Itema relaunches with a new site in the Seriana Valley
CEO Ghilardi: 'We invest in Italian-made products and high-end products with higher added value'
by Luca Orlando
2' min read
2' min read
From textiles to the looms to make them. Or, if you like, from traditional production to hi-tech machinery with higher added value.
Transition is taking place here in Ponte Nossa, in the immense spaces of the former Cotonificio Bergamasco (later De Angeli Frua and Cantoni) where over 2,000 workers were employed in the 1960s. An area abandoned since 2004 after production came to a definitive halt, a fate suffered by many local textile manufacturers, sunk by competition from low-cost countries. An area that is now coming back to life thanks to the intervention of Itema, a global mechanical-textile bigwig, 280 million in revenues expected in 2025 and 650 employees in Italy, a group that in the global reorganisation of its production has decided to relaunch in Italy with an investment of over 30 million, stopping manufacturing activity in Switzerland in prospect.
'The fact that the 'head' of a group is here,' explains CEO Ugo Ghilardi, 'actually counts a lot for strategic choices. We are tied to this area and are willing to invest further, creating value to compete in the global textile industry'.
A vast area has been taken over, with the first stage, which started yesterday after the demolition works with the laying of the foundation stone, involving the construction of 10,000 square metres to build chassis assembly lines, the core business of the group, which has its headquarters in Colzate, a few kilometres away. The aim is to incorporate the latest assembly and logistics technologies, redesigning flows and processes to reduce waste and increase flexibility.
"For the simplest products,' adds the CEO, 'production is in China, but for the top end of the range and for the frames with higher technological content and added value, also following the preferences of our customers, we are firmly focussing on Made in Italy, an activity that we are strengthening with this investment. The site will be completed at the end of next year, and will start operations during 2027.
