Vimar, development through research and exports

"For this year we foresee a growth in turnover of a few percentage points," Camillo Gusi, Vimar's CEO, anticipates to Il Sole 24 Ore on the sidelines of the company's 80th anniversary celebration. "We are aiming for a growth in exports, which currently account for one fifth of sales, in several interesting markets such as Saudi Arabia and those in the neighbouring Gulf region. We also hope for the recovery of several markets where the economy is stuck or at least slowed down due to deteriorated or critical geopolitical situations'.

For the company, the trend of constant growth is confirmed, similar to 2024 when revenues reached 317.4 million, an increase of 5% over the previous year's 302.4 million. As far as the Italian market is concerned, Gusi, who together with his cousin Gualtiero Viaro, president and CEO, represent the second generation of this reality that in Italy employs 1,100 direct employees plus another 200 employees in the foreign offices, does not hide a certain slowdown in demand caused by the cancellation of the various bonuses and incentives that, in past years, favoured the adaptation and upgrading of homes. "Adequate and balanced bonuses are needed, a necessary help to make homes more efficient, less energy-intensive, more comfortable and safer," hopes the CEO.

One of Vimar's strengths is its share of investment in research and development, which amounts to 8.9% of turnover. The company has a centre dedicated to innovation in Padua, near the University of Padua, where some fifty researchers work on electronics and digital solutions. Design is a strong point of the offer, which aims at strong integration with interior environments and Vimar, among other things, is a sponsor of the Italian pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025. On the sustainability front, Linea has been developed, the first family of switches and sockets for the home made from 70% renewable and recycled plastics.

While innovation today is in the form of smart products and residential and non-domestic solutions, Vimar has also literally donated to the world 'a patent that has become a market standard. Not many companies do this," recalls Camillo Gusi. This is the March 1965 Vimar Sicury 'child safety' patent, a mechanism that prevents foreign bodies being inserted into the socket. The company then decided to transfer its use free of charge. In 1975, Vimar filed the first patent for a multi-standard socket, the Bpresa, a universal two-pin socket that can accommodate plugs of different standards.