In the heart of the Mechatronics Hub in Rovereto, “good neighbors” turn into a real opportunity for growth and international expansion. It is here that two small industrial automation companies, Novotic and Zandonai Albert, have combined their expertise and vision to deliver an ambitious project for the Dutch market. Their collaboration stems from physical proximity, but is built on mutual trust and complementary technical skills.
The project involves the design of a highly customized mechatronic system for the production of technical textiles used across multiple sectors, from interior design to commercial environments. Founded about fifteen years ago and relocated to the Mechatronics Hub in 2019 to foster collaboration and growth, Novotic specializes in industrial automation, robotics, and artificial intelligence applied to manufacturing processes. After consolidating its presence in Northern Italy, the company has embarked on a path toward international markets, leveraging new demands and global opportunities.
Within this context, Zandonai Albert plays a key role. Active for over fifteen years in the production of machinery for paper converting and finishing, the company is known for its strong focus on innovation and custom design. It responded to a request from a Dutch client to develop a complex machine capable of integrating multiple technologies. The partnership with Novotic arose from the understanding that only by combining different skills could such a challenging project be successfully completed.
The result of this synergy is a nearly 15-meter-long system, ready to be shipped to the Netherlands, capable of producing up to 9 kilometers of technical fabric per day. The system operates by simultaneously weaving 800 fibers to create a 60-centimeter-wide material suitable for various applications, including roller blinds, furniture coverings, and architectural shading systems.
The complexity of the project is also reflected in its details: a sophisticated optical control system scans the fabric 200 times per second, ensuring extremely high-quality standards. Every stage of the production process results from the integration of precision mechanics, advanced electronics, and intelligent software—elements that are rarely found within a single company.
For this reason, the collaboration between Novotic and Zandonai Albert represents a concrete example of the value of an industrial supply chain. It is not just about dividing work, but about multiplying possibilities, creating innovative solutions that would otherwise be unattainable. This project demonstrates how even small companies, when embedded in a dynamic ecosystem like the Mechatronics Hub, can successfully compete on an international scale.
