Steab follows two main paths: the production of insulating material accessories and the Paguro connector line. For both, it focuses full-time on research and development of new products
Steab is a leading company in the design and production of insulating material accessories for lighting, which are crucial for the quality of the finished product. The company also manufactures electrical connectors for outdoor applications. To discuss Steab’s latest innovations and more, we interviewed Milvio Medicina, Sales and Marketing Director.
What are your flagship products?
“Steab has two main business lines. The first, historical one, consists of the development, production, and sale of insulating material components (thermoformed plastic polymers). Today, our catalog is the result of over 50 years of research and development, with more than 3,000 items listed. The products are oriented towards the Lighting industry, but the
Electromechanical and Electronics markets are seeing increasing applications. The second business line is the IP68 connectors of the Paguro line: designed and manufactured to solve electrical and data connection problems in out-door situations, or in ‘hostile’ environments. The application scope includes garden, street, and industrial lighting, as well as greenhouses and more.”
What are the product innovations for the coming months?
“The most important innovations in the component line are those that, while already partially introduced to the market, find application in LED devices, where reduced cable size and lower consumption require dedicated and ‘lighter’ components. Meanwhile, the most significant innovation in the Paguro family involves the introduction of a subfamily, called Quick, which requires no tools for installation. The use and connection are extremely simple and need no screwdriver, either for terminal tightening or for sealing cap tightening, facilitating and speeding up the installer’s work: hence the name Quick Paguro.”
What resources do you allocate to research and development of innovative solutions?
“Our technical office is dedicated full-time to research and development of new products. The technical office can count on 15% of the company’s human resources.”
What are the market trends in your field?
“The market, after a brilliant 2021 and an excellent start to 2022, shows signs of slowdown, both in Italy and at the European level, while in other areas of the world the slowdown is less evident or completely absent.”
How do your products optimize the work of installers and designers?
“Our products are the result of continuous dialogue with the technical departments of our reference customers: internationally renowned companies. This ensures our portfolio perfectly matches the real market needs.”
What advantages can designers gain from using Steab products?
“Steab has an established worldwide reputation: quality and innovation capacity are the foundation of our philosophy.
Therefore, those who use our products have the certainty of using reliable components that are, obviously, made in Italy.”
What pre and post-sale services do you offer?
“In pre-sales, we can develop and refine customized products and thus follow the customer throughout the entire process until delivering the finished product. Everything is done using only internal resources, which allows us to control the project precisely, punctually, and directly. Our products don’t need after-sales service, except for the very rare product non-conformities which in recent years have fallen below the physiological threshold of 10 complaints per 100,000 packages sold.”
What strategies do you implement regarding distribution?
“The sales network is based on selected distributors: we rely on them and they know they can count on us. Relationships of trust and fairness are the foundation of our commercial policies.”
Have you planned promotions or services for installers?
“We don’t have direct contact with installers, therefore we try to make available to them all the necessary tools for easy understanding of our products’ use.
Indeed, the best promotion/service is inherent in the quality of the product supplied.”
In recent months, have you had difficulties in sourcing raw materials? If so, which ones and what methods did you use to maintain supply continuity?
“Steab has been present in the market since 1971. It has relationships with its suppliers that have consolidated over time, and today we no longer talk about suppliers, but rather partners. Our partners have supported and accompanied us excellently even in these recent months, characterized by raw material shortages and supply uncertainty.”
What is your commitment to sustainability and what results have you achieved?
“Today Steab produces about one-third of its energy needs through its own photovoltaic system. Last September, work began on expanding the system; therefore, we expect to achieve energy self-sufficiency or close to it…”
