Product innovation and specialisation is the formula adopted by Elsa, in Sellia Marina, which began as a small workshop in the province of Catanzaro and has established itself in markets throughout the world. This innovation currently focusses on a machine that allows repair of worn and ovalised pin holes by overlay welding and in-line boring, with the great advantage of being portable.

The “Supercombinata” series by Elsa began with the idea of responding to growing demand in the field of maintenance and repair. The portable line boring machines are in fact extremely versatile and reduce working times considerably. Thanks to the compact size of the machines, repairs can be carried out directly in-situ, thereby reducing intervention and manpower costs, with the great advantage of allowing highly precise work to be performed in places that are accessible to other machines. The fields of interest are numerous, from shipping to earth moving, from nuclear technology to industry, and from railways to the expanding renewable energy sector. The “Supercombinata” products are produced in a range of models, to specifically meet all needs. There is the compact, lightweight model for machining/welding jobs from between 42 mm to 400 mm in diameter (which can be extended up to 600 mm with an optional kit), with boring machines that work in any position. Another series, for jobs from 62 to 600 mm in diameter (with optional extensions of up to 1200 mm) has a different transmission system to ensure higher performance, and is equipped with a 60 mm diameter boring bar for machining larger diameters. Finally, there is a series designed to easily handle large diameter machining/welding jobs (with an extension kit of up to 1200 mm), with a 2300 W motor and ventilation system.

A flexible and effective product, therefore, which is aimed at increasing its presence abroad. The challenge of Evangelista Russo, head and founder of the company, began in 1960, in a machine shop for the repair of industrial and earth moving machinery. With the experience gained in the field and a great desire for innovation in the mechanical field, he established his own business and in 1975 invented a tracked chain for industrial and agricultural machinery, which met with great success at the Verona Fair. This was followed by the invention of a self-lubricating pin for bucket arms, and then the idea to create a machine tool capable of performing in-line boring work on worn pin holes directly in-situ, without having to dismantle the machinery under repair. Thus began the growing success of the portable automatic line boring and rotary welding machines, which has led, thanks to investments and improvements, to the “Supercombinata” series. Evangelista Russo, who is still in charge of the company, together with his four children, insists on innovation: “Today, “he says, “it is difficult to find specialised young tradesmen who work on prototypes, but that is exactly what is needed. We need to find new solutions, improve our capacities and grow.” The company, affirms Russo, despite the economic crisis “closed 2011 with turnover still growing and set to reach 2 million euros”. This proves the fact that quality brings its own reward.