Article by Gianandrea Mazzola
Cross Point, founded in 1974, operates in the field of the human-machine interface (HMI) technologies, lighting, and sensor systems. The company, along with its subsidiary Kalpa (specializing in firmware, software, app development, and cloud services), currently serves over 300 active clients. «In half a century – says Maurizio Boccafogli, the company’s founder and president – the landscape has completely changed, with significant acceleration in development and production cycles. Today, the speed of innovation requires projects to be completed quickly and have shorter life cycles due to continuous technological evolution».
Continuous innovation in products and technologies
Cross Point’s commitment to innovation has allowed it to stand out in the sector, developing products that combine advanced technology with functional design.
«We were among the first – recalls Mariano Boccafogli, CEO – to promote in the home appliance market, in the 1990s, the transition from plastic to rubber keyboards».
This pioneering spirit has driven the company to explore new materials and technologies, anticipating market trends.
«Today – adds marketing manager, Ferruccio Poirè – every product developed incorporates aspects of connectivity and electronic development, reflecting the growing demand for smart and interconnected devices. In this context, we can offer comprehensive solutions that go beyond simple components, providing integrated systems that include mechanics, electronics, software, and cloud services».
The close collaboration with Kalpa in the IoT has expanded its expertise, allowing the development of connected products that leverage the potential of the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence, providing added value to customers.
Design, customer approach, development methodologies
«In our structure – says Poirè – design is fundamental. We have invested significant resources to train qualified personnel and acquire the necessary technologies to develop a state-of-the-art technical department. The process of developing a product presents several phases: the initial R&D phase evaluates the technical-economic feasibility, providing the client with a pre-project complete with timeline and offer».
Then the operating model adopted by Cross Point comes into play, based on co-design, which involves close collaboration with the customer to meet all technical, qualitative and functional specifications. The creation of sample production equipment allows the product validation before mass production. This integrated methodology ensures that each product is optimized both mechanically and electronically, guaranteeing maximum functionality and reliability.
Vertical integration and group synergies
The acquisition of Kalpa in 2020 was a strategic turning point for Cross Point. This enabled the company to offer integrated solutions covering the full spectrum of product development, from hardware components to mobile applications and cloud platforms.
This vertical integration has enhanced the company’s ability to provide complete, customized solutions, strengthening its competitive position in the market as supplier of electronic components and integrated systems.
Technological evolution has led to going beyond simple IoT connectivity, embracing Artificial Intelligence as a key element.
«Our proprietary IoT platform Riseberg – Mariano Boccafogli says – is a significant example: it is a system that intelligently collects and distributes information, acting autonomously thanks to advanced algorithms. This ready-to-use solution makes it possible to create integrated systems that respond in real time to operational needs, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of processes».
