Full steam ahead for ceramic, packaging, plastic and chocolate machines: business volumes up by 40% and 180 new employees, 90 of whom in Sacmi Imola alone.The soundness of the diversification and investment plan implemented at the start of the recession – investments in R&D, industrial facilities and machine tools totalling over 65 million Euros – was clearly confirmed in 2011: the Sacmi Group achieved all its goals, with total sales reaching 1,400 million Euros compared to 1,030 in 2010 and consolidated Group profits rising to 32.4 million Euros compared to 12 million in 2010.
Revenues from complete plants and machines for the ceramic industry grew by over 50% and not simply because of exports to the so-called “BRIC” countries (Brazil, Russia, China and India) but also thanks to Italy, which remains the Group’s third-largest market. Growth prospects have also been confirmed in the packaging machine sector: here, in a division that continues to represent both Italian and Emilia-Romagna excellence, sales have increased by 10%. “With a clear strategy, a global presence and careful attention to both product and customer, growth can be achieved even in harsh economic times”, comments Pietro Cassani, managing director of the Sacmi Group and President of Acimac, the Italian association of ceramic machinery makers.
With completion, on the part of Sacmi subsidiary Negri Bossi, of a far-reaching reorganisation plan that has led to complete renewal of the product range, even the plastic injection machine business has returned to profitability after several long, difficult years. As in the Group’s other business areas, strategy focuses on the fine-tuning of processes and products that consume less energy, outstanding production flexibility, a reduction of specific product costs and greater attention to the environment (recycling of raw materials, item weight and thickness reduction etc).
These positive results are also evident on the unemployment front: “Between October 2010 and December 2011”, comments the President of the Sacmi Group, Domenico Olivieri, “90 people joined Sacmi Imola, and at least twice that number were taken on by the Group as a whole”. Even the establishment of Carle & Montanari Holding – the large-scale Italian chocolate-making hub jointly owned by Sacmi and IMA, where, in addition to Carle & Montanari, OPM and FIMA have also been integrated – has accomplished its goals, achieving total sales of 90 million Euros. Despite an industry slowdown in several emerging economies, especially in India and China (a sluggishness partially offset by growth in Russia), these results are expected to be repeated in 2012, the year in which the new CMH will be presenting itself on the market with an outstanding customer portfolio.
