Best ever results for Prima Industrie

Consistent growth across all areas of the business during its last financial year has enabled Prima to record a 2006 turnover figure of €150 million, an increase of 33 per cent over the previous 12 months. Established in the spring of 1977 under the name Prima Progetti, Prima Industrie initially developed a vast range of hi-tech products for use in industries as diverse as robotics, electronics, measuring machines and industrial automation. In 1979, Prima installed the first laser-cutting machine for processing large 3D pressed components. During the late 1980s, the company increasingly focused on laser machining, divesting its interest in other activities, such as measuring machines to Finmeccanica and robotics to ABB. Expansion of its 3D range with the Optimo and Rapido models was followed in the early 1990s with the company’s entry into the expanding 2D machine market through acquisition of Swiss company, Laserwork. The company’s first Chinese joint venture, Shenyang Prima, was set-up in 1999, was followed by Shanghai Unity Prima in 2003 and, more recently, OVL Convergent. Listing on the Italian stock exchange underpinned further growth with two acquisitions in the US (Convergent Energy in 2000 and Laserdyne in 2001) opening the way for Prima Industrie to produce its own laser generators under the name Prima North America. This development helped to establish a strong base in this region, as well as Prima’s leadership in laser drilling technology within the aerospace sector. In parallel, the group’s presence in Asia has been expanded through its Japanese joint venture, SNK Prima. During 2004 and 2005, the group consolidated its sales and service operations in Europe, with Prima Scandinavia AB, Prima Industrie UK and Prima Industrie GmbH joining other branch offices in Spain, France, Switzerland and the Research Centre in Bari, Italy. During the past two years, Prima has underlined its technology leadership with the launch of the Syncrono (2D) and Rapido Evoluzione (3D) models. Pictured: Joe Attuoni, UK managing director