Staff

The founder

Nicola Nervegna (1942 - 2019) Formerly Full Professor of Fluid Power

See the dedicated page.

Current staff

Massimo Rundo

(Associate Professor)

Graduated in Mechanical Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino in 1996. After graduation he participated with the Fluid Power Group of the Politecnico di Torino, as visiting researcher and later as Research Assistant, to an extensive research project on pumps for internal combustion engine lubrication. In 2000 he started the didactic activity as Teaching Assistant for Fluid Power courses in Vercelli, Mondovì and Torino. In 2005 he joined the Faculty at the Politecnico di Torino. He is lecturer of Fluid Power from the academic year 2006/2007 and supervisor of about 100 M.Sc. and B.Sc. theses. His research activity is mainly focused on modelling, simulation and testing of fluid power components, especially of positive displacement pumps. He is the author of more than 60 international scientific publications.

Roberto Finesso

(Associate Professor)

Roberto Finesso graduated “magna cum laude” in Mechanical Engineering at the Politecnico di Torino in 2005. He took a PhD in Energy Engineering, section “Fluid Flow Machines”, at the Energy Department at the Politecnico di Torino in 2009, and he has worked as post-doc fellow from 2009 to 2012. In 2012 he joined the Faculty as Assistant Professor with a time-contract position. His research activities are mainly focused on CFD modelling of fluid power components, especially valves, and on combustion and emission formation modelling in internal combustion engines.

Davide Milli

(Research Fellow)

Graduated in Automotive Engineering in 2024 at the Politecnico di Torino with a thesis on CFD analysis of lubricated gears using the software SimericsMP+ 

Carmine Conte

(Research Fellow)

Graduated in Mechatronic Engineering in 2024 at the Politecnico di Torino with a thesis on the analysis and control of high efficiency electro-hydraulic solutions for the actuation systems of off-road vehicles (carried out at Maha fluid power research center - Purdue University - Lafayette, IN, USA). In 2025, winner of the Federtec award for graduation theses in the field of fluid power.

   

Former staff

Luca Gilardino

  • 1995: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 1998-2006: Assistant professor
  • 2001-2006: Lecturer of fluid power courses at II School of Engineering
  • Last known position: at Ferrari SpA as Product Reliability Improvement & Continuous Improvement Manager

Michele Agati

  • 2000: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2000-2001: Research fellow (Valeo Research Contract) 
  • Research activity: dynamic behaviour of the hydraulic system for automotive clutch actuation
  

Antonio Lettini

  • 2000: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2000-2001: Research fellow (Casappa Research Contracts)
  • Research activity: simulation models of axial piston pumps
  • Last known position: at Casappa S.p.A. as R&D Manager

Michele Alfredo Pavanetto

  • 2000: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2001-2002: Research fellow (Danfoss Research Contract)
  • Research activity: hydrostatic transmissions
  • Last known position: at Duplomatic Motion Solutions S.p.A. as Research Dept. Manager

Daniele Vecchiato

  • 2000: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2001-2002: Research fellow (Iveco Research Contract)
  • Research activity: simulation of the feed system for metal sheet hydroforming
  • Last known position: CEO & co-owner VECCHIATO OFFICINE MECCANICHE SRL

Marco Brunelli

  • 2001: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2002-2003: Research fellow (Centro Ricerche Fiat Reseach Contract)
  • Research activity: simulation models of electro-hydraulic braking systems
  • Last known position: owner of BSim Engineering

Francesca Furno

  • 2001: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2002: Research fellow
  • 2002-2004: Ph.D. student
  • 2005: Ph.D. in Energetics
  • Research activity: simulation of ICE lubricating circuits
  • Last known position: at Siemens PLM Software (Lyon, France) as Business Development Simcenter Amesim - Fluids

Luca Colella

  • 2002: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2002-2003: Research fellow (Casappa Reaseach Contract)
  • Research activity: simulation models of axial piston pumps

Cataldo Buonomo

  • 2005: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2006-2007: Research fellow (Rolfo Research Contract)
  • Research activity: analysis of the lifting system of a double-decker auto carrier truck
  • Last known position: at INNIO Group as Senior Staff Manager

Antonio Gravina

  • 2005: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2006-2007: Research fellow (Casappa Research Contract)
  • Research activity: simulation models of journal bearings for external gear pumps
  • Last known position: at Snam S.p.A. as Head South-West Transportation Grid Area

Davide Crivello

  • 2006: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2006-2007: Research fellow (Riello Research Contract)
  • Research activity: development of a gerotor fuel pump for a burner module
  • Last known position: at DANA GRAZIANO Srl as Testing Engineer Supervisor

Alessandro Roccatello

  • 2003: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2004-2011: Research fellow (Casappa Research Contracts)
  • Research activities: axial piston pumps and motors modelling, multibody simulation, tribology.

Francesco Lovuolo

  • 2009: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2010-2011: Research fellow (Casappa Research Contract)
  • Research activity: simulation models of hydraulic excavators
  • Last known position: at Stellantis as Virtual Analysis Specialist

Damiano Padovani

  • 2011: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2012: Research fellow
  • Research activity: study of hydraulic circuits and components for earth-moving machines
  • Last known position: at Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, China as Associate Professor

Cristian D'Arcano

  • 2011: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2012: Research fellow
  • Research activity: simulation models of axial piston pumps

Gabriele Altare

  • 2009: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2010-2012: Ph.D. student
  • 2013: Ph.D. in Energetics
  • Research activity: simulation of hydraulic circuits for earth-moving machines
  • Developer of the 2nd release of this web site
  • Last known position: at Manitowoc Crane Group Italy S.r.l. as Principal Engineer – Future Projects

Giorgio Altare

  • 2014: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2014-2018: Research fellow
  • Research activity: CFD simulation of positive displacement pumps and of hydraulic valves
  • Last known position: at MGILAB - Merlo Group as Research and Development Engineer

Alessandro Corvaglia

  • 2016: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2016-2022: Research fellow (Casappa research contracts)
  • 2018-2021: Ph.D. student
  • 2022: Ph.D. in Energetics
  • Research activities: modelling of lubricated gaps in positive displacement machines, development of simulation models for axial piston and external gear pumps
  • Last known position: at Casappa SpA as Simulation Engineer

Paola Fresia

  • 2019: Master Degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • 2020-2022: Research fellow (INDWEY regional project, Fresia SpA and Varisco Srl research contracts)
  • Research activities: 0D and 3D simulation of various fluid power components and systems
  • Last known position: at Manitowoc Crane Group Italy S.r.l. as Simulation Engineer

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