Chemicals based on sustainability Bozzetto

chemicaLs Based on sustainaBiLity

Established in Italy in 1919, Bozzetto is a global group with 100 years of experience in chemical auxiliaries in three different fields: Textile Chemicals, Building Chemicals and Performance Chemicals. Last year the group was acquired by a new owner and is now looking to further boost its global reach. Romana Moares reports.

Headquartered in Filago (Bergamo), Bozzetto Group was incorporated in 1919 as a textiles chemicals company specialised in chemical agents aimed at enhancing textile production efficiency. Over the decades, the group has widened its product portfolio, both organically and through acquisitions, to include building materials, detergents and agricultural chemicals. Today, with many production plants in Europe and Asia and representations in North, South and Central America, Bozzetto can deliver valuable chemicals solutions across the globe.

Michele Scarpellini, the Business Line Manager for Performance Chemicals, reminds us that next year the group will commemorate 100 years of successful operation. “What was started by the first owner, Giovanni Bozzetto, back in the early 1990s has grown into a multinational group with a wide-reaching competence. The company grew through several milestones – the 1970s were a time of diversification in other fields and the late 1980s were a period of the group’s internationalisation, after the majority stake in Bozzetto was acquired by Rütgers. The group expanded significantly in the 1990s and the early 2000s when several subsidiaries were established in Spain, Germany, Turkey and Poland, followed by plants in Indonesia and China.”

Last year, the company experienced yet another milestone – its 100 per cent stake was sold to private equity firm Chequers Capital, which is expected to promote further growth and strengthen the group’s global footing.

Three pillars

As Mr Scarpellini explains, the group pursues three key business lines: textile chemicals, performance chemicals and building chemicals. “The textile business line still accounts for most of the turnover (53 per cent), followed by the building chemicals (24 per cent) and performance chemicals (23 per cent). The textile chemicals enter all facets of textile

processing, from fibre production and preparation, through dying, digital printing up to finishing, and includes even fashion art chemicals.

“The building chemicals include super plasticisers for concrete and mortars, set retarders and workability retention extenders and additives for plaster board production,” he continues. “Performance chemicals is the most complex product group and includes various specific business lines such as products for water hardness reduction, water treatment chemicals, agents for cosmetics, chemicals for agriculture and a number of specialities such as chemicals for the rubber, pulp, painting and other sectors.”

He confirms that all three business lines are growing, with sales covering 90 countries around the world. “Bozzetto Group’s solutions are tailor-made with an almost unparalleled production and delivery flexibility. From the initial preparation to the final application, our technicians are continuously involved, so that our customers see us as true partners. This certainly helps to expand our operations – although our main geographical region remains Europe where around 40 per cent of sales are generated, we are experiencing growth in both the Americas and Asia and see an emerging potential in new regions such as Africa.” In line with current trends

In 2017 the group generated a turnover of €125 million, continuing to capitalise on its sound, multinational foundation and the extent of its competence and expertise. “Our chemists have excellent knowledge and skills and are very well prepared to support our customers all the way through. Our know-how and the level of professional services is one of the reasons for our being in the market for 100 years,” Mr Scarpellini points out. He also highlights the company’s focus on R&D, with more than 50 people in the laboratories and sales team with strong background in downstream industries for an outstanding technical service.

The company’s focus on innovation is another important factor. Its laboratories are equipped with cutting-edge instruments and devices and are closely connected to the production process, where sophisticated tests are conducted. “Our researchers constantly work on new product development and modifications in all the different business lines. The focus is on the ‘green’ aspects, maintaining excellent performance, leading the textile business unit to achieving several certificates, such as Bluesign® .

“Moreover, starting from this year all our products made here in the Italian plant are formaldehyde-free,” says Mr Scarpellini. “The

Bozzetto Group has always believed in investing in expanding its research laboratories with regard to both equipment and human resources. Especially in sectors like ours, without research it is not possible to improve products in order to provide the solutions the market expects.”

He confirms that sustainability is a big issue, and one to which the company pays a lot of attention. The Bozzetto Group actively supports the worldwide commitment to the Responsible Care Global Charter to enhance the management of chemicals and applies in all its production plants a number of ecological measures including waste collection and recycling, a progressive energy consumption reduction and a recovery programme involving washing waters and the reclamation of reactors at production turnover.

Mr Scarpellini confirms that after a century of successful operation, the group is ready to face the next stage of its development. “The future is challenging but exciting at the same time. Last year’s takeover by Chequers Capital gave us a positive push. The new owner is willing to invest in Bozzetto, so we are looking at potential further acquisitions, in Europe but also elsewhere, to support further growth.” n

NOVELETRIC

Since its birth, NoVeleTRIC boasts of having Bozzetto spa as a costumer, with whom NoVeleTRIC has consolidated a strong business relationship, which has currently taken the shape of the modern concept of the circular economy. Indeed, Bozzetto spa’s attention towards the environment is confirmed through the purchasing of regenerated packaging and the reliance on experienced packaging regenerating companies such as NoVeleTRIC.