How is 2019 going for the Italian wire drawing industry? Let’s ask Metallurgica Locatelli

Established in 1920 as a small manufacturing company, Metallurgica Locatelli, specializing in the wire drawing of low carbon content steel, is now an important corporation, which pursues the customer’s satisfaction and quality of products as the main objectives of its mission.

In today’s interview, C.A. Giovanni Locatelli overviews the health of the wire industry, from the vantage point of a historical reality of the field.

- Your company can provide a wide range of processings, which sectors do they target?
Our production is aimed at the following industries, among others: agriculture, construction, packaging, housewares, fences, chain manufacturing, wire drawing, cold forming, galvanizing.

- Considering your long-standing presence on the international market, what kind of measures did you have to enact in order to meet the ever-increasing competition of foreign countries?
We continue to evolve and develop by using the most cutting-edge technologies, by installing the newest plants and equipment and by upgrading the ones we already have. We make huge investments in this regard, in order to ensure the best quality for our products.

- What do you think about the current situation of the Italian wire drawing industry?
The 2008 global financial crisis was a dire hit to our sector but its effects are still lingering. We expect 2019 to be quite a challenge, with a flat demand and inflated offer. The unstable governance situation, the crisis in the construction and automotive industries don’t do anything but worsen the economic conditions.

- What kind of project are you working on for this 2019?
We are currently planning the installation of a new annealing furnace for wire and coils, which we hope will eventually increase the profitability of our products.