The history of Protec is steeped in these values: the brilliant insights of Luigi Sandei—first with the self-propelled automatic harvester and later with the first electronic sorter equipped with optical sensors—literally changed the history of the industrial tomato industry, both in Parma and worldwide. Over thirty years of development and engineering have since given life to an advanced computer vision system, based on exclusive hardware and software produced by the company and applied across various sectors of food processing plant engineering. For a couple of years now, leveraging the extensive experience of Gianluca Grossi, Protec has embarked on a new technological evolution involving the introduction of AI into its machinery and the application of vision systems in unprecedented fields.
“We have developed four new machines and updated the existing ones, and the market is responding well to these innovations,” specifies General Manager Grossi. “We are now launching new production lines, and the ongoing expansion of our facilities will serve to house departments for related applications in robotics and cobotics. We have internally shared a four-year industrial plan that anticipates an accelerated growth process to achieve the size and organization appropriate for an industrial company, but without losing sight of the understanding and empathy that have always characterized human relationships here, representing our distinctive element.” This is also why the company has a very low turnover rate and has encountered no difficulties with recent hiring.
“In 2025, three new employees joined the workforce; in 2026, five more entries are expected, with another five in 2027, aiming to reach a team of over 40 people by 2028: this is the right size to face today’s market,” Grossi adds. “With a turnover of 7 million euros and a significant presence against even international competition—thanks to long-standing clients and new development prospects—Protec is set to begin a new chapter in its history, looking toward the future without forgetting its important past.”