In Toscana nuovo polo hi tech di Zcs

More than 25 years ago, Zucchetti Centro Sistemi (Zcs), an Aretine Valdarno-based company, invented the wireless lawnmower Ambrogio, a revolution for its time. Today, professional robots for gardens, hotels (providing room or restaurant services) and warehouse movement are conquering an entire facility inaugurated today, September 30, marking the fifth innovation park of Zcs, which also works in automation, artificial intelligence, software, and renewable energies.

The new building, named Palazzo del Futuro, covers 5,000 square meters (plus 2,700 square meters of underground parking), is equipped with a 180-kilowatt photovoltaic system on the roof, and required an investment of 14 million euros. It will host production, research and development, and offices, with the aim of reorganizing and expanding the business of the group founded (more than 40 years ago) and led by Fabrizio Bernini, who owns 50% (the other half is held by the Lodigiano Zucchetti group).

This year, Zcs plans to generate 240 million euros in revenue (+10%) with 850 employees. In robotics, the group (consisting of 19 companies with bases in 11 Italian regions and five foreign countries) is heavily investing: 16 million euros were allocated to the creation of new professional robots recently presented to the market.

"In a scenario marked by economic and geopolitical uncertainties and the rapid acceleration of artificial intelligence," Bernini, who is also president of Confindustria Toscana, emphasizes that "we want to keep growing to be a meeting point between research and market, between internal skills developed and new sectors such as collaborative robotics."

Growth will occur through internal and external channels. The group plans to seal three more acquisitions of historic software companies by next year, following those made in the last two years. In 2027, Bernini announces, software companies for human resource management will converge into a new company, Zcs People spa. Meanwhile, this year Zcs has hired 30 more people, with an average age of 34, and is accelerating the appointment of managers for the various divisions.

Also initiated in Valdarno is the production of large-size photovoltaic inverters for renewable energy storage, which "results in generating value for the economic and social system surrounding the company," Zcs states.