Saxa Gres and the challenge of the circular economy

The production of Grestone^TM cobblestones started in the Roccasecca factory in April, where the capacity will be double by the year 2020. On 14 June this year the group acquired Centro Impasti Ceramici Modena (former Cbs) with a company lease agreement.

The Saxa Gres group’s factory in Roccasecca (Frosinone, Italy) started the production of the innovative porcelain Grestone^TM cobblestones last April. This is a truly original and sustainable product, a paving produced with up to 30% inert materials deriving from other industries and from the nearby San Vittore incinerator. These materials are covered by three patents (for the product, the production process and the revolutionary body), and are produced with thicknesses of between 5 cm and 6.5 cm for urban pavings subject to high stresses. At the factory, which is the result of the rescue in 2018 and conversion of the former Ideal Standard factory, the company confirms the investment project to double capacity by the year 2020. Pre-orders have already granted the entire 2019 output and revenues for this first year are estimated at 40 million euros.

This new production activity is the latest milestone reached by the group set up by Francesco Borgomeo in 2015 when he acquired the first manufacturing facility, the former Marazzi Sud factory in Anagni (Frosinone), and converted it to the production of extra-thick porcelain for outdoor and urban design applications. The factory, which closed the year 2018 with revenue of 30 million euros and EBITDA of 22%, is currently operating at 100% of its capacity on three lines and three shifts and expect to see 10% growth per year through to 2022.

Four years after first embarking on this venture, Francesco Borgomeo is now at the head of the largest ceramic manufacturing group in central and southern Italy, founded entirely on the circular economy.

Beside the factories in Anagni and Roccasecca, the Group also acquired the Tagina factory in Gualdo Tadino (Umbria) in April 2018.

For its latest operation Saxa Group moved to the ceramic district in Emilia Romagna, where, on 14 June this year they signed the company lease agreement, with an option to purchase within 18 months, for Centro Impasti Ceramici Modena [the former company CBS which went into administration on 29/1/2019], and acquired the facility in Spilamberto (Modena). The operation will allow to boost production of ceramic body for the Tagina factory.

Read the interview with Francesco Borgomeo on Ceramic World Review 132