At Simac in Milan, the latest models from the Elachem® and Epaflex Polyurethanes range were presented: 2023 looking very positive, and already working towards the future
The year 2023 is one of important results that has been characterising Elachem Spa, a European leader in the production of saturated polyesters and polyurethane systems for more than 30 years, positioning the group as one of the main players in the footwear market at a global level, both in the safety and casual sectors. This leadership is confirmed by the figures for this year, as stated by Commercial Manager Marco Valieri, whom we interviewed at the Simac trade fair in Milan, in a spacious stand, attractive and elegantly furnished.
“For this 2023 edition,” says Valieri, “we have not presented any new products in particular to the Italian and international market, we have focused on enhancing the range of Elachem and Epaflex Polyurethanes brands, to highlight the countless products that represent our excellence, but also technology. In this last period we have decided, as a company strategy, to change our communication, up to now we have kept a low profile, now the intention is to make ourselves better known, above all to enhance the products that are of high quality and able to compete at all levels. Our strengths lie in safety shoes in general, but also in the fashion sector where we were already very recognised’.
“For our group,” continued the Commercial Manager, “2023 is also an important year in terms of future-oriented strategies on the industrial level. Important investments have been made, and are still being made, in terms of personnel, means and equipment. For example, the arrival of new machinery in the polyester sector has increased our production capacity by 25-30%, and the same goes for polyurethane systems for footwear, where we are very active and focused on responding to customer needs. There is absolutely no intention to discontinue this type of product, quite the opposite in fact. We are also sure that we are on the right track in terms of paying attention to the relevant regulations, which we are always able to anticipate by several years. We are in complete agreement on the increasingly stringent regulations, it must be so to avoid the risk of being flooded by imported products with few rules. The safety shoe trend is however strongly increasing: there are countries where the safety shoe is not a minimum requirement, but will be in one or two years, we are talking about the prospect of millions of work shoes. The prospects for 2024? We will be launching new lines and new products, some are already on the launching pad’.
With Marco Valieri we took a final look at the fair in Milan this year. It went well, and it was positive that we saw many customers again, including from abroad, whom we had not met for some time. At the organisational level, I have already told the top management of Assomac, we think that this exhibition could be held every two years, in our sector there are dynamics in which it is difficult to launch something new every year. For us, who live nearby, the show is not a huge investment, but in terms of costs it is for those coming from the United States, Australia and South America”.
Gianni Tiozzo, Elachem SPA, at the last edition of Simac Tanning Tech