San Polo Lamiere, a prominent Italian steel service center, has marked a significant expansion in its market presence by acquiring full ownership of Italpak, a specialized tinplate processing company serving the food packaging industry. The strategic move represents a major step in San Polo Lamiere's diversification efforts and strengthens its position in the downstream steel processing sector.
The acquisition, announced in November 2024, brings together two complementary businesses located near Parma, Italy. Italpak, which processed 50,000 metric tons of tinplate in the previous year, is projected to increase its capacity to between 60,000 and 70,000 metric tons annually by 2025. This expansion aligns with San Polo Lamiere's current operations, which handled approximately 200,000 metric tons of steel in 2023.
Chief Executive Officer Tommaso Sandrini emphasizes that while steel remains the group's core business, the strategic acquisition opens new avenues for growth in downstream markets. The move particularly targets the food packaging sector, where tinplate processing has shown robust growth potential. This diversification strategy demonstrates San Polo Lamiere's commitment to expanding its market presence beyond traditional steel processing.
Italpak's established partnership with Thyssenkrupp-Rasselstein, a leading European tinplate manufacturer, has been instrumental in its recent growth trajectory. This collaboration has enabled Italpak to enhance its production processes and secure a strong position in the high-end market segment, making it an attractive acquisition target for San Polo Lamiere.
Under the new ownership structure, Italpak will maintain its operational independence while benefiting from the broader resources and expertise of San Polo Lamiere. The company's operations will continue under the leadership of newly appointed CEO Stefano Morelli, ensuring continuity in management while pursuing growth opportunities.
The integration of Italpak's two cutting lines at its Montechiarugolo facility complements San Polo Lamiere's existing capabilities in coil transformation. This operational synergy is expected to enhance production efficiency and expand the combined entity's service offerings to customers in both the steel processing and food packaging sectors.
