The Vita Group, Europe’s leading flexible foam solutions provider, has begun a comprehensive multimillion investment programme following the completion of its purchase of Italian foam manufacturer I.M.P.E. S.p.A., based in Naples.
This €6.1m acquisition completed earlier this month will enable The Vita Group – which employs 2,700 people across Europe and is headquartered in Manchester – to gain an important foothold in Italy, which is the second largest furniture producing country in Europe and one of its largest furniture exporters.
The planned investments include replacing the existing foaming line with a brand new, state of the art, machine that is capable of producing the full range of comfort foams’; a skills development programme for all staff; as well as a number of potential investments in the site’s existing conversion capability.
The 40,000 m2 Naples site include a foaming department, tank farm, two conversion halls, three further warehouses, laboratories, offices, as well as extensive storage and transport space. A previous investment in R&D has the potential to be further enhanced in the future, as Vita determines its requirements for a fifth Innovation Centre focused around the furniture sector.
Vita Italy will manufacture value added and differentiated polyurethane foam for the Italian furniture and bedding industry, as well as expanding the Group’s trade links with the Americas and North Africa. The site, which currently has 32 employees and has production capabilities of 20k tonnes per annum, will enable Vita to release current production in Hungary and Romania to concentrate on further expansion in Eastern Europe and the Balkans region.
Operations are being overseen by business manager Radu Borsa, who has in-depth knowledge of the Italian furniture market through his experience as sales manager for Vita in this region. He will be supported by regional director Thomas Stachura. Additionally, The Vita Group is developing programmes to help the wider Vita Italy team develop their skillset and has completed recruitment of a financial controller and safety, health and environmental manager to boost the management team onsite and enhance safety at the site.
Speaking on behalf of The Vita Group, Group CEO Ian Robb said: “We’re delighted to have completed this acquisition and to present Vita Italy to the world. Our investment and training programme is underway and we look forward to working closely with our new colleagues to take the Naples site from strength to strength, delivering innovative solutions to both new and existing customers in Italy and beyond.”
The acquisition demonstrates The Vita Group’s continued commitment to growth and innovation. Major milestones in 2020 included foam capacity expansions in Lithuania, Poland and Romania, which are planned to come online in 2021. The capacity increases enable further added value investments into thriving new sectors, such as bedding (Bed in a Box) where the company has already committed to new technology processes and production equipment in the United Kingdom, France, Romania, and Germany.
Built on 70 years of heritage, The Vita Group develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of flexible polyurethane foam, Talalay latex and flooring products to create comfort, quality and functional solutions for customers. Its materials are used in products across a range of sectors, from bedding to office and household furniture, mobility markets and the significant new sectors of medical and hygiene, allowing the Group to achieve its purpose of “Creating comfort, delivering performance and enhancing everyday life”.
