Stefano Romanò, CEO of Tor.Met, often uses the image of Goldrake, an iconic 1970s hero, to explain to younger generations what Industry 4.0 really means.

In the famous animated series, Goldrake was a highly advanced robot, capable of solving any problem and facing any challenge thanks to a combination of cutting-edge skills and resources.

But none of this would have been possible without Actarus, the human who piloted Goldrake and unlocked its full potential. Actarus was the mind behind the machine, the human element that brought the technology to life and made it effective and functional.

Likewise, Romanò explains, modern technology—no matter how powerful and innovative—needs human minds to truly make it effective. The factory of the future is made up of intelligent machines, yes, but also—and above all—of people capable of guiding them.

We have access to increasingly advanced technology—from automated control systems to real-time data collection—but everything would come to a halt without human oversight and expertise. The concept of the “worker” and the nature of work itself have evolved, but human presence remains essential to give machines purpose and value.

The 30% growth in Tor.Met’s workforce over the past five years speaks to this very point: it is the synergy between technology and human capital that makes a difference and allows a company to innovate and thrive in the era of Industry 4.0.

After all, as the theme song (italian version) of the legendary cartoon put it:

It’s a miracle of electronics

But it has a human heart…