June 28--Prima Industrie, a provider of high-power laser machines for industrial applications, celebrated its 30th anniversary in business with a dinner in a 17th century manor house situated on the hill of Turin at which all employees were invited.
Other celebrations have been arranged for its customers, partners, and for all those who have shared its passion and innovative spirit.
"This anniversary," commented Gianfranco Carbonato, president and CEO, "has a particular symbolic meaning since it coincides with the best ever financial results of the group history, with a 2006 turnover close to 150 million Euros, which is 33% higher than the previous year."
Prima Industrie was founded in the spring of 1977 under the name of Prima Progetti. The company operates in the field of engineering and research and right from the beginning developed a vast range of high-tech products in the diverse sectors of robotics, electronics, measuring machines, industrial automation, and more.
In 1979 the company installed the first laser cutting machine for processing large three-dimensional pressed components. During the late 1980s, the company focused more on the laser machines and progressively ceded other activities like the measuring machines t Finmeccanica and the robotics to ABB.
While the 3D products expanded with Optimo and Rapido machines, in the early 1990s the company made its entry, through the acquisition of the Swiss company Laserwork, into the larger market of two-dimensional lasers. Today in this sector the company offers the Platino and Syncrono.
In the mid-1990s the company undertook strong and constant growth. Awarded ISO 9001 certification in 1997, the company continued its investment plans in research and development to expand the product range: new Optimo and Rapido models are introduced to the market along with new products such as Domino, Mosaico, and Maximo.
The first Chinese joing venture, Shenyang Prima, is established in 1999 followed by Shanghai Unity Prima in 2003 and the recent OVL Convergent.
At the end of that same year, Prima Industrie was successfully listed on the Italian Stock Exchange.
The company's presence in Asia also grows through the Japanese joint venture SNK Prima.