Sacmi reports record turnover: more than 1.2 billion euros in 2014

Sacmi, the world's leading manufacturer of plant for the ceramic industry, closed 2014 with one of the best performances in its history and is looking forward to an equally positive 2015.

"The international economic outlook remains complex, especially in certain geographical areas," commented Chairman Paolo Mongardi.

"Despite this, the cooperative has achieved outstanding results in terms of both volumes and profits, improving its business and industrial position in both consolidated and emerging markets." 

With consolidated sales firmly above 1.2 billion euros, a net worth of more than 660 million euros and a global workforce numbering almost 4,000 at more than 70 subsidiaries, Sacmi is reaping the rewards of its large investments in research and technological innovation (over 20 million euros again in 2014). 

As general manager Pietro Cassani pointed out, the group also pursued "a policy of carefully targeted sell-offs and takeovers (e.g. Cosmec, CMC and Eurofilter) and a concentration of resources in core sectors (ceramics, packaging and automation), plus major investments at the Imola site where the number of employees has now climbed to 1,085, with over 120 new hires since 2011".

Despite being a strongly international business - Sacmi makes over 88% of its sales outside Italy - the Group has kept its technological and manufacturing base firmly in Italy.

According to Mongardi, the far-reaching global sales organisation and the creation of production facilities aboard (the latest was the Indian plant in Sanand which was opened at the beginning of the year) reflect the Group's mission of "localisation not re-localisation, maintaining high added-value output in Italian and German firms".

Sacmi's success is driven above all by the excellent performance of the Ceramics division, which saw further growth in both volumes (+5%) and profit margin in 2014 due to a number of new technologies, most notably the Continua+ line for the production of large ceramic panels, the Eko Sort and Eko Wrap flexible stacking and packaging systems, and the AVI pressure casting solutions for sanitaryware.

The Tableware business also performed strongly, again largely due to the Group's efforts to operate as closely as possible to target markets (hence the decision to open new branches in Morocco, Kenya and South Africa).

Good results were also achieved in the non-ceramics sectors, including Closures, Beverage (+30%) and the Special Pressing division (refractories and metals), which marked up a turnover in excess of 15 million euros following the takeover of Bologna-based firm Matrix. The Plastics business has grown in terms of both volumes and margins by focusing exclusively on production of high-tonnage Bi-Power hydraulic presses. And with its "total quality control" solutions sold worldwide, Automation&Service adds considerable value to an all-round plant engineering range, from raw material processing through to end-of-line solutions.

On the basis of the initial results for the first few months of this year, the outlook for 2015 is equally encouraging. The company already has an excellent portfolio across all its divisions and high sales levels and can expect further budget growth, noted Pietro Cassani.