Industrial relauncing in Italy

Nordmeccanica, a global leader in the construction of lamination and coating machinery, based in Piacenza, relaunches Galileo Vacuum Systems, specialized in the creation of vacuum installations for metalizing plastic films.

The relaunching  declared at the end of July) involves setting up a new facility in Piacenza by December 2013, as well as approximately 100 new hirings between the end of the year and 2014. Nordmeccanica, which in 2012 boasted 205 employees (170 of whom in Italy) and a turnover of 70 million euro (+11% compared to 2011), acquired exclusive rights to the technology, brands and patents of Galileo Vacuum Systems (GVS - former subsidiary of Officine Galileo of Florence, part of Finmeccanica group) on January 22nd, 2013, as stipulated in the acquisition agreement.
The exclusive vacuum metallization technology developed by GVS (400 machines installed worldwide) will enable Nordmeccanica to cover the entire range of high tech flexible packaging and expand its global market share, which already represents 65%.
The applications for metallization of plastic films enable creating, for example, the metalized paper found inside cigarette packs and pharmaceutical packaging.
Antonio Cerciello, president of Nordmeccanica Group, is particularly proud of this operation «which has been made possible by the solid foundations of our group and our resolute determination.
By adding to the group a concern that leads its sector in technology and quality, in perfect symbiosis with the characteristics of the parent company, we have managed to supply our sales network with an excellent tool for consolidating our development strategies. The decision has also enabled us to continue, in 2013, to target a double digit turnover growth rate».
 
NORDMECCANICA SPA currently has four plants, in Italy (two in Piacenza), China (Shanghai) and the United States (New York), two direct bases, in India (Mumbai) and Argentina (Buenos Aires), and a network of representatives that covers 87 countries worldwide. While the group directly employs 205, 170 of whom in Italy, where Nordmeccanica generates more than 300 jobs in total through satellite industries of its two facilities in Piacenza and Podenzano (PC).
The flexible packaging machinery built by Nordmeccanica produce multilayer plastic films used primarily for food and pharmaceutical packaging.
The production process involves laminating printed external films with the internal films destined for food contact, also using solventless glues.
The multilayer flexible films are also used for high tech production (solar panels, technical apparel and other special packaging types). Founded in 1978, Nordmeccanica was acquired in 1998 by Antonio Cerciello, a mechanical engineer from Naples, born in 1940, and former public utilities manager with a vast international experience who reinvented himself as an entrepreneur: during the 1980s, he opened a private engineering practice in Venezuela, assuming responsibility for the design and installation of turnkey facilities for all of South/Central America, with Italian machinery, including that of Nordmeccanica.
He then purchased the Piacenza concern and, along with his sons Vincenzo and Alfredo, undertook a program of international expansion.