By Claudia Stocchi e Asia Caldelli
There is a thread that unites past and future, a bond that carries on tradition with an eye to innovation. This thread is the story of BINDI Spa, a company that has been operating in the construction-road sector for over 75 years. Today, under the visionary guidance of Giovanni Baecchi, the company no longer limits itself to tracing physical paths, but creates new paths towards the future, intertwining technology with the hearts of the people who live it every day. Behind this success, the competence and dedication of engineer Elena Sturlini, one of the key figures in the company’s transformation, continues to be fundamental. Sturlini has not only brought a highly technical and methodical approach to project management, but has also helped to strengthen BINDI Spa’s orientation towards sustainability.
A memory that becomes the future
In February 2010, Baecchi accepted a challenge that many would have considered impossible: to redevelop the airport runway on the Island of Elba with innovative solutions for the time. As a witty, courageous, fantasizing entrepreneur but as in a pragmatic and realistic oxymoron, he decided to use cold recycling and lukewarm conglomerate for a sustainable and revolutionary approach. “Speak, I remember” wrote Nabokov, and even for Baecchi, the memory of that project rekindles today the flame of a vision that has never stopped growing. “Sustainability is not just a word, it is a concrete challenge. That time we went further, collaborating with universities and scientists and since that day we have never stopped innovating,” Baecchi recalls, with a spark of pride.
BINDI Spa has changed a lot in recent years, especially under your leadership. How would you describe the evolution of the company? What has been your most significant contribution in this journey? Since I acquired the entire share package of the Company in 2020, I have put order in every sector. I wanted a more agile and modern company, with well-defined roles and a clear strategic vision. Traditionally, BINDI Spa is a construction and road company, but today we operate on a larger scale, not only in Tuscany but throughout Italy, trying to expand the boundaries more and more. Our field of activity has expanded: in addition to classic roads, we also deal with special paving for car runways and airports. This diversification allows us to work all year round, without the typical seasonal limitations.
The transition to a single-shareholder company marked a decisive turning point for BINDI Spa. How has it affected governance and growth strategies? Managing everything on my own gave me the freedom to make quick and precise decisions. Without having to answer to other partners, the company responds more quickly to market demands. We have optimized every aspect: from costs to speed of execution. The fact that there is a single ‘deus ex machina’ makes the entire company more fluid, efficient and functional. This approach has allowed us to work better and innovate more easily.
You are described as the “soul and brain” of BINDI Spa. How has your vision contributed to consolidating the company in Valdarno and throughout Italy? My vision is simple: never settle. We are always looking to improve, pushing the limits of our industry. We have invested in innovative technologies, such as those that allow us to transport asphalt over long distances without experiencing cooling. This allows us to operate anywhere, even hundreds or thousands of kilometers away. With our plant, we are able to cover a large part of Italy, guaranteeing continuous work for our employees. And we don’t stop there: we are constantly investing in new technologies and plants to reduce emissions and improve working conditions.
You work closely with the engineer Elena Sturlini, a pivotal figure in the evolutionary process of Bindi Spa. How do you balance personal life with corporate responsibilities? How much does your harmony influence the success of BINDI Spa? For us, there is no clear separation between private and professional life. We live and work together, and this unites us even more. The harmony between us is the basis of the company’s success: it motivates us to do better and better, to seek new challenges and to achieve new goals. This balance pushes us to keep the standard high in every project, especially those related to our personal daily life.
Looking to the future, what are the ambitions for BINDI Spa? Are there any innovative projects you are working on? The future for BINDI is called sustainability. We are developing new asphalt mixes that can be produced at low temperatures, reducing emissions. A project we have called Green Highways aims to revolutionize our sector, not only for the environment but also to improve the working conditions of operators. This is our vision of the future: a company that builds ecological and sustainable roads.
The name BINDI has more than 75 years of history. Why is it important to keep this name and what does it represent for you and the company today? BINDI Spa is synonymous with reliability and history. Changing our name would mean losing the link with our roots. Although the leadership has changed today, the name remains a symbol of trust and continuity. We respect the history of the Company, but our vision is projected towards the future.
In addition to technological innovation, BINDI Spa has a strong link with the territory and human values. What are the main values that guide the company? The company is made up of people. If our employees are motivated and competent, the company prospers. We are deeply attached to our territory, and that is why we support local initiatives such as the B1 Passione Valdarno Volley women’s volleyball team. We want to give something back to the community that has always supported us. Sport, like our work, requires dedication, team spirit and constant commitment.
Tradition and innovation coexist harmoniously in BINDI Spa. How do you balance these two souls? Road construction has ancient roots, but the challenge today is to use modern technologies to create safe and sustainable infrastructure. We constantly study innovative materials to reduce the environmental impact and increase the durability of the flooring. Tradition and innovation are not in contrast: they are two sides of the same coin, and together they allow us to build a better future.
With Giovanni Baecchi and engineer Elena Sturlini at the helm, BINDI Spa is not only a consolidated reality in the world of infrastructure: it is a constantly evolving company, which looks to the future with ambition, innovation and a heart that beats for its territory. The new leadership has blazed a new trail, where technology and sustainability walk together. And while the memory of the past illuminates the path, it is the future that is being built, step by step, with the same care and dedication that has brought the company to where it is today. “Roads are not just paths. They are ways of connection between past and future. And we want every road we build to be a symbol of progress and respect for what surrounds us: a long history for a new road” – Giovanni Baecchi and Elena Sturlini.
This is just the beginning of a journey towards new horizons, increasingly sustainable and technologically advanced. Exclusively on Valley Life winter edition, we will discover those projects that will make BINDI Spa the true and undisputed protagonist of the sector.