Gefran targets the value of data and invests in 40factory

Gefran, a company specialized in the design and production of sensors, systems and components for the automation and control of industrial processes, signed a Series A investment agreement to acquire a minority share in 40Factory, a scale-up with operational headquarters in Piacenza. The agreement provides for Gefran’s entry into the corporate structure of 40Factory through a capital increase, as a result of which Gefran will hold 22% of the share capital for a total consideration 4 million euros (paid in cash, by its own means).

Founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Camillo Ghelfi together with the founding shareholders, 40Factory is tech a scale-up that offers industrial machinery manufacturers and end users an Industrial loT (Internet of Things) platform for collecting and using plant data and owns a generative artificial intelligence system dedicated to assisting in the use of industrial machinery. 40Factory boasts among its customers some of Italy’s leading manufacturers of production machinery. The company closed 2024 with a turnover of more than 1.5 million euro and plans to reach 3 million in 2025. Between 2021-2024 it reached an aggregate growth rate of more than 50%.

The deal arises from the awareness of the strategic importance of the data for modern manufacturing companies. Its collection, management, and analysis are essential for optimizing processes, improving efficiency, and supporting decision making. Through such agreement, Gefran, that with its sensors and automation solutions has always been leading the way in the acquisition of data and its use for industrial process control takes a decisive step towards the future. Indeed, thanks to 40Factory’s IoT expertise and services, Gefran evolves its ability to process and transform data collected in the field into more valuable information for customers, further strengthening its role as a strategic partner in the digital and sustainable transformation of production processes.

“We are very pleased with this deal, which represents a fundamental step in our growth strategy. We were looking for a company allowing us to integrate our products and solutions offer with services that can fully meet the needs of the customers facing the challenges of digitalization and sustainability.  We found in 40Factory a partner with solid expertise in the field of IoT and generative AI, who shares with us an approach focused on collaboration and on OEM support. By this investment, we have further enhanced our position as a company supporting its customers not only in the control of industrial processes, but also in the creation of value coming from the management of collected data”, Marcello Perini, CEO of Gefran Groupcommented.

“We are delighted that this investment round has been done by Gefran, a company point of reference in the industrial automation field. The resources made provided, together with the experience and expertise of the Gefran team, will offer an important contribution to 40Factory, allowing to continue on its path of growth and innovation in the field of industrial machinery, both in Italy and abroad”, said Camillo Ghelfi, founder and CEO of 40Factory.