Interview with Stefano Tanini Alessandri, Managing Director of Selasti S.p.A: innovation, sustainability and high-quality service in the E.V.A. sheet and sole sector.
For over half a century, the company Selasti Spa has been constantly investing in research and development of compounds with advanced technical characteristics, in a practically endless range of colours, for the production of resistant and elastic E.V.A. sheets in different densities, designs and thicknesses. The focus on quality and innovation is present at every stage of the company’s production chain, accompanying its customers from the conception of the idea to the realisation of the product. From the formulation and realisation of the granule itself, through to the moulding phase, whether on frames or injection moulding, Selasti Spa takes care of every single production aspect. The company is able to offer cutting-edge solutions that place no limits on the creativity of its customers, thanks to the special attention devoted to the world of fashion and design. The collaboration with Selasti Spa guarantees a constantly updated and stimulating support, the result of the company’s all-round commitment to the expanded E.V.A. sector. At every creative and production stage, the company is always available to follow the specific indications and requests of its customers, offering all its support and experience for the successful realisation of their ideas. In short, Selasti Spa represents excellence in the E.V.A. sheet sector thanks to its quality, innovation, production flexibility and high quality service offered to its customers.
What new products will you be presenting at the September edition of Lineapelle?
“At the moment, we are working on some very interesting innovations that could represent a major turning point for our company. However, as is often the case in these situations, we are still in the finishing phase and I don’t want to get too excited before the project is completely finished. We are very enthusiastic about these new developments that we are working hard on. I cannot go into details at the moment, but I can assure you that these are innovative and ambitious projects that could make a difference in our industry.
Let’s take a step back to the beginning: when was Selasti founded?
“Our company has a long and important history in the industry. We started in 1968 as a manufacturer of rubber boots, with the original name of Stigo. I took over production from my uncle, who had other companies producing materials in the footwear or leather goods sector. Over the years, we specialised in the production of vulcanised rubber boots, an old-fashioned product that was even assembled by hand. Over time, we witnessed a huge evolution in the market: around the 1970s, the first E.V.A. machines were purchased and between 2001 and 2002, the production of rubber boots stopped. It was at that time that Selasti, which stands for Settore Lastre Stigo (Stigo Sheet Sector), was established. Stigo remained the leader of the Group, but it was decided that it should increasingly focus on the production of sheets for the all the other sectors. Thanks to our ability to adapt to market needs and to constantly innovate our production, today our business starts with raw materials, which we purchase from multinationals such as Repsol, Total and Enichem. We make the compounds by producing them in-house, a process that allows us to control the quality of our materials right from the start. Until five years ago, we produced everything in sheets, but today we have invested in the creation of injection moulding departments that are growing and working very well. Our goal is to have a complete production chain and to offer our clients high quality products, always in step with new market trends. We are proud of our history and ready to continue to innovate and grow in the future”.
Owning the complete supply chain is very strategic…
‘It is a choice that stems from our past and our experience in the industry. Even when we were making rubber boots, our choice was to start with natural rubber from the first steps of production. Today, we are fundamentally a chemical company and are part of the chemical-rubber-plastics sector, being not only producers of sheets, but also of footwear bottoms. Our goal is to continue innovating our production and working on special products that can make a difference in the market. Our next step will certainly be to start selling granules, but we are in no hurry and want to take our time, so as not to arrive on the market with trivial products. We are aware of the importance of offering special, high-quality products that can meet the needs of our customers. Our strength is flexibility and adaptation, we will continue on this path.
E.V.A. bottom moulding is a very important business for you, correct?
“Our main business is in sheets, and we are probably the biggest European producer of this type of product. We originated, grew and became known for it. In fact, we produce an average of seven to 10,000 sheets per day, in different thicknesses. In the last six to seven years, we have invested in the creation of injection moulding lines which are giving us a lot of satisfaction, so much so that we have already tripled them. This has allowed us to expand our product range and also to offer customers tailor-made solutions, thanks to our ability to transform the granules into sheets but above all into soles.
There is no doubt that you are the market leader in the production of E.V.A. sheets. What else are you recognised for by your clients?
“Our company has a 54-year tradition in foam production, but the first 45 years of sheet production have given us great experience in the industry. We are aware that our customers know us mainly for sheets, which is why we have worked hard to make them understand that they can also rely on us for soles and other products. Our aim is to offer increasingly customised solutions, both for sheets and soles. Thanks to our in-house integrated supply chain, we can offer tailor-made work, designed specifically for the most diverse requirements. As far as granule sales are concerned, we want to specialise in innovative products with unique colours. We will not try to make huge quantities of just any colour like black, but aim to offer special products that can make a difference in the market. We are convinced that specialisation will enable us to increasingly stand out from the competition.
What is the main challenge for a company like yours, apart from cost management? Are there other challenges to face?
“Doing business in Italy at this level requires a strong act of faith. Our first goal is to have faith in a market, a world and a future that allows us to move forward and achieve satisfaction, not only for us but also for all our employees, internal or external. Every day we try to grow, not only in terms of production, but also in terms of quality and service. The world is becoming more and more competitive, but what concerns me most are the alternative materials that are appearing on the market. For this reason, it is important that our product of excellence is supported by a service, quality and production versatility that the customer appreciates. We always try to offer something more than the competition, constantly improving our products and services. We are aware that competition is present in every sector, but it is important that other manufacturers of alternative materials are also aware of us and the quality of our product.
You are a chemical company and a foam manufacturer so talking about green solutions and sustainability cannot be easy…
“Our company has a long experience in the industry; in fact, we started much earlier than others. Our ability to innovate and adapt to market needs has allowed us to distinguish ourselves from our competitors. In the past, we focused on developing innovative solutions for the disposal of production waste. We managed to achieve a 65% recycling rate when most others did not exceed 50%. This has allowed us to address the problem of disposal in a sustainable and responsible way. In addition, we have invested in a special mill line for pulverising production waste, which is then reused in production. Thanks to our ability to innovate and invest in advanced technology, we have been able to achieve significant results and improve our production efficiency.
What about the products?
“As far as our green products are concerned, we have developed several solutions to meet the needs of the market. Besides our recycled G Side® (GREENSIDE), we have a product derived from algae, called BLOOM®, which we are currently developing with an external supplier. This is a special product, both in terms of its type and cost, and at the moment it has not yet achieved the desired success. Furthermore, we are working on innovative projects with one of our historical suppliers to produce an E.V.A. derived from sugar cane. This product, called BB – Bio BasedTM, is highly appreciated by the market and has an immediate impact in terms of sustainability, as 80% of the ethylene used for its production comes from sugar cane. Although we strive daily to renew our products and improve them, our main goal is to move more and more towards material recovery, green and bio based. We are proud of our ability to have such flexible production, mainly because it allows us to offer a quick and immediate service, but also to meet our customers’ needs in terms of aesthetics and design.
LIGHTNESS, VERSATILITY AND ATTENTION TO SUSTAINABILITY
Selasti develops a new revolutionary product: SPRINT, a surprising evolution in the sector, which offers lightness and top performance never seen before among compact materials. SPRINT represents a new chapter in the history of Selasti. Born as a company specialized in the production of expanded materials based on E.V.A., Selasti is today a leader in the sector, developing always new proposals in line with the different needs of the market. From this innovative approach comes SPRINT, an ultra-light material – its weight is around half that of similar products currently on the market – that still remains resistant, performing and flexible. Its versatility allows for innovative use without giving up the intrinsic properties of compact materials. SPRINT, whose acronym aims at conveying a sense of speed, high performance and lightness, is mainly intended for the footwear sector and its appeal encompasses fashion designers, fashion brands, shoe factories and sole factories, expanding the creative and production opportunities for those who seek innovative solutions in synergy with other Selasti materials.
Stefano Tanini Alessandri