Innovation, people and an international vision – Interview to our CEO Stefano Vezza

Following its entry into the Klubb Group and on the eve of the company’s 80th anniversary, Isoli is experiencing one of the most significant phases in its history. Integration into a major international group, investments in innovation, corporate reorganization and the development of new products represent the foundations of a growth path that looks to the future while preserving the wealth of expertise built over eighty years of activity. We discuss these topics in this interview with Managing Director Stefano Vezza.

After an international managerial career developed between Italy and France, in November 2025 Stefano Vezza took over the leadership of Isoli as General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, with the objective of supporting the company’s industrial relaunch and integration into the Klubb Group. In this interview, he explains the vision that will guide the company in the coming years, focusing on innovation, organization and the enhancement of its people.

Throughout my professional career, I have always looked for challenges that would allow me to create value. After more than twenty years spent in international groups, holding managerial positions across different industrial sectors, I saw in Isoli the opportunity to support the relaunch of a brand that for eighty years has aimed to be a benchmark in all the sectors in which it operates.

I was impressed by the Group’s project: an international company and European leader in aerial work platforms, with a clear growth strategy. But above all, I was convinced by Isoli’s potential. I found an extraordinary heritage of expertise, a well-established brand and people who have always continued to believe in the company, even during its most challenging moments. These are fundamental foundations for building a real path of growth.

Without a doubt, making the company even more competitive. We are completing our integration into the Group while, at the same time, working on our organization, processes and ways of operating in order to successfully address increasingly dynamic and demanding markets. I am not referring to a simple reorganization, but to a cultural evolution. We want to build a company capable of making decisions faster, encouraging cross-functional collaboration and placing the customer at the center of every strategy. At the same time, we continue to invest in product development, production efficiency and process digitalization, because today innovation also means knowing how to work better.

Taking part in an international event such as APEX was an opportunity to demonstrate concretely the direction we are following. We presented the new PT280, a telescopic platform that expands our product range and allows us to be more competitive in Northern European markets, as well as the new KL17, the first van-mounted platform entirely designed by our Italian team. However, the value of the exhibition was not only linked to the launch of new products, but also to the message it conveyed: Isoli is present, invests and continues to develop innovative solutions to meet market requirements.

Innovation certainly concerns the product itself — what customers interact with — but it also concerns the way a company operates every day. In this regard, we are investing in warehouse automation, the optimization of production flows and the digitalization of the supply chain, introducing artificial intelligence-based tools to improve planning and efficiency. At the same time, we are developing new projects in the defence sector, in collaboration with leading partners such as Iveco Defence and Leonardo. Innovation means building an organization capable of continuously evolving, not simply designing new machines.

Eighty years represent much more than an anniversary; they demonstrate the company’s ability to evolve over time while remaining firmly connected to its values. Isoli is a company deeply linked to its local area, to the people who work here and to the suppliers who have shared a growth journey with us for decades. This continuity is an extraordinary strength. Today we export to increasingly demanding markets, where quality, reliability and customization capabilities make the difference. The recognition we receive from customers, both in Italy and abroad, is probably the most meaningful way to celebrate our history. But none of this would have been possible without the people, customers, partners and suppliers who believed in Isoli and who continue to build this journey with us. The eighty years we celebrate today are above all the result of their trust and commitment.

It is one of Isoli’s main distinguishing elements. Today, neither in Italy nor abroad, there is another company capable of operating in such different sectors while maintaining extremely high quality standards in each one. The three divisions do not represent separate worlds, but rather a system that continuously feeds and strengthens itself, where the individual expertise developed in one sector becomes shared knowledge across the entire company. I am thinking in particular of the defence sector, where we are required to meet extremely demanding technological, quality and reliability standards. This wealth of expertise naturally contributes to the development of aerial platforms and rescue vehicles, helping to raise the standards of our entire production. It is an absolute asset that makes us more resilient and allows us to approach markets with a broader vision.

It has always been one of our pillars, and it will continue to be so. We were pioneers in this market and we intend to keep investing to support its evolution. Today, operational scenarios are changing rapidly: the number of electric vehicles is increasing, vehicle weights are growing and operators’ requirements are evolving. These are issues we cannot overlook when developing our products. The introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles has, in particular, created new complexities, requiring increasingly specialized equipment and even safer operating procedures. For us, designing an installation has always meant starting from the daily experience of our customers. We understand the conditions in which they operate, often in emergency situations and high-risk environments, and we know that every detail can make a difference. This is why we work to develop vehicles that are increasingly high-performing, reliable and versatile, capable of guaranteeing the same operational standards in any environment — from the freezing temperatures of Finland to the extreme heat of the Egyptian desert. To further strengthen our connection with the market, we will take part next October in the 3T Expo in Piacenza, an important event to meet industry professionals, present our latest innovations and reaffirm our commitment to the professional recovery sector.

Because I am convinced that they are the true competitive factor. Technologies can be purchased, facilities can be modernized, but expertise is built over time. At Isoli, I have found highly valuable people, with consolidated technical skills and a strong sense of belonging — unique elements that are not present in every company. For this reason, we have the responsibility to create an organization where these skills can collaborate even more effectively. We are investing in technical training, managerial development and the growth of digital skills. At the same time, we have strengthened our safety culture, because in a manufacturing company protecting people cannot simply be a regulatory obligation; it must become a shared value. I also strongly believe in teamwork. This is why we are moving from a function-based organization with isolated departments towards a culture of collaboration, where different areas work together to achieve a common goal.

I envision a company that is even more international, more efficient and increasingly recognized for the quality of its solutions. The challenges of recent years are part of our history, but they do not define our future. Today I see an organization that is changing with determination, motivated people and an international group that strongly believes in Isoli’s potential. We still have significant room for growth, especially by improving our organization and processes. I am convinced that resilience, which has always characterized this company, represents our most important competitive advantage. It is the same resilience that, for eighty years, has enabled Isoli to face every change while always looking ahead.