Fainplast invests in research and development

Through an investment of 300,000 euros, Fainplast has built a new research and development lab at its headquarters in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. This facility, which covers an area of around 200 square metres, also incorporates a new quality control department specifically for polyolefin products. The lab, staffed by a team of around twenty specialist technicians, offers practical support to the activity of the company, which invests around 7% of its turnover in research and development.
As well as setting up the lab, the company has implemented the automation of its plant for the manufacturing of polyolefin products, increased its bulk material storage capacity, and created a new warehouse for the storage of finished products (1850 square meters under cover). Over the past two years it has invested 3 million euros in two new production lines, which have increased its capacity by 20%, while a total of around 2 million euros have been invested in research and development.
The company aims to strengthen its position in western Europe, but is also keeping a close eye on the eastern European countries like Poland, where it already operates and plans to increase its presence. At present, the markets deemed most interesting are Turkey, Germany and the Netherlands, where the company is present through a network of local agents. The US is also considered an attractive market, although business is penalised by high transport costs and exchange rates; India is also being monitored closely. In 2012, the company recorded a turnover of 86 million euros, which represents an increase of 5% on 2011, with 45% of this total generated by exports.