Maranello,
June 21, 2024 - The e-building, the factory that will produce internal
combustion engined cars, hybrids and Ferrari's first electric model, is
inaugurated today in the presence of Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Welcoming him will be Chairman John Elkann, Vice Chairman Piero Ferrari, CEO
Benedetto Vigna and representatives of the Ferrari people.
“We
are honoured to have President Mattarella with us for the inauguration of the
e-building, a plant that combines the centrality of the people in the workplace
with respect for the environment," commented Ferrari's President, John
Elkann. "Investing in our territory is essential to prepare ourselves for
Ferrari's future with confidence and confirms our commitment to Italian
excellence and to our country."
Production
flexibility
Through
the e-building, Ferrari is enhancing its production flexibility in line with
its strategy of prioritising revenue quality over quantity. The plant also
reflects the principle of technological neutrality, as it will house the
production and development of internal combustion engines, hybrid engines and
new electric motors, each capable of delivering Ferrari's signature driving
excitement.
The
integration of the production of the entire range in a single building will
allow Ferrari to reorganise and reallocate all production activities more
efficiently among its existing facilities in Maranello, increasing its ability
to adapt quickly to production needs.
The
e-building, a facility equipped with state-of-the-art technology, will also
produce the strategic electrical components that are highly relevant to
differentiating Ferrari's technology and performance: high-voltage batteries,
electric axles and electric motors.
Focus
on the environment
The
building, designed to achieve the highest levels of energy performance, is
powered – among other sources – by more than 3,000 solar panels installed on
the roof that produce 1.3 MW. With the shutdown of the trigeneration plant [ ], scheduled for the end of the year, the
building will be powered entirely by renewable energy, generated from both
internal and external sources with a guarantee of origin. [ ]
Several
cutting-edge solutions have been adopted to reuse energy and rainwater in the
production cycle. For example, more than 60 per cent of the energy used for
battery and motor testing will be recovered in accumulators and redirected to
power new processes.
The
plant was built north of the Ferrari campus, which is being expanded. The area
was acquired and redeveloped without additional land consumption by replacing
obsolete and energy-dispersive industrial structures.
The
focus on people
The
training and well-being of workers was a priority in the design of the
building, which houses a dedicated training space.
The
training path for people selected for the new lines began two years ago, with
the aim of delving into the skills and processes that are needed for the new
systems and products, as well as strengthening knowledge related to the
electric motor. In full continuity and synergy with the mechanical and
electronic skills that have always been Ferrari's heritage, additional
competencies, for example in chemistry and battery assembly production
processes, have been developed.
Manufacturing
processes are equipped with collaborative robots, which adapt their behavior
according to the operator's needs, and digital twins, which create a digital
replica of products and processes. These solutions make it possible to put
technology under the control of and at the service of employees, whose role is
thus further elevated within the production process with the goal of ensuring
the excellence and attention to detail that distinguishes the Ferrari range.
In
the facility, various solutions have also been designed to improve the
well-being of people in the work environment: ergonomic workstations,
relaxation areas, acoustic and visual comfort, and the correct mix of natural
and artificial lighting are some of the aspects that are the most beneficial.
Focus
on the community
The
e-building is a confirmation of Ferrari's central role in the local industrial
landscape – a role reinforced by continuous investments made in tune with the
specific needs of the local community.
The
integration of the building into the urban context was perfected through an
urban redevelopment of more than 100,000 square metres and a redesign of the
road infrastructure. In fact, a road serving the site and a 1.5-kilometre bike
path connected to the town’s network have also been built.
The
road design, in particular, ensures heavy traffic is concentrated to an area
around the e-building logistics hub, reducing intrusion on pedestrian routes.
The
architectural design
The
exterior façades and main interior spaces of the e-building were designed by
MCA – Mario Cucinella Architects, a firm at the forefront of the development of
sustainable solutions and urban regeneration, in synergy with the Ferrari team.
Rectangular
in shape and 25 metres high, the new building is in harmony with the landscape
and surrounding buildings and is recognisable for a façade with a tailor-made,
highly efficient “skin”. The choice of opaline glazing, interspersed with
portions of clear glass, attenuates the building's imposing visual mass and
allows for natural light to be distributed within it, while at night it
resembles a glowing lantern.
The
components of the façade were designed and manufactured according to Design for
Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) logic, in order to facilitate their on-site
assembly and maintenance operations. This enabled cost efficiency and reduced
environmental impact related to the materials and processes used.