The fact that Cattani remains a family concern reveals much about the company's ethics and values wherever it has a presence.

What makes a good business? Augusto Cattani respects traditional elements of success but says nothing matters more than people.

Mr Cattani is the dental suction and compression equipment pioneer who founded the Cattani company in Parma, Italy, 50 years ago. He is still involved as President, while one of his sons, Ennio, is in charge of day-to-day business. The fact that it remains a family concern reveals much about Cattani ethics and values.

Cattani sells to more than 60 countries, among them Australia and New Zealand, where another family, the Clarks, have been serving dentists under the banner of Cattani Australia for more than 30 years. Founder and now Chairman Bill Clark is still a regular presence at company headquarters in Melbourne, while daughter Allison is a Director.

When Mr Cattani established Cattani in 1967, he wanted to build a successful surgical suction company serious about quality management. He also wanted to build a company that took its social responsibilities seriously and that people were proud to work for. Every decision since then has been based on that principle.

“The social role of the company has always been foremost. Those who only work to earn money, and for whom earning money is the main purpose of their work, are in a different line of work to me.”