Premio Villa awarded to Franco Stefani, chairman of System

Franco Stefani, chairman and founder of System (Fiorano Modenese, MO), has won the 12th international award set up in memory of Aldo Villa (first chairman of the Italian Ceramic Society and for years the general manager of Sacmi). The award is presented by the Italian Ceramic Society to industry figures who have shown outstanding enterprise and capacity for innovation.

The award was presented on Monday 19 September in the Sacmi Conference Hall in Imola at a ceremony that saw the participation of such illustrious figures as the president of Regione Emilia Romagna Vasco Errani, chairman of Confindustria Ceramica Franco Manfredini and chairman of Confindustria Emma Marcegaglia. As described in their official statement, the award committee chose to assign the award to Franco Stefani for “his extraordinary contribution to the development of ceramic technology that has revolutionised ceramic tile production and decoration, for his outstanding business courage and his constant pursuit of innovation in terms of machines and ideas, combining electronics and electrotechnics with mechanics”.

The award ceremony followed an event entitled “Technological innovation: the key to success”, an appointment held  by Sacmi to present the results of the group’s investments in research and innovation. This year’s meeting focused on a new Continua line, new software for digital printing and new eco-kilns capable of calibrating heat more effectively and bringing significant savings and a considerable reduction in emissions.

Expressing his pride at receiving the award, Franco Stefani stressed the loyal and fruitful cooperation that has always existed between his company and Sacmi. “The companies that have been most successful are made up of people who are capable of establishing genuine relationships, because it is possible to compete while maintaining great mutual respect,” he said.

Emma Marcegaglia likewise expressed her pleasure at the recognition. “An award presented to a great entrepreneur like Stefani, who has always pursued innovation with passion and professionalism, is an award for all of Italian business, which in spite of the difficulties and the crisis is carrying on with great perseverance and determination,” she said.