SACMI
An Italian cooperative industrial group supplying machinery, complete plants, and automation for ceramics, packaging, food and beverage, plastics, metals, and advanced materials.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
SACMI is an Italian industrial group headquartered in Imola and organized as a cooperative. Established in 1919 under the name Società Anonima Cooperativa Meccanici Imola, it began as a mechanical workshop founded by nine unemployed residents of Imola and nearby Mordano. Its early work involved general mechanical construction and repair, but the company later developed into an international supplier of production machinery, process technology, complete plants, and automation systems. The company’s most important early industrial turning point came after the Second World War. During the German occupation that began in September 1943, SACMI dismantled and moved its machinery to rural locations to prevent it from being removed to Germany. After the war, it resumed operations and repaired tile-making presses belonging to a nearby ceramic cooperative that had been damaged during air raids. That work demonstrated that SACMI could manufacture presses that had previously been imported from Germany, creating a foundation for its subsequent specialization in ceramic equipment. SACMI’s business has expanded well beyond ceramics. Its activities cover machinery and plants for ceramics, plastics, food and beverage, packaging, metals, and advanced materials. The group’s offerings combine individual production machines with integrated lines and automation, allowing it to serve industrial customers across multiple stages of manufacturing. The company also has a presence in high-temperature process technologies through Riedhammer, including equipment associated with ceramics, foam glass, and lithium-battery-related industrial applications. Internationalization is a central feature of SACMI’s operating model. According to the cited company information, the group has branches or companies in numerous countries, including Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Spain, the United States, Indonesia, Poland, Portugal, and Egypt. The reference material describes a network of 70 production, distribution, and service companies in 25 countries and more than 4,700 employees in 2024. SACMI remains a privately controlled cooperative rather than a publicly traded corporation. Its positioning is based on engineering depth, complete-plant integration, long-term industrial relationships, and the ability to provide machinery and services for specialized manufacturing sectors. In 2024, the group reported turnover of €1.728 billion. Because SACMI serves industrial customers rather than consumers, its brand visibility is strongest among manufacturers, equipment buyers, process engineers, and sector specialists. Its historical identity, however, remains closely linked to Imola, cooperative enterprise, and the development of Italian mechanical manufacturing.
History
SACMI was created in 1919 in Imola by nine unemployed men: Luigi Santandrea, Filiberto Gamberini, Tiepolo Castaldi, Paolo Nonni, Giovanni Bartoli, Guido Selvatici, Vincenzo Franceschelli, Aldo Galassi, and Armando Panari. Their organization was named Società Anonima Cooperativa Meccanici Imola, producing the acronym SACMI. The enterprise began as a cooperative mechanical workshop performing general construction and repair work. Its first premises were provided by the town council, and its first administrator had previously served as mayor of Imola. The cooperative encountered political hostility in the 1920s. Blackshirt groups targeted the workshop with arson because they regarded it as an anti-Fascist center. This episode formed part of the difficult political environment in which the young cooperative operated, although the company continued its industrial activity. The Second World War created another major interruption. After the German occupation of Italy began on 8 September 1943, SACMI dismantled its machinery and moved it into rural areas to prevent the occupying authorities from taking it to Germany. The company restarted in 1945. Its first important postwar assignment was the repair of tile-making presses used by Cooperativa Ceramica, a nearby ceramic-tile producer whose equipment had been damaged by German air raids. The repair project had consequences beyond immediate reconstruction. SACMI recognized that it could manufacture ceramic presses that Italian producers had previously obtained from Germany. This capability became a decisive turning point and connected the cooperative to the postwar rebuilding of Italian industry. Over time, ceramics became one of the group’s defining fields, while its engineering base supported diversification into packaging, plastics, food and beverage, metals, and advanced materials. SACMI subsequently developed from a local mechanical workshop into an international industrial group supplying standalone machines, production lines, complete plants, and automation. Its international organization includes production, distribution, and service companies in multiple regions. The group’s global network has included operations or branches in countries such as Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico, Russia, Singapore, Spain, the United States, Indonesia, Poland, Portugal, and Egypt. A significant step in the group’s expansion into high-temperature process equipment involved Riedhammer, based in Nuremberg. SACMI acquired a 30 percent share in Riedhammer in 2003 and increased that interest to 90 percent in 2004. Riedhammer develops, produces, and distributes industrial kilns and related technologies, including equipment for ceramics, foam-glass production, and roller and rotary kilns associated with lithium-battery applications. By 2024, SACMI was described as having more than 4,700 employees and 70 production, distribution, and service companies in 25 countries. It reported turnover of €1.728 billion. The company remains a cooperative and continues to operate as a diversified supplier of industrial machinery and plant technology rather than as a consumer-facing brand.
- 2024
SACMI reports expanded international scale
[1]The group reports €1.728 billion in turnover, more than 4,700 employees, and 70 production, distribution, and service companies in 25 countries.
- 2004
SACMI raises its Riedhammer stake
[1]The group increases its interest in Riedhammer to 90 percent.
- 2003
SACMI acquires an initial stake in Riedhammer
[1]SACMI purchases a 30 percent interest in Riedhammer, a Nuremberg-based developer and producer of industrial high-temperature kiln technologies.
- 1945
Postwar restart and entry into ceramic-press manufacturing
[1]After restarting, SACMI repairs war-damaged tile presses and demonstrates that it can produce equipment previously imported from Germany.
- 1943
Machinery is hidden during the German occupation
[1]SACMI dismantles and moves its machinery into rural areas to prevent it from being shipped to Germany during the occupation.
- 1920
The cooperative faces political arson attacks
[1]During the 1920s, Blackshirt groups set fire to the cooperative because they considered it an anti-Fascist stronghold.
- 1919
SACMI is founded in Imola
[1]Nine unemployed men establish Società Anonima Cooperativa Meccanici Imola, a cooperative mechanical workshop whose name provides the SACMI acronym.
Products and positioning
A globally oriented engineering and capital-equipment group distinguished by cooperative ownership, complete-plant capabilities, and expertise in ceramics, packaging, food and beverage, plastics, metals, and advanced materials.
Ceramics machinery
Ceramic tile presses
SACMI’s ceramic-press technology is central to the company’s historical development. The group’s postwar repair work on tile presses led to the realization that it could manufacture equipment previously imported from Germany. Ceramic presses form part of broader ceramics solutions that can include machinery, plant engineering, and automation for industrial tile production.
Complete industrial plants
Ceramics production plants
SACMI supplies machinery and integrated plant solutions for the ceramics industry. These offerings are positioned as complete production systems rather than isolated components, combining process equipment and automation for industrial customers in the ceramic-tile and related sectors.
Packaging equipment
Packaging machinery
Packaging is one of SACMI’s major industrial sectors. The group supplies machinery and complete lines used in packaging-related manufacturing, supported by plant integration and automation capabilities. The available reference material identifies packaging as a core business area but does not specify individual current machine models.
Food and beverage machinery
Food and beverage equipment
SACMI develops equipment and plant solutions for food and beverage applications. Its role is that of an industrial technology supplier, providing machinery, process systems, packaging-related equipment, and automation for business customers rather than consumer products.
High-temperature process equipment
Industrial kilns
Through its involvement with Riedhammer, SACMI participates in the development, production, and distribution of high-temperature kilns for industrial applications. The referenced activities include ceramic kilns, technologies for foam-glass production, and roller and rotary kilns associated with lithium-battery manufacturing.
Industrial automation
Automation and plant-integration systems
Automation is an enabling layer across SACMI’s machinery and complete-plant businesses. These systems connect production equipment and support integrated industrial lines, allowing customers in ceramics, packaging, food and beverage, plastics, metals, and advanced materials to manage complex manufacturing processes.
Brand decisions
2004
Increase of the Riedhammer stake to 90 percentM&ABackground
After acquiring a minority position in Riedhammer, SACMI expanded its control of the high-temperature process-equipment business.
Action taken
SACMI increased its ownership stake in Riedhammer from 30 percent to 90 percent.
Aftermath
Riedhammer became a major component of SACMI’s industrial technology portfolio, covering kiln technologies for ceramics, foam glass, and lithium-battery-related applications.
2003
Initial investment in RiedhammerM&ABackground
SACMI sought to expand its industrial technology portfolio through a stake in Riedhammer, a company associated with high-temperature kilns and related process equipment.
Action taken
SACMI acquired 30 percent of Riedhammer.
Aftermath
The investment was followed by a substantial increase in ownership the following year.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
SACMI acquires Pack Sud[3]
Reported:
SACMI acquired Pack Sud, a Puglia-based supplier of vertical packaging technology for bakery products.
Sources3 sources
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