FM joins Elesa Group

The acquisition brings together the two companies’ know-how, aptitude for innovation and production capacity in the field of components for the mechanical and automation industries.

Elesa S.p.A., a leading player in the design and production of components for the mechanical and automation industries, has signed an agreement for the acquisition of 100% of the industrial assets of FM S.r.l. of Correggio (Reggio Emilia), a company specialising in the engineering and moulding of technical articles in thermoplastic materials for injection moulding, which will be renamed FM Partec® S.p.A.

The acquisition, which will be finalised in October 2024, marks the culmination of more than 24 years of collaboration between the two companies and will further optimise synergies between their respective areas of expertise while increasing production capacity and strengthening their continuous focus on innovation.

FM’s management and employees will continue to run FM Partec® in accordance with the Elesa Group’s guidelines.

Elesa, founded in 1941 and headquartered in Monza with 14 foreign subsidiaries, exports more than 65,000 high-quality, high-performance items made from the most advanced technopolymers and metals to over 60 countries. Elesa’s products stand out for their ergonomic and highly distinctive design and have won more than 56 industrial design awards. They are used in the most diverse fields of application in the mechanical engineering and industrial automation sectors.

FM, founded in 1974 in the heart of the Correggio plastics industry, is a leading manufacturer of components for machines used in the ceramics and industrial automation sectors. As a top technical and technological partner, it is able to assist customers in all areas relating to the production of moulds and articles in thermoplastic materials in all stages from design through to delivery of the finished product.

FM also manufactures innovative blowing and suction systems for drying, cooling, cleaning and product separation applications in various industries, from food and beverage to ceramics.

FM has an international sales network and exports its products to over 40 countries worldwide. Its research laboratory, FMLab, is recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) and accredited by the Advanced Technology Network of the Emilia-Romagna Region.

Both companies collaborate with prestigious universities: Elesa with Milan Polytechnic, and FM with the University of Ferrara and the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

“This operation is the natural culmination of the longstanding collaboration between two family-owned Italian companies, both of which combine strong local connections with a powerful international outlook, and share a vision based on excellent quality, continuous innovation and unique customer service and support capabilities,” said Carlo Bertani, CEO of Elesa. “By combining our technical capabilities and production capacity, we have created an even stronger group, which benefits our customers and partners both in Italy and in international markets.”

Barbara Franchini, CEO of FM, explained that joining the Elesa Group is “a very important project that has come to fruition in the year of FM’s 50th anniversary, and which will give us the opportunity for further growth and consolidation of our market position. I see this step as the logical continuation of the longstanding collaboration between our two companies. It will enable us to maximise synergies in terms of expertise, while at the same time integrating and strengthening our longstanding capacity for innovation.”.

50 years of innovation in step with the times

Since 1974, FM has developed numerous products for the ceramic industry, each of which has been tailored to new customer requirements and market needs. These include the historic glazing disc packs that resolved various disc booth issues and the supports, pulleys and guards that have continued to evolve over the years in step with the evolution of the machines and their applications.

The company’s latest product is the Aria GreenBlow® line, which is designed to reduce energy consumption by using low-impact, high-performance motors. Initially used for tile cooling prior to digital printing, the line has continued to evolve and has been equipped with all the accessories needed to create effective blowing, suction and filtering stations. Today, the Aria GreenBlow® line can be used not only for cooling but also for cleaning applications prior to kiln entry with the Pull’n’catch® system, as well as post-cut drying and many other applications where air blowing is required.

One of the key venues chosen by FM to celebrate the first 50 years of its success and lay the foundations for its future growth as FM Partec® together with the Elesa Group is TECNA 2024 in Rimini, where the company will be present in Hall D1 Booth 100.