Eliche Radice: in-house production, from faundry to propeller

The history of Eliche Radice dates back to 1919, a distant era where craftsmanship expressed itself above all in the ability to make concrete what was only imaginable: a world different from today’s, without PCs, without graphics, without detailed studies down to the millimetre. What made a difference was experience, manual dexterity and spirit of adaptation.

It was in this context that the Radice family, with great foresight, began to build the success that today sees it recognized on the market as a leader in the production of the famous propellers, but not only. In its 50,000 sqm facility, 15,000 sqm of which are covered, and thanks to the work of 85 specialized employees, Eliche Radice takes care of the entire production of the various components of the propulsion system, taking meticulous care of the development and manufacture of each element.

” Our company was founded in 1907 – Luca Radice, CEO of Eliche Radice S.p.A. tells us – although it was registered after the Great War, when my grandfather returned from the front: hence the famous 1919. My grandfather’s grandfather was already making models for the Breda and Ansaldo brands, which at the time produced propellers, and he had the intuition to think that if he made them for them, he could also make them with his own company.

This is how Eliche Radice as we know it today was born. My grandfather and his brother, together with my father and his cousin who had joined the company in the meantime, studied and developed the inverters and gearboxes for the Alfa engines used in the racing boats of the time, and the idea of developing axle lines was born.

In 1980, when I joined the company, the latter was in a phase of great technological development”.

The entire production process starts from the foundry, the glowing heart that moulds the material until it becomes a part of a perfect mechanism that guarantees speed, stability and performance that are sought after by customers in the most diverse naval sectors: 600 tonnes per year are processed without interruption, making it one of the most advanced and technologically advanced companies in the sector, supported by the study of experts and technicians who have passed through its walls over a century of history.

“We were still at the beginning of the computer age, and we still used faxes and telegrams – Luca Radice continues – Our technical department still had a computer with magnetic cards to make calculations. In 1981-1982 came the first computer with a monitor, the famous M20. It was then that I started to transform programmes to something more technological.

Later, we introduced the first numerically controlled machines that worked with software and punched tapes. Since then, we have progressed continuously until we arrive at the machines that are used in the company today. Many of these machines were designed and built in-house to achieve ever higher performance products, and every year we introduce new technologies and new lines, perfecting production, speed and quality. In terms of technology investment, every year we have introduced something new to improve production, speed and quality. The real leap came about six or seven years ago, when we introduced a new foundry to meet the growing demand for close-tolerance propellers. This involved an investment of several million in machinery, including four new CNC machines for propeller production. Currently, we have 14 of these machines, two in a machining center here and another two in another factory”.

All this is aimed at achieving a very refined level of design that allows two different production lines: a standard one with propellers and components always stocked in the warehouse and another ‘custom-made’ one, stitched around specific customer needs, so as to meet all the demands of an ever-changing market.

The entire propulsion system is involved in this precision industrial chain: fixed pitch tractor or propulsive thrusters for steering systems, blades and hubs for variable pitch propellers, propeller shafts and their supports, seals, fixed or directional shrouds, water-lubricated bushings and rudders.

Producing such an incredible variety of components, in very large numbers, is a challenge in itself, but doing so by working out each individual design and developing the computational programs directly is a whole other story.

All alternatives are examined, with the ultimate aim of achieving perfection in terms of possible solutions for number of blades, disc area (DAR) and pitch/diameter ratios (P/D), always bearing in mind the criteria of efficiency, noise, vibration and cavitation.

Every single propeller design is the result of years of meticulous direct experimentation. The design department directly develops calculation programs that, by examining all possible alternatives, are able to offer the most efficient solutions.

“ In terms of business values – concludes Luca Radice – Eliche Racide has always been focusing on technical excellence and product quality. We are proud of our Italian craftsmanship tradition and the know-how we have developed over the years. Our philosophy is to provide reliable, high-performance and innovative propellers that meet our customers’ needs.

We also pay special attention to environmental sustainability, and have invested in research and development of solutions that reduce the environmental impact of our production, such as the adoption of lighter, more sustainable materials and the optimization of production processes to reduce waste and CO2 emissions. We are committed to contributing to a cleaner, more environmentally sustainable future for the boating industry.

We have always been committed to maintaining a relationship of trust and collaboration with our customers to whom we offer all the technical support and custom advice from our staff to help them find the best solutions for their specific needs. Our customers’ satisfaction is our priority and we constantly strive to exceed their expectations”.

Maybe it really is all there. The customer care, the passion for one’s work, the festive smiles as well as the discouragement of failure, the eyes always on the future, on the next challenge. It was true a hundred years ago and it is true today, where only those who draw their craftsmanship from deep-rooted values of the past can look proudly to the future.