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excellence through innovation Nuova Solmine
ExCELLENCE ThRouGh INNoVaTIoN
Nuova Solmine is an Italy based chemicals company, focused mainly on the production of sulphuric acid and oleum. Barbara Rossi talks to Antonella Mansi, the company’s sales director, about its dedication to excellence and continued technological innovation.
Nuova Solmine is a leader in both its domestic market and other Mediterranean markets when it comes to the production and commercialisation of sulphuric acid and oleum. In addition to this, the company produces demineralised water, steam and electricity. It belongs to the Solmar Group, a major player in the Italian chemical sector.
“Our policy has always been focused on achieving excellence, starting with production. For this reason, we employ a certified Integrated Management System, guaranteeing quality, environmental standards, health & safety, and social responsibility. Over the years we have obtained the following certifications: EMAS, Responsible Care Programme, UNI EN ISO 14001, UNI 10617, OHSAS 18001, UNI EN ISO 9001, UNI 14001, SA8000 and UNI CEI EN ISO 50001. This translates into Nuova Solmine products which are not only suitable for multiple types of industrial production, but also perfectly fulfil the most demanding health & safety and environmental requirements. This approach is implemented and monitored throughout the whole supply chain to guarantee customers the best product accompanied by the best service, fully complying with current legislation to ensure the quality of the end-of-line production processes and thus of our made-in-Italy promise,” Ms Mansi explains.
Production capacity
Nuova Solmine has two plants for sulphuric acid and oleum production. The main one is in Scarlino, near the southern Tuscan town of Grosseto, while the other facility – featuring a lower production capacity – is in the Alessandria area of north-western Italy. The latter works is the only plant in Italy carrying out the thermal treatment of solid and liquid sulphur-con-
taining waste and the regeneration of spent sulphuric acids. Its location and the fact that it is served by major roads place it in a strategic position to serve the production facilities of the main Italian companies employing these products in their processes.
“Because of our activity, my company has a strong focus on research and development, with the aim of continuously improving its own processes, starting with actual production. In line with this, our policy is that of constantly investing in research.”
Talking about the main sectors served by her company, Ms Mansi explained, “Sulphuric acid has a wide range of applications, both at industrial level and in the laboratory, such as fertiliser manufacturing, minerals treatment, chemical synthesis, oil refining, sulphanations in organic chemistry, waste water treatment, inorganic acid production and applications in the metals and steel industry. Furthermore, it is used in the food industry (sugar refineries, distilleries, etc.), tanneries, textile factories, paper mills, cleansing products, car battery production, pharma, paints and pigments, herbal medicine, glass making, resins and plastic materials.”
In addition to the national market, where the company is the leader, exports are also an important contributor to turnover. The Mediterranean basin is particularly significant (France, Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Israel, Turkey and Greece) but other countries are also important. In fact, a significant proportion of sales are generated in Portugal and South America, where sulphuric acid has a key role in metal working processes and fertiliser production.
Alongside producing its own sulphuric acid, the company commercialises significant volumes supplied from various production sites, some of which are based abroad.
“We are implementing important investments in logistics optimisation which, in the next few years, will allow us to be continuously active on long-haul routes. In particular, we are planning to install tanks with a capacity of up to 20,000 tonnes in nearby Piombino harbour and a new large stocking facility for our raw material: sulphur. In the next few years these two elements will allow us to improve our competitiveness. At the same time, we are paying a lot of attention to the way the markets are developing in order to be ready to spot possible new opportunities.”
In terms of future development, Nuova Solmine is mainly working on organic growth, but this does not exclude possible acquisitions in line with its strategy of business diversification logic. “This means that we
will concentrate our efforts on our core activities, but this does not stop us from taking other steps. We are already involved in two challenges: technological innovation and the internationalisation of our activity; therefore, we will strive towards being increasingly more technologically advanced and growing our international presence.”
Partnerships
All-round reliability, including quality and service, is the main factor employed when selecting a supplier. In addition to this, suppliers have to fulfil all the requirements discussed earlier when talking about the Integrated Management System. Of course, being competitive on the market also comes into play.
“In our work we tend to create partnerships both with our customers and our suppliers, in view of the sensitive nature of our activities and the strategic impact deriving from the optimisation and improved efficiency of the supply chain. This translates into achieving great added value for all parties involved, which actually increases the fulfilment of the standards expected in our commercial relations.” n
