Sergio Pizzi, Basf Spa
A very positive feedback for the German group BASF at the February edition of Simac Tanning Tech: several innovations for soles and footwear were showcased to the public.
“At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future.” This is the slogan of the German group that, last February, took part in the 2020 edition of Simac Tanning Tech in Milan, featuring a crowded stand throughout the three-day trade show. Based in our country since 1946, BASF is an enterprise deeply rooted in Italy: a staff counting approximately 1500 people, 7 companies, 13 facilities (out of which 8 production ones) provide solutions to the most prominent manufacturing sectors on national scale, including automotive, footwear and furnishing businesses. Globally speaking, there are more than 117 thousand collaborators engaged in almost all the industrial fields: in 2019, the Group’s revenues amounted to 59 billion.
“We are satisfied with the fair’s results,” explained Sergio Pizzi, BASF Spa’s manager, when we met him during the exhibition. “The feedback has been very positive, thanks also to the numerous contacts. At the beginning, we were really concerned due both to the certain absence of several Asian exhibitors and visitors, and to the fear that there might be defections from Europe and the rest of the world as well given the current health crisis. Instead, we have registered a record number of visitors and interested people throughout the fair, a trend favoured by the concurrent scheduling with Micam on the opening day and that reached its peak on the central day. The higher turnout was tied to the participation of visitors proceeding from Northern and Eastern Europe, while we have noticed a decrease in attendance from Spain and North Africa. After all, there were several innovations on display, able to draw customers and professionals on the lookout for different product types.”
Last but not least, we asked to Sergio Pizzi about the brand’s key goals for 2020 and the Group’s main innovations. “First of all, given the current situation, we will have to defend our positions and to limit the damage caused by the worldwide health emergency. Whatever the case, we will foster our innovations, especially the sustainable polyurethane systems as well as the new applications of Infinergy® for the footwear sector. A special mention also for the TPU-based products: Haptex, conceived for the solvent-free finishing of imitation leather, and Freeflex, that is, a solvent-free yarn, and the solutions provided by BASF Printing Solutions for the 3D moulding of soles and shoes. Furthermore, we have launched Limitless, a virtual safety footwear concept entirely made with cutting- edge, eco-friendly, high-performance materials, together with the breath-taking creations conceived by the young designers of Padua’s Politecnico Calzaturiero involved in the 13th edition of the footwear contest.”