GF Automazioni

What GF Automazioni does

GF Automazioni S.r.l. is an Italian industrial automation integrator founded in 2001 by Gianni Righi and headquartered in Sasso Marconi, Bologna. The firm designs and builds special automatic machines to customer specification across multiple sectors — steel, food, medical, household appliances, and (as its core vertical) plastic injection moulding — using off-the-shelf PLC and Drive & Motion control platforms combined with an in-house mechanical and software engineering team. Its offering spans custom automation cells, press-side automation stations (sprue cutting, insert feeding, vision-based quality control, assembly), electrical panel design and on-machine wiring with CE certification, custom robotic grippers, the standardized HG-EOAT (Helping Hand) sub-brand of EOAT components for plastic moulding, Industry 4.0/READY4.0 integration, and Cobot-based collaborative robot solutions.

The business model is primarily project-based: custom-engineered machines are quoted after a direct-consultation sales process, with typical medium-complexity projects delivered roughly four months after offer acceptance. Complementary revenue streams include turnkey or contract electrical-panel and wiring work supplied to other automatic-machine manufacturers, ongoing preventive-maintenance contracts, and a 24-hour on-site intervention SLA. The HG-EOAT catalog line is the closest thing to a repeatable, non-custom SKU product. Distribution is a hybrid of direct enterprise sales supported by a network of regional Italian distributors and sales representatives (Serpla, Rossi Consulting, HMI srl, plus independent reps), supplemented by participation in industrial trade shows (MECSPE, FARETE, SAMUEXPO), a bilingual website, and a reserved customer portal.

Ownership is founder/family-controlled, with no disclosed external investors, holding company, or subsidiaries. The company operates exclusively in Italy despite international trade-show presence, and pursues product expansion (cobot solutions, updated HG catalogs) and partner integrations (WITTMANN, University of Bologna, IMPRONTA SICURA) as its primary growth levers rather than geographic or acquisitive expansion.

Name

GF Automazioni

Legal name

GF Automazioni S.r.l.

Website

https://gfautomazioni.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GF Automazioni is an Italian industrial automation integrator in Sasso Marconi (Bologna) that designs and builds custom automatic machines, press-side automation, robotic grippers, electrical panels, and cobot solutions for manufacturing companies, with a specialization in the plastic injection moulding sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Equipment

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Motion Control Components (Servos, Drives, Motors, Encoders) (IMAHAHAG)

Keywords

• Industrial automation systems
• Custom automation machinery
• Robot grippers EOAT
• Injection molding automation
• Electrical panel manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Sasso Marconi

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Machine Design and Construction: Design and construction of special automatic machines to customer specification. For medium-complexity projects, delivery takes approximately 4 months from offer acceptance. The company manages the full project lifecycle from concept to CE certification and post-sale support.
2. Electrical Panels and Wiring Services: Design and construction of electrical panels for automation systems, provided turnkey or as contract work to external customers including major automatic machine manufacturers. Also includes on-board machine wiring and final testing services.
3. Robot Grippers (Custom and Standard): Design and manufacture of customized robot grippers (end-of-arm tooling), followed through to testing. Also includes the HG-EOAT standardized component line for faster gripper construction, sold as standard products.
4. Technical Support and Maintenance Services: Post-sale technical assistance including telephone support during business hours, on-site interventions typically guaranteed within 24 hours, and preventive maintenance plans for reducing machine downtime.
5. CE Certification Services: In partnership with IMPRONTA SICURA, integrated CE certification service for manufacturing cells in the plastic injection moulding sector, including risk analysis, use and maintenance manual, layout design, and supply and installation of safety guards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GF Automazioni designs and manufactures custom industrial automation systems to customer specifications, including special automatic machines, press-side automation stations (sprue cutting, insert feeding, vision-based quality control, assembly) for the plastic injection molding sector, custom robotic grippers and the standardized HG-EOAT component line, electrical control panels and machine wiring, and collaborative robot (cobot) solutions. The offering is supported by post-sale technical assistance, preventive maintenance plans, and CE certification services delivered in partnership with IMPRONTA SICURA.

Product overview

GF Automazioni is an industrial automation company that designs and builds custom automatic machines and equipment to customer specifications, alongside standardized product lines. Their portfolio centers on custom automation systems (including special machines for injection molding, robot grippers, and press-side automation) combined with the HG-EOAT sub-brand of standardized robotic gripper components for plastic molding. Complementary offerings include electrical panel design and wiring services, technical support, and the READY4.0 Industry 4.0 package. They also offer cobot (collaborative robot) solutions. The company serves multiple industrial sectors and positions itself as a full-service technology partner from design through post-sale support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HG-EOAT (Helping Hand): A product line of standard components for the construction of robotic gripping hands, specifically aimed at companies operating in plastic injection molding. The line includes EOAT components, suction cups, vacuum products, and pneumatics to speed up and economize gripper design.

Products and services

• Custom Automation Systems Custom-designed and manufactured automatic machines and equipment built to customer specification, optimizing production processes and maximizing productivity across multiple industrial sectors including steel, food, medical, and household appliances. For medium-complexity projects, delivery takes approximately 4 months from offer acceptance, including all technical and regulatory documentation.
• Press-Side Automation Stations

Quantifiable outcome

• Technical intervention guaranteed within 24 hours for machines produced by GF Automazioni, reducing unplanned downtime.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WITTMANNcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021GF Automazioni partners with WITTMANN, a leader in plastic injection moulding technology, to offer integrated press automation solutions. WITTMANN's technology principles focus on innovation and technological advancement for maximum customer benefit. GF Automazioni's customized solutions integrate seamlessly with WITTMANN's range of press automation products, allowing customers to have a single point of contact.
• Serpla s.r.l.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Serpla srl is a company with many years of experience in plastic moulding, originally providing maintenance services for injection moulding companies and later expanding to become a distributor. The agreement enables Serpla to distribute GF Automazioni's moulding automations and EOAT components in the Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia regions. The Serpla team includes experienced technicians in press maintenance, plastic moulding, and maintains a large stock of spare parts.
• PMA StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPMA Studio collaborates with GF Automazioni on design projects across multiple sectors including steel, food, medical, and household appliances. Projects include automatic machinery, assembly and light mechanical processing equipment, robot grippers, and automation systems for plastic and rubber moulding. The partnership enables GF Automazioni to offer comprehensive design capabilities without being limited to a specific sector.
• IMPRONTA SICURAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGF Automazioni partners with IMPRONTA SICURA, an engineering consultancy, to offer an integrated CE certification service for manufacturing cells in the plastic injection moulding sector. The partnership provides risk analysis, use and maintenance manuals, layout design, supply and installation of safety guards with safety devices, and relative testing — all through a single interlocutor.
• Rossi ConsultingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRossi Consulting is an exclusive distributor of GF Automazioni's automations in the plastic moulding sector and EOAT components for the Toscana, Marche, Lazio, Umbria and Abruzzo regions. Rossi Consulting has been active in the plastic materials market for over 25 years.
• HMI s.r.l.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHMI srl is the regional distributor for GF Automazioni covering the Lombardia region of Italy, selling automation systems and EOAT components.
• EWIKON Heißkanalsysteme GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEWIKON Heißkanalsysteme GmbH is a hot runner systems company that partnered with GF Automazioni at MECSPE 2021. The partnership contributed to the success of the trade show event.
• Mass International S.r.l.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMass International Srl supplied conveyor belts for GF Automazioni's exhibition at MECSPE 2021.
• University of BolognaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGF Automazioni has developed projects in collaboration with the University of Bologna, contributing to research and innovation in industrial automation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Pilz: European automation safety and control specialist offering CE-marking, safety controllers, and consultancy. Comparable on the CE-certification / safety services that GF Automazioni provides in partnership with IMPRONTA SICURA.
• Universal Robots: Danish cobot pioneer serving SME manufacturers with collaborative robots. Direct overlap with GF Automazioni's cobot solutions; also a potential OEM partner for gripper/EOAT integration work.

Direct peers

• WITTMANN: Global leader in plastic injection moulding automation (robots, sprue pickers, auxiliaries). Direct peer — and current partner — to GF Automazioni in moulding-side automation; overlap is highest in EOAT, sprue cutting, and press-side cells.
• Yushin Precision Equipment: Japanese leader in take-out robots and automation for plastic injection moulding. Comparable product overlap with GF Automazioni's robot grippers and press-side automation stations; serves a similar moulder customer base.
• Sepro Group: French-based maker of Cartesian robots and automation for injection moulding machines. Closely comparable to GF Automazioni's press-side automation product line and competes for moulding-cell integration projects across Europe.

Broad incumbents

• IMA Group: Italian-headquartered global leader in automatic packaging and processing machinery. Comparable as a much larger Italian industrial automation incumbent with full custom engineering capabilities spanning multiple process industries.
• Marchesini Group: Italian packaging machinery and automation group. Comparable as a larger Italian custom automation specialist serving multiple industries, providing a reference point for GF Automazioni's potential scale-up trajectory.
• Beckhoff Automation: German manufacturer of PC-based control, PLC, and motion-control platforms. Comparable on the motion control and PLC backbone that GF Automazioni uses; also offers integrated automation solutions that compete for the same end customers.
• Comau: Italian industrial automation and robotics company (Stellantis group) serving automotive and manufacturing customers. Broad incumbent competitor for custom automation, robotic cells, and Industry 4.0 integration projects in Italy.
• B&R Industrial Automation (ABB): Now part of ABB Machine Automation, B&R provides PLC, motion control, and integrated automation solutions. Direct overlap with GF Automazioni's PLC/Drive & Motion technology stack and a competitor for complete machine automation projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about GF Automazioni