case study

WE CAPTURED THE MARKET WITH OUR INNOVATIONS, WHICH CENTERED ON SOLVING PROBLEMS THAT WERE NOT POSSIBLE TO SOLVE WITH TRADITIONAL TECHNIQUES. THE MATERIALS BEING USED WERE NOT GOOD FOR HISTORICAL BUILDINGS, WHICH HAVE BIG PROBLEMS AGE, DECAY, ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE, AND SO ON.

Millions of tourists flock each year to Italy to walk the piazzas of Rome and climb up inside the domes of the hundreds of cathedrals scattered across the country. There is a magic to the place that emanates out from its heritage buildings, many of which date back to the days of the Roman Empire when new styles of architecture were explored that, against all odds, have endured to the present day. But these buildings are at risk. Italy is more prone to earthquakes than perhaps any other western European country, and on top of the human cost that these disasters carry, the damage done to the countrys infrastructure its historical buildings in particular can be immeasurable.In 1986, Emo Agneloni wised up to the need to develop new technologies that could provide fragile buildings with a greater degree of protection when such disasters struck the country. Many technologies that were popular at the time may have helped offer something of a buffer against damage, but they were also damaging of themselves. This was a matter of particular concern for buildings that required preservation, rather than a complete overhaul. And so TEC. INN. INNOVATIONS, was born, and it introduced to the construction sector in Italy a new way to approach the task of strengthening buildings, one that wasnt invasive, and that minimised damage.

Carbon, basalt, aramid, hemp, flax and steel fibers that are very thin, sheets used to reinforce and protect structures combined with resins and/or mortars. Classical interventions required the gross demolition of sectional elements of buildings, Emo says of the methods in that were being used at the time of the companys founding. Those of TEC. INN. INNOVATIONS instead prioritised keeping intact the main structure of the buildings being worked on, meaning that interventions to strengthen them produced fewer impacts on the surroundings. Less debris was being transported away, fewer chemicals were being released into the air, all of which combined to make the work more gentle on the environment and surrounding communities. We captured the market with our innovations, which centered on solving problems that were not possible to solve with traditional techniques, he continues.

The materials being used were not good for historical buildings, which have big problems age, decay, environmental damage, and so on. For us in Italy, but also in general in European and Middle Eastern countries where we work, these buildings are very important. They need to be protected, to be reinforced. Among it past projects have been some big names in the world of heritage: the Royal Palace of Milan, parts of which date back to the medieval communes based there in the Middle Ages; the dome on St Peters Basilica in Rome, one of the countrys most iconic buildings, whose design received a helping hand from Michelangelo. It has also worked on major projects overseas: building warehouses in Dubai, capitolio in Havana, mosques in Libya, Italian embassies around the world. The list continues. These projects have been successful, and allow us to promote our activities abroad, says Emo. For his efforts, he has been richly rewarded. Several years ago he was given a knighthood by the Italian government, and also became a member of the Knights of Malta. In three successive years, from 2011 to 2013, TEC. INN. INNOVATIONS was honoured with the Innovation National Award, presented by the Italian president at the time, Giorgio Napolitano. But it doesnt stop at heritage buildings. One of its patents is a desk designed for school classrooms. When earthquakes strike, so the theory goes, children can dive under the desk and be protected against falling debris. Its a much-needed addition to schools in a country where the chances of an earthquake are higher than one is comfortable with. In Italy we worry about natural disasters because we have had a lot in the last 10 years three earthquakes in the past decade, with lots of victims, Emo says. Eighty percent of the population lives inside historical buildings, and eighty or ninety percent of schools are housed inside historical building. This means that the same proportion of children go to school in old buildings, and these might not be able to withstand the force of an earthquake. Another patent it owns is perhaps in a whole different league of innovation. Known to the company as the Elastic System for Dynamic Retrofitting, or ESDR, it provides a layer around buildings that effectively serves as an airbag protecting outside walls against blasts. That has been particularly popular with embassy buildings, given the rising threat of terrorist attacks around the world.

The company has grown in large part as a result of exporting its innovative technologies and efficient interventions abroad, to countries that require advanced solutions to complex problems such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Its wide remit means the company has a broad customer base, and it works with ministries, embassies and consulates, schools, civil and industrial buildings, both old and new. At the present time, these sort of entities in Italy, Europe and all over the world have been in the spotlight since the owners or the people responsible for their safety must guarantee the integrity of its structures, and therefore, the wellbeing of the people that live and work inside, the company says. It describes its techniques as of a surgical kind, but which are non-invasive, thereby minimising the risk of damage. There exists a parallel between our work and medicine, says Emo. First a clinical analysis is required to investigate the symptoms found in the patient, and afterwards, a diagnosis can be achieved. Finally, a decision must be made the kind of intervention required to heal the patient. The company does something similar, carrying out careful assessment of the ills of the buildings it is working on, before deciding what action to take. Much of its testing is done in labs and on site right from the inception of an idea. If it satisfies thorough testing criteria, then it is pitched to the customer, meaning TEC. INN. INNOVATIONS is charge of solving whatever problem arises from the start of the process to its finish. In 2008, the economic crisis hit Italy almost as hard as the natural disasters that TEC. INN. INNOVATIONS has built its reputation defending Italys prized assets against. It was able to weather the crisis primarily because, according to Emo, its employee base is comprised of highly educated and determined workers. It was a period in which we fought like lions, he says. We concentrated on innovation, innovation, innovation we have a direct stake in the reputation of our clients and so we have to create new technologies and applications that hold the key to solving whatever problems they have. It may seem odd to speak of innovation the drive to develop new technologies in the same breath as explaining the importance of preservation of the countrys antiquities. But if Italys historical buildings are to remain intact for centuries to come, and are to continue to ensure it retains its preeminent position as a goldmine of European heritage, then new processes will need to be developed to tackle the problems that old technologies were unable to solve. And this is TEC. INN. INNOVATIONSs crowning achievement the ability to deploy ideas of the future to safeguard treasures of the past.

1. background of the case study

2.identify the key success

3. lesson learned from the case