The Parent Company’s Shareholders’ Meeting approves the consolidated financial statements and renews the appointments to the Board of Directors. The Group continued to enjoy exceptional financial and asset strength. Revenues exceeded pre-COVID averages, with Tiles posting best ever result and all sectors reporting good performance
Consolidated revenues of more than €1.53 billion, up almost 40% from 2020, with sales and orders returning to pre-COVID levels. These were the key points that emerged from theSACMI Imola Shareholders’ Meeting held last Saturday, May 14, during which theGroup’s Consolidated Financial State ments were approved and the Board of Directors was renewed.
From an economic point of view, SACMI confirms its exceptional financial and equity strength, with net assets of 773 million euros and a net financial position of +97 million euros. Ebit and Ebitda also made impressive progress in 2021, reaching €82 million and €145 million respectively.
The year 2021 was characterized by a strong increase in revenues, thanks to the strong order flows, and record performance, especially in Tiles, which experienced a remarkable99% increase in machine sales; Whiteware also performed well thanks to a general market recovery and the completion of numerous projects that had been put on hold by the emergence of COVID.
Advanced Materials obtained very satisfactory results, both in the traditional Refractories and Metals sectors and in emerging areas, especially those linked to the manufacture of components for the lithium-ion batteries that are driving the global growth of electric mobility.
Likewise, Rigid Packaging orders recovered more than proportionally, despite the continued impact of the health crisis, especially in metal closures and vision system fronts; likewise for Beverage, with Africa and the Middle East being the main buyers of complete plants. Packaging & Chocolate also recovered convincingly. This was largely due to the strengthening of the product range and the development of solutions capable of adapting to new eco-sustainable packaging materials and primary packaging.
In terms of markets, SACMI strengthened its sales position in the main areas of the world as investment levels increased in Europe and the Americas. In spite of very strong competition, SACMI also performed well in Asia, confirming its role as a key technology supplier both in the traditional ceramics and packaging sectors and in emerging areas such as components for the electric automotive sector, carbon and advanced ceramics.
Throughout 2021, the focus was on the supply of environmentally sustainable technologies and production processes, an objective that is playing an increasingly strategic role in business decisions.
“Governance, skills and a sense of belonging to the company are vital factors in responding to change,” said SACMI Imola President Paolo Mongardi. He also noted that the extraordinary 2021 results stem from “SACMI’s ability to sustain its heavy offshore course, ensuring production continuity and excellent customer service levels during the health crisis.”
Investing in skills training remains as important as ever: in addition to the 17,000 hours of technical and linguistic training and the 6,700 hours of safety training provided in 2021 alone, the company is moving forward with the Academy, SACMI’s training center for both internal staff and stakeholders. In addition, projects with schools, universities and research facilities continued apace, with active partnerships now exceeding 100; finally, since its foundation, the Group has already filed more than 5,000 patents.
Note also that in 2021 SACMI increased its workforce to 4,720, more than 1,100 of which are employed by the parent company. SACMI maintains one of the lowest employee turnover rates in the market (only 1.6% at SACMI Imola), a clear sign of employee loyalty.
Despite military conflict in Europe, spiraling energy and raw material costs, and severe procurement challenges, the first few months of 2022 have seen SACMI move forward with determination. As president Paolo Mongardi points out, the company “aims to continue investing in innovation and skills. This will largely be about the new professions and enabling technologies needed to achieve digitization and the green transition, ensuring that the enterprise has all the tools it needs for a successful second century.”
