CLM, the ADR Group division dedicated to wheel design and production
At EIMA, it was ADR — the parent company specialized in axle and suspension production — that had a stand, but we took the opportunity to talk about CLM, a sister company within the group that focuses on the design and manufacturing of wheels for gardening, small-scale agriculture, airports, trailers, caravans, and more.
We met with Ivan Ermacora, plant manager at the San Pietro al Natisone facility, CLM’s headquarters.
The company boasts decades of history and experience, international customers, innovative and sustainable welding and painting lines, a large warehouse, and advanced wheel assembly lines — all aimed at offering customers a complete and efficient service.
CLM is a subsidiary of the ADR Group, which specializes in axle and suspension production for the agricultural sector. The company dates back to the 1950s, in the immediate post-war period, when there was a high demand for wheels for wheelbarrows and small tools essential for reconstruction.
Over time, ADR shifted its focus to axles, but wheels were among the group’s original products.
In the mid-1990s, the wheel production was relocated to San Pietro al Natisone to gain more space. This marked the official birth of CLM, although the Italruote brand — known globally — was retained.
We design and produce pressed steel wheels ranging from 4 to 10 inches, for a wide variety of applications such as small trailers, boat trolleys, luggage carriers, and agricultural uses like hay tedders, gardening machines, and forestry equipment.
CLM is a highly automated operation, supported by significant investments in this direction. With a workforce of around 30 employees, we produce 1.2 million wheels per year.
Our epoxy powder coating line supports both standard production and fully customized finishes, based on customer preferences — also handled through automation, with minimal human input limited to supervision only.
No, our presence at the fair was exclusively through the parent company ADR, but we still had the chance to meet with clients who were either exhibiting or visiting — including well-known names like AL-KO, Stiga Group, and Krone, just to mention a few.
Generally speaking, CLM’s typical customer is an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) seeking a customized service, often including storage solutions at our facility.
We are a small, agile, and dynamic company, capable of offering fast responses. Our lean structure allows for direct communication between decision-makers and operators, a feature that’s highly appreciated by our clients.
Our goal is to continue innovating, by upgrading certain production lines and increasing automation across the board. The aim is to minimize human intervention, thereby cutting costs, reducing errors, and improving the quality of the finished product.
Our latest investment was in a fully automated tyre/wheel assembly system, capable of handling 70 to 100 units per hour with just one operator. This upgrade has allowed us to offer complete wheel assembly services, thanks also to our large warehouse capacity.
We are also evaluating another major investment: the acquisition of a new production line that would further boost productivity and enhance product quality — although this decision has not yet been finalized.
Yes, there’s no point denying it — the market is going through a rough patch. We’re all in the same boat: companies in the sector are struggling after years of struggling to keep up with demand.
What makes it harder is that we had to scale up to meet the market boom of previous years, and now that demand has dropped, we’re feeling the impact.
However, this is a cyclical industry. With the investments we’ve made and new products recently developed, we’re confident we’ll overcome this challenging phase in the near future.
Ermacora
