Renato Fiorotto has long been recognized in the Foundation Equipment Industry as an innovator, a talented engineer who developed and implemented techniques used throughout the industry today. But his three-year long battle with cancer revealed an inspiring strength of spirit certain to be remembered as one of his greatest attributes.

In a February 2008 article by the Houston Chronicle, Fiorotto talked about his fight – stating the importance of approaching it with the same energy and hopefulness as work and family. He was determined not to let cancer keep him from the things he enjoyed most, continuing to work and ski as much as he could. After a journey that took him from his home in Conegliano, Italy and many different types of cancer treatment, to Houston for  dditional treatment and clinical-trials at M.D. Anderson, Fiorotto died November 21, 2008.

His colleagues around the world mourn his loss and pay tribute to his life. Called a “gentle and peaceful man,” Fiorotto was born in Tanzania in 1949. He lived and worked in South Africa, where he began his career as a design engineer on road construction, piling, water supply and drainage system projects – before moving to Iran and becoming head of the Services Division for the construction of the New Harbor at Bandar Abbas. Construction projects and his passion for them took him to Liberia and Singapore before settling permanently in Italy in 1986. There he honed his expertise in the machinery and equipment used in specialized foundations and became a Director of Research and Development and Geotechnical Consultant within the industry. Joining BAUER Maschinen as Director of Market Development in 2003, he began work that would impact equipment and techniques throughout the foundation equipment industry.

Fiorotto was integral in the development and implementation of the soil mixing technique known as Cutter-Soil-Mixing (CSM), and lateral  displacement piles known today as Lost Bit Full Displacement Pile (FDP). Houston-based Pileco Inc. is part of the BAUER Maschinen group of companies and industry family fortunate to have worked with Renato Fiorotto and saddened by the loss.