC.
"In just minutes, a sea of mud engulfed all our facilities, in some cases rising over a meter. While the initial shock was overwhelming—especially since we'd faced similar issues in the last emergency— a pragmatic spirit quickly took hold. Hundreds of our team members rose to the challenge, driven by their strong connection to the company and a deep commitment to the Welfare of the community, of which our Customers are also part.
This shared determination meant that even over the weekend, they worked from early morning until late at night to clean the entire production area, ensuring we could keep our promises to our Customers and maintain uninterrupted production and customer service," Benedetti explained, balancing both frustration and pride.
UNITEC's headquarters are in Lugo, one of the epicenters of the recent floods in Romagna, where the Senio River breached its banks just above in nearby Cotignola. As a result, a torrent of mud and debris swept through the company's entire area, which also houses a Mechatronics degree program from the University of Bologna.
"Everything was flooded—courtyards, production installations, the company canteen, CNC cutting machine areas, the guesthouse, even university classrooms. It took us three intense days, with the help of specialized companies, to get production running again. We had to relocate servers, equipment, and services, as some areas where the water exceeded a meter are still unusable.
There's still work to be done, but we're already able to proceed with our current production plans," Benedetti added. "It's a remarkable achievement, given the circumstances, but we can't continue like this—at the mercy of unpredictable rains and rivers that might breach at any moment. We urgently need structural solutions, like flood control basins, to manage excess water beyond the capacity of the rivers. This time, we at UNITEC managed to avoid the worst, but what about next time? This situation is unsustainable," he stressed.
"We were able to resume operations in record time, but only because of the incredible dedication, availability, and loyalty of our team. From the heart of UNITEC, I want to extend a huge, heartfelt thank you to all our employees. They are the force that allows us to overcome such difficult times, but, once again," Benedetti concluded, "this is not a situation we can keep enduring."
For more information:
https://www.unitec-group.com/