UNITEC, a company with a green heart projected into the future

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22 Marzo 2023

UNITEC S.p.A., one year after its centenary and today present on the global market, is a company highly specialised in the design and implementation of solutions and plants for processing, grading and quality classification of more than 50 types of fresh fruit and vegetables. Thanks to a strategic vision and an innovative business approach, this all-Italian excellence – which has over 750 employees, 20 operating sites and is present in over 65 countries, including those with the highest fruit and vegetable production, such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Africa – has succeeded in asserting its leadership in a highly competitive market, clearly differentiating itself from its numerous competitors. In this long interview, President Angelo Benedetti describes the reasons for this success…

by Roberta Imbimbo

Dr. Benedetti, with what mission was UNITEC S.p.A. born?
Founded back in 1924 (next year it will celebrate its first one hundred years) in Massa Lombarda (RA), in 1993, it took its current name following the merger of two different companies (TNT-Tomorrow New Technology and Dalle Vacche). Today, UNITEC is a multinational company specialised in the design and implementation of innovative solutions for grading and classifying the internal and external quality of fresh fruit and vegetables. Our mission is therefore to improve the quality of fruit and vegetable processing in the many countries around the world where we operate, providing customised patented solutions dedicated to over 50 different types of fruit, with the aim of increasing the efficiency of fruit and vegetable processing.

What kind of market is it in which you operate? What peculiarities distinguish you from your competitors?
UNITEC has succeeded in asserting its leadership in a highly competitive market, dominated by numerous players especially at international level, thanks to a strategic vision that has proved rewarding over time and that has enabled it to achieve significant growth in its turnover in just a few years (around 150 million euros), more than 90% of which has been achieved on foreign markets. The reasons for so much success can be attributed first and foremost to the Group’s steadfast desire to create technologically advanced solutions capable of concretely helping fruit and vegetable plants to improve their production processes in order to offer the end consumer fruit of a quality consistent with its promises. In fact, its patented technological solutions – 100% Made in UNITEC and covering the entire fruit and vegetable processing cycle – provide a complete guarantee of the end result as they enable fruit and vegetables to be classified on the basis of the different external and internal characteristics (the latter not visible to the naked eye) of the individual fruit or vegetable (e.g. sugar content, firmness, degree of ripeness, firmness, acidity, etc.). And this is a true Copernican revolution, made possible by the use of special light sensors, capable of collecting up to 80 different pieces of information for each fruit. This information is then processed by specific software, entirely developed in-house, with the aim of classifying products according to the parameters measured and subsequently producing packages only with fruits that have similar characteristics. Classifying fruits according to their external and internal quality characteristics is a service with high added value as it allows homogeneous packages to be obtained from a quality point of view, and to enhance the product on the market by guaranteeing fruit and vegetables of a quality consistent with the promise made to the end consumer. Obviously, all these innovations have been realised thanks to substantial investments: our Research and Development Centre is made up of a qualified team of more than 100 researchers constantly working to proactively anticipate the needs of a dynamic and constantly evolving market. Finally, in the era of digital transformation, UNITEC has also invested considerable resources in the automation of production processes, with the desire to also improve people’s working conditions: today, there are many people working in plants who do exhausting, repetitive and alienating work. With UNITEC technology, and in particular with the solutions of the new UNI Robotics division, today it is possible to replace this work and assign people to do more value-added activities where intelligence is valued more highly than repetitiveness.

UNITEC is a company with a green heart. How does it manage to combine economic growth objectives with low-impact corporate policies?
UNITEC has always made corporate social responsibility an important value in its operations. Thanks to its choice of harmonising economic growth objectives with social and environmental policies – thus combining innovation, productivity, competitiveness and respect for people and the environment – over the years it has managed to become a clear reference point for those who believe in the importance of adopting sustainable development models. In fact, UNITEC’s solutions make it possible to reduce waste in a tangible way: the reliable classification of external and internal quality achieved with UNITEC’s systems allows each fruit or vegetable to be given a very specific destination (fresh consumption or processing industry). It is no coincidence that, every year, UNITEC sorts around 350 billion fruits and, thanks to its innovative technologies, 45 billion of these products are revalued by taking routes other than the fresh market, where they would be wasted because they are unsuitable. By classifying the fruits according to homogeneous quality characteristics, waste resulting from the contamination of fruits of different qualities within the same package is also avoided, resulting in greater satisfaction of end consumers. Last but not least, by avoiding the transport of fruit unsuitable for fresh consumption, huge amounts of CO2 are saved. In conclusion, UNITEC has always worked to provide concrete and tangible answers to the needs of fruit and vegetable companies, acting in a sustainable manner and always having the well-being of the planet at heart. “UNITEC, we work for your results. We work for a better world’.

For info (https://www.unitec-group.com)

Casagrande shines in the market for experience and professionalism

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Imbimbo

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15 Marzo 2023

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Founded in the production area on the slopes of Assisi, Casagrande S.r.l. is a company highly specialised in the development and final production of precision mechanical machining. Thanks to the experience and professionalism gained over the years, it is now able to offer high quality products destined for a niche international market. “Feeling Italian, for us, also means exporting abroad (mainly to Germany) absolutely perfect products and making an Italian company a synonym of precision and reliability for the strict German industry,” says Mauro Casagrande, President of an all-Italian excellence that in recent years has experienced rapid expansion in terms of both workforce and business and turnover, in this lengthy interview.

by Roberta Imbimbo

Casagrande, tell us a little about your company.
Telling us about my company means going back over 40 years of experience and great satisfaction. Casagrande started out as a small manufacturer of PVC moulds and fittings. As the years went by, however, the company specialised in precision machining, turning, milling, and reaming of parts and began to successfully explore other strategic markets, such as the automotive, hydraulics, sports, hunting, and civil armoury sectors, and lastly the biomedical sector. Today, Casagrande SRL is a reality operating on the national and international territory, with a team of highly qualified professionals, 5 M.C.M. machining centres, a turning department with 3 machining centres, a milling department with 3 machining centres, a metrology room to keep the entire production under control, a technical office for the design of all our equipment and order management. Thanks to the quality of the solutions offered, the punctuality of deliveries, substantial investments in cutting-edge technology and the ability to innovate by anticipating future trends, over the years we have managed to significantly increase our customer base and penetrate significant market shares.
What are the peculiarities that distinguish you from your competitors?
Operating in a niche market, where there is a demand that is still not fully satisfied by the competition, Casagrande has been able to contextualise its offer and develop exclusive and distinctive skills that enable it to adequately respond to any type of requirement, in terms of production, processing and recovery (the issue of environmental sustainability is very dear to us). Thanks to the professionalism and experience gained over many years of activity, and nonetheless to the continuous improvement of production quality, it is today able to generate a lasting competitive advantage for its customers, offering them highly efficient and innovative solutions, qualitatively superior to those offered by other market players; technologically performing solutions that allow it to support a wide window of applications. More. With the acquisition of M.C.M. Spa machining centres (a leading manufacturer of numerical control machines for high-precision mechanical machining), Casagrande has boosted the productivity of medium and large series. Specifically, it has created a technical department aimed at designing highly innovative equipment to meet the needs of a constantly evolving market. In conclusion, despite the extraordinary achievements to date, the company aims to meet the challenges of the coming years in international markets. These include asserting its leadership in relatively new sectors such as biomedical and aeronautics.

For more information (https://www.officinacasagrande.com)

Employment litigation today

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Imbimbo

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7 Marzo 2023

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Labour disputes – that is, disputes that may arise between an employee and an employer over certain aspects of their relationship, when it is alleged that rights or expectations protected by law and/or collective bargaining have been infringed – are increasingly on the rise in our country. For over 30 years, the Pelosi Law Firm – present in various Italian provinces such as, for example, Venice, Latina, Cagliari, Sassari, Naples, Rome, Caserta, and Salerno – has been assisting its clients with professionalism and experience in all labour disputes, choosing the most effective strategy that the concrete case offers.

Nowadays one often hears talk of the labour lawyer. Lawyer Pelosi would like to explain who this important professional figure is and what he does?
The labour lawyer is a professional who has gained specific training in labour law, where labour law means the set of legal (imperative, binding and mandatory) and contractual rules that govern labour relations and more specifically subordinate labour relations, since historically, in this type of work there is a significant disparity between the parties, which determines the need to protect the weaker party, the worker, given the involvement not only of his physical person, but also of his moral personality, freedom and dignity. The purpose of labour law is, therefore, to regulate the legal relationship between the employer and the worker, mitigating the most deleterious effects of subordination. It is therefore obvious and self-evident that anyone who has a problem relating to their employment relationship can request advice and possible defence in the appropriate fora.
What advice is most in demand today?
For more than 30 years I have been personally involved in the assistance and defence of workers, the weakest party in the employment contract; this is a choice of field dictated by a precise social responsibility. The most requested consultations are those related to pay differences resulting from an incorrect assignment of the correct contractual level as provided for by the CCNL of the category. Superior duties performed and not recognised in the pay envelope; additional work and/or overtime performed and not paid; abuse of the use of disciplinary power by the employer, are situations that do not respect constitutionally protected rights and therefore require accurate and qualified advice from the labour lawyer. In fact, Article 36 of the Constitution establishes the principle that every worker has the right to remuneration that is proportionate to the quantity and quality of his or her work and in any case sufficient to ensure a free and dignified existence for him or herself and his or her family. Often, however, employers pay workers a wage that violates this principle. And it is in these cases that my law firm intervenes, offering its clients qualified and in-depth advice, assessing the merits of the workers’ claims and favouring as much as possible a mediation between the parties, an out-of-court solution. Only if this does not happen will we consider whether to pursue legal action. Allow me to close this chat by pointing out the most trivial mistake that employers make today: it is the lack of human gratification, which should instead be a priority in every work context!
For more info: Cell. 3289855920 – www.centrolegale.it

Team Sicurezza shines in the market for experience and professionalism

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Imbimbo

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7 Marzo 2023

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Founded about six years ago from the far-sighted idea of entrepreneur Daniele Bambagioni, Team Sicurezza S.r.l. is a company highly specialised in consultancy and assistance to Italian companies in the field of Health and Safety in the Workplace, training and financing for SMEs. Thanks to a strategic vision and an innovative business approach, this all-Italian excellence has managed to grow significantly in terms of turnover and size, becoming one of the leading market players in a short time.

by Roberta Imbimbo

Dr Bambagioni, with what mission was Team Sicurezza S.r.l. born?

Team Sicurezza was set up with the aim of asserting its leadership in a highly competitive market dominated by several well-structured players; an ambitious challenge that it managed to win thanks to an innovative business approach, oriented towards customer centrality. In fact, our main distinguishing feature is our ability to provide tailor-made solutions, with high added value, tailored to the needs of individual operations, and to provide prompt and effective answers at the end of a totally free and qualified company check-up. From the very beginning, moreover, we have focused on 360-degree consultancy, differentiating our offer in different strategic thematic areas. A choice that over time has proved to be rewarding: today we are a single interlocutor for Italian companies in the fields of health and safety in the workplace, training, financing, HACCP and privacy (for the fulfilment of all obligations under national privacy legislation, the provisions of the Privacy Guarantor and the new European Privacy Regulation).

What other peculiarities distinguish you from your numerous competitors?

We are one of the few companies in Italy to have obtained ISO 9001 certification for the high quality of services offered in the field of Safety in the workplace (which, in addition to being a legal obligation, is a moral duty for every employer). With a punctual, reliable and multidisciplinary approach, we work alongside and support our clients in this very complex matter – first regulated by 626/94 then by Legislative Decree 81/200 – to enable them to orient their work activities to the highest standards of safety in the workplace.

And what about training?

Our mission is to implement the personal, professional and digital skills (which are essential, for example, to realise European digital citizenship) of each individual worker, so that they are perfectly able to adapt to the new conditions of the labour market, facing new and exciting challenges, especially in the field of technology and innovation. The customer can take advantage of our training offerings in e-learning mode on our technology platforms, in videoconferencing or, where possible, in person at the company’s premises. To be increasingly competitive, companies must invest in the training of their teams, thereby also benefiting from the possibility of accessing the New Skills Fund, financed by the European Social Fund to support companies in the process of adapting to the new organisational and production models required by the dual digital and ecological transition. To facilitate Training 4.0, which is fundamental in the era of digital transformation, the Ministry of Economic Development instead grants companies an enhanced tax credit (up to 70 per cent for small companies and 50 per cent for medium-sized companies) provided that the training activities are carried out by qualified subjects outside the company. In conclusion, despite the important milestones we have achieved in all these years of activity, we aim to grow further both in terms of turnover and size, opening new offices in Milan and Bologna, always having at heart the maximisation of customer satisfaction, which has always been our priority objective!

For more info (https://teamsicurezza.net)

The treatment of Chronic Glaucoma

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Imbimbo

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6 Marzo 2023

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Glaucoma, which according to recent scientific studies affects more than 55 million people worldwide and is one of the main causes of visual impairment, is a chronic and degenerative eye disease that gradually, slowly and severely damages the optic nerve causing dangerous alterations in visual field perception. Illustrating the latest frontiers in the treatment of this degenerative disease is Prof. Stefano Miglior, President of the Italian Association for the Study of Glaucoma (AISG).

by Roberta Imbimbo

Prof. Miglior, what is Chronic Glaucoma?

Chronic Glaucoma is a degenerative disease of the optic nerve, with a slow and progressive course, generally associated with increased eye pressure. If not treated promptly and effectively, the progressive degeneration of the optic nerve causes an inexorable and irreversible decrease in the extent of the visual field, resulting in more or less total blindness in the most severe and neglected cases.

What symptoms does it manifest itself with?

Chronic Glaucoma is a disease that unfortunately evolves without symptoms. Only in the advanced stages, when the visual field is severely reduced, does the patient perceive that he or she has visual disturbances. Early diagnosis is therefore of fundamental importance as it allows the disease to be detected early, when the optic nerve lesions are still minimal and the visual field and vision have not been completely compromised, and thus when it is still possible to manage it adequately and effectively, avoiding the progressive onset of symptoms. It is advisable to have regular eye check-ups (at least once a year after the age of 40 and for patients with a family history).

How is Chronic Glaucoma treated today?

A diagnosis of Chronic Glaucoma cannot go without starting a treatment aimed at reducing intraocular pressure levels. Today, a large number of patients can be treated effectively with special pharmacological aids. However, when local medical therapy is no longer effective in reducing intraocular pressure and/or halting disease progression, laser procedures can be used, which are often effective but not definitive. In eyes that do not respond adequately to either local medical or laser therapy, or in the presence of an unstoppable worsening of the visual field, surgery is necessarily resorted to in order to create a drastic reduction in intraocular pressure. Today there are various surgical techniques, more or less invasive but all highly promising and safe, whose aim is to halt the progression of the disease by creating an additional pathway for the outflow of aqueous humour.

You are President of the Italian Association for the Study of Glaucoma: what are the aims of the society?

Founded way back in 1984, the AISG aims to disseminate scientific knowledge on Glaucoma (studying its causes, of course), to stimulate scientific and clinical research in Italy, to discover revolutionary new therapies, to refine surgical techniques to make them ever more minimally invasive and safe, but above all to improve the quality of life of people affected by this highly disabling disease.

The internationalisation of companies in today’s geopolitical framework

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Imbimbo

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28 Febbraio 2023

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Founded in the late 1990s by Roberto Corciulo, a chartered accountant, IC&Partners is a multinational company that has succeeded in establishing its leadership in the SME consultancy market, thanks to a quality service aimed at initiating, developing or strengthening their internationalisation process. Present for over 25 years in 17 countries with as many as 27 direct operating offices, this all-Italian excellence is today able to offer qualified and reliable consultancy in the fields of tax, legal, accounting, administrative, financial and human resources management abroad as well as entry strategy and export management services. A year after our last interview, we decided to meet again with Mr Roberto Corciulo to understand how, in all this time, the operational context in which the company operates has changed.

by Roberta Imbimbo

Dr Corciulo, with what mission was IC&Partners born?

The company was founded at the end of the 1990s with the aim of asserting its leadership in the market of consultancy for business internationalisation in the fields of tax, legal, accounting, administrative, financial and human resources management abroad, as well as in entry strategy and export management services. An ambitious challenge that it has succeeded in winning, on the strength of a strategic vision, an innovative business approach aimed at client centrality, and nonetheless an in-depth knowledge of the economic and social dynamics of each foreign market. Today, IC&Partners is a reliable and dynamic reality with no less than 250 employees and 27 direct operating offices located in 17 countries. Its mission is to seriously and professionally support SMEs – which represent the beating heart of the national production fabric – at every stage of their process of penetration of unexplored foreign markets, i.e. from the identification of the most suitable market (an important choice that guides the entire process of formulating the international development strategy) to the design of the strategic plan and its implementation.

How has the business environment changed?

Internationalisation is today at an epochal turning point, as globalisation and digitisation are creating countless growth opportunities for SMEs in different fields and areas of interest, forcing them to refine their expansion strategies in foreign markets. No company can think of remaining closed in its own market and feel immune from having to look for new outlets where it can sell its products and/or find raw materials at more advantageous costs. This being said, one must unfortunately consider the pressures coming from the international geopolitical climate, which have a significant impact on this expansion process, forcing companies to rethink their localisation strategy in foreign markets. The global scenario is in fact dominated by the extreme tensions and uncertainties generated by the Russian invasion in Ukraine, by the consequent economic sanctions imposed on Russia, by the rise in energy prices and the consequent difficulties in obtaining energy supplies, and by speculations on the prices of raw materials in some global supply chains (despite the fact that companies can obviate this increase by raising sales prices, as is already happening in some sectors, this choice obviously makes them less competitive in the reference market). For Italian companies, especially the more energy-intensive ones that find themselves having to compete with foreign players that have a much lower energy supply cost, this is therefore an enormous challenge, much more difficult than the one faced with the outbreak of the epidemic, which was indeed serious but never involved relations between states and above all never had such an uncertain time horizon.

In this operating context, how can the new growth opportunities arising from the internationalisation process be successfully seized?

As mentioned, globalisation is changing its skin in a rather disruptive way. Italian SMEs therefore need to rely on highly qualified figures, because the internationalisation process requires, today more than ever, specific managerial skills in terms of knowledge of the new global competitive context, of the political, economic, legislative and social characteristics of the outlet markets, and above all of the innovative technologies needed to overcome the new challenges imposed by digitalisation. Well aware that digital export represents a new lever for the development of company business in overseas markets, IC&Partners has signed an agreement with Webidoo Spa, a company specialising in Digital Transformation and Digital Marketing, the European service of Alibaba’s B2B platform, which has over 26 million active buyers in over 190 countries. Thanks to this valuable partnership, the “Digital +Export” one-stop shop platform has been launched to offer SMEs an increasingly innovative tool to support the development of their online and offline business, so that they can play an increasingly active role in this new digital and global revolution underway.

For more info: www.icpartners.it, info@icpartners.it

IMMEDIATE LOAD IMPLANT PROSTHETIC REHABILITATION

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Imbimbo

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23 Febbraio 2023

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Dental implantology is a branch of dentistry that aims to restore missing teeth by inserting artificial titanium roots (dental implants). In essence, implantology is a rehabilitation procedure aimed at those who have lost their natural teeth. Illustrating the latest frontiers in the field are Dr Maria Cacciola, Dr Luigi Vittozzi and Dr Domenico Cacciola of the prestigious Cacciola Dental Centre.

by Roberta Imbimbo

Dr Cacciola, what does dental implantology consist of?

Dental implantology consists of placing a titanium dental implant integrated into the bone of the dental arch concerned (osseointegrated implantology).

The result is a stable bond between the bone and the dental implant that can withstand high chewing loads. Artificial teeth are designed to replace real teeth that are missing in both aesthetics and chewing function. Usually, the integration time of the implant varies depending on the bone involved: maxillary (4-6 months); mandibular (3-4 months).

The healing time is estimated by the implantologist, also taking into account factors that could slow down osseointegration.

What is immediate loading implantology?

Immediate loading implantology means fitting a prosthesis on the implant immediately. This method is particularly suitable for all those who wish, especially for aesthetic reasons, to regain their smile immediately after the placement of an implant. It is used in the case of mono-edentulias; small fixed rehabilitations on implants in aesthetic and/or posterior regions; total edentulias. Depending on the extent of the surgery and the type of patient, it may be decided to ‘time’ immediate loading over days, weeks or months.

Dr Vittozzi, how has this method evolved over time?

The first protocols for immediate loading in implantology, now dating back several decades, stipulated that a dental implant should remain submerged (inside the gum) for 3-6 months, in order to avoid any trauma in the healing phase. Subsequently, however, numerous scientific studies observed that the osseointegration process could take place normally even if the implant ‘protruded’ from the gum, as long as specific mechanical and biological criteria were met. Since then, protocols have increasingly aimed at reducing the time required for surgery and implant prosthetics. Immediate load dental implantology represents the ultimate reduction in implant surgery time. This is because it envisages that the implant insertion and chewing of the implant prosthesis take place within 24 hours of surgery. Immediate loading implantation therefore represents a major breakthrough in the field, especially considering that today’s patients increasingly desire fixed prostheses and the placement of immediate dentures immediately after oral surgery.

What are the success factors for the procedure?

The main factor for the success of immediate loading implantology is implant stability in the bone. Stability is not a predictable parameter, but is strongly related to mechanical (surgical technique, implant geometry, quality and quantity of available bone) and biological (osseointegration) factors. The accurate pre-operative radiographic study and the detailed evaluation of the patient’s initial clinical state allow a fairly precise idea of how to achieve maximum immediate implant stability. In our practice, orthopantomography, 3D CT scans and digital impressions can be carried out on site for an immediate assessment of the clinical case and planning of the procedure with dedicated software.

What advantages does an immediate loading implant offer?

The possibility of making an immediately loaded prosthesis represents a great advantage for patients from a psychological and functional point of view. However, these undeniable advantages require first of all careful patient selection. It is necessary, for example, to assess the general state of health; smoking habits; any local infections or inflammations; the presence of bruxism or other parafunctions. A growing number of scientific studies also show that the long-term survival of this type of rehabilitation is completely superimposable to the survival rate of similar rehabilitations on implants placed according to traditional protocols. In general, the placement of immediately loaded dental implants is a safe procedure with an average success rate of 96%.

Dr Domenico Cacciola, how is it possible to maintain hygiene on this type of prosthesis?

This type of implant-prosthesis may pose some obstacles to professional oral hygiene manoeuvres, mainly deriving from the morphology of the ‘orthopaedic’ component of the prostheses themselves, meaning by this term the prosthetic portion deputed to represent the missing portion of gum tissue lost as a result of bone atrophy and necessary in its representation in order to be able to provide the patient with prosthetic dental elements of a congruous size and not oversized. the integration of a daily and effective use of specific home oral hygiene instruments, together with the individualised protocol of professional follow-up, is the approach that can allow in the medium and long term the integrity of the implant-prosthetic rehabilitation and the tissues that support it, thus offering the patient a guarantee of survival of the rehabilitation.

Ancora un Riccio also becomes a Spa and Wellness Centre

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Imbimbo

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22 Febbraio 2023

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A dream come true. Francesca Riccio, already a famous hair-stylist in Naples, has expanded her original business by creating, in Viale Michelangelo 57, an enchanting location for those who wish to dedicate time to caring for their body and their image in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, entrusting their well-being and beauty to expert and competent hands. A corner of paradise in the heart of the hilly district of Naples in which professionalism, elegance and a warm welcome are reflected, as is the style of an exemplary all-female staff, excellently directed by a brilliant and determined entrepreneur who has always placed the well-being of women at the centre of her work.

by Roberta Imbimbo

Francesca, it has been about two years since our last interview. Today we decided to meet you again to understand how, after all this time, your business has evolved.

I am proud to announce that I have finally managed to realise a big dream that I had been cultivating for a long time. I believed in it to the very end and I finally did it! A victory that I dedicate to all those who have supported and sustained me in this long journey of professional growth. First of all, my sister Flavia, who has always been at my side, and then a team that has been consolidated for years without which all this would not have been possible. As you know, I was the owner of a hair salon for about 20 years, but as time went by, I felt the need to expand my business, creating a warm and welcoming location for those who wanted to get away from the daily routine and find inner peace, taking care of their body and spirit in 360 degrees. And so, having brilliantly overcome the Covid emergency – which unfortunately slowed down the realisation of this great project of mine – since last October Ancora un Riccio has been ready to welcome its clients with an unmissable novelty: a brand new and ultra-modern SPA, designed and cared for in every detail for the maximum comfort and wellbeing of its clients, with a highly specialised and innovative offer.

Tell us about the new location, so elegant and cared for in every detail to pamper customers!

The new location in Viale Michelangelo 57 is on two levels. The upper area – wonderfully flooded with natural light thanks to large modern windows that create a constant dialogue between inside and outside – is entirely dedicated to hair care. The Spa and Wellness area, where simplicity meets the most sober and refined elegance, is instead the ideal place to indulge in a moment of pure relaxation, to let yourself be pampered by a regenerating sauna, relaxing or slimming massages performed in reserved and comfortable settings, and by the numerous high-level beauty treatments. Completing the offer is a fitness room designed mainly for yoga and pilates classes (for groups of three to four people), rigorously supervised by specialised instructors, as is the style of an all-female group that has always placed women at the centre of all attention. In short, the new Centre offers those who love relaxation and personal care highly effective and innovative treatments and wellness programmes, from beauty treatments to those for reshaping the body, from the wellness area equipped with sauna to the fitness room for sports enthusiasts. And that’s not all…

You have been known and appreciated on the market for years for your innovative approach to hair treatment. Why is your salon different from others?

We are the only salon in Naples that operates under the banner of naturalness and therefore uses only pure herbs without any chemical pigments, mixed exclusively with non-oxygenated water to colour the hair. As you can clearly see, on the brown shelf there are several glass containers, each containing powders of different gradations. They are all powdered herbs, each with specific colouring, moisturising, soothing and restructuring properties. Thanks to the presence of natural colouring pigments, they colour without altering the structure of the hair, but exert a healing and rebalancing action that makes the hair noticeably stronger, softer, shinier and more voluminous. Unlike chemical dyes that are extremely harmful and agressive (they can cause possible allergies, skin and scalp irritation), our dyeing herbs are 100% natural (we sometimes eat them in front of our customers), contain no chemical components and are therefore non-allergenic, but on the contrary are highly nourishing and restructuring. By mixing, for example, henna with other dye plants such as indigo, hibiscus, walnut husk, turmeric and rhubarb, we are able to achieve many colour nuances ranging from dark brown to light or golden blond. What’s more, already after the first few colourings, the hair will look decidedly softer, silkier and shinier! In short, the philosophy that has always animated our work is that dyeing is not only a matter of beauty, but also and above all a matter of health, and for this reason it is absolutely necessary to use only pure vegetable herbs! It is no coincidence that for years customers have chosen Ancora un Riccio as their point of reference for exclusive, high-quality services, offered by a team that has always sought to satisfy the needs of every woman with love, dedication and professionalism!

The role of digital skills and knowledge in Europe’s digital decade

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Imbimbo

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22 Febbraio 2023

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In the wake of President Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement in her 2022 State of the Union address, the European Commission has proclaimed 2023 as the European Year of Skills, strongly emphasising the need to place the role of the skills of the entire European population at the centre of the ongoing digital transformation. Only by enhancing learning opportunities and facilitating the recognition of qualifications with an appropriate certification system will Europe be able to achieve digital sovereignty in an increasingly interconnected world, in which the role of citizens in becoming active players in an increasingly digital, sustainable and fair future will also be decisive. “The challenge of adopting important digital innovation processes in defence of the inclusion of the entire Italian population in the reskilling and upskilling processes linked to the evolution of the European labour market pushes us to search for increasingly advanced and high-performance technological solutions resulting from partnerships with leading companies in their specific sectors,” says Anthony Vitali, Secretary General of FIRAS-SPP, a UGL confederate, and President of EBAFoS, a bilateral body and national joint body, in this lengthy interview.

by Roberta Imbimbo

Dr Vitali, what does the strategic programme for the digital decade aim to achieve?

The European project aims to evolve the operational level of society, hinging on digital knowledge and tools (more and better skills open up new opportunities and enable people to participate fully in the labour market, to exploit and benefit from the possibilities offered by green and digital transitions). Europe therefore aims at empowering businesses and citizens in an increasingly digital, sustainable and prosperous future through the acquisition of digital skills that are becoming increasingly important in the new global scenario (the Strategic Programme for the Digital Decade, which sets concrete goals and targets for 2030, states that every European citizen should be able to make competent and positive use of evolving digital technologies, including for the protection of human rights and dignity). What Europe therefore requires of us is the acquisition of digital European citizenship skills, which cut across the labour market and affect all people living and working in the European Union.

So what does it mean to be a digital citizen and why is it important to keep up with the transformation imposed by the European digital decade?

The European Model for the Digital Decade and the ‘Digital Compass 2023’ have among their objectives precisely the strengthening of the digital skills of European citizens. And the ‘European Agenda for Skills’ sets the goal of having at least 70% of the European population equipped with basic digital skills by 2025. In this regard, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has developed the DigComp 2.1. framework, a guiding document aimed at better detailing digital competences. Specifically, 21 exquisitely digital competences are listed, gathered in 5 competence areas, which European citizens will have to possess, at least at a certified basic level of mastery, by 2025. No European citizen, therefore, can afford to lag behind the ongoing digital transformations. The common horizon is to empower each individual to be an active player in the dual ecological and digital transition, overcoming current resiliences to digital change. Being equipped with these skills is therefore a prerequisite for full active citizenship and full participation in today’s labour market. Hence, the great responsibility of training organisations, which must in turn adapt and innovate (including by using innovative digital platforms for training delivery, new channels for sharing skills, such as Open Badges, as well as new forms of skills crystallisation through the use of Blockchain), in order to be the driving force behind the ongoing social and economic evolution.

What is the situation in Italy regarding the system of skills certification?

Recently, the Ministry of Labour has drawn up the INAPP Atlas of Work and Qualifications, a very useful framework for mapping and translating individual professions into ‘competences’ so that professional qualifications are mutually recognised among all the Member States.

The EU, in promoting the value of the individual on the world stage, values precisely the instrument of competence certification. And so, in addition to the possibility for European citizens to have their hard and soft skills recognised, the most important dimension of this innovative project lies precisely in the possibility for professionals to be able to work in any EU Member State thanks to a mutually recognised and certified qualification. The wealth of professional experience (with the exception of recognised and digital experience) of the individual, whatever the context in which he or she acquired the learning, is thus translated into “competences”.

What is the role of EBAFoS in this context? Can you also tell us about the valuable partnership with Piazza Copernico?

People’s digital skills are constantly evolving, and consequently the way of learning has to change at the same pace. And so trade unions are today called upon to play a role of great responsibility in protecting the workforce with regard to the acquisition and certification of skills, through the restructuring of continuing vocational training chains (whether in-presence, e-learning or distance learning). For years now, EBAFoS has been moving in this direction, through the design and development of digital platforms, which guarantee not only the referencing and validity of training offerings, but also a new way of digitally managing one’s professional identity. To this end, the partnership with Piazza Copernico, a leading company in the field of e-learning training, is fundamental. Without it, the realisation of our digital objectives, in terms of content and tools (i.e. the possibility of e-learning training with referencing of competences to the digitally traced Job and Qualifications Atlas – INAPP) would not have been possible, and without which it would not have been possible to maintain the high quality standards that EBAFoS has always set itself. EBAFoS and Copernicus Square are therefore united in the face of the new opportunities of the global market (our goal is to arrive at a digital certification of skills in Blockchain), adopting highly advanced technological business models and strategic training activities in the digital era.

For more info (https://www.piazzacopernico.it)

The tax lawyer in today’s legal context

By

Imbimbo

-

21 Febbraio 2023

0

“Thanks to its high degree of specialisation, but above all to its ability to master the different branches of Italian law that intersect with tax issues and often require an articulate interdisciplinary analysis, the figure of the tax lawyer is acquiring an increasingly strategic role compared to that of other professional categories,” states Lawyer Antonino Zarcone, of the Zarcone Law Firm in Palermo, highly specialised in Tax Law, Criminal Tax Law, Corporate Law and Civil Law, in this lengthy interview.

by Roberta Imbimbo

Lawyer Zarcone, can you outline the functions of the tax lawyer, clearly distinguishing them from those of other professional categories?

The tax lawyer is, first and foremost, a doctor of law and therefore a legal professional registered with the Bar. The peculiarity of this important professional figure is therefore his specialisation in legal matters of fiscal relevance, achieved following the completion of a specific course of specialisation in the subject, namely tax law, consisting of that complex of rules that regulate the imposition and collection of taxes and duties. This is a very articulated and complex subject, constantly evolving (which therefore requires constant updates on legislative or tax news from the Agenzia delle Entrate), which in recent years has seen the emergence of a series of issues of a more purely legal nature. The tax lawyer defends private citizens or companies and his role becomes strategic in bankruptcy proceedings, in preventive agreements, or in proceedings for the settlement of over-indebtedness crises. Or even in the case of criminal tax offences, where the client needs to be well assisted both in the embryonic phase of the issue (that of the Guardia di Finanza’s objections and precautionary measures applied by the Public Prosecutor’s Office) and in the criminal trial (it should be emphasised that in the last period there has been a tightening of the sanctioning system on cases characterised by a greater danger and insidiousness for the interests of the Treasury). A strong knowledge of the subject and of the jurisprudence of legitimacy and merit, therefore, allows the tax lawyer to assist individuals and companies in their relations with the Inland Revenue both out of court, where qualified advice on tax and related offences is essential, and in the course of tax litigation before the Tax Courts of I and II degree.

Today, the tax lawyer also plays an important role in the management of the tax profiles of negotiations in the settlement of private arrangements. What can you tell us about this?

In these particular legal cases, the important task of the tax lawyer is to determine the economic prerequisites for taxation (the economic object of tax law does not refer to the payment in money of taxes, but to their commensuration to economically assessable entities, with all the consequences in terms of their different determinability) and to advise on all those negotiation paths aimed at obtaining a tax saving, while at the same time foreseeing the legal consequences of the choice of a more convenient taxation. His juridical-legal knowledge also allows him to initiate fruitful interlocutions with financial offices, both to learn their orientation and to redetermine, in cross-examination with the Office itself, the claims already at the pre-judicial stage. Lastly, when the cross-examination between the Office and the taxpayer has not led to any agreed redetermination of the claim of the Tax Administration and therefore of the tax, the lawyer is called upon to guarantee the position of his client with what is unfortunately an unavoidable remedy, the judgment before the Tax Courts.

In conclusion, it is undeniable that the figure of the tax lawyer has several points of contact with neighbouring professions, but it is equally evident that it is a professional with a different preparation and role. The tax lawyer is an extremely competent professional in tax and fiscal matters, with a legal background in both extra-judicial and judicial matters, which is used in the endoprocedural stages and especially in tax litigation where the tax lawyer is ultimately called upon to protect his client’s interests.

For more information (https://studiolegalezarcone.it)

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