SCM reaches two new milestones in the DACH market
Austria and Germany within the space of a week. For SCM, September brought two events that clearly reflect the importance of the DACH region within the Group’s strategy: the opening of the new SCM Austria headquarters in Ansfelden and the 40th anniversary of SCM Deutschland in Nürtingen. Two different occasions, but with a common thread: strengthening the Group’s local presence in an area that continues to be one of the industry’s key markets, despite a far from simple economic environment.
The new SCM Austria headquarters was officially opened on 17 and 18 September. The facility was designed to expand the spaces dedicated to commercial, demonstration and training activities, with a new 550-square-metre Technology Center and a Training Room for customers, operators and partners.
The Grand Opening brought together customers, dealers, partners and employees, along with representatives of the local business and institutional community. During the ceremony, SCM was also presented with the Julius Award by the Wirtschaftsbund Oberösterreich / Upper Austrian Economic League, recognising the company’s commitment to the Austrian market.
“Today is not simply about opening a new building. Today we are opening a new chapter for SCM Austria,” said Thomas Pachler, Country Manager of SCM Austria. “Since we opened our subsidiary in 2019, our presence in this market has grown steadily, together with our team and the services we offer customers and dealers. This new headquarters is the natural next step in that journey.”
The investment in the new facility is also accompanied by a strengthening of the local organisation. SCM Austria has expanded both its commercial presence and, in particular, its technical service operations, adding new service technicians to support customers throughout the entire lifecycle of their solutions.
From Austria to Germany, more precisely to Nürtingen, where SCM celebrated the 40th anniversary of SCM Deutschland on 23 and 24 September. The subsidiary welcomed customers, dealers, partners and employees to its Technology Center. The anniversary offered an opportunity to look back over four decades of activity in the German market, but also to assess the outlook for a country that, despite a challenging economic environment, continues to play a central role in the Group’s strategy.
“For us, these 40 years represent above all a new starting point,” said Giovanni Masino, Managing Director of SCM Deutschland and DACH Regional Manager. “The German market is going through a particularly challenging economic phase, but we also see significant opportunities, especially in engineering projects, large-scale plants and digital solutions.”
SCM’s presence in Germany actually predates the establishment of the subsidiary. The Group had already been active in the country through commercial partners since the 1960s and has taken part in Ligna since its first edition in 1975. The creation of SCM Deutschland in 1986 then marked the move towards a direct presence in the German market.
The Nürtingen headquarters has also evolved over time together with the organisation. Since 2003, it has brought together commercial activities, showroom spaces, spare parts and technical service, while in 2023 the Technology Center was expanded and modernised, increasing the exhibition area to 1,200 square metres, around 60 per cent more than before.
Continuity of vision and synergy across the DACH subsidiaries
During both events, SCM reiterated the strategic role of the DACH region, an area characterised by a strong industrial culture, highly structured companies and customers with a particular focus on quality, reliability and productivity. An approach that, in the words of Pietro Gheller, Director of the Group’s Wood Division, is based on “a consistent, long-term approach”.
“We want to be closer to our customers not only when they choose a machine, but throughout the entire lifecycle of the solution: from technology selection and application development to installation, education, maintenance and service,” Gheller added.
According to Gabriele Patti, SCM Sales Director: “This local presence is part of a broader development plan, both in the DACH region and in the most strategic markets worldwide, where SCM continues to invest through directly managed organisations designed to provide greater support to both customers and dealers.”
A central element of this strategy is the cooperation between the three subsidiaries in the region: Germany, Austria and Switzerland. “Being present locally does not mean working independently. One of the main strengths of SCM’s DACH organisation is our ability to share expertise, people and technical capabilities across national borders,” explained Giovanni Masino. “This is particularly important in service, where collaboration between our teams enables us to respond quickly and reduce machine downtime when customers need support.”
Drivers for growth
Engineering, automation, software and digital services are the areas SCM is focusing on to further strengthen its presence in the DACH region. In 2026, the Group has already secured engineering project orders worth several million euros in the area, linked to increasingly complex and sophisticated production requirements. Expertise in automation and robotics is also playing a growing role in this development.
“The integration of Tecno Logica into the Group represents an important competitive factor, both in terms of products and expertise,” Masino explained. “Today we can offer integrated automation and advanced robotics systems capable of supporting very high production capacities, even in contexts characterised by high variability and complexity.”
The strengthening of these areas does not, however, mean reducing the focus on the Group’s traditional stand-alone machine business. The stated objective is rather to expand the overall business by complementing individual machines with automation solutions and integrated systems.
Another area under development is software and digital services. The integration of Tecnest into Scm Group adds expertise in advanced software for production planning and supply chain management, complementing SCM’s portfolio of machines and engineering solutions.
“We want to extend the value of the individual machine and support customers throughout the entire production process, through technologies, data, software and services that make a concrete contribution to efficiency and production control,” Masino added.
