italian machinery makes a splash with intelligent packaging · 21 january 2019 – la repubblica...

21January2019–LAREPUBBLICA–AFFARI&FINANZA(BusinessandFinancesectionofItaliandaily“LaRepubblica”)THESTORY

ItalianmachinerymakesasplashwithintelligentpackagingThisItaliancompanyispartneringwithtwomultinationalchemicalgiants–America'sDow-DuPontandGermany’sHenkel–todesignandproducenewmachinesforpackagingfoodstuffsandmanyconsumerproducts.Ithasbeenworkingwithanothergiant–Germanhigh-techmultinationalSiemens–for20yearstoproduceintegratedautomationmachinery,thatismodelswhichallowcommunicationbetweenthemselvesandthecompany.Ithasalsosignedaniron-cladagreementwithAustraliancompanyAmcor,theworld’sleadingsupplierofflexiblepackagingforfreshproducts,whichhasallowedtoinstallin37ofthegroup’splantsitsownmachines,ofover3000produced.ThesearejustsomeofthepartnershipswhichNordmeccanica,astand-outinternationalsuccessinItaly’spackagingindustry,hasdevelopedover40yearsinbusiness,ananniversarycelebratedingrandstylelastmonthinPiacenza.Thegroup'snorthern-Italianhometownwelcomedhundredsofguestsandbigplayersinthesectorfromallovertheworld,fromAfricatoIndiaandChina.Thecompany,runbyAntonioCercielloalongsidehissons,bothvicepresidents–Vincenzo(technicaldirector)andAlfredo(financialdirector)–exports95%ofitsproduction,andistheworldleaderlaminatingmachinesforflexiblepackaging(withamarketshareof75%).“Oursisasectorwhichismorefragmentedthanmany–just30-40%isinthehandsoflargemultinationalgroups,nomore,”clarifiesthepresident.Nordmeccanica'sturnoverhasgrownfrom45to110millionEurosinthelastdecade,withanannualgrowthrateconstantlyhoveringataround10%.Thecompanyspends5%ofitsturnoveronR&D,with300employeesspreadacrossfiveplants:threeinItaly,oneinChina(Shanghai),andoneintheUSA(NewYork).ItalsorunstwoofficesprovidingtechnicalsupportinArgentina(BuenosAires)andIndia(Mumbai),plusanextensivenetworkofagentswhichcovers87countriesaroundtheworld.“Weareexpectingtoclose2019withturnoverof120millionEuros,becauseproductionhasbegunattheformerdivisionofOfficineGalileoinFlorence,whichwetookoverandrelaunched.Wearealreadyworkingona14-million-Euroorder,”Cercielloreveals.Theinterestingaspectofthiscompany,GalileoVacuumSystem,isitsproductionofmetallisationmachinesforpaperandplasticfilms:“Itisatechniquewhichallowsustoproducealternativepackagingsheetsandfilmswhichdonotusealuminium,”theentrepreneurexplains.“Itprovidesaproductwhichisasshinyandimpermeableastypicalaluminiumproducts,butofferssignificantsavingsintermsofrawmaterials.”MetallisationisaninnovativetechniquewhichhasthepotentialtorepresentafurthermainstayofNordmeccanica'sbusiness.Thecompany'scorebusinessistheproductionofmachinery–whichrangesinsizeandpricefrommodelscosting200,000tooveramillionEuros–whichproduceslaminatedmulti-layerpackaging,usedaboveallforfoodstuffsandpharmaceuticals.Oneofthesellingpointsofthecompany'smachinesistheirabilitytolaminatetheouterfilms,printedwiththeproductbrandinganddetails,totheinnerfilmswhichcomeintocontactwiththefoodstuffs,usingnon-pollutingadhesivetechnology.“Ourcustomersaretheproducersofpackaging,theso-calledconverters,whomanufacturethepackagingfortheendcustomers,80%ofwhominourcaseareinthefoodsector,suchasBarillaorFerrero,“observesCerciello.“Butflexiblemultilayerpackaging,producedusingNordmeccanicamachinery,isalsousedforhigh-techproductssuchassolarpanels,technicalclothingandspecialpackagingtypes.”ThegoalofthePiacenza-basedgroupistoridethepackagingtrendwhichisdevelopinginChina,whereanewfoodsafetylawcameintoforcein2015.Thishasbeguntohaveitsfirsteffects,imposingever-higherqualitystandardsonthefoodindustry–alsointermsofpackaging,whichmustbecompletelysolventfreeinordertoreducetheriskofcontamination.“DemandinChinaiscurrentlyfor55machinesperyear,andthisisdestinedtogrowfast.ItissomethingwehavealreadyseenhappeninJapanandinKorea,”thebusinessmanconcludes.ALLRIGHTSRESERVED______________________________________________________________________

Theperson

AntonioCercielloPresidentofNordmeccanica,anItalianleaderinthepackagingsector.______________________________________________________________________

Theinternationalpackagingsectorisoneofthemostfragmented,withonly30-40%inthehandsoflargegroups.______________________________________________________________________THENUMBERS

ConversionTheEuropeanmarket

(Germany22%-Italy17%-France11%-UK11%-Spain8%-Other31%-Total101.7billionEuros)______________________________________________________________________Nordmeccanica'sturnoverhasgrownfrom45to110millionEurosinadecade.Thecompany’sinvestmentsinR&Damountto5%ofitsturnover.______________________________________________________________________VitodeCeglia,MilanNordmeccanica,astand-outinternationalsuccessinItaly’spackagingindustry,hasdevelopedpartnershipswithmajormultinationalsover40yearsinbusiness.ThisisthanksalsotoaspecialfilmwhichlookslikeAluminium.