On 21 June 2024, Ferrari will once
again be taking a sustainable approach with the implementation of an
"e-building" in the factory.
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 motors and axles.
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 [1], 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.[2]
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 behaviour 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 its 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.