The Italian glassmaker Zignago Vetro, specialized in packaging solutions for the food and perfume & cosmetics markets, has continued to strengthen its production over the past two years.

Update with Andrea Maurutto, Cosmetics/Perfumes Sales Manager at Zignago Vetro and Stefano Bortoli, Cosmetics & Perfumes Sales Director and C/P Sales Coordinator for the Group.
 
Jean-Yves Bourgeois: The Zignago Group is banking on glass like never before?

Stefano Bortoli: Indeed, in addition to glass making, the Zignago Holding operates in many other areas ranging from the production of wines to that of electricity with a bio-mass process, and real estate. As for the glass making activity, which is managed by the Zignago Vetro Group, in 2017, it has represented € 346 million in sales (compared to € 319 million in 2016) and employs more than 2.000 people. Note that the Zignago Vetro Group includes the Zignago Vetro glass factory, but also the Verreries Brosses, Vetri Speciali (50%), Huta Szkla Czechy and Vetreco (30%), Vetro Revet (51%) and Zignago Glass USA. The perfume & cosmetics activity accounts for about 25% of the revenues of the Zignago Vetro Group.
 
Bourgeois: What were the Group's main highlights over the past two years?
 
Bortoli: Many things have happened. On the commercial front, after having put an end to our collaboration with New High Glass at the end of 2016, we opened a sales office in Miami in October 2017. The United States, where our sales exceeded € 5 million, is a booming market for us. In France, at the Verreries Brosse, we are in the process of refurbishing the semi-automatic furnace # 2 and we are also planning to refurbish the furnace # 3. At the end of 2017 we also built a new water-based lacquering line in Poland and increased the production capacity of the mold-making workshop. Don't forget that in addition to our population of furnaces dedicated to perfumes & cosmetics (one in Italy, two in Poland and two in France), we also have a factory specialized in food & beverages in Empoli, which was entirely upgraded during the last 2 years and the factory in Portogruaro with the same specialization, is in a renewal phase concerning its furnaces dedicated to the food industry (representing an investment of approximately € 70 million). The new furnace will be activated at the beginning of 2019.
 
Bourgeois: The perfume & cosmetic market is a fluctuating market?
 
Andrea Maurutto: Yes, if you take nail polish, the market is on a downward trend for the moment, but on the other hand, there are other growth niches in cosmetics, such as foundation and skincare products in general. To meet the expectations of this market, we are constantly creating new cosmetic jars and standard bottles; meanwhile, we are seeing a real rebound in perfumery.
 
Bourgeois: Standard products are an important part of your production?
 
Maurutto: It depends on our production units. For example, Zignago Vetro's production consists at 80% of standard products while the Verreries Brosse and our Polish factory manufacture respectively 85% and 70% of specific products.
 
Bourgeois: What have been the highlights in recent months, in terms of innovations?
 
Bortoli: First of all, I would like to stress that innovation is one of the core values of the Zignago Vetro Group, which for years, has been consistently investing a lot of resources in the development of new products, be it through new designs for standard products or through the use of innovative technologies. With this in mind, we will exhibitt next year at the main exhibitions in the world, such as the PCD in Paris, Cosmoprof Bologna and Luxe Pack New York where we will introduce our new solutions for the perfume and cosmetic sectors.

Concerning innovative technologies related to sustainable development and eco-friendliness, I am delighted to confirm the start of the production in October of our Licata jar in its ‘Green’ version (up to 75% PCR content), a project started over a year ago that received a great deal of interest from the market and which is now being finalized. Finally, I also would like to highlight the innovative capabilities in processes and molds of our French team of technicians, who last year successfully developed complex products such as Lolita Lempicka and Aura Mugler. For the time being, it’s too early to anticipate anything, but there are certainly many surprises to come.