A longstanding sales manager at Negri Bossi, Antonio Rampone (top picture) certainly has a very clear take on the agreement concerning the acquisition, by the Japanese company Nissei, of a 75% stake in the company from Cologno Monzese (Milan), which is one of the major Italian manufacturers of injection moulding machines. The operation is a way of “exploiting the advantages of both these plastic processing machinery manufacturers and making sure that they work profitably… together!”

He is quick to point out the reason for the statement: “If you look back over the history of Negri Bossi”, Rampone goes on, “you find that it has operated under financial and industrial ownerships. Latterly, in the typically industrial setting of Sacmi, it has certainly shown the best of itself, in terms of product development and, consequently, expansion opportunities.”

Antonio Rampone points out that it was, indeed, under the industrial ownership of Sacmi that Negri Bossi developed its Bi-Power line of large presses which, still today, remain extremely valid products. And it is no coincidence that the Bi-Power technology played quite an important role in Nissei’s decision to purchase its stake: “In view of a future integration with Nissei, both at product level and in terms of global coverage, we have already decided to freeze, for the moment, the  development of the new Bi-Power models, precisely so that we can share our specific know-how with the Japanese and then, as soon as possible, resume the work as a joint and perhaps even a stronger project. And while it is true that, given that this is such a recent acquisition, the details are inevitably still being worked out, it is also true that the guidelines are already in place ... and they are ones that, by combining opportunities and strengths, will undoubtedly allow both companies to grow.”

In this regard, Craig Ward, general manager of Negri Bossi (bottom picture), adds: “Despite this operation, in the short- to medium-term nothing will change for Negri Bossi. Furthermore, it is almost certain that the Bi-Power range will continue to be produced in Imola” - as it is still produced at the Sacmi plant - “ where a consolidated supply chain is already in place.”

“Sacmi will, in any case, continue to be an external supplier, while, under the terms of a specific agreement, Negri Bossi will  not seek to enter the PET market, where Sacmi plans to become a leading name competing with prominent international brands, such as Husky” says Rampone, adding: “The Nissei range of electric machines has hardly ever been offered on the European markets before, as it needs, in a sense, to become more European”  particularly in terms of CE marking, we would add. “There are interesting opportunities for Nissei’s vertical machines, too, given that this is a type of product that Negri Bossi does not build. In these instances, too, thanks to our specific know-now, we can give them quite a considerable hand.”