AANNNOOOTTTHHHEEERRR ... - Berco S.p.A

Free copy 

Quarterly House Organ 

Editor: Dr. Giovanni Micheletto Ferrara Law Court registration 

n. 17/94 - 05/12/1994 

FRONT PAGE 

ANOTHER POSITIVE YEAR 

ENVIRONMENT 

FAREWELL OLD LANDFILL! 

Year 7 

No. 28 - October 2001

Contents 

Editorial 

DESTINED FOR RELENTLESS GROWTH 

The development path 

Front page 


First details of the financial year ending 30th September 2001 

Environment 


The new landfill nears completion 

New technologies 

A NEW DESIGN SYSTEM 

The evolution of the CAD design system 

Inside Berco 

NEARLY 20,000 HOURS OF TRAINING 

Berco’s continued commitment to the professional 

growth of its human resources 

Flash News 

Dr Cromme returns to Berco 

“Mr Koch’s “Silver Anniversary” 

Ctz visits the Copparo factory 

Marketing corner 

THE “BERCO MERCHANDISE” 

PROJECT GETS OFF THE GROUND 

Trade fairs 

Germany, EMO 2001 

Brazil, M&T EXPO 2001 

Greece, 1st Construction Machinery 

Russia, 5th Russian International Auto Salon 

Dealer News 

Berco News 

Berco News is a three monthly magazine published in italian and english for 

the employees, customers, suppliers and friends of the Company. 

Photos and articles, including excerpts, may be reproduced with the written 

permission of the editor and provided due reference is made to BercoNews. 

Cover photo: the new landfill 

Contributors to this issue: 

G. Bertoni, E. Bacilieri, S. Salvi, F. Santinato, D. Mingozzi, 

C. Lambertini, S. Di Mauro, B. Guandalini 

Publisher: 

BERCO S.p.A. 

Marketing & Communication Department 

Via 1° Maggio - 44034 Copparo (Ferrara) Italy 

tel. +39 0532 864431 - fax +39 0532 864259 

e-mail: marketing@berco.com 

Editor: 

Giovanni Micheletto 

tel. +39 0532 864116 - fax +39 0532 864259 - e-mail: gim@berco.com 

Copy: Marketing & Communication Department 

Art editor: Silvia Ungaro 

Photos: Antonio Bertacchini and others 

Printing: SIACA ARTI GRAFICHE 

Circulation: Italian 4,500 - English 3,000 

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Editorial 

DESTINED FOR 

RELENTLESS 

GROWTH 

The development path 

One of the theoretical laws of 

economics, confirmed in the real 

world, explains that: "In an 

environment of growing competitive 

pressure, only those companies able 

to maintain a level of growth which 

is greater than the average of the 

sector in which they operate are 

destined to survive". The 80 plus 

years’ of Berco’s history are more 

than a confirmation. This confirmation 

comes once again with the recent 

closure of the business year, despite 

the heavy recession across world 

markets. Although Berco had a more 

modest growth rate than in previous 

years, we are still growing, and have grown more than the market in global 

decline, and more than the competition. Once again Berco has been able 

to show its ability to create the profit margins needed to feed its growth, 

carry out large-scale investments and satisfy the demands of the workers 

and shareholders. 

All of this does not happen by chance: "To be a market leader you must 

always be one step ahead of the competition, both in terms of product 

range, personnel and technology”. And once again the Berco history, 

especially the most recent one, confirms this. The Berco product range is 

the most complete in the market, and despite this, Berco continues to introduce 

new products and to innovate our existing ones. This includes, but not limited 

to, the investments made in the innovation of production methods, 

continuous training for the personnel, the acquisition of new technologies, 

robots, machine tools, and the Maxi Press among others. This process 

cannot be stopped, and despite people’s disbelief it will not stop, even 

now in this difficult and unpredictable time for the market. 

We will continue to follow this strategic path with our usual commitment, 

and above all with the calmness of those who understand their targets and 

are certain of being able to reach them. And of course, “it is in the rough 

sea that you see the good boats!” 

G. Bertoni, 

Berco Managing Director

ECONOMIC TRENDS 

Despite the obvious slowdown of 

the world economy and its markets 

in the first few months of this year, 

the fiscal year that closed on 

September 30th 2001 highlighted 

the further expansion of our company. 

Sales have reached 360 million 

Euro, with an increase of 6.5% 

with respect to the previous year. 

The opening of new markets, the 

increase in production volumes and 

the favourable exchange rates have 

all contributed positively to this 

result. 

The economic and financial situation 

appears to be very satisfactory; 

profit margins continue to be 

consolidated. The profit forecasts 

for the business year just ended are 

in line with the budget forecasts, 

and slightly higher than the previous 

year. 

THE COMPANY OBJECTIVES 

We are therefore continuing along 

that impressive development path 

which has marked the life of our 

company over the past ten years. 

To give our readers an idea of the 

size of the changes, we can remember 

that: 

1. With respect to the beginning of 

the 1990s, production volumes have 

more than doubled, and the sales 

have practically tripled; 

2. Over the past ten years investments 

in technologies worth 300 million 

Euro have been made, a figure which 

has been completely financed by the 

company itself (through company 

cash flow); 

3. Since 1995 we have taken on 

more than 2,000 new employees, to 

cover both the natural staff turnover 

and to provide the resources needed 

for growth. Today the company has 

about 3,000 employees (and around 

100 of these have university degrees 

and qualifications in a variety of 

technical and economic subjects). 

Over the years the company policy has 

been oriented to the introduction 

of new technologies and the widening 

of the product range. We have paid 

particular attention to economies of 

scale, playing on the stimulation of 

market demand and the increase in 

production through new investments, 

as well as new employment. 

This approach will continue to be 

used in the medium term company 

strategy, with the aim of maintaining 

our leadership position in the market. 

THE FUTURE 

In spite of these positive results, 

recent economic developments at 

world level have made it necessary 

to give serious thought to the situation 

that the company will have to face 

in the future. Increasing fears of a 

coming recession have already 

overwhelmed the financial markets. 

The dramatic acts of terrorism in 

the USA together with fears regarding 

the start of new conflicts, with 

MILLION EUROS 

400 

350 

300 

250 

390 

310 

TOTAL SALES 

405 

338 

430 

360 

452 

370 

474 

385 

496 

390 

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 

Berco Berco Group 

3 Berco News 

Front page 


First data of the fiscal year 2000/01 

unforeseeable consequences, have 

heightened the instability of the 

macroeconomic system. The activities 

aimed at reaching an increasingly 

higher level of efficiency and continuos 

cost reduction become even more 

important now if we want our 

products to continue to be competitive 

in the market. On the other hand, 

during the 1990’s our company 

achieved an undoubted competitive 

advantage. Plenty of technology and 

know-how stemming from company 

investments, the professional growth 

of our human resources, together 

with the variety of products and the 

solid nature of our economic and 

financial situation cannot be found in 

any other company operating in our 

field either in Italy or the rest of the 

world. Therefore, we are sure that we 

have the necessary commitment and 

reliability to face new, ambitious 

projects and to guarantee continuity 

in our business relations with our most 

demanding partners. 

Dr E. Bacilieri 

Administrator Director


4 

Environment 


The new landfill nears completion 

EVEN WASTE HAS A LIFE CYCLE! 

In fact, when we “decide to dispose 

of, or are obliged to dispose of a 

substance or an object, we become 

producers of waste”. This is the 

definition given in the law n. 22/97, 

otherwise known as the Ronchi Law. 

And here starts the “path” of our 

waste, which can follow a number of 

possible “evolutions”, in line with 

the universal principle that “nothing 

can be destroyed but everything is 

transformed”. 

RECYCLING OR DISPOSAL? 

Waste can follow two basic paths: 

1. Recycling 

2. Disposal 

Recycling can take the form to be 

used as fuel, regeneration, compost, 

or spreading onto the soil for 

agricultural use. Disposal may be 

done through biodegradation 

composting, surface containment 

reservoirs, depth injection, incineration, 

dumping, etc. 

The choice to follow one form rather 

than the other depends mainly on 

the type of waste and the available 

technologies. In our case, given the 

many different types of waste present 

in our factories, a number of different 

disposal methods are used. The 

The old landfill that will stop being used and that will be subject 

to an environmental rehabilitation program 

majority of our waste is handed over 

to specialised disposal companies. 

The non-recyclable plastic packaging, 

the pressing waste, purification 

sludge, rubber waste, dirty rags and 

other inert materials are sent to our 

own landfill. To get an idea of the 

quantities involved, external 

companies dispose of 21,750 tons 

of recyclable waste from us each 

year, a smaller quantity of 2,250 

tons is collected and sent to the 

Berco landfill. 

WHY THE NEED FOR A NEW 

LANDFILL? 

At present, after 20 years’ of durability, 

we are preparing to close the old 

landfill and are about to open a new 

one. Berco’s adoption of the ISO 

14001 certification has motivated 

the need to restore the landscape, keep 

a check on the environmental impact 

and the safety of the old site. 

Following the introduction of ISO 

14001 and the environmental 

management regulations, a study 

was performed on the management 

of the activities at the old landfill 

in Via 2 Giugno, to determine the 

environmental impact. The results 

of this evaluation (see table) and 

the request of the competent 

The new landfill, with a view of its five sections 

authorities made it clear that we 

needed to consider an alternative 

to the old landfill, which apart from 

anything else was situated in the 

middle of a residential area. 

An EMP (Environmental Management 

Program, a project to improve our 

environmental performance) was 

thus defined with the main objective 

of building a new landfill by the end 

of 2001. This new landfill will be 

built with the latest technology 

which includes waterproofed bottom 

and a percolate collection system. 

THE PROJECT 

The first step in the design of the 

new landfill was to find an alternative 

site to the old one. The perfect place 

was found south of the factory, on 

Berco property, in an area classified 

by the City Plan as Zone D, meaning 

an area mainly used for manufacturing 

purposes. 

A hydro-geological survey was 

performed to identify the 

characteristics of the soil, its level of 

permeability, the depth of the 

underground water and the load 

bearing capacity of the ground. All 

this preliminary information helped 

our designers and the authorities to 

check the suitability of the site for

The new landfill: a view of the percolate drainage plant. 

a landfill. We certainly pay more 

attention to environmental problems, 

which are now new regulations. The 

designers were also able to use the 

information to determine the 

measures needed to prevent the 

percolate (the drippings that may 

form as a result of the compaction 

and storage of waste) from filtering 

into the soil and reaching the 

underground water tables. So, having 

made sure that the soil had the 

necessary characteristics, the bottom 

and the perimeter banks were further 

protected with layers of clay and 

bentonite geocomposites. The internal 

surface was divided into five main 

sections, each one connected to the 

percolate collection system. 

ACTIVITY EFFECTS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS NEW LANDFILL 

OF THE OLD LANDFILL ENVIRONMENT IMPACTS 

Waste Storage 

Waste Storage 

Waste Storage 

Waste Storage 

Load handling 

Load handling 

Precence of liquid waste from 

percolation and absence of a 

collecting system for liquid 

Landscape alteration 

Emission of unpleasant smell 

Presence of animals 

Noise emission 

Exhaust gas emission 

The percolate will be collected in a 

sealed storage tank and removed 

periodically. Then, if the chemical 

and physical characteristics allow 

it, this will be added to our new 

liquid waste treatment plant or, if it 

is not possible, it will be sent for 

disposal by other specialised 

companies. To limit possible odours 

and a displeasing view, a series of 

“cultivation” procedures have been 

put into place around the landfill. 

These procedures anticipate that 

the waste, with the same 

characteristics as that collected 

today in the old landfill, will be 

disposed of in layers, then compacted 

and covered over every day. Once 

each sector is full, it will be ultimately 

Potential contamination of the water table stratum, 

due to the infiltration of percolate 

Potential landscape degradation 

Potential air pollution 

Potential trouble for the people of the 

neighborhood 

Potential acoustic pollution 

Potential air pollution 


covered with a layer of earth and 

grass will be grown. 

A project for a new landfill must 

always include plans for the closure 

and restoration of the site and its 

control for several years afterwards. 

The Berco project includes the 

grassing over of the site and its 

transformation into a small park… 

but as each of the five sectors will 

take about four years to fill, we will 

talk about this in future issues. For 

the time being, the new landfill will 

be with us for several years to come… 

Environment and Ecology Service 

Ing. S. Salvi 

Ing. C. Lambertini 

S. Di Mauro 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None 

None


6 

New technologies 

A NEW DESIGN SYSTEM 

The evolution of the CAD design system 

This is the interface of the new Pro-Engineering design system 

13 YEARS OF EUCLID-IS 

December 1987 saw the start of the 

implementation program for the first 

CAD system in the Berco Engineering 

Dept. in Copparo, together with the 

installation of the first three 

workstations. 

A series of activities took place in 

spring 1987 for the evaluation and 

definition of the system to be used. 

These activities included test of the 

different CAD systems at the potential 

suppliers’ offices. 

The final choice was Euclid-is, by 

Matra-Datavision. This choice was 

made due to the program ability to 

produce a solid three-dimensional 

model. Besides other features, the 

excellent surface modelling capabilities 

made it particularly useful for the 

preparation of the dies for the chain 

links that we produce. In 1987, this 

was definitely the best the market had 

to offer. During the first half of 

1988, the first group of technicians 

was set up and trained. This activity 

was initially focused on the threedimensional 

link modelling and on the 

creation of numerical control programs 

for machining of dies and electrodes. 

At the same time, a large number 

of changes were made in the die 

machining division with the 

introduction of numerically controlled 

machinery. At the end of June 1988, 

the first programms for rough shaping 

and finishing of link dies, created 

by using a CAD-CAM, were being 

used. 

Following these first six months, the 

project evolved continuously. From 

the first three workstations, we

moved on gradually to the 38 

workstations found today in the 

various offices of the Engineering 

Dept.. Ten workstations are for 

undercarriage parts division, twentyone 

for tooling division, three for 

machine tools, three in Castelfranco 

Veneto, and one in Busano Canavese. 

During the 13 years of its’ use at 

Berco, the Euclid-is software has 

continued to evolve with various 

versions and upgrades. Its current 

release is Euclid3. In this period of 

time, the software was used to create 

approximately 53,000 twodimensional 

drawings and 3,000 

three-dimensional ones for solids 

and surfaces. 

WHY A NEW SOFTWARE 

A couple of years ago Matra 

Datavision, the producer and 

distributor of Euclid, merged with 

Dassault Systeme, the producer of 

the Catia and Cadam CAD software, 

which led to the decision to stop 

further developments of Euclid. 

Although perfectly functional, Berco 

was concerned about using a CAD 

package that would never again be 

updated. Immediately a decision was 

made to analyse the possible 

alternatives available on the market. 

At the same time, we took advantage 

of this situation to find a state-ofthe-art 

product that would allow 

the Berco Engineering Team to make 

serious quality improvements. 

After a year of both commercial and 

technical evaluations, we chose Pro- 

Engineering by the Parametric 

Technologies Corp., an American 

leader in the CAD and wider 

engineering software sector. 

This top product, whose name is 

shortened to Pro-E, has become the 

most widely used CAD product in 

less than 10 years, thanks to its 

specific and highly innovative technical 

and functional characteristics. 

Many Berco customers, such as John 

Deere, Fiat Hitachi, Komatsu and 

others, use Pro-E to develop their 

machinery. This will further simplify 

the process and widen the possibilities 

for cooperation between the technical 

departments by using the same CAD 

system. 

THE ADVANTAGES 

One of the most distinctive 

characteristics of the Pro-E software 

is its three-dimensional and parametric 

setting. 

In fact, it is no longer possible, as 

it was with the older generation CAD 

systems, to draw components by 

making two-dimensional tables as 

if they were “electronic drawing 

machines”, but quite the opposite: Pro- 

E obliges the technician to make 

three-dimensional drawings in the first 

place. Once this phase is completed, 

the program automatically generates 

the various views, creating the classical 

2D drawings used in the workshop. 

The second particularly interesting 

feature is the possibility to 

parameterise all the models created 

using Pro-E. This means that every 

element used to generate a threedimensional 

model during the design 

phase is actually a parameter that can 

be modified at any time. The 

modification of parameter (for 

example the dimension of any 

mechanical component) causes Pro- 

E to automatically regenerate the 

whole model and update any drawing 

coming from it (such as those relating 

to the tooling). 

This characteristic is extremely useful 

when modifying components designed 

using Pro-E and of course when 

creating similar components (for 

example, pins for track chains all of 

a similar shape but with different 

diameters and/or lengths). This 

feature is particularly useful in the 

undercarriage components division. 

Numerous benefits are also foreseen 

from the use of this new CAD package 

in our machine tools design division. 


The technicians from the pilot group during a lesson in 

the use of Pro-E 

IMPLEMENTATION 

Training courses for a first pilot group 

of seven technicians were started 

some time ago. In mid-September, 

the first models and drawings were 

created with the new CAD system 

and were ready for use. We forecast 

that by the end of October/beginning 

of November, it will be possible to 

develop the first models for track 

links together with the relative dies. 

Once the pilot group is fully 

operational, the number of Pro-E 

workstations will be increased and 

further training will be given. The end 

of the first half of 2003 foresees a full 

change over to the new system. 

The Pro-E implementation schedule 

also includes upgrading hardware 

to use with this new CAD package, 

which includes replacing the older 

workstations. 

Last but not least, concerning the 

implementation of Pro-E, regards 

the possibility to re-use the 

drawings/models created in the past 

using Euclid. A customised interface 

procedure is currently being developed 

and it will allow us, with some 

limitations, to use all of the drawing 

and three-dimensional models created 

in the past in which we used the 

previous CAD system 

Franco Santinato 

System Manager CAD


8 

Inside Berco 

NEARLY 20,000 HOURS OF TRAINING 

Berco continuous commitment to the professional growth of its human resources 

The quality certification, the 

environmental management 

certification, the important 

technological innovations in the 

production departments and being 

a part of a multi-national group 

have all contributed to the increased 

attention that Berco pays to the 

training of its human resources. 

It is for this reason that in 2000 we 

revised and updated all the company 

training procedure. The HR 

Department plans the training 

activities on a yearly basis for all 

the departments, that in turn identify 

and select the personnel in their 

department that need training. The 

HR department then organizes and 

manages the courses and records 

all the training activities on an 

individual and company basis. 

The training program is organized 

in courses which range from 

instruction in the management and 

control of new systems to more 

precise requirements such as training 

for staff assigned to new tasks or 

refresher courses and updating for 

quality and environmental 

management and safety at work. 

Individual courses are also available 

for employees with specific 

requirements. 

During the training year October 

2000/September 2001, the total 

hours of training were 20,500 and 

1,107 employees were involved in 

these activities. 

TRAINING NEW TECHNICIANS 

In these few years of notable growth, 

Berco has had difficulty recruiting 

qualified staff for its specific 

production activities. Therefore, the 

company has committed to work 

with local professional training 

institutions and centers for the 

development of training programs. 

This satisfies, on the one hand, specific 

training requirements which come 

from the general population and, 

on the other, the need for specialized 

and qualified workers in local industry. 

With this aim the project “Industrial 

Automation Technician” was born, 

through the will of and created by 

the Copparo council, Berco, the 

University of Ferrara, the Technical 

High School of Ferrara and Cesta, 

and approved and financed by the 

Emilia Romagna Regional Council. 

The course, designed for 20 students 

with technical high school diploma, 

lasts 1,800 hours, 600 of which are 

practical work. 15 students already 

joined the in Berco staff between 

November 13th 2000 and August 

1st 2001 working in the different 

company departments. 

Another training project organized 

by Berco and Cesta Professional 

Training Center in 2000/01 is the 

course for “Production Expert”, which 

through the work experience program 

has led to the recruitment of nearly 

HOURS 

HOURS OF TRAINING FROM 1992 TO 2001 

20000 

19000 

18000 

17000 

16000 

15000 

14000 

13000 

12000 

11000 

12000 

1992 

13000 

14000 

15000 

16000 

all participants by Berco (13 out of 

the 14 participants in both years). 

There is also a course for 

“Maintenance Operators”, again in 

collaboration with the Cesta 

Professional Training Centre, which 

has led to the recruitment of 6 out 

of the 10 participants. 

PLANS FOR A NEW SCHOOL 

Again as part of the company’s 

interest and commitment to training, 

a plan for a new senior high school 

in Copparo was presented last January. 

Berco will provide an important 

contribution to its design and creation. 

For the financial year 2001/02 a 

growth in training needs is forecasted, 

in order to ensure that all personnel 

is updated on the new systems and 

technologies as well as support the 

commitment of the company to 

quality in the production processes, 

the environment and safety at work. 

16500 

18300 

19200 

Daniele Mingozzi 

HR Manager 

19500 

20500 

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

THE RETURN OF DR CROMME 

The ThyssenKrupp Chairman pays a visit with 2 important guests 

July 13th we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Cromme 

and his two important guests Dr Hans-Peter Keitel and 

Dr Klaus Liesen, two key figures of German industry. It 

has been six years since Dr Cromme’s last visit for Berco’s 

75th anniversary, when he welcomed more than 200 

guests. Dr. Cromme strongly praised the Berco management 

for its positive results and the impressive improvements 

in production technology that Berco has undertaken 

over the past 6 years. Also, Dr Cromme’s two guests, 

both experts in company management, were very 

impressed with the technological level within the factory 

and were pleased with the warm welcome they received. 

CTZ IN BERCO 

The manufacturers of the T-170 pay 

a visit to the Copparo factory 

On September 27th Professor KHANIF MINGAZOV (Vice 

President) and Dr SERGEJ TIKHONOV (Technical Director) 

of CTZ "Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant", paid a visit to our 

Copparo factory with Carlo Gherzi, General Manager of 

Ralot, dealer for Russia and the countries of the ex-Soviet 

Union. With a facility located in a 450 hectars area, CTZ 

was founded in 1933 and, already in the thirties was 

producing 40 “C60” a day. After World War II, the range 

of tractors included the C80, the C100, the T100 and the 

DT250, and in 1965, with a yearly output of 32,000 

tractors, CTZ built alone more machines than all the other 

producers in the world put together. At the beginning of 

the 80ies, production began for a new range of machines 

which included the DET350 and the T130, the predecessor 

of the present day T170. Today CTZ employs 23,000 people 

and produces more than 300 tractors per month, with a 

foreseen increase to 400 pieces by 2002, when tractor exports 

to neighboring countries (currently around 7-8%), are 

expected to increase. It is estimated that in Russia alone, 

there are more than 95,000 machines, of which at least 

50% are in use. Berco, following the suggestions of Ralot, 

has supplied a kit for retrofitting the T170 undercarriage, 

that also includes the final drive. CTZ was particularly 

satisfied with the results and performance of the Berco 

undercarriage mounted on their 

machines in the Russian mines and 

they are taking into consideration the 

possibility of offering to their 

customer the Berco undercarriage 

already in the first fit. 

“SILVER ANNIVERSARY” 

Mr. Koch celebrates his 25 years at Berco 

On 1st October the Managing 

Director of our sister company 

Krupp BERCO Deutschland GmbH, 

Wulf Koch, celebrated 25 years 

with Berco. After obtaining his 

degree in Mechanical Engineering 

in 1968, he began his professional 

career at Timken Roller Bearing 

Inc., and then moved to Hoesch 

Rothe Erde Schmiedag AG and again to DELACHAUX. 

Finally on October 1st 1976, Koch started distributing 

Berco products in Germany by becoming head of the 

Equipment Sales Department of TEG. At the beginning 

of 1977 he was given the power of attorney for the 

company and in the mid 80ies became Vice President. 

In 1986 he was sent to Italy to manage the Sales & 

Marketing department of Berco. At the beginning of 

1990, he returned to Germany to become Managing 

Director of our German sister company TEG (Traktor- 

Ersatzteil-Gesellschaft), which in 1998 became Krupp 

BERCO Deutschland GmbH. Berco would like to thank 

Mr. Koch for his commitment and the enthusiasm he has 

always put into his work over the past 25 years in order 

to grow the Berco name in the German market. 

NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS NEWS

Marketing Corner 

THE “BERCO 

MERCHANDISE” 

PROJECT GETS OFF 

THE GROUND 

Following the requests and suggestions coming from 

our dealers, personnel and friends, Berco has finally 

published its first brochure of Berco branded give aways 

and promotional items. 

The purpose of this publication is not only to show 

the products available in Italy and abroad, but also 

it hopes to solicit your comments and suggestions 

for “new” Berco products to be included in the range. 

We would like to widen and improve the range of 

products in order to 

make it more 

interesting, to further 

increase the quality of 

the products and to 

give you the best 

value. These products, 

already available for 

purchase at the 

official Berco dealers, 

will soon be available 

for the members of 

the Berco Personnel 

Association. We are studying other ways to make 

the merchandise available in the simplest and most 

convenient way. Your suggestions, questions and 

advice are of course most welcome. Please send the 

form by fax or write your comments via e-mail. 

Reader survey 

We would first like to thank the more than 130 

readers who found the time to help us with their 

advice and suggestions. We would then like to 

apologize to our readers of the English issue who, due 

to the summer shutdown, received the questionnaire 

a little late. For this reason we have postponed the 

survey deadline to December 1st, 2001, in order to 

allow as many readers as possible to send us their 

precious comments by filling in the questionnaire 

published in the Berco News n. 27 and thus taking 

part in the great prize drawing. 

Send us the questionnaire by mail, fax or deliver 

it yourself in person. Thanks in advance for cooperation. 

EMO 2001 HANNOVER 

Lynx2000 presented at the largest 

machine tools trade fair in the world 

The Berco participation in EMO 2001 

happened to be a very interesting 

experience not only because of the 

presence at the fair of the most 

important producers of machine tools 

in the world (and in particular those 

of the grinding sector) but also because 

Berco presented the Lynx2000 within 

the “ThyssenKrupp Production Systems” 

booth, where all the companies of 

the ThyssenKrupp group, which operate 

in the machine tools sector, such as 

Gidding & Lewis, Hüller Hille, Cross 

Hüller, Witzig & Frank and Fadal were 

gathered. Lynx2000 generated great 

M&T EXPO2001 

interest in the many visitors who 

visited the booth during the 8 days of 

the fair. This interest was confirmed 

also by the many contacts with 

potential customers who were very 

impressed with the highly innovative 

technical solutions offered by our 

orbital grinder. We would like to thank 

our colleagues from ThyssenKrupp 

for their collaboration throughout 

the event. They were also very 

impressed by the potential and 

functionality of the Lynx2000 in terms 

of flexibility, precision and its high 

level of technology. 

Berco do Brasil at the San Paolo fair 

From September 18th to the 22nd the 

bi-annual trade fair for construction 

and mining machinery was held in San 

Paolo. This is the largest fair of its kind 

in Latin America, and welcomed 

more than 30,000 visitors and 120 

exhibitors spread over 50,000 m2 

of exhibition space. The main 

producers of earth moving machinery, 

like Fiat Allis and Komatsu(both 

BERCO customers) were present. Fiat 

Allis exhibited its new tractor models 

FD110, FD130 and the FX215 

excavator manufactured at the factory 

in Contagem (Belo Horizonte). 

Komatsu do Brasil presented its 

tractors D41, D61 and the PC200 

excavator, constructed at the Komatsu 

do Brasil factory in Suzano (San 

Paolo). 

Berco do Brasil was present at this 

important event with Robrasa Rothe 

Erde (company in the ThyssenKrupp 

group), a leader in Brazil and in the 

world for the production of slew 

rings for excavators. Our booth had 

a very distinctive design and attracted 

a lot more public interest than we had

(…continued) 

expected. Among the products on 

display, the BMP - Berco Mining 

Products – line produced the greatest 

interest among the visitors and in 

particular the models D8 and D10, 

currently being used successfully in 

the largest iron mines in the world, 

in the Minas Gerais state, and serviced 

by our distributor CMR. 

Berco do Brazil carries out assembly 

and just-in-time delivery of 


CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY 2001 

Karnaros-Melissis at the first edition in Athens 

The first edition os “Construction Machinery”, a trade 

fair dedicated to plant and construction machinery, 

took place in Athens from September 20th through the 

23rd. The fair was a great success despite the fact it 

was the first edition, and despite the dramatic events 

that happened in the United States, which caused many 

exhibitors and visitors to cancel their visit. 

Over an area of 70,000m 2 , of which 55,000 under roof, 

more than 100 exhibitors displayed their products. 

During the four days of the fair more than 6,000 visitors 

crowded the various booths and viewed the products on 

display. 

Among the exhibitors was Karnaros-Melissis, leader in 

the field of undercarriage spare parts supply in the 

greek market and who has been our official dealer since 

1983. The 250 m 2 booth displayed professionalism and 

style which helped to ‘conquer’ many visitors, and the 

fair organizers that praised it as one of the best booths 

at the fair. 

For Karnaros-Melissis this was a great chance not only 

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MOSCOW 

5th Russian International Autosalon 

From August 23rd to the 29th the 

most important Russian trade fair 

for cars and workshop equipment 

was held in Moscow. Berco, through 

the company Ralot, Berco dealer for 

the countries of the ex-Soviet Union 

for both spare parts and machine 

tools, displayed the machines RTM270, 

RV20, SB450 and CM250. 

Cars and trucks, of both Russian and 

foreign production, took up about 

two thirds of the exhibition area, 

while the remaining third was 

undercarriage products to the main 

OEMs in Brazil that manufacture 

machines not only for the Brazilian 

market but for the whole of South 

America. Thanks to its modern 

information technology systems and 

close coordination with our 

headquarters, Berco do Brazil offers 

its OEM customers a high quality 

logistic support and service in-line 

with those offered to the same 

customers in Europe and in America. 

dedicated to vehicle repair equipment 

and spare parts. This participation 

in the fair was particulary interesting 

because it gave the chance to make 

a first contact with the Russian 

market and also because it generated 

several contacts with the many 

potential customers that visited the 

Ralot/Berco booth. 

We would like to thank Mr. R. Valoti 

and Mr. A. Gaidash from RALOT for 

their contribution to the success of 

the fair. 

to display the full range of products 

and explain the products to their 

clients, but also to make several 

new and promising contacts. 

We hope that for Karnaros-Melissis 

their presence at the fair was an 

important step to further strengthen 

their position in the market.

A NEW DEALER 

IN GREAT BRITAIN 

On September 3rd, 2001 Midland 

Steel Traders Ltd. joined the Berco 

family by signing a contract for the 

distribution of Berco undercarriage 

products in Great Britain. Present 

at the signing ceremony were the 

brothers Mr. Paul Whithall and 

Mr. John Whitehall, company 

directors, G. Bertoni, Managing Director of Berco, W. 

Schmitz-Meimbresse, Berco General Manager Commercial 

and Mauro Fabbri, Berco Commercial Director. 

MST (Midland Steel Traders) was founded in April 1971 

by the Whitehall family with the aim of marketing 

undercarriage products in Northern England and Scotland. 

Their first service center was in Washington, although 

three years later it was moved to Birtley where a large 

press was also installed for the repair and replacement 

of undercarriages for all of their customers. Despite the 

fact that they were not an official Berco dealer, over 

their 30 year history, MST have sold Berco products, 

purchasing them from other Berco distributors with 

whom they have developed good working relations. It was 

only when Peter Strickland ceased his activities in the 

aftermarket that MST felt that the time had come to discuss 

with Berco the possibility of becoming an official Berco 

Dealer for Great Britain. 

MST have approximately 60 people working for them in 

the service centers of Birtley and Airdrie, although they 

intend to expand their activities towards the South, 

opening a new service center in Birmingham in a few 

months’ time. 

For further information you can contact MST: 

Mr. Paul Whitehall 

Midland Steel Traders Ltd. 

Portobello Industrial Estate 

Birtley, County Durham, DH3 2SW - UK 

Tel. +44 (191) 4105311 - Fax +44 (191) 410 0482 

e-mail: paul.whitehall@mst-tracks.co.uk 

CONQUERING 

THE WEST 

Olympic Tracks open a branch in Las Vegas 

In the desert landscape of Nevada, a new Berco sign has 

been raised by Olympic Tracks, Inc. (OTI). Olympic Tracks, 

affiliated company of Berco of America, which has been 

our U.S. dealer for the Pacific Northwest in the Seattle area 

since 1993, recently announced its expansion into the 

Southwest. 

The new Nevada location, in North Las Vegas, will occupy 

20,000 square feet (1858 sq. meters) of warehouse space 

and 1400 square feet of office space (130 sq. meters). 

Besides offering the complete range of Berco undercarriage 

components, OTI’s new facility will have the full service 

capability to refurbish and maintain crawler construction 

equipment. 

This important step in the continuous growth of Berco 

throughout the world has created new excitement and 

evident enthusiasm. As confirmed by Scott Kellogg, 

General Manager of OTI, “We are very excited about the 

opportunity to better serve our customers in Nevada, 

Southern California, Arizona and Utah as North Las Vegas 

is centrally located in the Southwest region of the USA.” 

Tom Rodrigues is the Branch Manger of this new North 

Las Vegas facility. Tom has over 16 years experience 

within the heavy construction market working as a 

Business Manager. Dave Williams is the Parts and Service 

Manager. Dave has been a professional in this industry 

for 32 years. His expertise has a wide range with a 

concentration on Marketing and Product Support. 

OTI North Las Vegas can be reached by phone at 1-888- 

810-4802 or by fax at 702-507-0970. 

EALER NEWS DEALER NEWS DEALER NEWS DEALER NEWS D

AANNNOOOTTTHHHEEERRR ... - Berco S.p.A

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