INNOVATION WITH A CONSCIENCE The Sabaf Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of gas home appliance components and hinges for domestic ovens, washing machines, dryers and dishwashers – but it also has a social conscience. Barbara Rossi talks to CEO Angelo Bettinzoli to find out more.
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abaf was originally established as a familyrun producer of various brass products in Brescia, Italy, soon after the end of World War II. In the 1960s, with the economic boom and rapid growth of the household appliances sector, the company decided to begin producing valves for gas cooking appliances. A further development occurred in the 1980s when, alongside valve products, the company started designing and manufacturing burners for gas appliances. In the 1990s it was listed on the Milan stock exchange and underwent an organisational change to promote growth. This was followed in the next decade by the acquisition of the Italian company Faringosi Hinges Srl, the establishment of Sabaf do
Brasil, and the transfer of core production processes to the new site in Ospitaletto, Brescia, where it also began the production of its new light aluminium alloy taps.
Today’s product range The Sabaf Group designs and manufactures components for gas cooking appliances, such as taps, thermostats, burners, accessories and hinges. The last category of products, manufactured by Faringosi Hinges Srl, facilitates the smooth opening and closing of oven, washing machine, dishwasher and dryer doors. Burners currently hold the greatest market share, followed by taps and thermostats and hinges. In addition to the design and manufacture
of these products, Sabaf offers assistance services and has a hi-tech testing laboratory where it can test its products’ compliance with all relevant worldwide legislation. In terms of new products, Sabaf is currently developing new special dual taps made of extruded aluminium alloy. The company has also developed a new set of burners, initially developed to meet the needs of the Chinese market but which, later on, has been engineered to be suitable for other markets. It’s based on a high power, efficient dual burner with various flamespreader options: an aluminium one for standard usage, a brass ring one for high end products and a torch burner
