This isn’t just a story about one employee. It’s a story about how people shape a company—and how, in turn, the company shapes them. 

When we launched our new brand identity, we spoke about building on our history to move boldly into the future with focus on what we do best: providing integrated, connected technologies that serve vending and coffee operators with reliability and vision. But no strategy or design can capture that evolution quite like the people who’ve been here for the journey. 

This is the story of Alberto Malaguti—an Electronic Design Manager who has been with Coges for over 40 years. His experience mirrors our transformation: from mechanical coin acceptors to digital ecosystems. And through it all, the values that define Coges—curiosity, collaboration, and consistency—remain at the heart of it. 

“I still remember my first day.” 

Alberto joined Coges in the 1984.

“I was shown a banknote reader and a mechanical coin acceptor,” he recalls. “Given their complexity and my inexperience, I must admit—I was a bit worried!”

That initial hesitation didn’t last long. Curiosity took over, and with it came years of hands-on learning, experimentation, and contribution. One project in particular left a mark on Alberto’s career: a highly compact alloy recognizer that pushed the limits of both electronics and mechanical design. 

“The product was never industrialized,” he says, “but it helped me grow in the field of coin recognition. Years later, we completely redesigned it—resulting in the EUR-10 coin validator, a high-performance product that brought real satisfaction.” 

It’s a clear example of how Coges has always valued the long game: invest in learning now, and the impact will follow. 

“The spirit of Coges? Collaboration.” 

Four decades later, what still stands out most to Alberto is the spirit of working together. 

“Collaboration is everywhere here. No matter your seniority, everyone’s ideas are heard.”

Even in the early days, when R&D was more intuition than data and prototypes were refined through trial and error in the field, the team worked closely—testing, learning, improving. “We showed ideas to customers even when they weren’t finished yet,” he says. “That back-and-forth helped shape better products.” 

Today, development is more structured. It’s driven by market research and lean design processes. But for Alberto, the core hasn’t changed: open minds, shared goals, and respect for every voice in the room. 

“The rebrand feels right.” 

Seeing Coges evolve over time, Alberto views the recent rebrand not as a departure from the past, but as a natural next step.
 

“The road we’ve traveled has been long,” he says. “The renewal feels appropriate. The new brand gives me an image of modernity and essentiality.”
 

Coming from someone who’s seen Coges grow from a small technical team to a provider of smart, connected systems—that’s more than approval. It’s recognition that change, when grounded in purpose, is a sign of strength. 

“Always question your assumptions.” 

Among the many lessons learned, this one stands out for Alberto: never take things for granted. 

“History often repeats itself, but never exactly. What worked yesterday may not work tomorrow. We have to keep questioning, keep adapting.” 

This approach—of humility, curiosity, and resilience—is what keeps Coges relevant. It’s also what gives people like Alberto the space to grow and contribute for the long term. 

One journey, shared by many 

Alberto’s story isn’t just his own. It’s the story of Coges—how we started, how we changed, and what continues to matter. 

In celebrating 40 years of his dedication, we also recognize everyone who has shaped this company over time. People like Alberto remind us that while technology evolves, our foundation is built on trust, care, and the quiet work of those who believe in what we’re building—together.