World Report

Italy’s leading glass maker Bormioli Rocco is renowned worldwide for its quality and design

he Emilia Romagna region’s reputation for quality and style is exemplified by glassware manufacturers Bormioli Rocco, whose list of clients includes such prestigious names as Gucci, Versace, Dior and GlaxoSmithKline.

Based in Parma, Bormioli Rocco has been manufacturing glass products of the highest standard since 1825, and today controls approximately 80 per cent of the tableware market in Italy. For the pharmaceutical industry, the company produces glass vials, bottles and containers.

Bormioli Rocco has 20 plants, seven abroad. In recent times, the company has been concentrating on internal restructuring and development, with an emphasis on innovation and technology.

FRANCO BONI
General Manager of Bormioli Rocco

‘We have again begun to invest heavily in technology and research’

“For a couple of years, we focused on cutting costs to make the company more competitive,” says General Manager Franco Boni. “Now we are in a phase in which we are targeting things like efficiency, optimisation and rationalisation. This is being accompanied by renewed growth development.

“We have again begun to invest heavily in technology and research, which has already borne positive results, and we have undertaken a complete renewal of our designs.”

The company has been seeking joint ventures and exploiting its high reputation in order to increase penetration in new markets. “This has been important for new business in Eastern European, Turkish and Asian markets,” Mr Boni says.