SACMI GROUP: 2002 balance sheet approved, total sales now at € 829 million (+42% compared to 2001).

Since becoming the world leader in the ceramic plant and machinery field, SACMI has continued its plans for diversification in the plastics and food processing industries.

(PRWEB) July 5, 2003 - The General Assembly of Sacmi Imola -- an Italian cooperative based in Imola (Bologna), which heads an international Group that is the world leader in the field of machines and complete plants for the ceramics and plastics industries -- has now approved the results of the balance sheet closed on 31st December 2002.

Thanks to implementation of an important diversification plan which aims (following attainment of an undisputed leadership position in the ceramic industry) to gain a significant share of the Beverage, Packaging and Food Processing markets quickly, total sales revenues for the Sacmi Group increased significantly over the fiscal year 2002, going from the € 582 million registered in 2001 to € 829 million, an increase of over 42%.

More specifically, the Group achieved its goals vis-à-vis penetration into the new business areas of plastics and food processing: this was largely due to the take-over of Negri Bossi, a leading producer of injection presses quoted on the STAR section of the Italian Stock Market, and developments brought forward by Sacmi & Catelli, a holding company with shares in enterprises producing machines and complete plants for the food industry.

Over the year the Group was joined by Carle&Montanari, Oima and BM Braghi. New companies - Protesa, Raytec Vision, Sacmi Shanghai, Sacmi Polska -- have also been set up and the number of employees now stands at over 3,100, a jump of more than a third with respect to the 2,339 employees of 31st December 2001.

In keeping with development plans, the balance between sales volumes in different business areas has also been improved: 59% of total sales in 2002 were attributable to the ceramic division and 41% to the plastics division. In 2001 the ratio was 76% ceramics to 24% plastics.

Thanks to the dozens of Group companies all over the world and the continued growth of Sacmi Net (the Global Network of sales and servicing companies), export quotas were, in 2002, once again in the order of 80%.

However, these results are not simply the result of take-overs concluded during the fiscal year 2002: they also stem from the growth and consolidation of traditional business areas and the successful launch of new Sacmi-developed production systems on world markets.
The year 2002 also saw Group profitability increase, as highlighted by key balance sheet indicators:

-   Gross margin (Ebitda) rose to € 79 million (increase of 19.7% with respect to the € 66 million of 2001),

-   Net margin (Ebit) was + € 55 million, up by 37.5%.

Despite the rather testing macroeconomic situation", comments Domenico Olivieri, President of http://www.sacmi.com">Sacmi Imola, our Group has managed to move forward and continue the expansion process into 2002, not only because of the dominant position in traditional business areas but also, and far more importantly, thanks to an efficient and coherent strategy of diversification".

The important results thus-far achieved", adds Sacmi Group General,Manager Giulio Cicognani, and the Sacmi Groups acknowledged leadership status on world markets are also the result of significant investments in research, the application of innovative technologies and the high qualitative standards of the products and services supplied to the customer".

The http://www.sacmi.com">Sacmi Group, the worlds leading designer, producer and marketer of machines and complete plants for the Ceramics, Plastics, Beverage&Packaging and Food Processing industries, consists of over 70 companies and is headed by the parent company Sacmi Imola and the holding company H.P.S. S.p.A. The Group has production plants and distribution outlets in 20 countries and has over 3,100 employees.