Andrea Guglielmi, 38, comes from a small village in central Italy. He didn't speak French when he joined ACC in July 2023. Along with other Italian colleagues at the ACC Gigafactory in Billy-Berclau Douvrin, Andrea decided to learn the language and insisted on conducting this interview in French only.

What was your career path before joining ACC?
After studying at an industrial and mechanical school, I started working for Stellantis Termoli, a factory specializing in combustion engines and gearboxes. I worked there for sixteen years. I started my career as a line operator. Then, thanks to my curiosity and my desire to learn, I became a team leader. Two years later, I took on the role of supervisor, which I held for six years. I had the opportunity to become very familiar with all the production processes, safety, quality, and management. In my last role, I managed a team of 100 people who assembled 280 horsepower gasoline engines for Alfa Romeo and Maserati. It's a very complex line, from initial assembly to engine testing and delivery.
I had the opportunity to gain experience at Ferrari. This is because in Termoli we make a 510 horsepower engine derived from a Ferrari engine, which goes on the Alfa Romeo Giulia, the Stelvio, and the Maserati MC20. I spent eight months at Ferrari learning how to assemble this engine. I also attended Ferrari's vocational school and had the opportunity to train everyone involved in the project. It's craftsmanship within an industrial project. It's very complex. I was able to supervise the line that I started at the beginning, and then we took on a slightly more complex task on the 280 horsepower engine line, with several power ratings, across three shifts.

Why did you apply to ACC?
I applied to ACC because they offered me an experience that I wanted to have. We understood that everything related to combustion engines would soon be over. ACC decided to develop a project for Termoli. I had the opportunity to combine personal and professional development with an experience in France, to return to my region of Molise, and to give my region a future.

What are your responsibilities today?
Two days after I was hired, I went to Nersac for training. Then we had a very specific, very stimulating period. Nersac had deadlines to complete the C samples for SR in July 2023. We put together an Italian, German, and French team to work weekends for the first three months to achieve the goal. I went straight to the stacking machines. It was a great experience that allowed me to learn the processes and integrate quickly. I had the same experience with coating in Nersac and preparing for mass production.
After that, things changed for Termoli, and I arrived at BBD in electrode manufacturing to start BBD1 coating, thanks to the experience I had gained in Nersac.  I was at BBD1 for a year, from April 2024 to April 2025, to improve my knowledge and help BBD1 prepare for ramp-up with a focus on continuous improvement and listening to the field. Since April 2025, I have been at BBD2 preparing for coating production.

How do you divide your time between France and Italy?
It was all new to me. I had no idea what to expect.  It's an incredible experience. I had never been to France before. For 18 months, I went home once a month, just for the weekend. It was hard on my wife and family. Since January 2025, I've been working two weeks at BBD and one week remotely in Termoli, which has allowed me to balance my professional and personal life.
With my colleagues who arrived from Italy, we wanted to learn French using Duolingo for five minutes a day. We've almost finished all the Duolingo sessions! I'm always trying to make myself understood in French and to learn all the time.

How do you view what has happened since you arrived in July 2023?
It's a unique project and more complex than expected. But there's always something to be gained. There's a professional atmosphere, with lots of people working hard, determined and focused on achieving the goal. We have a factory with experienced people from different sectors, but also young people who can bring new ideas and speed. It's a mix, with all the different nationalities working for ACC. We always have different points of view, depending on the person, their nationality, and their culture. That's the strength of ACC.

Other ACC employees present at BBD come from Italy...
In fact, we have created a group of Italians here. It would have been different if we had followed the same path in Italy. We have created relationships that are more friendly than “between colleagues.” We take advantage of being here to get to know the region, the traditions, French culture, the cities, the small villages too, and the whole history of the First World War. We've seen Notre-Dame de Lorette and Vimy, we've visited the quarries in Arras, and we always try to make the most of our weekends. And that's great.

Do you have a passion or hobby that helps you carry out your daily tasks?
I like hiking, and when I'm in Italy, I take the opportunity to explore nature and the mountains. And here, I went to the top of a slag heap, because it's also good to learn about the history of coal. Afterwards, we go to the gym with colleagues, which always helps me with my work. And here in France, it's always smiles. I always try to smile. And when we get feedback from the team, I'm happy. I've achieved my personal goal.