From a family business started in 1991 to a supplier of some of the most demanding brands in the world: we are talking about Vermetal, the company from Castegnero (in the province of Vicenza) specialized in surface treatments. A true colossus whose history is exemplary, but not without challenges.
Today, Vermetal is led by Marco and Mauro Salvadori, who took over the legacy of their father Carlo after his death in 1995. We interviewed them to tell us the history, numbers, opportunities and complexities of a sector that is increasingly based on quality and innovation.
A thirty-year history, always evolving
Vermetal was born in 1991, founded by your father. What does it mean for you to have taken over the family business while still very young, in 1995?
«It was a responsibility that came early and in difficult circumstances, but also a huge push not to stop. When we started we were two people in total. Today we are over 250 collaborators, distributed between the historic headquarters in Castegnero and the factory we opened in Romania. Each phase of growth was also a way to honor what our father had started, taking it where he imagined it could go.”
How has Vermetal’s offering evolved over the years?
«We were born as a company dedicated to simple painting, but over time we have constantly updated our processes and expanded the range of processes. Today we offer powder and liquid painting, enamelling, anodic oxidation, sandblasting, cataphoresis painting, pad printing and screen printing, carbon molding and painting, 3D printing and prototyping, precision machining, as well as assembly and logistics services. The objective is not just to paint a piece, but to offer the customer a complete solution, from the initial technical consultancy to the product ready for delivery.”
Your clients include brands of the caliber of Apple, Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini and the LVMH group. What does working with clients of this level require?
«Working with such demanding companies first and foremost requires consistency: a perfect batch is not enough, we need to guarantee the same standard on every batch, every time. For this reason we have invested heavily in latest generation automated systems and in a very rigorous quality control system, certified ISO 9001:2015.
Each production batch is subjected to aesthetic, physical and chemical checks: from color control in the standard light booth to corrosion resistance tests, up to dynamometer determinations on samples that we archive for each order”.
The two locations and sustainability
With two production sites and such a large structure, how do you manage to manage large volumes and small customized productions at the same time?
«It is one of the characteristics that distinguishes us the most: our structure is designed to process and provide every surface finishing solution even for large batches, but at the same time allows us to manage smaller quantities without lowering quality standards.
We operate in very different sectors (automotive, fashion, sport, design, agriculture, household appliances, infrastructure, medical) and each has specific needs that require flexibility, not just production capacity.”
How important is sustainability in your customers’ choices today, and what are you concretely doing on this front?
«It is a topic that over the years has gone from an “accessory element” to a true supplier selection criterion. For our part, we use pyrolysis systems which significantly reduce emissions during the painting processes, and we promote the use of water-based paints, which limit the use of chemical solvents. We also continue to evaluate the acquisition of further certifications, such as ISO 45001 for health and safety at work, because a safe working environment for people is the first condition for guaranteeing quality over time.”
The future and the importance of consultancy
Looking to the next few years, what is Vermetal’s ambition?
«We want to consolidate our presence as a point of reference in the industrial painting and special finishing sector, continuing to invest in technological innovation and reducing the environmental impact of our processes. In the last four years our turnover has doubled, reaching 25 million euros in 2023, and we are convinced that the growth margins are still largely to be explored, above all by continuing to position ourselves as a strategic partner and not as a simple supplier.»
One last question: what advice would you give to a company that has to choose a partner for the surface finishing of its products?
«To not only look at the price of the single lot, but at the supplier’s ability to really support them in the technical choices: the right material, the most suitable processing cycle, the aesthetic and performance objectives of the finished product. We are consultants even before we are painters: it is this approach, together with over 30 years of experience, that has allowed us to grow together with our customers, even the most demanding.»
