A period of consolidation

Since their sales agreement with the Poletto Group was terminated at the end of last year, Italian tannery machinery makers Ge.ma.ta SpA, have reorganised the business in order to re-position themselves for the future. It is understood that Dr Mauricio Biasi, the majority shareholder of the company, will give up all or part of his holding in the company to new shareholders. However, Ge.ma.ta are not yet ready to disclose the identity of the new owners and have issued the following statement. 'We feel it is still premature to give any information about the new majority shareholder and we will give more details in the coming months. Dr Biasi remains the sole administrator and Gianni Maitan the managing director of the company.' New branch in Santa Croce The company have opened a branch in Santa Croce sull'Arno which will act as a secondary office for Ge.ma.ta in Italy. The new office will employ five technicians to provide technical assistance and after-sales service in the south and centre of the country. Ge.ma.ta used to occupy the Santa Croce site of the now defunct Travel International company. FBP Ge.ma.ta are also continuing to incorporate FBP into their company structure following their acquisition last year. As well as FBP's range of machinery, Ge.ma.ta have also taken on fifteen employees and in the future will market their machines under the Ge.ma.ta brand name, except in countries where the FBP name is widely known. 'We are currently updating the FBP range and will re-release the new upgraded models soon. FBP are virtually incorporated into the Ge.ma.ta company structure', Gianni Maitan told Leather International. Following the acquisition of the stacking and conveying machinery company, Ge.ma.ta are keen to consolidate their position before looking for further expansion. So far, Ge.ma.ta have relaunched the Comstack machine formerly from FBP. 'Following the recent acquisition of the FBP brand name, Ge.ma.ta are not planning to extend their interest to any other company of the tanning field', says Maitan. The company are now operating completely independently and in the past they were selling machines to the Poletto Group who would in turn sell them on to the customer. Speaking about the problems at Poletto, Maitan said: 'Once things settle down and the situation looks more favourable, there is no reason why Ge.ma.ta cannot re-new or re-sign an agreement, with a re-structured company. At the moment it is too early to say what will happen and for now we will operate as an independent company.'