I.C.F. & Welko, goals for 2021

The new CEO Roberto Magnani confirms the company’s further expansion in R&D activities focused on green technologies and Industry 4.0.

Despite the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Maranello-based company I.C.F. & Welko reported very positive end-of-year results in 2020. Revenues remained consistent with 2019 figures, while profits grew sharply to more than 2 million euros.

The goal for 2021 is to consolidate these positions, a task that since February 2021 has been entrusted to the new CEO, Roberto Magnani. A manager with many years of experience in the ceramic plant sector, he has held positions of responsibility at some of the industry’s leading companies since 1994.

One of the new CEO’s top priorities is to further boost R&D efforts in the two areas of digitalisation and sustainability.

“For the plant’s most energy-intensive machines, in other words the kilns, dryers and spray dryers, we are working on solutions capable of reducing emissions and energy consumption, including the use of new fuels such as hydrogen,” explains Magnani. “As for the other key machines in our range, namely the presses with a capacity of up to 6300 tonnes for the production of tiles in sizes up to 1200x1200 mm, our research efforts are focused on upgrading to Industry 4.0 standards, from the operator interface to predictive diagnostics and factory connectivity.”

During the last year, I.C.F. & Welko has consolidated its presence not only in the Italian market, but also in a number of European markets, including Germany, Spain and Russia. In the Russian market in particular it has also entered the technical ceramics sector and recently signed an agreement with a local tile producer for the supply of new machines.

Outside Europe, I.C.F. & Welko maintains its market positions in North Africa, the Middle East and South America, supplying individual machines and, more frequently, complete lines for ceramic production.

One of the most important orders completed in 2021 was for a leading North African ceramic tile company and involved installing a line capable of doubling production capacity, introducing new sizes and upgrading the production mix.

“We continue to see quite different needs across the various markets in which we operate,” says Magnani. “In the most advanced markets, for example, alongside a focus on greener technologies and digitalisation, we are seeing huge growth in demand for technologies for the production of thicker materials, namely 20-30 mm. There’s a lot of energy at the moment and a desire to rapidly make up for the months of slowdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. In North Africa, we still aren’t seeing much attention to the sustainability of processes, although it’s probably only a matter of time before this happens, whereas in some countries in the Middle East there is greater interest due to the problems associated with gas quotas.”

I.C.F. & Welko now has 80 employees. In addition to the ceramic sector, the company also supplies powder and fluid handling technologies to the food & industrial sector. This segment currently accounts for around 25-30% of annual turnover, although I.C.F. & Welko is aiming to further increase this share.