With over two centuries of expertise, Silmax continues to evolve as a global leader in precision tools. In this exclusive interaction, Dr. Dario Maria Fumagalli, President & CEO of Silmax, speaks with Kaushal Dighavkar about blending heritage with innovation, India’s strategic role, and the company’s vision for sustainable and intelligent manufacturing.
Q. Silmax has a 200-year legacy in precision tools. How do you balance this heritage with the need for continuous innovation in today’s highly competitive manufacturing landscape?
I would like to answer in a way you may consider unconventional with a quote from someone who, in my view and for many others, was the greatest innovator in history: Leonardo da Vinci. He said, “Yesterday is the father of today,” which poetically expresses the idea that the past creates and influences both the present and the future. Every event, decision, or action taken yesterday has repercussions and consequences that shape what we experience today. Our more than 200 years of history have taught us just this: remembering and understanding the past helps us live more consciously in the present and better prepare for the ongoing innovation we want to see accompany our future.
Q. With production in India set to begin in 2025, what strategic role does the Indian market play in Silmax’s global operations, and how do you plan to integrate local manufacturing with your global supply chain?
The decision to start a production plant in India is not recent but dates back several months, considering our presence in the country since 2012. Together with our partner Pferd, we made this choice after carefully assessing the potential of the Indian market and the quality of its customers, and not simply to relocate production to a more economically advantageous context compared to Europe. The Indian plant was conceived as fully integrated from the start: the CNC machines, measuring instruments, software, and technical drawings used are identical to those employed in our other production facilities. Local operators took part in an intensive training program at our headquarters in Italy for over a year.
There are no Italians or Europeans in the Silmax India organization chart, as we believe it is essential for this company to be local, albeit with a strong technological legacy from our main headquarters. Today, we define ourselves as a “G-LOCAL” manufacturer—that is, global, with an operational presence in strategic markets such as India. The products manufactured at the Indian plant, while complying with the strict quality standards of the parent company, will be destined exclusively for the Indian market, which is characterized by high demands.
Q. Your R&D center is equipped with next-generation machines and coatings. How is Silmax using advanced technologies like PVD coatings or CAD/CAM optimization to meet the evolving demands of industries such as aerospace and automotive?
Silmax’s R&D center is designed to be a hub of technological innovation, equipped with latest generation machinery and advanced surface treatment capabilities. In sectors like aerospace and automotive, where precision, durability, and performance are critical, we leverage cutting-edge technologies to deliver tools that meet and exceed evolving industry standards.
One of our key strengths lies in the use of PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) coatings, which significantly enhance tool performance by improving wear resistance, reducing friction, and extending tool life. These coatings are tailored to specific applications, allowing us to optimize machining processes even in the most demanding materials.
In parallel, we invest in CAD/CAM optimization, integrating advanced simulation and design tools to refine geometries, cutting profiles, and chip evacuation strategies. This enables us to accelerate development cycles, reduce prototyping costs, and ensure that each tool is engineered for maximum efficiency and reliability.
Our approach is not just about adopting technology, it’s about integrating it into a broader innovation strategy that aligns with the needs of high-performance industries. By combining material science, digital engineering, and process know-how, Silmax continues to be a trusted partner for manufacturers seeking precision, sustainability, and competitive advantage.
Q. Silmax is known for fast delivery of special tools. From a management perspective, how do you maintain efficiency and quality while delivering customized solutions at speed
When considering how Silmax maintains both efficiency and quality in the rapid delivery of customized tools, several key management strategies and operational principles come into play such
- Integrated Production Processes
Silmax utilizes a highly integrated manufacturing system. By keeping the entire production cycle in-house—from design and prototyping to final manufacturing—we minimize delays associated with third-party suppliers. This vertical integration allows for better control over quality and timelines, ensuring that custom solutions are delivered both quickly and to the highest standard.
- Investment in Advanced Technology
The company is known for its investment in cutting-edge technologies such as CNC machining, precision grinding, and automation and state of the art coating process. These technologies not only speed up production but also ensure consistency and accuracy, which are essential for meeting the specific needs of each client.
- Experienced and Specialized Teams
Silmax’s workforce includes highly trained engineers and toolmakers who are experts in the development and manufacture of special tools. Their collaborative approach, with cross-functional teams that can swiftly address technical challenges, enables rapid problem-solving and adaptation to customer requirements without compromising quality.
- Agile Project Management
An agile and responsive project management system is key to delivering customized solutions at speed. Silmax employs flexible production planning and lean management principles to quickly allocate resources, prioritize urgent projects, and adapt to changing demands. This agility is complemented by robust quality assurance steps at each stage of production.
- Customer-Centric Collaboration
The company emphasizes close collaboration with clients from the initial inquiry through to final delivery. By maintaining open channels of communication, Silmax ensures it fully understands and anticipates customer needs, enabling the design and delivery of tailor-made solutions with minimal waste and rework.
- Continuous Improvement and Feedback Loops
Silmax fosters a culture of continuous improvement, regularly reviewing processes, collecting feedback, and implementing incremental enhancements. This focus not only boosts efficiency but also helps sustain quality over time, even as demands for speed and customization increase.
- Rigorous Quality Control
Despite the emphasis on speed, rigorous quality assurance remains non-negotiable. Silmax applies stringent testing and inspection protocols throughout the production process, leveraging both automated and manual checks to guarantee that every tool meets the expected standards before leaving the facility. Recent investments in the fully automated Roboset instrument machines by Zolle allow us provide customers with a detailed inspections report on 100% of the tools manufactured
Q. Manufacturing industries globally are under pressure to adopt greener practices. What steps is Silmax taking to ensure sustainability both in tool production and in helping your customers reduce their environmental footprint?
At Silmax, sustainability is not just an ethical obligation or a regulatory requirement, it’s a strategic investment in our future and a key driver of innovation. Our mission places a strong emphasis on sustainable production and the reduction of CO₂ emissions, both in our operations and in the value we deliver to our customers.
One of our most impactful initiatives is the implementation of a system to monitor and calculate the CO₂ emissions associated with each tool in our catalog. This methodology, developed within our management system, allows us to assign a Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) to every item, using data from our various production centers. This enables our customers to make more informed decisions and actively reduce their own environmental impact. From an operational standpoint, we pursue both direct and indirect climate actions. We continuously improve our production processes to reduce CO₂ emissions and have developed digital tools that minimize employee travel, further lowering our carbon footprint.
Moreover, we’ve adopted a circular approach to product design, supported by carbon footprint reporting and classification systems that can be integrated directly into product datasheets. This ensures that sustainability is embedded not only in how we produce, but also in how our tools are used and understood by our customers.
In short, Silmax is committed to making sustainability measurable, actionable, and impactful, for us and for those who rely on our tools.
Q. Can you share how the partnership with PFERD is shaping Silmax’s growth strategy, and what synergies it brings to your product portfolio and global reach?
SILMAX and PFERD have joined their expertise. As family-owned companies with strong values and objectives, we complement each other ideally – always oriented towards the requirements of our customers.
Together, we want to become, on a worldwide basis, your dependable and expert partner when it comes to optimizing your machining applications. The combination of solid carbide tool solutions provided by Silmax and a strong R&D and Innovation center provided by Perd combine the very best of over two centuries’ experience in tool development with a passion for innovation. The results are high-performance and cost-efficient premium standard and customized cutting tools with measurable added value for the manufacturing of tomorrow.
Our centers of competence in Italy , Germany, and Switzerland represent Innovations made in Europe for world class customers.
Q. With a strong focus on technical expertise, how do you see workforce diversity and skills development contributing to Silmax’s innovation edge in the manufacturing sector?
At Silmax, technical excellence is a cornerstone of our identity, but it’s the diversity of our workforce and continuous skills development that truly amplify our innovative capacity. By bringing together individuals from varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, we foster a culture where creative problem-solving and unconventional thinking thrive—essential traits in a sector that demands constant evolution.
Moreover, investing in skills development ensures that our teams remain agile and forward-looking. Whether it’s through upskilling in digital manufacturing technologies, lean processes, or sustainability practices, we empower our people to anticipate market needs and drive process innovation. This synergy between technical know-how and human capital diversity is what enables Silmax to stay ahead in a competitive global landscape.
Ultimately, innovation is not just about machines and methods—it’s about people. And at Silmax, we believe that a diverse, skilled, and motivated workforce is our most powerful engine for growth
