ITA-ITILES, an emerging Italian player

The company’s Fiorano facility has been completely revamped in collaboration with Sacmi and has an annual production capacity of around 12 million square metres.

Established in 2018-2019 through the acquisition of an existing manufacturing company, the young Fiorano Modenese-based firm ITA-ITILES completed the second stage of its project to completely modernise and refurbish its production facility in record time this spring. The intensive business plan was drawn up by the new owners right from the outset and implemented at the height of the pandemic (the first phase was concluded in spring 2021) in close collaboration with the company’s technological partners. In particular, ITA-ITILES commissioned Sacmi to design and build one of the most modern and efficient plants in the Sassuolo ceramic cluster that would deliver complete process automation together with versatility, flexibility, high productivity and energy savings.

ITA-ITILES operates under the “I.Tiles Born in Maranello” brand name and posted revenues of more than €34 million in 2021 (up 42% on 2020), clearly demonstrating the success of the company’s radical transformation.

We spoke to the young Sassuolo-based entrepreneur Andrea Spagni, chairman of the board and major shareholder of ITA-ITILES.

Could you give us a brief description of your new factory?

“After completing the project in record time thanks to the hard work of our employees and the support of our technology partners, we now have a facility equipped with the latest technology for the production of a wide range of porcelain tiles in sizes from 20x20 cm to 120x120 cm, enabling us to operate in all residential and commercial market segments.

The forming department now consists of seven hi-tech Sacmi presses: a high-tonnage PH 8200 Veloce, three PH 4800s, two PH 4600s and a PH 2590. This configuration gives us the necessary flexibility to produce the most popular tile sizes and to cater for the highest value-added product segments in both the domestic and export markets.

The next stage consists of six latest-generation digital tile decoration lines: three Sacmi-Intesa and three Projecta machines. The firing department is particularly interesting and consists of three 119-metre-long, hi-tech Sacmi kilns equipped with the most efficient heat recovery systems.

The latest kiln was started up recently and is unique in Italy in terms of its size and production capacity, with the capability of firing 15,000 sqm/day of porcelain tiles. The facility is highly automated, with internal transport between departments provided by 11 autonomous laser-guided electric vehicles, also produced by Sacmi”.

What about the final processing departments?

“Along with six sorting and packaging lines, we already have one dedicated cutting and final grinding line and will soon be adding another. The next step for the finishing department will be to install surface lapping lines”.

What is your current production capacity?

“We have a capacity of more than a million square metres per month and a total annual production volume that now stands at 11.5 million square metres, taking into account the usual seasonal breaks in August and December”.

This major investment is already producing its first results.

“That’s right, and at the same time it demonstrates our commitment to the local area and our belief in the resilience and excellence of the ceramic district in terms of technology as well as its human and professional resources. ITA-ITILES now employs around a hundred people and posted a turnover of just under €35 million in 2021, an increase of 42% over 2020 and 61% compared to the year of its acquisition.

We have already invested around €15 million but are planning other major projects in the next three years to continue our development."

What about sales?

“We are looking to the future with determination not just because we have an efficient, digital and eco-friendly plant but also thanks to the implementation of our sales and marketing plans. Together with the new marketing team, we are in the process of completely rebranding and repositioning our new product lines. These will be promoted at upcoming international events, starting with Cersaie in September where we will be presenting no fewer than eight new complete collections for interiors and exteriors. We intend to gradually expand our domestic and export sales networks in both the large-scale distribution sector and in the retail and independent distribution channels."