Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sacmi Imp Eng (PDFDrive)
Sacmi Imp Eng (PDFDrive)
NINE MECHANICS...
Aureliano Bassani
ISBN 88-86123-97-3
Copyright 2000 Editrice La Mandragora s.r.l.
Via Selice 92 - P.O. Box 117 - 40026 Imola (Bo) Italy
Tel. 0542/642747 Fax 0542/647314
e-mail: mandrago@tin.it
6
Our story...
I t seems that now is a good time to look back on the history of Sacmi.
In fact the idea to write this book had been in the minds of many
members of the company for quite a while but time flew by, decisions
were put off for another day and before we knew it years had passed by.
Now we are approaching the year 2000 and the twentieth century is about
to close - it would seem an appropriate time to write.
Sacmi has played an important role this century, not just in Imola,
and for this reason we wanted to relate the events which have marked the
formation and development of the Cooperative. We decided to give this
job to Aureliano Bassani who remembers the events himself and is a tal-
ented writer well-qualified to recount the eighty years of life of the com-
pany.
Sacmi was formed in 1919 - a difficult and turbulent year in the
immediate aftermath of the First World War. The main problem at that
time was unemployment - the difficulty of finding work for those return-
ing from the war who were marginalised from an industrial sector already
in crisis. However, the nine mechanics and smiths who clubbed together
under the guidance of Romeo Galli and Giulio Miceti aimed to do more
than just support themselves and their families. Their idea was to build
up a business in the mechanical industry and - as stated in the original
company statute - to set up one or more workshops to repair, buy and
manufacture machines....
At first the companys business activities were restricted by the
7
The history of Sacmi
8
Our story...
Board of Directors
Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici di Imola
9
The history of Sacmi
10
To the reader...
11
The history of Sacmi
I would like to thank everybody who has helped me. First of all
the managers, directors and staff at the Cooperative. They have been pa-
tient, enthusiastic and extremely thorough in the help they have provided.
In particular, I am grateful for the help given to me by the secretaries of
the President and the Board of Directors.
My thanks also extend to other authors who have written about
Sacmi (Sergio Beltrandi, Benito Benati, Quinto Casadio, Vinicio DallAra,
Tino Dalla Valle, Nazario Galassi, Valter Galavotti, Gianluca Pedrazzi)
from whose publications I have obtained important information.
I would like to give my most heartfelt thanks to all those bodies
and individuals who have helped me accomplish this piece of work. These
include the Town Council of Imola (with particular mention to the Di-
rector of the Council Library, Grazia Vittoria Gurrieri), Chiara Sabattani
Bertolini and the archivists of the Imola District Notarys office, the
Statistics Department and the Registry Office, the head of the Imola
branch of the Records Office, Liliana Vivoli Paniccia, the Cidra associa-
tion and its director Elio Gollini, the editors of the Imola newspaper Il
nuovo diario messaggero, the director and staff of the Bologna District
Notarys Archive, the directors of the Banca di Imola as well as Daniela
Brescianelli Beltrandi, Maria Gabriella Bassani Piana, Silvia Bassani
Manelli, Carla Cacciari Donati, Alice Ghellini Dow, Alessandra
Giovannini Grumelli, Vincenzina Ricci Maccarini Belluzzi, Giuliana
Spadoni Costanzi, Lina Spadoni Pieroni, Rodiero Alieri, Giorgio Bartoli,
Cesare Barbieri, Benito Benati, Arrigo Casadio, Andrea Ferri, Ciro
Gasparri, Doriano Golinelli, Gianfranco Gualandi, Rino Marani,
Riccardo Miceti, Rino Morini, Carlo Parenti, Peppino Pelliconi, Giorgio
Penazzi, Franco Quartieri, Ezio Ramenghi, Gianni Sanna, Enrico Spisni,
Loretto Sullalti, Pier Paolo Tarabusi, Franco Tebaldi and Rino Vidotto.
12
To the reader...
13
The history of Sacmi
16
Italy after the First World War...
1 919 was the year after the end of the First World War. It was a victo-
rious end to the war for the Entente nations (France, Great Britain
and Russia) and therefore also for Italy which had entered the war
late as their ally. The soldiers coming home returned to an atmosphere
full of fear, uncertainties, disappointments, rebellions and violence and
were particularly hard-hit by unemployment. The ex-servicemen were dis-
contented and restless and sometimes mocked and derided. It seems a
contradiction in terms, but the war had in fact been a great means of
contact and communication. The soldiers at the front came
from the North and the South, there were Sicilians alongside
Piedmontese and Sardinians fighting together with Venetians
and Milanese. For the first time these people met and talked
together and the problems of one group were compared with
those of another.
The Italian proletariat was gathered together at the front
and for the first time an exchange of knowledge, ideas and hopes
took place. In fact it was the ruling class that spread the concept of 1916. The renowned Alberghetti
technical school which educated a long
change with its propaganda. Lloyd George, the British prime minister, line of future Sacmi mechanics and
engineers.
said that the post-war world should be a new world and that, after the war,
workers should be bold with their demands. The rulers of Italy, heady
with victory, were not to be left behind. Vittorio Emanuele Orlando stated:
Opposite.
This war is also the greatest social and political revolution in history, 1919. Porta Romana (also known as
Porta dei Servi).
greater even than the French Revolution. Antonio Salandra also warned (Libri Vecchi Archive - Gollini).
17
The history of Sacmi
Nobody think that, once the storm has passed, a peaceful re-
turn to the past is possible1. So many empty words. So many
lies!
On an economic and social level in particular, but also
in other aspects, the post-war period was a disaster. Allied fi-
nancial aid dried up almost immediately, leaving Italy with debts
Via and Porta Mazzini. The amounting to billions of lire. Subsidies for wheat producers and over-
Alberghetti school was located just
outside this city gate. expanded war industries, as well as food benefits for consumers, were all
(Libri Vecchi Archive - Gollini).
contributory factors which aggravated the inflation process and the budget
deficit whilst failing to alleviate hardship2. In addition to the wholesale
destruction and loss of life (more than six hundred thousand Italians dead,
half a million maimed and disabled and more than one million injured)3,
the war was an economic catastrophe. In a letter to his electorate Francesco
Saverio Nitti wrote that the states expenses during the war had outweighed
income three times over. The state administration had accumulated a fright-
ening deficit which was increasing all the time, while the military expenses
of a month of war had exceeded those of a full year in peacetime4.
The cost of living increased day by day leading to risings and seri-
ous social upheaval. However, Vittorio Foa warns that we should be care-
ful not to exaggerate the idea of the communist threat during this period.
He writes that the only real threat of subversion came in the summer of
1919 with the protests against the high cost of living which were largely
independent of party or union leadership (with some exceptions - authors
1
TASCA A., Nascita e avvento del
fascismo, La Nuova Italia, Florence note). Instead they were spontaneous movements caused by hunger, un-
1950, pp. 16 and following pages.
2
MACK SMITH D., Storia dItalia dal employment and general disapproval of speculators. They coincided with
1861 al 1958, Laterza, Bari 1961,
p. 501. a widespread feeling of support for soviet Russia which was in danger
3
BASSANI A. Ca nostra, Galeati,
Imola 1965, p. 20. from the White Army in a relentless civil war and from the rash threats of
4
MACK SMITH D., Storia dItalia dal
1861 al 1958, p. 517. intervention by the English and the French. It was under these circum-
18
Italy after the First World War...
stances that many shopkeepers handed over the keys to their shops to the
trade union headquarters: - You have the power, take the responsibility
too -. There were subversive aspects in the agrarian struggles too, although
in a different way. The most reactionary section of the propertied class
must have been extremely fearful at this time. The upsurge of poor farm-
ers with little or no land, the peasants and the farm labourers became an
important force. It was their response to the war which had left them
defenceless victims. The land the peasants occupied, above all in the South
and in Lazio, was uncultivated or badly cultivated but the question was -
when and where would they stop?5.
In May 1919 strikes began to break out. One of
the first was the metal workers strike in Milan6. In June
and July they intensified. As previously mentioned, the
increase in the cost of living spurred the workers and
their organisations into action. They soon demanded
and obtained salary increases but the protests contin-
ued to gather momentum and finally accelerated out
of control7. Imola (during the Twenties). The Old
Bridge on the Via Emilia lit up by the
While Italy trembled and trouble loomed on the horizon, the electric street lamps and the snow.
government took control of the situation - performing what was, after all,
its duty - in the face of the difficult problems which arose in post-war
Europe. The Peace Conference (1919) which took place in Paris gave rise
to treaties between the victorious countries and the defeated ones (the
Treaties of Versailles, St. Germain, Neuilly, Trianon and Sèvres).
Cries of mutilated peace and betrayed pacts followed. Fiery
accusations, arguments and dramatic scenes took place. But what had
5
FOA V., Questo Novecento,
happened? In broad terms things went as follows. When, in 1915, Italy Einaudi, Turin 1996, p. 98.
6
Corriere della Sera, 7 May 1919.
changed sides (a little vice of ours) and switched over from the Triple 7
BASSANI A., Ca nostra, p. 23.
19
The history of Sacmi
Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Germany to ally itself with the En-
tente powers of France, Britain and Russia, it signed the Treaty of Lon-
don in which its main territorial demands were accepted. The United
States of America had also entered the war on the side of the Entente
allies. In 1918 the American president, Woodrow Wilson, proposed his
famous Fourteen Points. Here, he laid out his suggestions for the settle-
ment of the European states at the end of the war, as well as listing other
ideas regarding freedom of the seas, free trade, self-government and inde-
pendence for all people and, finally, the formation of a league of na-
tions to which he gave great importance. The ninth point in Wilsons
proposal suggested, in stark contrast to the principles enshrined in the
Treaty of London in 1915, that each review of Italys borders would have
to be based on principles of nationhood. At first the Italian representa-
Thomas Woodrow Wilson, tives - Orlando and Sonnino - applauded Wilson and his Fourteen Points.
President of the United States
of America in 1919. The delegates of the allied nations agreed with the American presidents
views. The Italian delegates were slow to realise the rub. Italy claimed
Dalmatia and its islands in addition to the Dodecanese islands in the
Aegean sea and a large part of Venezia Giulia. To this end, they brought
up the Treaty of London to bolster their demands. We made a poor show
of ourselves and we were not helped by the fact that Orlando and Sonnino
had different ideas. In the end Italy acquired the Brenner frontier with
the annexation of Italian-speaking Trentino and German-speaking Alto
Adige. To the east, Italian sovereignty extended to Venezia Giulia and we
also gained Trieste and Pola. Subsequently, by the terms of the Italo-Yugo-
slav Treaty of Rapallo on 12 November 1920, Italy also obtained the city
of Zara and certain islands, but Dalmatia remained under Yugoslavia. The
Dodecanese became an Italian possession following the Italo-Turkish treaty
of July 1923 and remained so until the end of the Second World War.
20
Italy after the First World War...
of former shock troopers and grenadiers), took over the city and port thus
creating the Reggenza italiana del Carnaro until the Italian government
gave the order for the army and navy to occupy the stronghold. Not wish-
ing to give rise to a civil war, DAnnunzio and his troops withdrew. Fiume
became a Free State. At the beginning of 1924, with the signing of the
Pact of Rome, Fiume was officially handed over to Italy and remained
under its formal sovereignty until 1945. The relationship between Musso-
lini and DAnnunzio was volatile, partly because of the war-like nature of
the poet and partly because of the Fascist leaders possibilist standpoint8.
Also in 1919 (1918-1920), Italy was struck by the Spanish Flu - a
pernicious epidemic of influenza which raged through the country caus-
ing much loss of life and even reached Imola.
Other sources
CASTRONOVO V. - PARIS R., Storia dItalia, fourth volume/I, Einaudi, Turin 1975.
MONTANELLI I. - CERVI M., Storia dItalia, 38th vol., Fabbri ed., Milan 1995. 8
MACK SMITH D., Storia dItalia dal
BELCI C., Quel confine mancato - La linea Wilson (1919-1945), Morcelliana, Brescia 1996. 1861 al 1958, pp. 490 and
MACK SMITH D., La storia manipolata, Laterza, Bari 1998. following pages.
21
The history of Sacmi
A cooperative of mechanics
is formed in Imola with its workshop
based in Via Manfredi.
22
A cooperative of mechanics...
I n 1919 two new political bodies were born. In January the Catholic-
inspired Partito Popolare Italiano was created with Luigi Sturzo and
Alcide De Gasperi as its leaders. On 23 March the beginnings of the
Fascist party were established in Milan. At first the latter seemed a purely
Milanese movement which was based in Piazza San Sepolcro. The
sansepolcristi were a hotch-potch of individuals who were frustrated and
discontent with everything and everybody. They belonged to different
Fascist groups: arditi, dissident socialists, futurists, republicans, monar-
chists, trade unionists and conservatives. They represented a political
medley without clear ideas or aims. They were often violent and consid-
ered democracy a misfortune. Benito Mussolini, editor of Il Popolo dItalia
was among these people - in fact he was their standard bearer.
At the political elections held on 16 November, Sturzos party
gained a hundred seats in parliament and the Fascists not one. In his
Storia dItalia, co-written with Mario Cervi, Indro Montanelli argues that
Opposite.
the sansepolcrist Fascists did in fact have one seat. It was nevertheless a First headquarters. The Cooperative
started business in the former town
complete failure, especially considering the fact that the Fascists originated gymnasium on the ground floor of an
old building in Via Manfredi. The
as a movement to compete with the Socialists (who gained 156 seats at the building was later knocked down to
make way for this block of flats on the
same elections)1. corner with the access road to the fire
station.
The force of nature also made itself felt - an earthquake hit Tus- (Foto Gasparri).
23
The history of Sacmi
ing tension. It could not have been otherwise in the region where Andrea
Costa, one of the most charismatic fathers of Italian socialism, was born
and worked. Imola has always been a town of ideas and initiatives as well
as contradictions. It is a town which has always had a strong social con-
science. Imolas two bishops Gregorio Barnaba Chiaramonti and Giovanni
Maria Mastai Ferretti, who became popes Pius VII and Pius IX respec-
tively, both occupy leading roles in the history of the Church.
In 1919 the population of the district of Imola was 37,200; 15,400
of whom lived in the town itself and 21,800 in the surrounding country
(approximate figures). There was no mayor but instead there was a prefect,
Nicola Falanga, and it is he who occupied the position of head of the
Imola. Top, Viale dei Cappuccini and, town council when Sacmi was founded in December. In the same year
above, Piazza Grande - two of the
favourite meeting places of Imolas there had already been two others to occupy this position before him as,
workers. 1919-1920.
(Libri Vecchi Archive - Gollini). in 1919, changes were taking place quickly, even in the field of public
administration. Most people in Imola were employed in the primary sec-
tor - agriculture. There was a modest level of activity in the industrial
sector. There were only 100 or so mechanics who mainly worked in small
workshops. The percentage of unemployed was pretty high and hit farm-
hands and other low-income labourers the hardest.
Inevitably, the over-heated climate of Italy invested Imola as well.
A general strike took place on 24 January in which three thousand work-
ers participated. Another strike was declared on the evening of 16 April
with the aim of protesting against the fascist attacks in Milan where the
headquarters of the socialist journal Avanti! had been destroyed. The work-
ers (amongst whom there were many women) showed remarkable unity.
They formed a long procession and held a meeting on the lawn in front of
the Carducci school (the former military hospital). Five speakers took the
stand: the socialists Antonio Graziadei, Silvio Alvisi, Romeo Galli and
24
A cooperative of mechanics...
25
The history of Sacmi
the leaders of the local branch of the Socialist Party, together with the
representatives of the anarchist Fascio and other trade union representa-
tives, banded together to make a joint announcement declaring a general
strike in protest against the high cost of living. The crowd, largely made
up of women, spread into Piazza Alberghetti next to Piazza delle Erbe.
The people railed against those who starve society and demanded goods
and food at half price, as established by the ceiling price hurriedly fixed by
the authorities.
Some shopkeepers, and the Magazzino Cooperativo, accepted the
imposition of this price. Now the town was in the hands of the rebels. A
large and threatening crowd had formed in front of the Ferrari grocers
shop in Via Emilia. Women were demanding oil for the midday meal.
Tired of waiting, they broke down the doors and entered the shop, store-
rooms and cellars and looted the entire place. The women jumped on the
shop furnishings, took food-stuffs and merchandise and even ripped out
Imola 1917. Santuario della Madonna and carried away the shelves. A barricade was formed. Two policemen
del Piratello.
(Libri Vecchi Archive - Gollini). and the captain of the Carabinieri called for calm and emplored the peo-
ple to clear the streets. All in vain. One of the policemen, Noviello, wear-
ing the three-coloured scarf, sounded the trumpet and ordered the gather-
ing to disperse. But the crowd, rather than listening to him, became more
excited. A cavalry squadron arrived from Piazza Grande. A company of
infantry coming from Porta Romana joined them in Via Emilia. The dem-
onstrators were trapped. But what was happening? When the order to
charge was given the cavalry did not move. The crowd cheered its approval
- Long live the army!, Soldiers, you are our brothers!. The cavalry re-
treated. On the other side the infantry did not move either and then they
too retreated on the orders of their commander. The crowd erupted - the
demonstrators had won. The union leaders called for the crowd to dis-
26
A cooperative of mechanics...
perse and make its way to the Trade Union Headquarters and a red flag
was hoisted on the bell tower of San Cassiano3.
Thursday, 3 July was a calm and sunny day. However the Socialist
Party and the Trade Union knew that they could no longer control the
situation. They could sense that new uprisings were in the air although
young Giulio Miceti, Vice-Secretary of the Trade Union, and others, tried
their best to reason with the most disruptive rebels. The protest commit-
tee voted unanimously to call a meeting to take place in the outer court- Imola, the railway station and square.
(Libri Vecchi Archive - Gollini).
yard of the Carducci school that afternoon. They decided to announce
that the strike would end at midnight that night. There must have been
about four thousand people gathered on the lawn in front of the school
that day. The group of adversaries (those belonging to the anarchist move-
ment and the Trade Union which were both inspired by the same princi-
ples) placed themselves in front of the speakers table. Professor Alvisi
started to speak. He had barely announced the decision of the committee
when a scuffle broke out. There were shouts, insults and whistles from
the group gathered around the speakers stand. The speakers could barely
open their mouths for the hissing and booing. The meeting broke up in
disorder. The people turned back into Via Cavour and made their way to
Via Appia. Then a shot was fired, nobody knows by whom, and young
Irma Guadagnini was injured. The carabinieri and forces of public order
were lying in wait. At the so-called corner of the four winds - the inter-
section between Via Cavour and Via Appia - it would seem that some
carabinieri were attacked by hot-headed protesters and at this point seri-
ous violence broke out. In the part of town which stretches from Via
Cavour (cross-roads with Via Felice Orsini) to Via Appia and from Via 3
GALASSI N., Il fascismo a Imola
(1914-1929), University Press,
Appia (crossroads with Via Filatoio and Callegherie) up to the beginning Bologna 1993, pp. 68 and 69;
BASSANI A., Ca nostra, pp. 32 and
of Via Mazzini five people were killed: Livio Mongardi, a nurse; Sante following pages.
27
The history of Sacmi
28
A cooperative of mechanics...
- in Italy and in Imola. I am sure that, in Imola, the terrible shock of five
of its citizens dead made people reflect more than hate. The will to live
and overcome adversity of any kind was reinforced. Sacmi was founded
on 2 December having started business quietly the previous October6. A
The legal deeds drawn up to establish
few days later, on 12 December, the via Appia branch of the Credito the Cooperative on 2 December 1919.
29
The history of Sacmi
30
A cooperative of mechanics...
form his duty. Then he will be suspended from his job and from exercis-
ing his rights as a shareholder in the company. If these measures do not
succeed, the shareholder will be dismissed. The decision to suspend a
member of the company is taken by the Board of Directors once they have
listened to the opinion of the auditors. The decision to dismiss someone
is taken at the Shareholders General Meeting. The member always has
the right of recourse to the Board of Arbitrators to appeal against this
decision.
All company profits - states article 13 of the statute - will be
distributed annually as follows: a) 25 per cent to the mutual aid fund; b)
Share certificate issued by Sacmi in
50 per cent to the Reserve fund; c) 20 per cent to the shareholders divided 1925 to a member of the Cooperative.
31
The history of Sacmi
32
The dictatorship and lack of work...
33
The history of Sacmi
the group of salaried shareholders - the few exceptions did not break the
rule3. The first president of Sacmi was Luigi Santandrea and the first man-
aging director Giulio Miceti. Miceti represents the very soul of
the Cooperative - with his intelligence and the great sacrifices
he made, it is he who gives us an insight into the human side of
the company. As we have seen, he was a militant socialist who
was on the secretarial staff of the Trade Union. He then started
up the Cooperative together with Romeo Galli. In the elec-
tions of 29 September 1920 he was elected town councillor of
Imola as well as councillor for the region of Bologna. On 1
October he was appointed Mayor of Imola. However he did
not take part in the regional council meetings where the Fas-
cists had already started to take control over various public
bodies. Later the prefect dissolved the Regional Council and
Miceti was thus relieved of his duties. The Town Council in
Romeo Galli - leader of the Coopera- Imola was also subject to some of the first Fascist assaults. Mayor Miceti was
tion movement in Imola.
attacked on 16 May 1921 and received death threats, as did all the other
members of the council. The Miceti administration was forced to resign on
30 June 1921.
An event took place in those years which deserves to be mentioned
here as Sacmi was indirectly involved. In 1920 the lawyer Dino Grandi opened
his office in Via Luigi Sassi, on the corner with Via Emilia, in Imola. Grandi
was later to become the undersecretary at the Ministry of the Interior, un-
dersecretary and subsequently minister at the Foreign office, ambassador in
London, Minister of Justice as well as President of the Camera dei Fasci and
the Corporazioni (but he was also to be one of those responsible for over-
throwing Mussolini and his regime). One day Grandi was shot at but fortu-
3
Testimony of Riccardo, son of
Giulio Miceti. nately was not hurt - in fact he was left without a scratch. A little while after
34
The dictatorship and lack of work...
the attempted shooting he went to Miceti (who was already Mayor of Imola
and editor of the socialist newspaper La Lotta) at the editorial office of his
paper in the Palazzo Compadretti. The Board of Directors of the Coopera-
tive had also set up a temporary base here. Grandi claimed that he was not
a Fascist and in fact had sympathies for the socialist ideals of Andrea Costa.
He then went further and wrote a letter declaring the same and asked Miceti
to publish it in La Lotta. (Grandi also asked Miceti to pass a copy of the
letter on to the socialist weekly La Squilla in Bologna, edited by Silvio Alvisi
from Imola). Two days later, two individuals presented themselves in the
same office, threatened Miceti and demanded the letter back saying that
Grandi had reconsidered the matter and decided that he did not want any-
thing published. Miceti did not give in to the threats and was adamant that
the letter would appear in the paper. That night a fascist squad forced its
way into the newspaper office and set fire to it having first found and taken
away Grandis letter. The fire destroyed almost everything including furni-
ture and papers amongst which there were documents from Sacmi 4. The
minutes from the General Meeting held on 28 August 1921 recorded that:
on behalf of the Board of Directors, the secretary gives a detailed annual
report for the year 1920, with great regret that neither the report nor the 4
ALBERTAZZI A., ARBIZZANI L.,
ONOFRI N.S., Gli antifascisti, i
balance sheet (which has been compiled by referring to the ledger presented partigiani e le vittime del fascismo nel
bolognese (1919-1945) vol. IV,
at the beginning of 1921) can be backed up with the standard documents as Comune di Bologna, Bologna
1995, pp. 276-277; GALASSI N., Il
these have been destroyed or burned during the forced entry of the Fascists fascismo a Imola, (1914-1929),
p. 179; CASADIO Q., Uomini insieme
into the premises of the Board of Directors5. - Storia delle cooperative imolesi, Ed.
La Mandragora, Imola 1996, pp.
Giulio Miceti was the victim of further Fascist violence during the 352-354 under the heading
Giulio Miceti; AA. VV., Imola
second half of 1921, following which he retired for a while to the Republic Medaglia dOro, article by Giulio
Miceti Sindaco di Imola prima e dopo
of San Marino where other opponents of the Fascist regime had also found il regime fascista, Comune di Imola,
Imola 1985, pp. 35 and following
refuge. In 1926 special laws were approved to support the dictatorship. Having pages.
5
SACMIAR, minutes from the
been subjected to various arrests, beatings and harassment of all kinds, Miceti General Meeting, 1921.
35
The history of Sacmi
36
The dictatorship and lack of work...
Cooperative issued a notice which included the sentence we grieve for the
loss of our comrade. Sacmi was condemned for using the word comrade
and Miceti took responsibility. As a result, he was again
beaten up while making his way to a restaurant with
the manager of the Sanatorio di Jesi. He was sentenced
to a further two years confinement on one of the Is-
lands of Tremiti. The matter was, however, resolved
in about six months. Meanwhile, the management of
the company was handed over to Gianetto Santi (later
appointed director of the Banca Cooperativa) and
Micetis wife9. At Nonnis funeral, the Fascists were
displeased by the number of people who turned up
carrying red carnations and violence ensued. The day
after the funeral the Fascists arrested Andrea Gaddoni,
Romeo Galli, Flavio Grandi, Decio Marchesi and, of
course, Miceti - as previously mentioned. Decio
Marchesi, a smith who worked wrought iron, had al-
ready spent time in confinement on the islands of
Favignana and Lipari. He was now the victim of a vio-
lent attack when he was struck so hard on the mouth that his front teeth fell
out. He stayed in hospital for ten days and was subsequently arrested as a 9
SACMIAR, G. Miceti document;
Testimony of Riccardo, son of
result of his participation in the funeral of the red flowers. He remained Giulio Miceti: I was bringing
lunch, in a small pan, to my uncle
under suspicion for two years. Andrea Gaddoni, a mechanic, previously Pietro Scheda, nicknamed Pirìta -
which was also the name of his
sentenced to five years and three months imprisonment by the Special Law habidashery shop under the
Sersanti portico. I was about to
Court for communist activities, also remained under suspicion for another cross Piazza Grande when a man
said to me: Et vest tu pè? (Have you
five years. Romeo Galli, a librarian and a leader of the cooperative move- seen your father?) When I replied
in the negative he added: Va ta cà,
ment, in addition to being beaten up in the square, was kept under surveil- purèn (Go home lad). At that
moment I understood that they
lance for two years. Finally, Flavio Grandi, who had already served a sen- had beaten up my father.
37
The history of Sacmi
tence of five years confinement in Pisticci, was watched for two years along
with Ventotene and Siderno. Five hundred people had come to Nonnis
funeral. In his report to the Minister of the Interior, the prefect of Bologna
attempted to explain the presence of so many people and to justify the vio-
lence afflicted on certain respected and noteworthy citizens by writing that
the Fascists had taught a lesson to the subversives 10.
38
The dictatorship and lack of work...
talked about such things with great enthusiasm. The prevailing economic
depression presented insurmountable obstacles. The local Cooperativa
Macchine Agrarie offered Sacmi its first jobs, entrusting it with the repair of
steam machines, threshing machines and other agricultural equipment.
Meanwhile, other members of the company, who held the licence to oper-
ate steam boilers, offered their services during the wheat harvest. The work
quickly developed, still within the field of repairs, to include kilns for local
tile factories in Lugo, Forlì and Russi as well as for other customers. At the
same time, hospitals in Imola and in the district entrusted the company
with the repair and maintenance of their equipment. Obviously other work-
ers were also taken on as helpers and apprentices integrating with the rest of
the company. The equipment and organisation of the Cooperative were im-
proved but there were difficulties of a political nature with the rise of Fascism.
In spite of this, the company continued to be managed in a well-organised
manner, to improve its technology and consolidate its finances14.
The Cooperative extended its work to include the repair of ma-
chines in the milling industry. In addition, Sacmis mechanics collaborated
with the Cooperativa Laterizi to construct an air gas scrubber15. It was during
this period, as the small Cooperative started up production, that the Fas-
cists came to power. They began by taking control gradually but then ac-
The Alberghetti school in more recent
times.
quired absolute power through a coup which took place on 28th October, (Photo by Saluti da Imola, The
town photographed today, Circolo
1922. They were unexpectedly helped by the Savoy monarchy and, less sur- Fotografico Imolese - Grafiche Galeati
1985).
prisingly, by the Right-wing which, although not highly visible at the time,
was nevertheless powerful. Mussolini went to the king and declared himself
to be a loyal servant. Mussolini then presented the monarch with a list of
ministers which the latter approved. The new government was made up of
the Fascists Benito Mussolini, who was Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary
14
SACMIAR, G. Miceti document.
and Minister of the Interior, Aldo Oviglio (Minister of Justice) and Alberto 15
BCI, La Lotta, 5 September 1920.
39
The history of Sacmi
40
The dictatorship and lack of work...
Imolese in 1912 but had closed down in 1914. In the rental agreement be-
tween the Cooperativa Ceramica and the Cooperativa Meccanici it was stated
that all restoration and refurbishment expenses were to be borne by Sacmi18.
Let us look at the first gradual steps of the Cooperative in some
more detail. The successors to Luigi Santandrea, the first president of the
company, were Tiepolo Castaldi, Aldo Galassi and Guido Selvatici who
alternated their terms in the position. The directors and company auditors
were re-elected every year. In accordance with Sacmis statute there was a
Board of only three members, including the president. In addition the
number of shareholders was limited for over two decades. I have thought a
great deal about the reasons why both the Board and the shareholders were
limited in number - a situation which came about through the express will
of the shareholders themselves. What is immediately evident is that this
situation allows everybody to share equal responsibility and commitment
when it comes to deciding company objectives.
No one person takes decisions but decisions are taken by every-
body. By being so limited in its number the Board of Directors is able to be
flexible and efficient. The fact that the shareholders re-elect the Board every
single year at the General Meeting demonstrates their power, direct involve-
ment in decision-making and ability to take prompt action and see immedi-
ate results. The reasons behind the restricted number of shareholders are
less evident and I do not feel it is my place to pass judgement. Relevant
factors may include: the aim of making management more efficient, the
18
SACMIAR, documents;
general economic state of the country or the political situation. GAVALOTTI V., Dalla bottega
allindustria - Origini e sviluppi di una
The difficulties encountered and the cautious progress made by the grande esperienza cooperativa
(manuscript), p. 31; BELTRANDI S.,
company can be seen from the figures in the annual balance sheets. Here I La Sacmi: analisi storica, problemi e
riflessioni critiche; Essay on Pagine di
will limit myself to quoting the most significant statistics: the share capital vita e storia imolesi, Ed. Cars, Imola
1986, p. 238; GALASSI N., Il fascismo
(SC), turnover (TO), net profit (NP) and the number of shareholders and a Imola, (1914-1929), p. 108.
41
The history of Sacmi
employees who are not shareholders. The balance sheet for 1920, which
also includes almost three months at the end of 1919, shows these figures:
SC 5,000 Lit., TO 73,026 Lit., NP 1,966 Lit., shareholders 10 and employ-
ees 4. In 1922: SC 17,500 Lit., TO 220,554 Lit., NP 1,670 Lit., shareholders
11. The following year, the company purchased a center lathe (although it
had to go into debt to do so). This required an outlay of 8000 Lit. which was
a rather large sum if one considers the size of the company and the value of
money at the time. This expense was felt strongly even though it had been
approved following heated discussions and there were few doubts that it
had been the right decision. A lathe such as this one, with a work table
which was more than four metres long, enabled the Cooperative to do work
that it could never have attempted before19.
In 1924 the Cassa Mutua Malattie, a health insurance fund, was
set up for the shareholders of the Cooperativa Meccanici. The fund guaran-
teed its cooperative shareholders that if they each made weekly payments
of five Lit. they would receive a daily grant of fifteen Lit. for a period of
ninety days a year in the event of their falling ill. The statute also provided
for other types of loans which could be granted if certain conditions were
satisfied20. This was an extremely important initiative because of its own
intrinsic value, because it was an example of the spirit of cooperation and
because there were so few other initiatives of its kind. The balance sheet
for 1924 showed the following: SC 19,500 Lit., TO 261,134 Lit., NP 775
Lit., shareholders 11, employees 24. The report by the Board of Directors
stated that the mechanical workshops were having to compete with each
other. The income was therefore very modest. However the company was
19
SACMIAR, documents;
GAVALOTTI V., Dalla bottega doing well thanks to the technical superiority of its workers as well as the
allindustria - Origini e sviluppi di una
grande esperienza cooperativa fact that they offered reasonable prices compared to their competitors. As
(manuscript) pp. 29 and 30.
20
SACMIAR, documents. previously mentioned, the Cooperative moved to Viale Guerrazzi 29-31
42
The dictatorship and lack of work...
became the master and judge over all. The constitutional agreement
(Albertine statute) was broken. The king kept quiet and gave silent approval 1924. The Cassa Mutua Malattia (a
health insurance fund) set up by the
with his signatures. Giovanni Amendola (following a beating from the Fas- shareholders of the Imola Mechanics
Cooperative. Statute-Rules: 5th
cists) and Piero Gobetti died. Antonio Gramsci was sent to prison and the Heading. Rights of the Shareholders.
43
The history of Sacmi
leaders of the opposition fled abroad. The mayors, following the reform of
local administration, were turned into podestà and appointed by the prefects
- i.e. the government. (In Imola Count Ginnasi was appointed podestà in
1927). One event in particular is remembered. On 10 June 1924 Giacomo
Matteotti, the leader of the largest opposition party, the Socialists, was assas-
sinated by the Fascists22. Imola was also struck by a wave of 276 arrests of
anti-fascists, as has already been described.
44
The dictatorship and lack of work...
Other sources
45
The history of Sacmi
The Cooperative
constructs the first machine
bearing the SACMI trademark.
Le bateau largue les voiles.
46
The Cooperative constructs the first...
47
The history of Sacmi
had badly affected the progress of the company. In fact, the president
remarked that production figures were down - 81,887.87 - although this
was clearly offset by lower figures for expenses: 30,363.84 Lit. for sala-
ries paid out, 34,634.30 Lit. for materials used and 13,025 Lit. for gen-
eral expenses.
In reality, the fact that the Cooperative was making only very
gradual progress was not necessarily a disadvantage but instead served as a
cushion to protect the company from the wider economic crisis. On the
other hand, the depression in Imola had started long before the collapse
of the New York stock exchange - it went back to the immediate post-war
period. Furthermore, Sacmi was certainly not in a position to build an
Empire State Building1!
1
SACMIAR, documents; ANMI,
deed by notary G. Alvisi, 16th May The face of Imola was changing in the centre of town, on the
1930.
outskirts and in the surrounding area. For a while people had been talk-
One of the three buildings of the
former sanatorium in Montecatone, ing about the possibility of building a new hospital for patients with tu-
Imola. Sacmi played a large part in
the construction work. Today, thanks berculosis in the hills of Montecatone. The idea was supported by the
to public and private investment, the
old hospital has been transformed into leaders of the local Fascio (by the political secretary in person, to be pre-
an international centre for spinal
research and rehabilitation. cise). The Cassa di Risparmio, for its part, had a similar project of its own
(Foto Gasparri).
and since 1925 had set aside the sum of 500,000 Lit. to build a quaran-
tine hospital for consumptives, on the condition
that it was named after Luigi Paolini, the first di-
rector of the credit institute. On 25 March 1930,
at the annual shareholders meeting, it was decided
to donate the sum of one million Lit. to CNAS
(Cassa Nazionale Assicurazioni Sociali), the forerun-
ner of the current INPS (National Institute of So-
cial Insurance) in order to contribute to the ex-
penses of building the sanatorium in Montecatone.
48
The Cooperative constructs the first...
In the meantime the fund put aside in 1925 had reached 720,000 Lit.
The vice-president of the Cassa di Risparmio, Luigi Baroncini, took a par-
ticularly active role in this project2. At this point, CNAS - which would
become the Istituto Nazionale Fascista della Previdenza Sociale (Fascist Na-
tional Institute of Social Security) - also carried out its initiative on behalf
of the people of Imola. Work began on 27 May 19303. The engineer Stefano
Padovani, later to become podestà of Imola, was put in charge.
Padovani assigned the job to the local Cooperative Consortium.
Several cooperatives in Imola won the contract for work. Sacmi was able
to sell its manufactured products in iron and offer its services for install-
Imola, early 1930s.
ing them. It was a great opportunity. INFPS was very pleased with the The porticoes in the town centre in Via
Emilia (formerly Via Umberto I)
Cooperatives work at Montecatone and, as a result, Sacmis staff won before demolition.
(Photo from the Ferlini Archive, Carlo
contracts for installations in several other sanatoriums built throughout Parenti collection).
49
The history of Sacmi
tion which was not beautiful but had nevertheless captured the eye of the
people of Imola who by now regarded it with affection. Work on the new
building, designed by the architect Adriano Marabini, began in 1933 and
was completed in 1936. It included the actual Casa del Fascio with its tower,
the gallery of the Centro Cittadino and the town center branch of the Cassa
di Risparmio. It was all built, naturally, in the Roman lictorian style.
Mussolini inaugurated the complex on the same day that he cut the three-
coloured ribbon at the sanatorium6. Obviously Sacmi did not win any
contracts to carry out this particular job. Instead the company expanded
by doing other types of work: for the State Railways and for the Cooperativa
Ceramica di Imola. Ceramics was clearly part of Sacmis destiny. The
Cooperativa Ceramica, which had moved to its new headquarters, purchased
some new machines and, in particular, several clutch presses built by the
German company, Dorst, together with new intermittent and continuous
operation kilns. Sacmis mechanics performed maintenance work on the
machines and in this way came into direct contact with the equipment
used to manufacture ceramics products7.
50
The Cooperative constructs the first...
51
The history of Sacmi
52
The Cooperative constructs the first...
53
The history of Sacmi
54
The Cooperative constructs the first...
Lit., NP 4,069 Lit., shareholders 13, employees 16. These are still not
huge figures but Sacmi began to make real progress during this period
despite the fact that Italy was, at the time, under the control of a totalitar-
ian state and war was looming in Europe. The Board of Directors was
maintained in its present form and the members were: Luigi Santandrea,
President; Tiepolo Castaldi and Rodolfo Galassi, Directors. The Board of
Auditors was made up of Professor Guglielmo Romiti (Auditor General),
Elio Pagani and Antonio Tavanti. The substitute auditors were Renzo
Masolini and Arturo Frascali. The managing director was Giulio Miceti,
general manager Giovanni Bartoli and factory manager Primo Ermanari.
In 1938 the cooperative shareholder Paolo Nonni died and a great
crowd attended his funeral. There were so many red carnations carried by
the people walking behind the coffin - too many for the fascists who were
greatly angered. The next day in Piazza Grande - as previously mentioned
- a team of blackshirts attacked and beat up Galli, Miceti and others. The
annual shareholders meeting was held on 30 March. Mario Tosarelli,
secretary of the regional fascist Federazione della Cooperazione was present.
Tosarelli listened to the proceedings and kept silent. Luigi Santandrea
addressed the shareholders: At this stage in the development of our com-
pany we must take care to maintain a good relationship with those bodies
who can offer the highest probability of work and deliver the required
One of the first Sacmi trademarks.
ferrous materials, such as INFPS and FF.SS. We have given and must con-
tinue to give a push to the manufacture of cleaning machines for citrus
fruit, work which has developed satisfactorily this year, even if it has not
yielded the income we had hoped for.... A new law established that the
auditors should remain in their position for three years and should re-
ceive remuneration. This was fixed at three hundred Lit. per year for each
regular auditor. The auditors Elio Pagani and Antonio Tavanti resigned
55
The history of Sacmi
56
The Cooperative constructs the first...
57
The history of Sacmi
August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union signed a pact of non-aggres-
sion and a secret protocol for the partition of Poland. On 1 September
1939 Germany invaded Poland. On the 3rd Great Britain and France
declared war on Germany. On the 17th the armies of the Soviet Union
invaded Poland from the East. So began the tragedy of the Second World
War. Fascist Italy was allied with Hitlers Germany. Our country did not
enter the war immediately - it hesitated and took its time and was not
ready militarily. Italy declared neutrality and, for a time, Mussolini passed
for a man of caution and prudence. His Spanish friend Franco behaved
in the same way but was not allied with Hitler. Italian neutrality lasted
nine months and ten days. New laws restricting the freedom of Jews were
passed12.
On 1 September 1939 (a truly fateful day) arms production began
at the Cogne factory in Imola. The new plant was lo-
cated on the former premises of the sugar-refinery which
was later the site of the provisional military barracks.
Around fifty workers started production13.
In the last years before the war Sacmi contin-
ued its production. The machines for oranges were go-
ing well but the company also started to manufacture
mixing machines for food and chemical products14. At
Set of gauges for fruit - manufactured the special meeting held on 29 October 1939 it was established that the
by Sacmi.
company statute was to run for a further twenty years and would expire on
2 December 1959 unless extended again.
12
Storia dItalia, cronologia 1815- Twenty years had already passed. It seemed like the blink of an eye
1990, pp. 471 and following pages.
13
GALAVOTTI V., Dalla bottega - or an eternity. At the annual meeting of the shareholders (4 March 1940)
allindustria, p. 55.
14
BELTRANDI S., La Sacmi: analisi the president, Santandrea, gave his report of the balance for 1939 with
storica, problemi e riflessioni critiche,
pp. 241-242. the announcement that production had decreased. The price of metals
58
The Cooperative constructs the first...
The 1930s.
Sorting table (roller conveyor).
had gone up. The company had started doing business with military bod-
ies in order to gain work. However, such an initiative was to involve con-
siderable sacrifice because, with its present range of equipment, the Co-
operative workshop could do little - both from a technical point of view as
well as in terms of production costs. The shareholders voted to renew the
Board of Directors. They elected Aurelio Mingotti, President; Giovanni
Ferri, Director, Arrigo Casadio, Vice-President. In addition, two consult-
ants were appointed as board members; Tiepolo Castaldi and Giovanni
Bartoli. The results of the balance were: SC 82,750 Lit., TO 921,741 Lit.,
NP 5,282 Lit., shareholders 15, employees 4015.
Other sources
59
The history of Sacmi
60
War, liberation and recovery...
61
The history of Sacmi
It can truly be said that the whole world was thrown into disorder by the
war. Millions of human lives were sacrificed in a war characterised by hate
and senselessness - the holocaust of the European Jews, the extermination
of peoples and soldiers in Russia. Then it was the turn of Germany to un-
dergo heavy bombardment in allied air raids and Japan to suffer huge losses
caused by the atomic bomb1.
At the beginning of 1940 Sacmi had to start up production of
various orders for the army. This decision was imposed on them by events
and by higher powers. In contrast to the experiences of large capitalist com-
panies, production of this type had little economic advantage for the Co-
operative and the orders yielded little profit. The only positive aspect was
that manufacturing weapons for the army meant working to designs within
strict limitations and complying with well-defined standards - methods
which, up to that time, had never been applied to traditional production.
Various problems arose; the machine opera-
tors at Sacmi would have to expand their
knowledge of mechanical design, a way
needed to be found to produce absolutely
identical pieces and, finally, more advanced
production methods (which would be useful
in the future) would have to be put into prac-
tice throughout the factory. Also during this
period... salaries were kept low - around 30
per cent lower than those earned at Cogne,
The 1940s. A group of young factory which was the plant founded in 1939 in Imola for arms production. How-
workers.
ever, thanks to its weapons production orders, the Cooperative was able to
obtain metals from the War Department which were not otherwise avail-
1
Storia dItalia, cronologia 1815-
1990, pp. 477 and following pages. able and could be used for other jobs. In this way they were able, albeit in a
62
War, liberation and recovery...
63
The history of Sacmi
and to operate the machine tools. The number of machine tools was in-
creased and their quality improved at this time. Working overtime had be-
come the norm. It was not unusual to work twelve hours a day, even for
shift-workers, in order to meet deadlines which were often brought forward
by the War Department. In 1942 the company chalked up a turnover of
2.703.709 Lit. which was the highest figure during that period. Share capi-
tal was brought up to 110.750 Lit. It was not always easy to maintain staffing
levels under the circumstances. Many young men were called up to fight in
the army and others, having acquired experience over a short period, moved
on to Cogne where they could earn higher wages. Some preferred to con-
tinue with their studies and were only able to do temporary or seasonal
work. The turnover of personnel was therefore high and certainly did not
help consolidate the staffing structure of the Cooperative5. The company
headquarters also represented a difficult problem. The workshop was small
and inadequate from a logistical point of view. All the shareholders knew it
and discussed it every day. A special meeting was held on 21 January 1942 at
which the shareholders decided to buy a piece of land to build new head-
quarters in Viale Marconi on the corner with Viale Pambera6. However, the
land was sold to somebody else the year after. This was partly because the
Cooperative had no money and the war was going badly but it was mainly
due to the fact that the ministers in question (the minister for Corporations
and the minister for Public Works) did not give the required authorisation.
The plans for new headquarters had already been drawn up by the architect
Romiti Peccato7.
5
BELTRANDI S., La Sacmi: analisi
storica, problemi e riflessioni critiche. Mussolinis dictatorship fell due to a palace plot. It is written in
6
ANMI, notorial deeds, G. Alvisi,
2 January 1942; SACMIAR, the Gospel that all those who take up the sword, will die by the sword (Mt
documents.
7
ANMI, notorial deeds, G. Alvisi, 26, 52). Remember the lawyer Dino Grandi who went to Miceti at the
28 July1943; SACMIAR, docu-
ments. editorial office of the Lotta newspaper because he wanted to print a letter
64
War, liberation and recovery...
challenging fascism? Now president of the Camera dei Fasci and the
Corporazioni, this man, in agreement with other members of the fascist hier-
archy, presented a motion to the Fascist Grand Council convoked in the
afternoon of 24 July 1943. They had lost all confidence in Mussolini and
asked for the king to take back all powers of decision, as stated in article 5 of
the statute of the kingdom. The motion obtained the majority of the votes.
It was 25 July when Mussolini had an audience with the king who told him
that he had been replaced by Marshal Pietro Badoglio. He was then arrested
as soon as he left the Villa Savoia. The whole of Italy rejoiced. The event was
celebrated in Imola where, during a mass demonstration on 27 July, Romeo
Galli, Silvio Alvisi, Egidio Lenci and others spoke to the large crowd from
the balcony of the Town Hall. The people also sang the praises of Badoglio
but he was to turn out to be a tough leader. He ordered a curfew to start at
nine in the evening and last until five in the morning. Only a small number
of political detainees were released - most came out of prison at the begin-
ning of August - as the new government feared popular uprisings. The po-
litical parties who were against Fascism were not officially authorised to re-
form. The Anglo-American forces had already landed in Sicily and their
aircraft were dropping bombs on the larger Italian cities. Destruction and
death followed. Italys ordeal had just begun8.
At 7:45 on the evening of 8 September 1943, Badoglio announced
on national radio that Italy had asked General Eisenhower, the commander-
in-chief of the allied Anglo-American forces, for an armistice and that the
request had been accepted. The Germans were incensed and stood their
ground. On the same day, 8 September, the allied forces landed at Salerno.
The government was panic-stricken and confusion, rather than the king,
reigned. The royal family, the prime minister, some other ministers and a
8
BASSANI A., Via Quaini n. 13, pp.
small group of generals fled Rome and sought refuge in Pescara. In Ortona 54 and 55.
65
The history of Sacmi
they boarded an army corvette and reached Brindisi, where there were nei-
ther Germans nor British or American forces, with the intention of con-
tinuing the royal dynasty and government. In Rome and in other parts of
the country military leaders found themselves without orders. One unit of
the army, helped by civilians, put up a heroic fight at the Porta San Paolo in
Rome but were overpowered by the Germans. Other detachments in the
area also fought desperately against the Ger-
man soldiers. It was the beginning of the Re-
sistance. The troops defending Rome capitu-
lated and were disarmed and imprisoned by
the Germans. Senior officials no longer knew
what to do or who to follow. The soldiers, find-
ing themselves without orders, deserted. When
and where they could, they tried to reach their
homes - others took the road to the moun-
tains. They organised themselves into small
1944. Imola, the entrance to the military bands and attempted to resist the Germans but it was an unequal
Cooperativa Ceramica plant. The
photograph shows craters formed by the struggle - in fact a grossly unbalanced one. Mussolini was rescued by Hitlers
bombs which fell in Via V. Veneto.
(Cidra archive). parachutists at Campo Imperatore, Gran Sasso and taken to Hitlers gen-
eral quarters. On Radio Munich Mussolini announced to the Italians that
the Republican Fascist Party and a new Republic had been founded in the
northern regions of Italy still occupied by the Germans. Mussolini came
back to Italy and formed a government which convened for the first time in
the Rocca delle Caminate castle. On 13 October 1943 Badoglios government
declared war against Hitlers Germany. There were now two Italian states:
the legal one based in Brindisi and controlled by the allies and Mussolinis
rebel one in the North (the Italian Social Republic) which was to support
the Germans to the bitter end. Meanwhile, partisan groups were being formed
66
War, liberation and recovery...
in the north of Italy which were made up of diverse political elements. Over
time it was to be the men of the PCI (Italian Communist Party) who would
prevail at the heart of these partisan groups. The partisan bands were built
up with the support of young men who refused to respond to their call-up
orders from Marshal Graziani - the war minister of Mussolinis Republic
(referred to disparagingly as the little republic). It was also in the North
that the Committees of National Liberation (CLN) were formed. These
had a clear structure with different administrative levels and were linked to
the government in the south. Their task was to coordinate the struggle for
liberation and represent the political authority of unoccupied Italy (they
were made up of different anti-fascist parties). The Allies slowly advanced
from the south towards the north but were stopped at the Gothic Line
which ran, more or less, from Rimini to La Spezia. The front line kept
moving and then stopped in a position of stalemate where it remained dur-
ing a long war of attrition which lasted until the beginning of April, 1945 9.
At this time the Allies took up the advance again across the Apennines and
to the right-hand bank of the river Senio for the final offensive to liberate
Italy.
On 13 May 1944 Imola suffered its first air raid by the Anglo-Ameri-
can forces. Presumably the targets were military ones but unfortunately this
did not go according to plan. Cogne, where the grenades were made for
cannons, was not hit badly whereas the area north of the town suffered
serious damage. 53 people died and more than 100 were wounded. Several
civilian dwellings were hit by the bombs10. Sacmi, which had its factory in
the area to the south, fortunately escaped damage.
In cauda venenum, the poison is in the tail (of the scorpion, au-
9
Storia dItalia, cronologia 1815-
thors note) according to a Latin proverb and it was true also for the events 1990, pp. 498 and following pages.
10
BASSANI A., Via Quaini n. 13, pp.
which took place in Imola. 68 and 69.
67
The history of Sacmi
Let us hear what Miceti has to say: The front had come closer and,
in addition to the danger from air raids and grenades exploding, a German
command had established itself in the town and was making raids taking
anything they considered useful for their own needs. The Cooperative there-
fore proceeded to strip down their factory and hide the various machines,
equipment (some were from Cogne, authors note) materials etc. while the
entire staff, including the shareholders, remained virtually unemployed.
During this period of standstill, which continued up until the Liberation,
the shareholders received money, provisions and other aid from the Coop-
erative...11. Miceti also tells us: ...In October, 1944 Arrigo Casadio, myself
and others took it upon ourselves to put into safekeeping the various ma-
chines from the Cogne plant. These were kept by the Cooperativa Meccanici
until the end of the war when they were handed back.
Inside the Cooperativa Meccanici, of which I was man-
ager, the CLN had a secret base which was the central
meeting point for the messengers carrying orders and
distributing propaganda. At this base we had installed
a radio-receiver; the antenna was the high voltage power
line which the Germans had put out of service along
with the water and gas lines. At 2:00 pm every day we
1944. Imola after bombing raids: the were able to pick up the Allied command news bulletin and this informa-
buildings belonging to AMI in Via
Mentana. tion was then circulated by the messengers.... One morning, however, (2
(Cidra archive).
April 1945) they had a surprise visit. German soldiers and Fascist blackshirts
were kicking down the door of a house owned by Sacmi in Via Framello.
They were shouting, hurling insults and attempting to break in. There were
Germans and blackshirts all over the place; the entire block - Via Framello,
Via Quaini, Viale Crispi, Via Castelfidardo - was surrounded. Tisì, the war-
11
SACMIAR, documents. den, immediately realised how dangerous the situation was and said that he
68
War, liberation and recovery...
would open up straight away. Meanwhile Mina, the wife of the patriot Gino
Cornetti (known as Verdi in the Resistance), together with Giovanni
Bartoli, who was standing in for Miceti as manager,
succeeded in warning Ezio Serantoni, president of
the CLN, Cornetti (alias Verdi) and Nello Nonni.
At that moment all three men were at the Coopera-
tive for a meeting but they managed to make a dar-
ing escape. Mina quickly gathered up the CLN flag
and all the other little items, except for an electric
battery, which was to make the raiders suspicious.
Tisì opened the door and the Germans and Fascists
burst into the building. Bartoli failed to escape and was taken to the bar- 1945. The Becca familys house and
fruit handling plant.
racks and made to take the battery with him. He did, however, manage to (Cidra archive).
hand his wallet to Tisì and ask him to tell his wife what had happened. The
raid did not produce the results hoped for by the Germans and blackshirts.
The men they had been looking for were no longer to be found but had
taken flight12. Bartoli was later released from the Rocca prison, just in time
to escape the killing which took place when prisoners were thrown down
the Becca well13. Miceti was arrested by the Germans on 14 March 1945, a
month before the Liberation, while writing his newspaper La Lotta. During
the weeks following his arrest Miceti lived a nightmare suffering from
beatings and torture from the Fascists and Germans first in Imola at the
Rocca, then in Bologna in the prison of San Giovanni in Monte and
finally at the army artillery barracks. In the end he was released14.
With the fall of Fascism, after 8 September 1943, the anti-fascist 12
MORINI L., ... per essere libere, Ed.
Coop. Marabini, Imola 1981, pp.
forces at the Cooperative were able to direct the young men at Sacmi to- 71 and 72.
13
Testimony of Giorgio Bartoli,
wards armed struggle. Many chose partisan war in the mountains - three son of Giovanni.
14
AA.VV., Imola Medaglia dOro,
were never to return as their young lives were sacrificed fighting against the pp. 35 and following pages.
69
The history of Sacmi
Nazis and Fascists. A memorial tablet to them was placed in the workers
social centre of the plant in Via Provinciale Selice. On this tablet the names
of Marino Dalmonte, gold medal for military valour, Cesare Masetti and
Doriano Carletti are inscribed and they are names which are never to be
forgotten15. The gold medal was also awarded to Domenico Rivalta, one of
the most important leaders of Imolas partisan movement, who was killed
and tortured by the Fascists along with another fifteen patri-
ots who were thrown into the Becca well. Viale Crispi,
where Sacmi had its second premises, was named after
Rivalta. Even Imola, many years later, was awarded the gold
medal for military valour for its partisan activity. The presi-
dent of the Republic, Francesco Cossiga, pinned the gold
medal to the banner of the Town Hall on 12 April 1986.
The reason behind the granting of this award was explained:
Imola is steeped in popular and democratic traditions and
it was here that, immediately after 8 September 1943, an
active resistance movement emerged which produced the first
Cogne, 1945. Recovering parts of partisan groups in the mountains. Despite initial losses and severe reprisals
machine tools.
(Cidra archive). by the Nazis and Fascists, the people of Imola proudly continued their strug-
gle and, with blood shed even by their indomitable womenfolk, they re-
established peace and freedom and defended agriculture and industry in
their region. Units from the 36th Garibaldi brigade A. Bianconcini were a
continuous threat to the enemy and, during the Anglo-American offensive
against the Gothic Line, they handed over important strategical positions to
the Allies. When the front line reached Imola itself, the town suffered five
months of air and land bombardments, enemy oppression, deportations
15
BELTRANDI S., La Sacmi: analisi and slaughter. On 14 April 1945 the Gap and Sap partisan brigades, having
storica, problemi e riflessioni critiche,
p. 242. garrisoned the town, handed it over to the Allies. Meanwhile, other young
70
War, liberation and recovery...
Other sources
71
The history of Sacmi
Production of presses
for the ceramics industry starts up.
72
Production of presses starts up...
I n Italy, at this time almost entirely liberated, the two governments led
by Ivanoe Bonomi were succeeded by that of Ferruccio Parri - one of
the leaders of the Resistance in the north of Italy and a member of
the Party of Action. This government, in a formation which reflected the
Committee of National Liberation, was made up of members of the Party
of Action (three), the Liberal party (three), the Christian Democrats (four),
the Italian Communist Party (three), the Partito Socialista Italiano di Unità
Proletaria (PSIUP) - socialists of the extreme left - (three), the Democratic
Labour party (three) and Admiral Raffaele De Courten. The capital and
the government were in Rome1.
73
The history of Sacmi
they recovered an army power generator and ran it with a farm tractor -
and so the Mayflower sailed on3. The Town Council, hospitals and many
private companies all turned to Sacmi when they needed work done as it
was the first company to start up operations. A great deal of work was
required to reconstruct the town due to the destruction caused by the war.
The workers of Sacmi were united in the huge efforts they made to satisfy
this need4. Almost all those returning from the war, from prison or the
partisan struggle were taken on again. Even during the worst months of
German occupation, the workshop was never abandoned thanks to the
willing and courageous members of the company and above all to Arrigo
3
SACMIAR, Minutes books from Casadio and Giovanni Bartoli5. Daily life at the time was characterised by
the General Meetings.
4
BELTRANDI S., La Sacmi: analisi love and hate, poverty and generosity, sadness and joy. The young sang (or
storica, problemi e riflessioni critiche,
p. 243. rather hummed and whistled since they couldnt speak English!) Blue moon,
5
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General Meetings. Stardust, Begin the beguine. In the evening they went to dance at the railway
6
BASSANI A., Caterina e altre storie,
Galeati Editrice, Imola, 1979, pp. after-work social club, at Stella di Rio in Viale Dante or at the Casetta
161 and 162.
fra gli abeti on Strada Montanara - they danced the boogie-woogie brought
over to Italy by the Americans. It was, however, somewhat risky for the
1945. Entrance to the Cooperativa young to sneak off into the country for romantic trysts due to the danger
Ceramica di Imola after the front line
had passed through Imola. of mines exploding in the fields6.
(Photo from the Ferlini Archive,
Carlo Parenti collection).
74
Production of presses starts up...
up and running again. This was a huge job requiring elbow grease, back-
breaking work and an iron will. It was extremely important to get the
machines and, in particular, the presses working again. This task was given
to a company in Forlì but they kept delaying.
The ceramics company had an urgent need to
restart production and so they turned to the
Cooperativa Meccanici. In this way Sacmi discov-
ered the product that was to determine its fu-
ture. One thing led to another - from repairing
machines damaged during the war Sacmi real-
ised it could try to build a new machine bearing
the Sacmi trademark. The factory managers of
the Cooperativa Ceramica and Sacmi, Armando Savioli and Primo Ermanari The Cooperativa Ceramica di Imola
before the beginning of the Second
respectively (under the authorisation of each of their Boards of Directors) World War.
(Photo from the Ferlini Archive,
met and reached an agreement. With Casadio and Ermanari leading the Carlo Parenti collection).
75
The history of Sacmi
1946 and the years immediately after were crucial years in the
history of Sacmi. On 24 April the people of Imola voted in the council
elections. For the first time in Italys history women were also allowed to
vote - universal suffrage had become a reality. On 9 May King Victor
Emanuel III abdicated in favour of his son and went into exile in Egypt.
Umberto II reigned only twenty-four days and so became known as the
May king. Following the elections for the constituent assembly, a refer-
endum was held to decide whether to retain the monarchy or become a
republic - voting took place on 2 June. The republic won with 54.3 per
cent of the vote (45 per cent had voted in favour of the monarchy). There
was however an appeal against the result of the referendum and several
protests took place. On 13 June Umberto II left Rome and went into exile
in Portugal. The prime minister, Alcide De Gasperi, took over the role of
acting Head of State. The constituent assembly began work on 25 June
and was chaired by Giuseppe Saragat of the PSIUP10.
There were changes to Sacmis company statute too. On 10 March
1946, at a special shareholders meeting, certain modifications to the stat-
ute were approved with notary Gualtiero Alvisi present11. They started
with article 1 which was re-written to read A cooperative company of
mechanics has been set up in Imola and named Cooperativa Meccanici -
Imola - Cooperativa a Responsabilità Limitata (a limited liability coopera-
tive company). Previously this article had read A cooperative of mechan-
ics, the Società Anonima Cooperativa di Lavoro has been set up in Imola
and will take the name of Cooperativa Meccanici. The article stating the
objectives of the company (art. 3, previously art. 2) was added to. In addi-
tion to running one or more factories for constructing and repairing ma-
10
Storia dItalia, cronologia, pp. 521
and 522. chines, taking on public and private work and general mechanical jobs at
11
ANMI, Notarial deeds, G. Alvisi
10 March 1946. the best market conditions, the Cooperative now aimed to develop its
76
Production of presses starts up...
technology and equip itself with machinery which could ensure the most
efficient and economical production. Another objective was to contrib-
ute to the creation and development of organisations dedicated
to improving the health, quality of life and education of the work-
ing classes. It was proposed that all members of the Cooperative
would devote as much time and energy as possible to making a
significant contribution to the nation. The statute therefore re-
flected something of the new spirit and changes occurring in the
post-war period.
There was an innovation regarding the admission of new
shareholders. Article 4 stated: Any person, man or woman, can
be admitted to the Cooperative, as long as he/she has the neces-
sary legal requirements, works as a mechanic or in a related field,
is known to be of good character, is between twenty-one and thirty-
six years old and has completed a period of training of at least
three years. Here the struggle for equal rights between men and women One of the first presses manufactured
by Sacmi for the Cooperativa
was anticipated by several decades. Another change was in article 5: The Ceramica di Imola.
77
The history of Sacmi
78
Production of presses starts up...
immediate future. The new Board of Directors was elected which, at its
first sitting, appointed the following people to the various positions: Arrigo
Casadio, President; Ciro Gasparri, Vice-President, Renato Zappi, Giovanni
Ferri and Tiepolo Castaldi, Directors. The results shown by the balance
sheet were: SC 296,750 Lit., TO 1,816,016 Lit., NP 42,631 Lit., share-
holders 21 and employees 3012.
The next year (approval of the balance sheet for 1946) the Direc-
tors report was a little more encouraging, but not much. The following
are extracts from the report: Production is slow to pick up and the
management feels the effects of this strongly... The factory is efficient,
there is no lack of work... There has been no development... Production
has been shaky... The manufacture of cleaning machines for oranges has
been extremely limited because our customers have also found them-
selves in difficulty and unable to export their products (citrus fruits,
authors note)... The factory has mainly concentrated on repair work which
has ensured continuous employment for our workers. It is, however,
clear that this market (cleaning machines, authors note) is contracting
and we therefore need to focus on developing other types of machines
(obviously they were thinking of tile presses and machines producing
crown caps, authors note) which will enable the company not just to
survive but also to prosper....
Commenting on the balance sheet for 1947, the Board of Direc- The press assembly bay.
tors underlined the difficult economic situation in Italy which was hitting
the mechanical industry particularly hard. The price-wage spiral was mak-
ing itself felt. Major industrial concerns were being supported by the State
but medium and small-sized businesses were left to fend for themselves.
The high cost of living was one in a long list of problems. The question of
12
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
finding new premises could not be put off any longer. The shareholders the General and Board meetings.
79
The history of Sacmi
offered their time, energy and money to solve this problem. The results
for this year were: SC 746,750 Lit., TO 24,328,810 Lit., NP 171,197 Lit.,
shareholders 29, employees 4213.
The Second World War had finished but the Cold War had just
begun and was no less dangerous than actual war because its basis was the
nuclear deterrent. At Yalta (February 1945) the so-called Big Three lead-
ers made arrangements to divide Germany and Eastern Europe up into
occupation zones. In time, Europe became divided into two empires
separated by a line dubbed the Iron Curtain by Churchill. On one side
there was the area under Soviet control, including its satellite states, and
on the other the sector under the influence of the Western Allies and in
particular the United States - later to unite as Nato allies. For Italy the
question was - which sphere of influence would we fall under? Geographi-
cally we were in the West but ideologically the left-wing (Communists and
some Socialists) were sympathetic to the other side. Following a trip to the
USA, Alcide De Gasperi and his government stepped down and another
was formed (third government) which lasted until May.
Meanwhile the constituent assembly elected Umberto Terracini
of the PCI (Italian Communist Party) as its president (8 February 1947)
and a peace treaty was signed with the allies in Paris (10 February). The
Constituent Assembly, which had elected Enrico De Nicola as acting head
of state (28 June 1946), voted to keep him in this position on 26 June
1947. Francesco Saverio Nitti attempted to form a new government but
failed. Vittorio Emanuele Orlando tried the same thing but his govern-
ment lasted one day only. It was then the turn of De Gasperi who set up
his fourth government on 31 May 1947. This government was made up of
13
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General meetings.
Christian Democrats, Liberals, the Republican (as he was later to declare
80
Production of presses starts up...
81
The history of Sacmi
who was getting married. A former Major of the carabinieri was also heav-
ily beaten. Then the strike was called off. The aforementioned Togliatti
and Giuseppe Di Vittorio, the general secretary of CGIL, negotiated to
15
BASSANI A., Cinquantanni di Acli - reach a peaceful solution to the strike which, being tainted with revolu-
Come nascono i Sindacati liberi a
Imola, at editing stage. tionary streaks, was not acceptable to either of them. However the unrest
16
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General meetings; ANMI, had led to the deaths of sixteen people (some sources claim that fourteen
Notarial deeds, G. Alvisi 5
October 1948. died) with two hundred and six injured. Trade union solidarity had been
split in two15.
82
Production of presses starts up...
tisans and other war veterans will have priority in being admitted to the
Cooperative, as long as they possess the necessary legal requirements, work
as a mechanic or in a related field, are known to be of good character and
are between twenty-one and forty years old. Correspondingly, article 5
continues: The number of shareholders is limited in relation to the tech-
nological and productive capacity of the Cooperative. Notwithstanding
that stated in article 4, technicians and those in administration can be
admitted to become shareholders of the Cooperative but they should never
exceed 4 per cent of the total shareholders in number. And the women?
It would seem that they were left out this time and the statutory regula-
tions do not consider them. In fact this is misleading. The women were
not being deliberately ignored but there were others with more pressing
needs at the time - the ex-servicemen, war veterans and partisans. The
attainment of equal rights between men and women - or equal opportuni-
ties as it is euphemistically called - was to be a long uphill struggle. Strangely
apprentices are no longer mentioned either - the position of apprentice
83
The history of Sacmi
84
Production of presses starts up...
still various pieces of land were bought to use for building housing for
the members of the Cooperative creating, in case of need, a cooperative
called Il Focolare (The Home). This was a mutual aid initiative which
aimed to provide the members of the company with modern housing fi-
nanced by means of the payment of a sum of rent to be set aside and used
(together with contributions from the Cooperative) to build other apart-
ments...19.
At the same meeting, which had met to approve the balance sheet
(SC 1,561,000 Lit., TO 35,790,470 Lit., NP 534,739 Lit.), the Board of
Directors was re-elected. The new formation of the Board was as follows:
Ciro Gasparri, President; Aurelio Mingotti, Vice-President; Arrigo Casadio,
Doriano Golinelli and Tiepolo Castaldi, Directors. The auditors were also
elected: Amedeo Tabanelli, Gaetano Gambetti and Elio Pagani. The sub-
stitute auditors remained unchanged20.
Other sources
GALASSI N., La Cooperazione imolese dalle origini ai nostri giorni (1859-1967) con aggiornamento fino
al 1986.
FOA V., Questo Novecento. 19
SACMIAR, G. Miceti document.
GINSBORG P., Storia dItalia dal dopoguerra ad oggi. 20
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
TURONE S., Storia del sindacalismo in Italia dal 1943 al crollo del comunismo, Laterza, Bari 1992. the General and Board meetings.
85
The history of Sacmi
86
At Sacmis third headquarters...
87
The history of Sacmi
62 million Lit. but the net profit was very small (just 31,850 Lit.). Share
capital was 1,681,000 Lit. There were 32 shareholders and 52 employees so
the staff of Sacmi had risen to 84. At this point it was possible to consider
putting into action a plan to trade overseas which would enable the Coop-
erative to compete, albeit on a modest scale, with rival companies.
The comment on the balance sheet for the next year remains sub-
dued in tone. Profits, however, had risen to 1,092,858 Lit. The report was
read by Miceti who underlined the companys most urgent needs. These
included the need to modernise the plants, to build up a complete stock of
equipment and tools (as this was still insufficient), to better integrate the
various workplaces in order to improve organisation and efficiency and,
finally, to increase production by actively seeking out new sources of work.
In 1950, however, production had actually increased notably despite the
fact that the price of metals had gone up. The Board of Directors was re-
elected. Ciro Gasparri, as president, and Aurelio Mingotti, as vice-president,
remained at the helm of the Mayflower2.
An ugly chapter in the history of Italy involved an incident which
took place on 9 January 1950: In Modena six workers were killed by the
police during a trade union demonstration. This episode provoked much
outrage throughout the country and was seen as the culmination of the
repression brought about by the Minister of the Interior, Mario Scelba3.
The widespread economic concerns of these times is evident in the
comment on the balance sheet of 1951. An extract from the report reads:
Although not negative, the results should give us pause for thought and
lead us to consider taking the necessary steps to better organise the finances
of the company. The fact that the overall economic situation of the coun-
2
SACMIAR, Minutes books from try at the time was unfavourable was also underlined. The Cooperative still
the General and Board meetings.
3
Storia dItalia, cronologia, p. 542. found itself ill-equipped to deal with the growing demands of modern tech-
88
At Sacmis third headquarters...
89
The history of Sacmi
tion: knowledge of the product, the die-sets used up until then and the
characteristics of the presses. They even extended their research into Ger-
many. All the data collected led to the conclusion that the industry lacked a
specialised high-production machine and the designs would therefore have
to fulfil this requirement. The project began, partly theoretical and partly
practical, with the development of a prototype of
the 15-punch press capable of an hourly produc-
tion rate of 85,000 caps. The subsequent tests and
modifications lasted more than two years until a reli-
able machine was obtained which gave Sacmi a prod-
uct with which it could conquer the national and,
gradually, the overseas markets. By this time it was
becoming clear what were to be the two principal lines
of production (without abandoning the manufacture
of machines for citrus fruits, authors note). However it
was also obvious that the paths chosen could not be left
Sacmis first crown cap press. halfway - the market made it necessary to see the choices
made (regarding the direction manufacture should take) through to the
end. Otherwise the consequence would be a steep decline in business.
As regards the ceramics sector, in addition to continuing to perfect
the presses, Sacmi had to begin to think about making them automated.
They began to manufacture other machines which were needed for the pro-
duction of tiles: drum mills, the first glazing machines, fettling belts and die-
sets. In the crown caps field, if Sacmi wanted to stay in the market, they
would have to complete the manufacturing cycle of caps and be able to
apply the cork and foil seal automatically. In order to reach a better under-
standing of the technology suitable for production, the engineering man-
ager (Arrigo Casadio, authors note) was sent to the USA. Here he was able to
90
At Sacmis third headquarters...
longer uncertain thanks to the decisions made during this period: turnover
gradually increased..., income was good, the straitened circumstances of the
past had at last been overcome. Profits were always re-invested in the com-
pany. In this way it was possible to self-finance the purchase of new ma-
chines and more practical equipment and to fund new research. The con-
tinuing expansion of the market, not just in terms of increasing demand
but also in extended trading area, posed new managerial problems and, in
particular, highlighted the shortage of specialized personnel. These machines,
which were being sent thousands of kilometres away, needed to be set up by
trained and expert staff with the independence and authority to make deci-
sions. In addition to installing and inspecting the machines properly, Sacmi
needed to follow this up by providing technical support and service...5.
Meanwhile Italy was changing. Among these changes, even more
important than the creation of new production structures, the passage from
agriculture to manufacturing industry and services, mass production and 5
BELTRANDI S., La Sacmi: analisi
storica, problemi e riflessioni critiche,
its effects on everyday life, was, in my opinion, the steady flow of migration pp. 244 and 245.
91
The history of Sacmi
which involved millions of human beings in a very few years. The South was
transformed as the emigrants left and the North changed as the immigrants
arrived. They came, in particular, to the North-West which became the domi-
nant triangle of activity in those years - Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy... The
economic miracle of Italy, measured by the economic concepts of produc-
tivity and employment, got under way. The situation can also be interpreted
differently though. Not everybody was caught up in this development - this
culture of consumer durables. There were temptations which would soon
prove to be completely unrealistic and premature. These were temptations
which arose even in the trade unions - realistic organisations almost by defi-
nition...6.
The growth of per capita income exceeded the increase in con-
sumption. This leap in development (especially during the second half of
the Fifties) was mainly due to Italys growing integration in the world
economy and originated both in the increase in investment and increase
in exports. The latter went from 6.1 percent of the gross national product
in 1952 to 9.9 percent in 1957. In 1963 the figure was to reach 15.2 per-
cent. On an international level, Italian products - the famous Made in Italy
label - would become highly competitive due largely to technical moderni-
Quality control instrument for testing sation and to the cost of labour, which was considerably lower than the
cap tightness.
European average7.
At the General Meeting held on 7 March 1953 (balance sheet for
1952) the Board of Directors was re-elected and consisted of Aurelio Mingotti,
Enea Cremi, Ciro Gasparri, Doriano Golinelli and Amleto Scomparcini.
The positions were assigned at the first Board meeting: Ciro Gasparri, Presi-
6
FOA V., Questo Novecento, pp. 261 dent; Aurelio Mingotti, Vice-President8.
and 262.
7
Storia dItalia, cronologia, p. 546. In Imola, however, the community and trade unions were perturbed
8
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General and Board meetings. - which would seem at first glance a contradiction. There was a great deal of
92
At Sacmis third headquarters...
93
The history of Sacmi
94
At Sacmis third headquarters...
11
Enciclopedia Zanichelli (Edigeo),
Other sources Zanichelli, Bologna 1995, p. 1495,
under the heading RAI.
12
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
GALASSI N., La Cooperazione imolese.
the General and Board meetings.
GINSBORG P., Storia dItalia dal dopoguerra ad oggi. 13
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
CASTRANOVO V. - PARIS R., Storia dItalia. the Board meetings.
95
The history of Sacmi
96
Miceti leaves the management...
97
The history of Sacmi
The year after, when the balance sheet for 1956 was approved, the
trend was confirmed. Turnover reached the sum of 331,652,209 Lit. and the
net profit was 5,163,605 Lit. The elections for the various positions were
held with the result that Aurelio Mingotti became president with Ciro Gasparri
as vice-president.
At the General Meeting held to discuss the balance sheet and ap-
prove the results of the financial year of 1957 the manager, Miceti, informed
the shareholders that in May 1958 he would reach sixty-five years of age and
therefore, in accordance with the company statute, his membership of the
Cooperative would come to an end, as would his responsibili-
ties as company manager2. In fact, Giulio Miceti handed in his
resignation as a shareholder and employee of the company to
take effect from 16 May 1958. He continued to work during the
period of notice as laid down by the national workers contract.
In addition, he could still be called upon as a business consult-
ant for an indeterminate amount of time. A great name left the
scene. He was a very charismatic person (this is an adjective which
is perhaps overused today but here I use it to express the true
value and charm of this man). Miceti certainly had the qualities
Giulio Miceti, on the right. of a leader - he had great ability as a manager and was authoritative, persua-
sive and attractive to the clients. Later we will see another man who shared
the same qualities, although he was different in other ways - Aldo Villa. Miceti,
however, was the father of the Cooperative and would have given his life-
blood for the company.
Let us see what happened at the General Meeting of 8 April 1958 at
which the balance sheet for 1957 was the subject of discussion. The Direc-
tors report related, amongst other things, that: ...The vitality of the com-
2
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General and Board meetings. pany is revealed not only by various economical and financial factors but can
98
Miceti leaves the management...
99
The history of Sacmi
been employed by the Cooperative for no less than five years and have given
proof of their ability, reliability and cooperative spirit. Age must be calcu-
lated on the basis of the calendar year in which the General Meeting to
discuss the balance takes place. The homo sacmensis was required to dem-
onstrate particular skills during a fairly long period of training. Sacmi, quite
rightly, was cautious in this regard. If it hadnt demanded these requirements
for admission right from the beginning the company would not be what it is
today. Article 7 also changed. It was on the basis of this article that the Board
of Directors proposed the admission of an applicant, once he had fulfilled
the requirements, as a shareholder who could attend the General Meetings.
The applicant became a full member of the Cooperative if he was accepted at
the meeting by a vote of 50 percent + 1 and the decision could not be over-
Cork disc glueing machine
(18,000 caps per hour). turned. Article 22, regarding the division of profits, was also changed. The
approved regulation was as follows: The net profit resulting from the bal-
ance, i.e. that which remains after all expenses and other financial obliga-
tions of the Cooperative have been deducted, will be distributed as follows:
20 percent to the ordinary reserve fund; 20 percent to the extraordinary
reserve fund; 60 percent for mutual aid (member housing, training schools,
study grants and other purposes according to the decisions made at the Gen-
eral Meeting). Throughout the companys life the distribution of the reserve
funds among shareholders is forbidden. Article 44 was re-written in these
terms The task of the arbitrators is to settle any disputes which might arise
between the Company and shareholders or among the shareholders in a
conciliatory manner. A shareholder has the right of recourse, if not satisfied
with the decision, to the judicial authorities. Various other small changes
were made to the statute4.
An extremely important national and European event deserves to be
4
ANMI, Notarial deeds, A. Alvisi
dated 15 March 1957. remembered. On 25 March 1957 the treaty which gave rise to the European
102
Miceti leaves the management...
Common Market was signed in Rome. Known in its abbreviated form as the
E.C.M., this later became the European Economic Community, or E.E.C. It
marked the first move to bring together six of the most important nations of
Europe (Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany). In 1973 Denmark, Britain and Ireland joined
the E.E.C., as did Greece in 1981, followed by Spain and Portugal in 1986
and Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1994. This makes the number of mem-
ber nations today fifteen. From 8 April 1965 the E.E.C. incorporated the
E.C.S.C. (European Coal and Steel Community) and EURATOM (Euro-
pean Atomic Energy Community). The initial objective of the E.E.C. was to
create a wide market throughout which people, raw materials, products, the
workforce and capital could circulate freely. The treaty which founded the
Community established the abolition of customs duties between the partici-
pating countries and lifted restrictions on imports and exports. Furthermore,
it set down principles for adopting customs duties for countries outside the
European Community and for following common economic policies. The
main institutions of the E.E.C. include: the Commission (the executive body),
which resides permanently in Brussels; the Council of Ministers, which con-
venes periodically; the European Parliament, which is elected every five years
with universal suffrage; the Court of Justice and the Auditors Department.
In 1986 the Single European Act was signed. This made alterations to the
founding treaty of the E.E.C. and provided for the complete integration of
the European markets by 1993 with the abolition of internal customs. On 10
December 1991 (Treaty of Maastricht) a plan for political unity was laid out.
This made provisions for the adoption of a common foreign and defence
policy as well as integration of the electoral and justice systems. Finally a plan
was set out for monetary union - for total economic integration with the
establishment of a central European bank and the adoption of a single cur-
103
The history of Sacmi
rency, the Euro. As a result the E.E.C. has assumed the name of European
Union5. Perhaps, in the first decades of the next century we will see the birth
of a United States of Europe on a federal basis.
Sergio Beltrandi (who has been a little like my Virgil during my jour-
ney through the life of Sacmi) writes: The expansion of the markets, how-
ever, caused a problem as the organisation of the company was not suitably
adapted to cope with it (for now the E.C.M. did not have much impact,
authors note). Because of the manner in which the Cooperative had started
up and the way it had developed, a clear management structure had not been
put in place up to that time. Managerial responsibilities were assigned in a
fairly haphazard way (and this continued for some time, although to a lesser
extent). This was extremely limiting but can be explained by the fact that the
men who had determined the development of the company were mainly self-
taught and were expected to have a wide range of practical skills. For this
reason, administration of the company and business management were one
and the same thing. The management of the engineering department, which
consisted of several draftsmen, was mixed up with the management of sales
1950s. Glaze mixer.
and the factory floor. The factory manager also dealt with purchasing, per-
sonnel management, customer relations, after-sales service etc... The entry
into the company of specialized workers coming from other more organised
companies and possessing wider experience in the manufacturing industry
made Sacmis staff aware of the changes that were taking place elsewhere.
They realised the need to take on outside personnel who would help im-
prove the organisation of the company and increase know-how... In 1958 the
first fully qualified engineer (Aldo Villa, authors note) came into the Coopera-
5
Enciclopedia Zanichelli (Edigeo), tive as an employee and was given the responsibility of building up a sales
pp. 363 and 364; BASSANI A., Cento
anni della Cooperativa Ortolani di office (he was later to become the top manager in the company). The engi-
Imola, Grafiche Galeati, Imola
1993, pp. 84 and 103-105. neering department was strengthened with the employment of an experi-
104
Miceti leaves the management...
protective barriers. Industry will have to make preparations to fight the battle
for price and quality. In other words manufacturing companies will have to
organise themselves better in order to keep production costs down and, at
the same time, make a greater effort to provide their products with ever more
modern and efficient technical and technological features. The effects of
market integration had not yet been felt at the Cooperative but exports ac-
counted for 26 percent of the companys annual production and this amount
needed to increase in order to obtain favourable results. At this time the
market for the construction industry had weakened with consequent nega-
tive effects on the ceramics sector. It should be remembered that, as far as the
ceramics division was concerned (note that the district of Sassuolo was heav-
ily involved, authors note) the manufacture of presses reached 68 percent of
total production. As for other types of production the percentages are as
follows: machines for handling fruit constituted 13 percent of total produc-
tion, the crown cap machines 12 percent, repairs and other machines 7 per- 6
BELTRANDI S., La Sacmi: analisi
storica, problemi e riflessioni critiche,
cent. At this time the Cooperative acquired 1200 sq.m of land which would pp. 248 and 249.
105
The history of Sacmi
enable the factory to be expanded. Work was also under way to raise the
building to include offices so that the engineering department and the of-
fices of the factory managers could be better arranged. As previously men-
tioned, a qualified engineer had been employed in order to deal with sales
and the company was considering hiring another one to work in the engi-
neering department. The Board of Directors was re-elected and the positions
assigned according to the usual procedures: Aurelio Mingotti, President; Rino
Marani, Vice-President; Pietro Gildeni, Sanzio Cavalli and Roberto Sgubbi,
Directors7.
In the report regarding the next financial year (1959 - General Meet-
ing held on 29 April 1960) it can be seen that the uncertainties of the previ-
ous year had dissolved into an acceptable status quo, even if, during the sec-
ond half of the financial year, certain factors had put the companys busi-
ness, technical and organisational capabilities to the test. New competitors,
manufacturers of machines for the ceramics industry, forced us to revise our
plans and equip our presses with new automatic control devices - something
which required a great deal of work from our technicians. At the moment we
can say with justifiable pride that the work we have done has produced its
just rewards and we are now able to face the competition on an equal basis...
Machine for the production of tailors
chalk. Due to the shrinkage of the home market it has been necessary to make
provisions to set up a new sales network. We have looked for premises in
Milan to set up an overseas sales office and have increased the number of our
representatives abroad.... On the subject of increasing productivity, the re-
port gave some details: the company had expanded the offices (a mention of
which had been made in the previous report), new technicians had been
employed, provisions had been made to expand the factory floor and new
machines had been purchased. In order to compensate for the decreased
7
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General and Board meetings. demand in the ceramics field, production of the crown cap machines was
106
Miceti leaves the management...
Other sources
107
The history of Sacmi
108
The Economic Miracle...
1959 and 1962 workers, who now found themselves in a better position
in terms of their contracts and who were in almost full employment, ob-
tained the first significant wage increases. However the good times did
not last long. In 1962 inflationary trends began to be felt, the balance of
trade (imports versus exports) showed a worrying gap and we entered a
period of recession. Banks restricted credit and industry was hit hard.
Investments fell and unemployment rose. Between 1966 and 1968 there
was a slight upswing (in fact the word ripresina, meaning upswing,
was brought into usage at this time - an optimistic word that we use, per-
haps, to placate our fears).
On a social and political level 1960 was a crucial year. In March,
Fernando Tambroni became prime minister thanks to the decisive sup-
port of the extreme right-wing Italian Social Movement. The members of
this movement decided to hold a national congress in Genoa but the anti-
fascist city rebelled against the idea. The situation quickly became tense
and the congress did not take place. Protests and strikes broke out all over
the country. In Reggio Emilia, on 7 July, a tragedy occurred when the
Penetrometer: instrument to check the
police shot straight... at demonstrators. Five men fell to the ground, they degree of hardness of unfired tiles.
109
The history of Sacmi
were five factory workers. There was also public disorder in Sicily and
police intervened - a young boy, Salvatore Novembre, was killed in Catania
and there were three victims of violence in Palermo. Tambroni resigned.
In 1968 students held demonstrations in town squares all over Italy pro-
testing about the fact that the school system had remained unchanged
while the rest of society developed1. But I am going too fast. Let us look at
what happened in more detail and keep to events which had a direct in-
fluence on the history of Sacmi.
Good things were happening at the Cooperative. The premises
were adapted, wherever possible, to meet ever-changing requirements. New
machines were purchased and installations improved. Exports rose to 43
percent of production. At the General Meeting on 26 March 1961, which
was called to approve the balance sheet for 1960, the new management,
Board of Auditors and the Arbitrators were elected. The directors were:
Rino Marani, Aurelio Mingotti, Sanzio Cavalli, Pietro Gildeni and Roberto
Sgubbi. The Board of Directors appointed Aurelio Mingotti as president
and Rino Marani as vice-president2.
On 14 October 1960 the shareholders were called to a special
meeting to make some changes to the company statute with notary Appio
Alvisi present. Article 1 was changed to read: A Cooperative Company of
mechanics has been established in Imola. It is called S.A.C.M.I. - Cooperativa
Meccanici Imola Società Cooperativa a Responsabilità Limitata. The name
could also be used commercially in its abbreviated form S.A.C.M.I..
Article 2 was also changed. The text became: The Cooperative has its
Mixer screen.
registered headquarters in Imola and has been set up to operate until 31
1
Storia dItalia, cronologia, pp. 60
and following pages; MAFAI M., Il December 2000. Article 4 was also subject to a substantial change. The
sorpasso, Mondadori, Milan 1997,
pp. 87 and following pages. new text was as follows: Any person can be admitted to the Cooperative,
2
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General and Board meetings. who possesses the necessary legal requirements and the person: a) works
110
The Economic Miracle...
as a mechanic (in the Italian text reference is always made to practising the
arte meccanica to imply that the concept of work is an expression of
human creativity and not merely the means to a make a living, authors
note); b) is known to be of good character; c) has reached at least 21 years
of age but is no more than forty in the calendar year in which he is admit-
ted; d) has been employed by the Cooperative for no less than five years
and has proved to be able, reliable and to share the spirit of cooperation.
Article 22, regarding division of profits, was formulated as follows: The
net profit resulting from the balance, i.e. that which remains after all ex-
penses and other financial obligations of the Cooperative have been de-
ducted, will be distributed as follows: between 20 and 40 percent to the
Mixer for use in the chemical industry
ordinary reserve fund; between 20 and 40 percent to the extraordinary (vacuum operated).
reserve fund; between 20 and 60 percent for mutual aid (member hous-
ing, training schools, study grants and other purposes according to the
decisions made at the General Meeting). The division of profits will be
decided at the Annual General Meetings. The distribution of the reserve
funds among shareholders is forbidden for the entire duration of the com-
pany3.
At the end of 1960 - writes Beltrandi - Sacmi designed and
manufactured a new 220 ton press. It was presented at the Milan Trade
Exhibition in April 1961. This machine allowed four 15 × 15 tiles to be
pressed simultaneously. The design of this simple reliable machine owed
much to recent experience and new technology. It was electronically-con-
trolled and made use of new semi-automatic mechanisms. It had immedi-
ate technical and commercial success - orders arrived almost straight away
and not just from Sassuolo (the area where Sacmi sold most of its ma-
chines, authors note) but also from abroad. This machine was one of Sacmis
3
ANMI, Notarial deeds, A. Alvisi,
greatest successes. The company was to produce another two thousand of dated 14 October 1960.
111
The history of Sacmi
112
The Economic Miracle...
113
The history of Sacmi
116
The Economic Miracle...
cent of the entire share capital, to approve the company statute, to ap-
point the Board of Directors and Board of Auditors and to approve any
other action considered necessary.
The company later became Sacmi Sassuolo on 29 April 1985 and
the Cooperatives holding was to reach 99 percent of the share capital.
The production rate of complete die-sets for ceramics is currently over
four hundred a year. The wide range of products offers plenty of scope for
choice: die-sets with standard punches, mirror-finished die-sets, those de-
signed to produce special workpieces, with upper knockouts as well as
isostatic punches (patented by Sacmi) which reduce shape defects on the
fired tiles. Sacmi Sassuolo became an Italian leader in the ceramic tiles
market. The company also dealt with the distribution of spare parts through-
out the country8.
It is usually said that markets are subject to periodic slumps. At
this time a crisis had appeared and this is evidenced in the Boards re-
port of 22 March 1964 when the balance sheet for 1963 was analysed
and approved. The effects of the recession are shown extremely clearly
at Sacmi. The increase in production was equal to 47 percent in 1961
and 66 percent in 1962. In 1963 it was only 16 percent. This was a
considerable step backwards. The decrease mainly concerned the manu-
Die-set for ceramic mosaic pieces.
facture of machines for ceramics. The national economic situation was
unsteady as the rise in the cost of living led to trade union demands for
higher wages. Certain decisions taken by the company between 10 May
and 20 July 1963 had cut into its income - for example, several new
engineers had been taken on to strengthen the technical and sales staff
of the Cooperative. The Board of Directors was nevertheless convinced
8
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
that it was making all the right decisions in order to overcome the crisis. the General and Board meetings;
SACMI Seventyfifth 75, p. 52;
The situation did not improve over the next financial year (1964). Sales SACMI, 1996 Annual Report.
117
The history of Sacmi
118
The Economic Miracle...
Lavoro. The lines of credit with local banks were also extended to meet
further needs.
On 23 December 1966, as a result of a resolution passed by the
Board of Directors, Mingotti (the president) pointed out that the new
offices in via Provinciale Selice 17/A in Imola will be completed towards
the end of 1967 and this meant that from 31 January 1967 all the techni-
cal, administrative and sales departments would be moved to the new
premises. This relocation even included the company headquarters10. Most
of the machines had already been moved during the summer of 1966.
The new complex was situated in the industrial area of the town.
The via Selice was built by the Romans in the second century B.C. when
they divided up the land and laid out the road sys-
tem in the area of Imola. The name Silex leads us
to suppose that the road was paved (selciata) even
in those times. On the left-hand side, as one trav-
els north, there was a canal used by barges. The
road and the canal joined at Caput Silicis which
is now Conselice. This town was, for many centu-
ries, Imolas main port and an important local trad-
ing centre as, in those times, the venetian lagoon
extended as far as Caput Silicis11. Conveyor curve for handling tiles,
premises in Viale De Amicis.
On 3rd April 1965, the Board of Directors took an important
decision - with the approval of the Board of Auditors, the Cooperative set
up Sacmi Impianti Società per Azioni. This new company had its registered
headquarters in Via Ugo Bassi, 21 in Bologna (with a branch office in
Milan) and was an engineering and trading company manufacturing sys- 10
Ibid.
11
REGINI R., Urbanistica e
tems for ceramics production. The purpose of the company was to buy toponomastica storica di Imola, Cassa
di Risparmio di Imola, Imola
and sell all types of machines and systems as well as their disassembled 1962, pp. 167 and 168.
119
The history of Sacmi
parts and, in particular, those for the ceramics industry, to act as business
agents and operate as importers and exporters. The company is set up to
operate until 30 June 2010.
The vice-president, Rino Marani, was authorized to buy up a
holding in this company equal to 55 percent of the entire shareholders
capital which is fixed at 45 million Lit., to appoint the Board of Directors
and Board of Auditors as well as agree upon and approve every other
covenant, clause and condition which might be required in order to set
up the company12.
Sacmis holding increased over the next few years until it reached
a 99.13 percent share. Setting up Sacmi Impianti SpA (whose main office
was, as previously mentioned, in
Milan) proved to be a driving force
behind the rapid and vigorous
expansion of overseas trade. Sacmi
Impianti was the most important
trading company in the Group. It
strengthened its own sales network
by opening new offices in areas of
potential interest. One example was
Imola, 15 October 1967. the new office in Fiorano Modenese which was established in order to
Inauguration of the plant in Via
Selice, with bishop Aldo Gobbi and the follow developments in the Sassuolo market more closely. This office was
Member of Parliament, Angelo
Salizzoni. also to take responsibility for providing customers with quotations and to
build up the divisions making systems for tableware, sanitary ware and
12
SACMIAR, Minutes books from extrudates. In addition to the office in Fiorano Modenese, near Modena,
the General and Board meetings.
13
BELTRANDI S., La Sacmi: analisi another branch was set up in 1996 - Sacmi Singapore Jakarta Branch which
storica, problemi e riflessioni critiche,
pp. 250 and following pages; offered after-sales service to customers in Indonesia13.
SACMI, 1996 Annual Report, pp. 13
and 14. At the General Meeting in 1965 Illio Zani was elected as substi-
120
The Economic Miracle...
121
The history of Sacmi
aims to) acquire holdings in other companies both in Italy and abroad
whose business may be useful to further the aims of the company, pro-
vided that they involve limited responsibility to the
subscribed share. In order to reach its objectives,
the Cooperative undertakes to fully equip its facto-
ries and to put in place an efficient technical, ad-
ministrative and commercial organisational struc-
ture. I shall quote Article 4 (which deals with ad-
mission of shareholders) in full as substantial
changes were made. The text reads: Any person
can be admitted to be shareholder in the Coopera-
A pilot plant set up for spray-dried tive who possesses the necessary legal requirements and the person: a) is
product.
known to be of good character; b) has reached at least 24 years of age
when the Board deliberates his admission but is no more than forty on
1st January of the year in which he requests admission; c) has been em-
ployed by the Cooperative for no less than five consecutive years and has
proved to be able, reliable and to share the spirit of cooperation; d) has
shown, according to his age, the technical and practical ability required
for the job. The skills may have been acquired at a specialized technical
school or through equivalent training or from a period of apprenticeship.
Otherwise he must have executed all tasks involved in the job perfectly.
Even article 5 was modified: The number of shareholders is limited ac-
cording to the technical and productive capacity of the Cooperative. Not-
withstanding that stated in article 4, shareholders, including technicians
and those in administration, can be admitted in accordance with current
laws. The following articles were also updated. Article 6 - Applicants
may present their request for admission in the calendar year in which they
reach 24 years of age or when they have completed five years as employees
122
The Economic Miracle...
of the Cooperative before 28th February during the period running from 30
April to 31 October (modification made on 28 November 1968, authors
note). Requests for admission as a shareholder should be accompanied by
a police record. Article 7 - After examining whether the applicant matches
up to requirements, the Board of Directors will make a decision about
whether he/she should be admitted. A majority of the members of the
A special cap with a tab for opening
Board need to be in favour in order for a shareholder to be admitted. The by hand without the need for a bottle
opener.
decision of the Board is irrevocable and no conditions can be laid down.
The power to admit a new shareholder therefore passed from the General
Meeting to the Board of Directors in order to comply with a directive in
the Civil Code. The first paragraph of Article 32 (regarding the Board of
Directors) was changed in the following way: The Board of Directors is
made up of five members and elects the president and vice-president at its
first meeting. Previously the vice-president had been known as consigliere
delegato and this was now changed to vice presidente. The mandates of the
Board of Auditors and Board of Arbitrators were to last three years, as
before. The new text of the statute also carried other small changes which
I will not go into here16.
Another special meeting to discuss the statute was held on 28
November 1968. In fact the purpose of this meeting was to make a few
adjustments to the text approved on 15 February 1966. One particularly
interesting modification was that made to article 32 regarding the Board
of Directors. At the end of this article the following clause was added:
Members of the Company who are heads of the engineering or sales
departments or who are administration or production managers may not
be elected as members of the Board of Directors. If they are elected as
16
ANMI, Notarial deeds, A. Alvisi,
such they must decline the position 17. dated 15 February 1966.
17
Ibid. Notarial deeds, A. Alvisi,
The work to complete the construction of the new company head- dated 28 November 1968.
123
The history of Sacmi
126
The Economic Miracle...
gnas main station (2nd August 1980 - 85 dead and 200 injured) and, in
the same year, the mysterious incident when an Itavia passenger aeroplane
was shot down in the sky over Ustica (81 dead). This was just one of many
unsolved mysteries in our country. These terrorist acts certainly had a
political undercurrent and were probably right-wing inspired with the ex-
ception, perhaps, of the shot-down plane. At the time people spoke (and
still do) about the suspected involvement of deviant elements within the
intelligence services. Who corrupted them?
Nobody knows who was really responsible for these crimes. What
was the objective? - to have a right-wing government filled with hard
men. This black spot in Italian history, which has an evil and frightening
aspect about it, remains alive in our minds as a warning for the future.
Imola was undisturbed by these violent events.
Other sources
127
The history of Sacmi
128
Every member of a cooperative...
129
The history of Sacmi
company. But things were not always so rosy. The company was started
up almost as a bet and then, as time went on, and the game was seen
to be worth the candle, it joined in the race. In the beginning it was
little more than a small workshop. However it struggled on and, at
times, went against the trend as when, for example, it planted itself
in the path of the fascist tank so to speak. Sacmi won its fight and
went on to become a true industrial cooperative. Today it is a large
international concern run along cooperative lines. The cooperative
philosophy is embodied in the various clauses of the company stat-
ute. There were lean times and then there were richer times. Rain
and shine. Windy and calm seas. The ups and downs of life. There
were many storms but those at the helm of the Mayflower-Sacmi al-
A ceramics press exhibited with great ways had a firm wrist and a sharp eye. Running a cooperative is not easy.
success at the Milan Trade Fair in
1967. The entrepreneurial spirit is to be found in any individual or group of peo-
ple who are prepared to risk their capital. In a cooperative there are many
entrepreneurs - each shareholder is one. But at the same time he is also a
worker in the company so it is as if he has a double identity. It is not always
simple to be two people in one. Sacmis company structure and organisa-
tion has always been based on a dialetical philosophy i.e. ideas are pro-
posed, compared and debated and it is this very method that is behind its
success. When dialectic is accompanied by the delegation of power to statu-
tory bodies and by discipline and respect for the hierarchy it is a principle
which, if used correctly, is essential in order to run a company properly.
1970 began well. On 20 May, following approval by the Chamber
of Deputies, the Senate of the Republic passed the workers statute which
laid down standards for protecting the constitutional rights of factory work-
ers. Contrary to the Italian proverb, it is not always the case that in the
morning we can tell whether the day will be turn out to be fine. However,
130
Every member of a cooperative...
the old saying that violence breeds violence is quite true. The period of
the strategy of tension had just begun with the attack in Milans Piazza
Fontana and now extreme left-wing groups, utopians and revolutionaries -
in particular the Red Brigades - began their ill-fated policy against the State1.
These were clandestine groups whose aim was to disrupt and undermine
the institutions of the Republic. They included violent utopians who were
against parliament and all political parties, constitutional law and legiti-
mate authority. They attacked judges, journalists, university lecturers, gen-
erals, trade union leaders, company directors and politicians. In the end
they were defeated because the State and the political parties (including the
Communist party in opposition) closed in on them and stopped them.
However, during almost twenty years of Red Brigade activity, great men -
such as Aldo Moro, president of the Christian Democrats and five times
prime minister - were assassinated.
On an economic front, the decade was characterised by muted
progress. The economic trend was marked by a series of fits and starts, ups
and downs. One year would go quite well and then the next badly. The
overall theme was one of discontinuity. The international monetary system
collapsed when the American president decided upon the inconvertibility
of the dollar and all industrialised countries began to feel strong inflation-
ary trends due to the petroleum crisis. However, a new period began for the
regulation of international exchange rates with the Bretton Woods agree-
ment. In Italy, on the one hand, wages went up but, on the other hand, so
did prices. The demand for consumer goods also grew and the logical result Hydraulic press for the laboratory.
131
The history of Sacmi
situation, albeit in a slightly toned down way. The balance sheet for 1970
was boosted by contingent assets due to capital gains relating to the sale of
the company premises in Viale De Amicis (25,362,431 Lit.). This windfall
was of considerable help. The overall result, measured in terms of net profit
(42,188,512 Lit.) - which is not always a certain indicator - decreased in
comparison with the previous year. On a national level the building indus-
try was in a slump period. The French are exactly right when they say quand
le bâtiment va, tout va (when building goes well, everything goes well). In this
case, the building industry was suffering and this had considerable effect on
many other sectors. Without doubt the ceramics sector was one of the first
hit. In 1970 the ceramics sector was virtually inert and the sale of Sacmis
ceramics machines could not escape the same fate. So much so that, in its
report presented at the General Meeting, the Board of Directors proposed
increasing manufacture of the machines for handling citrus fruits and those
for crown caps. As for overseas trade; this was something to be keenly pur-
sued as, if the company could expand export of its machines even further,
future balances ought to be protected against any surprises. The Board of
Directors began to explore the possibility of a joint management in order to
strengthen the way in which the company was run and make it more effi-
cient. The balance sheet for 1971 was even more disappointing than that for
1970. Net profit amounted to 34,968,412 Lit. The reason was the same: the
building industry was at a virtual standstill and, consequently, so too was
the ceramics sector. If you consider that approximately 80 percent of Sacmis
customer base was made up of those in the ceramics industry you can get
the full picture of the situation. Two client companies had actually closed
down and this obviously did not improve matters. The Board had made
arrangements to set up a reserve fund for bad debts with an initial sum of
40 million Lit. to be increased over the years. The Board was satisfied that
134
Every member of a cooperative...
the Cooperative was being run properly pointing out, for example, that in
the current financial year sales figures were sound. Meanwhile the machines
were being improved and perfected. All the company personnel were pre-
pared to give their utmost and make full use of their energy and crea-
tiveness in order to cope with the failure of the Italian economy3.
In 1972 the national economy still showed signs of in-
stability. Sacmis balance sheet was not too bad but neither was
it entirely satisfactory (net profit 32,512,202 Lit.). Turnover in-
creased by 2.3 percent compared to 1971 but a more impressive
growth rate had been expected. There were many reasons why
expectations had not been fulfilled but the company had done
everything within its power.
We know that the Cooperative made use of small work-
shops in Imola and its hinterland particularly when there was too
much work to be handled internally. The Board of Directors felt it
was necessary to change the occasional basis of this arrangement. It believed Early 1970s. Punching machine.
that the small and medium-sized businesses should become permanent col-
laborators. Work could be contracted out to them on a medium-term basis
to manufacture machines, complete assemblies or even individual parts but
in a much better planned and organised manner than previously. This was
one way in which to resolve the companys problems but there were also
other courses of action to be taken. Productivity needed to be improved by
investing in resources, personnel and methods. The primary objective re-
mained that of increasing sales, in particular in overseas markets, and the
business strategy of the Cooperative was directed towards reaching this tar-
get.
1973 was a good year. With the various sums to be put aside sub-
3
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
tracted and foreseeable depreciations deducted, net profit amounted to the General and Board meetings.
135
The history of Sacmi
136
Every member of a cooperative...
were asked to work more overtime when necessary. The Board was hoping
to reach a production target of 40 presses per month in the next financial
year.
The Board of Directors was re-elected at the next General Meeting
on 15 April 1973. At the first meeting of the Board on 16 April the follow-
ing positions were appointed: Rino Morini, President; Pietro Gildeni, Vice-
President; Nerio Cavina, Rino Marani and Giorgio Penazzi,
Directors. After sixteen consecutive years (plus four years from
1940-1944) Aurelio Mingotti left the helm of the Mayflower-
Sacmi. The Board of Auditors was made up of Elio Pagani,
Auditor General; Armando Sarti and Mauro Billi, regular
auditors; Bruno Manaresi and Illio Zani, substitute auditors4.
Other important decisions were taken during the
early Seventies. At the General Meeting held on 15 Decem-
ber 1971, an idea was approved to set up a scheme to award bonuses to all Automatic boxing machine:
one of the last machines made by
shareholders based on the number of years they had served the company. Sacmi for handling citrus fruits.
This scheme was to be put in place starting from the financial year of 1972
and the bonus would normally be paid in the second half of the year. It
would amount to 70.000 Lit. after tax and social security contributions had
been deducted. The bonus would continue to be granted for as long as the
person in question remained a shareholder but would terminate after such
time.
Any shareholder or employee reaching 25 years of service with the
Cooperative would be awarded a gold medal and a diploma in recognition
of loyalty to the company (resolution passed on 24 April 1972).
Do you remember the first internal system of mutual aid set up in
1924? Well now the shareholders (at a meeting on 22 December 1972) ap-
proved a new system more in tune with the current times and which could 4
Ibid.
137
The history of Sacmi
138
Every member of a cooperative...
through the sea ahead. The balance sheets for the Mayflower-Sacmi between
1975 and 1980 gave clear indications of excellent profits. The strategy of
expanding business overseas appeared to be a winning one. The annual
reports and balance sheets for these years showed that more often than not
the economic progress of the company ran counter to the trends evident in
the national economy. This was further proof of the managerial ability of
the leaders of Sacmi. There are some points worth noting about the period:
for the financial year of 1977 the Cooperative had established itself on the
market in approximately eighty countries all over the world. In 1979 Italys
GDP had reached a level which was worthy of respect among the most
industrialised countries in the world. Again in 1979, Sacmis production of
crown cap machines exceeded a turnover of three billion Lit. Finally - a
distinct downside - inflation in Italy in 1980 increased at a rate of almost
two points per month. Hydraulic press.
139
The history of Sacmi
The Board of Directors was as follows: Rodiero Alieri, President (Board meet-
ing, 3 May 1979); Francesco Bendanti, Vice-President (same meeting); Romano
Drei, Antonio Foschi and Luciano Mingotti, Directors. Board of Auditors:
Mauro Billi, Auditor General; Armando Sarti and Illio Zani as regular audi-
tors; Gianfranco Santilli and Giorgio Naldi as substitute auditors.
On 29 December 1979 the former company president, Nerio Cavina,
died. His term as president and his work as a director are remembered for
the period in which they took place and the fact that he did a great deal to
strengthen management. I would also like to point out that Rodiero Alieri,
who took over at the helm of Sacmi, continued to run the company won-
derfully well for a further sixteen years.
At the end of 1979 Sacmi Impianti SA Argentina was formed with its
main office in Buenos Aires. This company was set up with the aim of
providing after-sales service to Argentinean customers. The Sacmi Group
held 70 percent of the share capital8.
At two special meetings, held on 10 February 19789 and 28 Septem-
ber 197910, some changes were made to the company statute. At the first
meeting articles 16 (regarding the reserve funds), 19 (regarding the drawing
up of the balance sheet) and 21 (regarding the division of net profits) were
modified. At the second meeting the following articles were changed: arti-
cle 1 (the full-stops between the letters in the acronym SACMI were re-
moved) and article 5 (the new text reads The contribution of each share-
holder consists of a share amounting to four million Lit which must be
subscribed to in full upon admission as a shareholder. The share must be
8
SACMI Seventyfifth 75, list of the
controlled companies; SACMIAR, paid for in accordance with the terms and in the manner established by the
Minutes books from the General
and Board meetings, documents. Board of Directors. Otherwise the shareholder forfeits his/her rights. The
9
ANMI, Notarial deeds, A. Alvisi,
dated 10 February 1978. shares are registered and are not transferable. They can only be reimbursed
10
ANMI, Notarial deeds, A. Alvisi,
dated 28 September 1979. in the event of resignation, expiry, dismissal or death of the shareholder in
140
Every member of a cooperative...
accordance with article 2529 of the Civil Code. The distribution of divi-
dends amounting to more than the legal interest gained on paid-in capital is
forbidden.
At the Board meeting held on 28 April 1980 the president, Alieri,
informed the other directors that the Spanish ceramics industry was, at the
time, undergoing major restructuring of their production plants and Sacmi
was obviously interested in this development. In order to gain ground in
this market (following the closure of Fatmi Española) it was essential for
Sacmi to set up a trading company in Spain. It did this by starting up Sacmi
Ibérica S.A. in Castellon de la Plana which was the centre of the Spanish
ceramics district. Sacmi had a 50 percent stake in the company and the
remaining share of the capital was allotted to a trustworthy Spanish share-
holder. The Board voted unanimously in favour of this proposal and gave
Bottle cap punching machine.
the president wide powers in order to carry it out. The plan was executed in
March the following year. Later (in 1988) the Board decided to purchase
another piece of land in the same region of Spain. The land covered an area
of 8000 sq.m. and here they built a complex to house offices, a warehouse,
factory floor and an after-sales service department. Share capital therefore
rose and Sacmi acquired a 99 percent holding.
By the end of the financial year of 1980 Sacmis workforce had
increased to 411 of whom 213 were shareholders11.
Other sources
MONTANELLI I., CERVI M., LItalia degli anni di piombo, Fabbri, Milan 1995.
GALASSI N., La Cooperazione imolese.
BIAGI E., Italia, Rizzoli, Milan 1975.
FOA V., Questo Novecento.
MAMMARELLA G., LItalia contemporanea, 1943-1985. 11
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
SACMI soixante ans de travail, publication for the 60th anniversary of Sacmis foundation, text the General and Board meetings,
by Tino Della Valle. documents; SACMI Seventyfifth 75,
FLAMIGNI S., Convergenze parallele, Kaos, Milan 1998. list of the controlled companies.
141
The history of Sacmi
144
The Italian economy improves...
145
The history of Sacmi
At Sacmi, the economic trend was basically good and followed the
lines of the national pattern although in a calmer more rational fashion.
Often Sacmi anticipated new initiatives in the field of methods of produc-
tion compared to the wider Italian scene. The course that Sacmi took was
independent and different. By now, as mentioned previously, the company
was producing complete systems known as turnkey plants to underline
the fact that Sacmis work encompassed the whole ceramics field and that
its machines could control the entire production cycle from the selection of
raw materials to quality control of the final product. The manu-
facture of these systems was maintained at satisfactory levels al-
though, on a national level, the ceramics field went through peri-
ods of highs and lows. Most of the companys production - be-
tween 65 and 75 percent - was accounted for by overseas markets.
The remainder, 10-15 percent, by the crown cap machines. The
manufacture of the machines for citrus fruits was, on the other
Press assembly bay. hand, of less importance and was being gradually phased out2.
On 18 October 1983, the president of the Republic came to Imola
to inaugurate the new headquarters of AMI (Azienda Municipalizzata Imola)
- the public utility company - in Via Casalegno, 1. Pertini, of the Italian
Socialist Party, became president on 8 July, 19783.
1
Storia dItalia, cronologia, p. 712. Sacmis company statute underwent more changes. At a special
2
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General and Board meetings, meeting held on 28 October 1983 the following articles were modified:
documents.
3
CIDRA, newspaper and periodi- articles 3 (Company objectives), 15 (Shareholders contribution), 21 (Di-
cal library, Sabato Sera, 22 October
1983. vision of net profits), 23 (Shareholders meeting), 32 (Board members
146
The Italian economy improves...
147
The history of Sacmi
necessary. It was never the wish of Sacmi to simply sell, collect the pro-
ceeds and stop there. Sacmi sets store by its machines even after they have
been sold - it does not like to cut the umbilical cord with its creations!
This policy has been conceived both to provide service and promote the
company at the same time with the main purpose of providing support in
market areas where the Cooperative has established a foothold.
The atmosphere at Sacmi was conducive to the creation of com-
pany structures which fulfilled these plans and ideas. At the General Meet-
ing which took place on 2 July 1984 it was decided that the Cooperative
should contribute to the establishment of the company Deutsche Sacmi
Gmbh (later Sacmi Deutschland) with its base in Minden, Germany. The
company had a share capital of 75,000 DM. The aims of the company
included: to act as agents for industrial equipment and systems, to im-
port and sell machinery, spare parts and accessories for
the manufacture of ceramics and refractories, to pro-
vide after-sales service in the relevant sector and to pur-
sue any other activity useful for the achievement of these
aims. Sacmi subscribed to share capital worth 52,500
DM in Deutsche Sacmi. Following an increase in the
German companys capital, Sacmis share rose to 60 per-
cent. The remaining 40 percent was held by two Ger-
Rimini, Tecnargilla exhibition, 1985. man partners.
At their meeting, Sacmis shareholders next decided to set up the
company Sacmi Portuguesa Lda with its main office in Oeiras, Portugal.
The company was formed with a share capital amounting to 15,000,000
Escudos. The company objectives were the same as those for the German
company. The Cooperative subscribed to a share in the capital of Sacmi
Portuguesa worth 6,750,000 Escudos or equal to 45 percent of the total.
148
The Italian economy improves...
149
The history of Sacmi
152
The Italian economy improves...
153
The history of Sacmi
fulfilled, the considerable income that Sacmi was earning each year was
constantly re-invested in the company. This is the pure and simple expla-
nation for the growth of Sacmi. On 13 December 1985 the General Meet-
ing was called to discuss both special and routine questions. During the
part of the meeting dealing with special motions, modifications were made
to article 3 - clause a) of the company statute regarding Corporate pur-
pose and objectives. The new text was as follows: a) to manufacture,
through one or more companies, machines and systems and sell - both in
Italy and abroad - products manufactured by the company or by third
parties (if necessary to complete customer orders).... During the routine
Headquarters of Sacmi de Mexico part of the meeting the shareholders agreed to purchase a 25 percent hold-
in Monterrey.
ing in Sacmexico SA in Mexico City. The Board of Directors was fully au-
thorized to execute this decision in the manner and according to the time-
scale they judged fit. However, for various reasons, this particular project
was never carried out8.
154
The Italian economy improves...
ply Eurotech. The plant and offices were moved to Fiorano Modenese.
Today, Sacmis holding in the company is 95 percent and the production
plants have been sold to Sacmi Forni9.
and Sacmis holding at the time equalled 80 percent. In time the share
capital would rise to 2.9 billion Lit., the company would become a limited
company (Srl) and the Sacmi Groups holding would increase to 99 per-
cent.
Inpak Imola Srl developed into an engineering company which
had the means to design, manufacture and market its own machines as
well as providing after-sales service on a worldwide basis. In addition, Inpak
Imola produced machines for conventional type packaging containers.
Today, over 60 percent of the companys products are exported. Since
1994 the business has also been producing end-of-line boxing machines
to package ceramic tiles10.
155
The history of Sacmi
158
The Italian economy improves...
bution to the growth of the ceramics industry and the success of Italian
tiles in the rest of the world; Philip Rosenthal, president of the German
company Rosenthal AG, for his important contribution to the develop-
ment of research and European industry and finally Leopoldo Cini, an
eminent figure behind the cultural development of ceramics all over the
world12.
159
The history of Sacmi
160
The Italian economy improves...
Sacmi had looked into the possibility of entering the North and
South American markets a few times in the past but it now established a
definite foothold on the continent. On 30
June 1989 the shareholders authorized the
Board of Directors to go ahead with the for-
mation of the company Sacmi de Mexico with
its base in Monterrey. It would be set up with
a starting share capital equivalent to 500
million Lit. and Sacmis holding would be
equal to 80 percent - this later grew to over
99 percent in 1999. In 1994 the new head-
quarters were inaugurated - their construc-
tion had required a large investment. In
1996 Sacmi de Mexico acquired a holding of 60 percent in Moldes Ceramicos The Research and Development
Laboratory of the packaging division.
which manufactured and reconditioned die-sets for ceramics destined for
Mexico, North and Central America. The quality of the product and tech-
nology is the same as that at Sacmi Sassuolo17.
The results shown in the balance sheets during the late Eighties
continued to increase. This trend can be seen clearly by looking at the
figures for net earnings.
At the annual meeting held on 15 April 1989, the Board of Direc-
tors was elected for the two-year term 1989-1990. The elected members of
the Board were: Demos Baldisserri, Rodiero Alieri, Arturo Figna, Luciano 16
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
the General and Board meetings.
Mingotti and Francesco Verlicchi. Rodiero Alieri was elected as president 17
Ibid. and documents.
161
The history of Sacmi
As far as we, at Sacmi, were concerned, God was good to us. Sacmi
has always strongly believed in principles of peace and harmony between
18
Ibid. and final balance sheets for
the relevant years. different races and peoples. Sacmi has always stayed true to its beliefs
162
The Italian economy improves...
Other sources
163
The history of Sacmi
164
The political and social climate...
165
The history of Sacmi
166
The political and social climate...
ders from Sacmi, but also from its own customer base.
Sacmi called a special meeting on 22 October 1993, with notary
De Socio present, in order to make changes to the company statute. The
article dealing with the Collegio dei Probiviri (Board of Arbitrators) was
dropped. In its place a new Board of Arbitrators - the Collegio arbitrale - was
formed (articles 36, 37 and 38). Its duty would be to pass judgement on
any controversy which might arise among the shareholders or between
the shareholders and the company by dealing with the matter in a bal-
anced way and reaching an amicable agreement. The judgement handed
down by the Board was to be irrevocable. The procedure was not to be
highly formalised but full argument by both sides would be heard with
impartiality. The Board was also assigned the task of supervising costs and
expenses. Decisions could be passed with a majority of votes and the rea-
sons behind the judgement would have to be stated. The seat of the Board
of Arbitrators would be in Bologna5.
On 3 January 1994 Sacmi USA was established (following a deci-
5
SACMIAR, Minutes books from
sion carried at the general meeting on 31 December 1993). It was based in the General and Board meetings;
ANMI and Notarial deeds, De
Des Moines in the state of Iowa. Sacmi has a 90 percent holding in this Socio, dated 22 October 1993.
167
The history of Sacmi
170
The political and social climate...
1995 also saw the opening of Keratech Srl based in Romans dIsonzo
(Gorizia). Sacmi Forni (of the Sacmi Group) obtained a 43.72 percent hold-
ing in the business. Keratech manufactures ceramic rollers for kilns.
Sacmi Mosca opened in Moscow during this period. The original
decision to start up this company was taken at the shareholders meeting
on 2 July 1993 but, due to lengthy bureaucratic procedures, only came to
fruition after quite some time. This office was set up to act as a point of
liaison between customers in the area of Moscow and the engineering and
sales departments back in Imola.
On 16 February 1996 Prototipo Srl was set up with its main office
in Via Filopanti, 2 in Imola. This is a computer company established to
provide technical support, hardware/software programming and consul-
tancy to the parent company. Sacmi acquired a 40 percent holding. In
1997 Prototipo acquired 33.3 percent of E.I.T., a computer company spe-
cializing in CAD-CAM technology, which it then sold at the beginning of
1999.
Another company, Eurokemac Srl (which took over the business of
Kemac), was formed on 6 June 1996 based in Fiorano Modenese. In this Installing a spray-drier in India.
way Sacmi (it had a holding of 60 percent in the company while the other
40 percent was divided equally between the two company directors) was
able to break into the market for third-firing machines. Eurokemac manu-
factures complete lines for special workpieces using unfired pressing and/
or moulding as well as systems for important tile-related products and
accessories for interior decoration.
Two sales offices were opened in China in 1996, one in Zibo and
one in Jingdezhen, in addition to the branches already established in
Foshan and Beijing, to provide an even better, more reliable and efficient
service.
171
The history of Sacmi
Two more companies were added to the Group at almost the same
time during the first half of 1997. On 9 January Eurokeram Anlagenbau
Gmbh was set up in Aachen, Germany to market machines and systems
for extruded products in Germany and Eastern Europe. In particular they
were to market the new drying and firing technology developed by Eurotech.
This technology has already been put into use in a system designed for the
manufacture of glazed roofing tiles fired in a roller kiln which has been set
up in Indonesia. Sacmis holding was 95 percent.
On 14 January, Sacmi took over Netzsch Italiana Srl which is based
in Verona. This company manufactures machines and systems for
sanitaryware. Sacmi took 87.5 percent of the share capital. Sacmi went on
to acquire the greater share of Sama Maschinenbau Gmbh on 7 May 1997.
This company has its headquarters in Weissenstadt in Germany. Sama
manufactures machines and systems for both sanitaryware and tableware.
Sacmi owns a holding of 55 percent in the company. These last two acqui-
sitions were made as a result of Sacmis aim to break into the sanitary and
tableware markets. The Sacmi Groups objective is to become a market
leader and first point of reference for ceramics producers throughout the
entire sector6.
The general progress of the Sacmi Group over the course of the
decade beginning in 1990 has generally been favourable in spite of the
difficulties encountered due to the fluctuations of the world economy.
The managing director, Cicognani, and the Board of Directors have been
proved right in their prediction that the Far East was a suitable area for
expansion. The report on the balance sheet for 1996 stated that the in-
6
SACMIAR, Minutes books from come from sales and services provided has reached 977,067 million Lit.
the General and Board meetings;
SACMI, 1996 Annual Report. and an increase in turnover of 10 percent, compared to the previous fi-
172
The political and social climate...
nancial year, has been recorded. This increase can be attributed to the
machines and systems for the ceramics industry as well as those for the
packaging sector, with slightly better results from the latter. The share of
turnover coming from foreign markets increased by 12 percent compared
to 1995 to reach 90 percent of overall turnover. At the end of 1996 there
were 1368 company employees (including shareholders).
The nineties were also significant years in terms of changes made
to the company statute. At the special meeting called on 17 July 1992,
attended by notary Giovanni De Socio from Bologna, article 3 was changed.
This article dealt with company aims and objectives and the following
clause, paragraph c), was added to the article:
The Cooperative is introducing a new initia-
tive with the aim of stimulating savings and pen-
sion provisions among shareholders. A suitably
controlled body will be set up to allow share-
holders (shareholders only) to make investments
in the Cooperative. The money can only be used
to further the company objectives as laid down
in article 10 of Law 59, dated 31.1.1992. The company is not permitted Quality control department.
under any circumstances to receive any sum from members of the general
public. Articles 11, 13, 15 and article 15b were also changed (article 15
was made to read: The nominal value of the share capital that can be
held by each shareholder is fixed at 120 million Lit. The value can be
raised to above 120 million Lit. with a free increase of the subscribed
stock to be made by assigning a share of the net earnings within the limits
and in the manner laid down by article 7 of law 59 dated 31.1.1992).
Article 47 was also amended. The new text reads: Whenever a credit
balance is left after the Cooperative has paid off its debts, it will be allo-
173
The history of Sacmi
cated to mutual benefit funds for the promotion and development of the
Cooperative movement as set down in the first and fifth paragraphs of
article 11, Law 59 dated 31.1.1992. This basically meant that Sacmi was
adapting its statute to meet law 59/1992 regarding cooperatives.
Another special meeting was held on 22 October 1993 in order to
make further amendments to the statute. The
change made to article 22 is particularly inter-
esting. This article dealt with the composition
of the Board of Directors and became: The
Board of Directors is made up of five mem-
bers. The directors remain in their position for
three years and can be re-elected. Shareholders
who are in arrears with their share of contribu-
tions and directors who are described as such
Processing stage: press columns and in their work contracts cannot be elected as members of the Board and, if
spacers.
they are, they must decline. The members of the Board cannot be related
to each other (up to the fourth level of kinship) and, if they are, they must
decline the position. As far as replacing board members who resign from
their position is concerned, national laws apply. In addition, Article 2,
paragraph 2 was also changed to the following: The company may con-
tinue to operate until 31 December 2050 and this can be extended by
agreement at a special shareholders meeting.
A further two special meetings took place to update the statute on
28 October 1994 and 25 October 1996.
174
The political and social climate...
Baldisserri and Loretto Sullalti. At the first meeting of the Board (22 April
1991) the various positions were assigned: Rodiero Alieri, President;
Luciano Mingotti, Vice-President. The Board of Auditors and Board of
Arbitrators were also renewed with one change: Giuseppe Visconti re-
placed Giorgio Nardi as substitute auditor.
At the elections held during the general meeting of 17 April 1993
the following were voted in as members of the Board: Loretto Sullalti,
Rodiero Alieri, Demos Baldisserri, Luciano Mingotti and Arturo Figna.
The Board of Directors re-elected Rodiero Alieri as president and Luciano
Mingotti as vice-president at the meeting on 19 April 1993.
At the annual general meeting on 28 April 1995
(when a statutory regulation which stated that the Board
members should serve a term of 3 years was already in opera-
tion), the following were elected as members of the Board:
Demos Baldisserri, Luciano Mingotti, Loretto Sullalti, Carlo
Cortecchia and Dante Pirazzini. Voting at the Board meet-
ing on 2 May 1995 provided the following result: Loretto
Sullalti, President and Luciano Mingotti, Vice-President.
Thus another long-serving president, Rodiero Alieri,
stepped down. He had been head of the Board of Directors
for sixteen years and had had the privilege of being a par-
ticipant in, and witness to, the giant steps forward the Co-
operative had made and its impressive expansion into world
markets.
The previous year (meeting of 29 April 1994) elections had been
held for the Board of Auditors and Board of Arbitrators with the follow-
ing results: Armando Sarti, Auditor General; Mauro Billi and Gianfranco
Santilli as regular auditors; Illio Zani and Giuseppe Visconti as substitute
175
The history of Sacmi
auditors. Their term of service, which lasts three years, was thus confirmed
for 1994, 1995 and 1996. At the meeting held on 24 April 1997 (approval
of the balance sheet for 1996) the auditors and arbitrators were elected for
1997, 1998 and 1999.
176
The political and social climate...
177
The history of Sacmi
form of the Communist Refoundation Party. A new party was also born
in this period - Forza Italia - founded by Silvio Berlusconi, the business
tycoon who owns the most important commercial TV stations in Italy. A
certain undefinable desire to swing to the right seemed to be in the air but
this, with times and situations changed, is the same right-wing that led to
the catastrophe of the second world war.
Italy is good at doing all kinds of things
except war and politics. The country will al-
ways be divided into Guelphs and Ghibellines,
Orazi and Curiatii, Montecchi and Capuleti
or even coppiani and bartaliani (fans of
Coppi or Bartali, the rival cyclists). It is in our
genes, part of our natural makeup. But we
must not be fooled by the disguise - if we are
not careful we shall return to the days of op-
pression and the destruction of democracy.
Ideas are deliberately being confused, the truth
is being turned on its head and the power of
money and mass-media is being abused.
In 1994, with a completely new politi-
cal scene and something approaching a ma-
jority electoral system which was, however,
disorganised, Parliament voted for a centre-
right government which included ministers whose ideology was directly
descended from the Fascist Republic of Salò. This time these ministers
had been elected democratically thanks to the sacrifice (and even loss of
life) of the very people who had fought the Fascists in the name of democ-
racy. In 1996, however, following further elections Parliament entrusted
180
The political and social climate...
the government to the care of the centre-left Ulivo party led by the econo-
mist Romano Prodi.
The political situation remained unstable. Perhaps Italy is still too
weak to set up a governing structure like
those in other great democracies. The fu-
ture is in the hands of the Gods. It makes
me think of the first verse of the seventh
song of Hell that Pluto cried out in Dantes
Divine Comedy; Papè Satàn, papè Satàn
aleppe!. Nobody knows for sure what this
means - many interpretations have been of-
fered but the fact remains that no one has
yet come up with a satisfactory explanation. The politics of tomorrow are
an unknown entity: papè Satàn aleppe.
There was an idea to amend the second half of the Constitution
with the objective of adapting the main Charter to the changing needs of
the nation. With a committee set up, elected by Parliament and called the
Bicamerale, a draft version was drawn up which then came to nothing.
We are now in a state of limbo. Hopefully good sense will prevail and
allow us to find our way out of this blind alley. God save the Republic!8.
181
The history of Sacmi
determination with which its members have worked with an iron will in
the past.
182
The political and social climate...
chines (turnkey plant), install them, set them up and start them running.
The result is that the machines work and work well - the same philosophy
as that attributed to the company in the Chinese ideograms.
ago. Asia can, however, count on help from China, a country which has
enormous potential and today represents the most stable part of that re-
gion....
The results of the 1997 consolidated balance sheet were as fol-
lows: TO 963 billion, 868 million Lit., NP 81 billion, 931 million Lit., NE
(net equity) 776 billion, 521 million Lit.10.
In 1998 the Asian stock exchanges continued their strange trends,
going up and down like a roller coaster, with considerable repercussions
on the European stock markets and even hitting Wall Street and South 10
SACMI, 1997 Annual Report.
183
The history of Sacmi
184
The political and social climate...
70, made by Sacmi fifty years before had been able to produce ceramic
tiles which were 15 × 15 cm.
Sacmis new machine was presented by the president, Demos
Baldisserri, the managing director, Giulio Cicognani, and the manager of
the Ceramics Division, Pietro Rivola. In addition to providing the techni-
cal details about the machine, Rivola also highlighted the fact that the
company had succeeded in developing a design that comes closer and
closer to meeting aesthetic as well as technological requirements. At Sacmi
this has been made possible by the Japanese designer Isao Hosoe, who
was responsible for the Pulsar ceramic kiln11.
185
The history of Sacmi
186
The political and social climate...
Directors to set up a company in the USA known as Mold & Dies, in order
to recondition die-sets for ceramics presses and manufacture parts of them.
The company would be provided with a share capital of up to 400,000
US$ to be invested gradually as required. The company would have a hold-
ing of no less than 60 percent either directly or through the Sacmi Group16.
First the trees blossom and then they produce fruit. Sacmi is not
far from being able to load the cart with thousands of billions of Lit.
turnover.
On 26 March the shareholders gathered at a general meeting to
approve changes to the company statute. The meeting was also attended by
notary Federico Tassinari. Two changes are particularly interesting: in arti-
cle 4 (regarding shareholders) a new rule was established whereby the per-
son wishing to become a shareholder must have been an employee of the
Cooperative (clause c) or of another company at which he/she has been
sent by Sacmi, for at least five consecutive years by the date of 28 February
in the year in which the request is being made (clause b), and must have
shown self-discipline and the cooperative spirit... In article 15 (regarding the
amount of stock that shareholders can subscribe to) the methods of paying
in the subscribed amount were changed. The regulations in the statute ap-
proved on 26 March, 1999 are those currently in force 17. The CAT scan machine.
187
The history of Sacmi
On the same day, 13 May 1999, the people of Imola elected the
man who is to be their mayor for the first years of the Third Millennium
- Massimo Marchignoli. Good luck to him 18.
190
The political and social climate...
or a third party. The company was to be formed and started up within one
year of the decision being taken20.
The Euro sometimes struggles along but it is still going. The stock
exchanges are still unstable and uncertain - the feared worldwide recession
(the USA are in control and pulling the strings) has not yet materialised.
Italy is pawing the ground and whinnying like a
nervous horse. Even the sun, the very source of
life, is giving rise to concern due to the much-dis-
cussed hole in the ozone which, if it gets any
worse, could lead to an extremely dangerous, even
devastating, situation. If only this global warming
could take place in harmony with nature - and not
just global warming but if there could also be har-
mony between people and human warmth and
understanding, or humanitas, in the sense that
Cicero and SantAgostino intended. Unfortunately,
however, the winds of war swept through the Bal-
kans again at the beginning of 1999 and crushed
our hopes for world peace. The battles against hate and crime are hard to Lining machine for crown caps.
191
The history of Sacmi
192
The political and social climate...
cerns, all of which were destined for success. Among these was Colorificio
Ceramico Esmalglass S.A. which produced ceramic glazes and colouring
agents in Spain. Ramos expanded until his business reached Great Brit-
ain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil and the USA. His economic dynamism, dem-
onstrated through his work in industry, can also be seen in fields as di-
verse as the mining industry and the graphics business as well as in all
kinds of other enterprises.
Farming remains his first love and he has dedicated his studies,
energy and abilities to this too. As a pioneer of bio-dynamic cultivation
systems he has overseen the high-yield cultivation of large amounts of
land, in particular that used for fruit farming. He is a shining example of
the modern businessman and has greatly contributed to the development
of ceramics throughout the world. José Soriano Ramos is a highly worthy
man, possessed of great integrity, who is known for having a good rapport
with his colleagues and employees. These are all characteristics which
embody the sense and spirit of the Aldo Villa International Prize23.
Here ends the account of the history of Sacmi.
The sails of the Sacmi-Mayflower are still filled with the stern wind.
Other sources
MONTANELLI I., CERVI M., LItalia degli anni di fango, Fabbri, Milan 1994.
BOBBIO N., Destra e Sinistra, Donzelli, Rome 1994.
SACMIAR, documents and
23
BOCCA G., Metropolis - Milano nella tempesta italiana, A. Mondadori, Milan 1993. minutes books from the Board
BOCCA G., Italiani strana gente, Mondadori, Milan 1997. meetings.
193
The history of Sacmi
194
Sacmis premises in Imola...
195
The history of Sacmi
196
Sacmis premises in Imola...
ate the biggest and most complex machine parts. In the next building I
come across the machines which produce crown caps. Sacmi exports these
and has become an international market leader. Many other activities are
going on in other buildings. There is also a large packaging department.
It is a great industrial village (the complex covers a total area of
more than 200 thousand square metres, 13,500 of which are occupied by
the engineering, sales and administrative departments with 63,000 sq.m
covered by the factory floor). The complex also includes research labora-
tories, warehouses and production plants2. There is even a mini ceramics
factory where all the machines used in the entire process of tile produc-
tion are set up. In this way the Sacmi scientists and engineers are able to
study and analyse even the raw material (the clay) with the most sophisti-
cated instruments in order to obtain the best final product.
197
The history of Sacmi
198
Sacmis premises in Imola...
it can focus on increasing the production rate of machines for the ceram-
ics sector (which covers tiles, sanitaryware, tableware and refractories).
Once certain political situations have stabilized
and economic growth has started again there
should be enough room within todays markets
for further investment in production and sales in
the ceramics industry.
It will, however, be necessary to continue
the research and development of production and
manufacturing processes which act as a stimulus
to the market and will help us work towards achiev-
ing our goals.
As far as the packaging division is concerned, we will try to give Press assembly bay.
199
The history of Sacmi
worldwide dimension today and we must not forget that. The process of
internationalisation (or the global economy) does not frighten us. On the
contrary; it is already a part of our lives, now and in the century to come.
200
Sacmis premises in Imola...
of the world realise that Africa, more than any other continent, is calling
out for a gesture of humanity and human solidarity, they would find out
that this could present an opportunity and not just a burden.
Ceramics products have already contributed to space exploration.
Sacmi is researching, together with other Italian and foreign research cen-
tres, a series of advanced ceramics products which could be used in more
high-tech environments and even, why not, in space.
201
The history of Sacmi
extent to which it has been able to stamp its own brand name on the
market. However, human capital also counts and I want to discuss this
aspect too because the men and women of Sacmi with their intelligence,
moral as well as physical strength, willingness and perseverance are an
essential part of the company.
204
Sacmis premises in Imola...
was extremely eloquent and articulate. Every year, during the citrus fruit
harvest, he would go down to Sicily to demonstrate and sell the orange
cleaning machines. He had a silver tongue and knew how to convince
people to buy his product - he was a good salesman. His motto was try it
and see. If anyone had doubts he would show them the machine in op-
eration. He gained their love and respect, they affectionately called him
commendatore. He was an exceptional man - and a bon viveur.
The period of his term as president of the company ran from 1944 to
1949: a period full of dramatic events and upheaval, but also hope.
Casadio: Lets leave aside the war for the moment - we all know
about how Imola suffered by being on the front line, about the struggle of
the Resistance against the Germans and the Fascists and the blood shed
for liberation. When the area was liberated we started work immediately.
The factory in Viale Crispi was back on its feet in no time although there
was no electricity. We managed to find a tractor (but we exploited other
means as well) and used it to generate motive energy. We were able to start
up some automatic and semi-automatic machines which the Cooperative
had obtained during the war, with the approval of the military authori-
ties, for the production of arms. (I remember that from 40 to 43 they
had built supports to be joined to the steering columns of the soldiers
Guzzi-Alce motorcycles, and that they installed submachine guns on these
supports). Well anyway, we started to work. The first machine we made
was a winch for the Gruppo Facchini in Imola (a transport company) to be
used for handling goods to be transported by rail. We also made artistic
gates for a building in Forlì.
Following the, shall we say artisan, production period, in what order,
chronologically, did the new production lines come into operation?
Casadio: Well, we began (in the Thirties) with the machines for
205
The history of Sacmi
citrus fruits. Then we began to make the first machinery for food products
(Magazzino Generale di Consumo di Imola). We went on to arms production
during the war. Immediately after the war we began to manufacture mixers.
Then came the presses for ceramics and the machines for crown caps. After
this we started producing the ceramics systems for certain traditional prod-
ucts and for sanitaryware and the machines for packaging containers. And
that brings us up to today.
You began with already existing machines,
mostly German brands (except for the fruit clean-
ing ones which originated with a Spanish machine)
which you made improvements to in order to make
them faster and more productive. I know that the
genius responsible for most of these brilliant inno-
vations was you. What can you tell me about this?
Boring machine on the factory floor. Casadio: Well I certainly was no genius! I loved examining ma-
chines, discovering their faults, seeing whether I could make them run
better and produce more. I loved the job, I enjoyed doing it and found
great satisfaction and pleasure in finding what I was looking for.
One day, the director, Miceti, said to me: There is a problem with
our glueing machine for the crown caps. The competition is beating us.
You must go to the USA (where that kind of machine was first invented,
authors note) and see what they do - otherwise we are ruined and we may
have to close down.
In fact, there was indeed something wrong with our machine: the
heating elements were giving problems. These heating elements, which
served to heat and dry the glue used to apply the little cork disc to the
underside of the cap, would start to burn at a certain moment in the
cycle. I therefore went to New York and visited some of their factories.
206
Sacmis premises in Imola...
207
The history of Sacmi
208
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
years. Then came Rino Morini, Nerio Cavina, Rodiero Alieri, Loretto
Sullalti and today there is Demos Baldisserri. They have all been excellent
presidents.
209
The history of Sacmi
210
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
211
The history of Sacmi
I imagine you think a lot about those times and that you cherish those
memories.
Marani: Yes I do. We used to work hard in those days. We were
paid a normal amount. The first time we were paid overtime, if Im not
mistaken, was in 1955 when the Cooperative had already been in busi-
ness for 36 years. In those days we did everything for the good of the
company. Honesty was the first rule by which we led our lives - both within
the Cooperative and outside it.
212
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
213
The history of Sacmi
214
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
215
The history of Sacmi
have seen the Cooperative grow from a small business to a great industrial
concern. This expansion is the fruit of our hard work and sacrifice and
real love for the company. We must never forget this aspect. You need to
have the will to work. Theres no room for layabouts and shirkers or peo-
ple who are all talk and no work. I hope that, in the future, there will be
fewer and fewer of these kind of people.
216
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
Welko was forced to reduce its demands. In the end the matter was re-
solved with the payment of several tens of millions of Lit.
This happened in around 1972. In the meantime many things
had changed.
At the beginning of the Sixties Sacmi handed the responsibility of
selling its products on the overseas markets to Fatmi, a company based in
Milan with its offices in the new and futuristic (for those times) sky-scraper,
the Torre Velasca.
In 1965, together with Fatmis two partners, Sacmi set up Sacmi
Impianti Spa and appointed the future member of parliament Armando
Sarti as company president. The new company was Sacmis answer to real-
ising its long-term and ambitious strategy to enter the market for com-
plete ceramics systems. The plan was carried out through this new sepa-
rate organisation in order not to have the Cooperative involved under its
own name as it lacked experience in this risky field.
217
The history of Sacmi
218
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
at that time was 1 Lit., thirty an hour. At Cogne, a worker the same age as
me and with the same qualification could earn 2 Lit., fifty which was
almost double. Others went to work on the railways which was a more
secure job. Some enrolled in the airforce as flight engineers. I started
working at Sacmi when I was just twelve years old, I hadnt even reached
the legal working age, and I stayed there. We mainly worked at the sanato-
rium in Montecatone. I remember we made bedsprings, window and door
frames and very thin metal boards (they were the partitions to be placed
219
The history of Sacmi
between one bed and another). We also worked for the Magazzino
Cooperativo, for other hospitals, for brickkilns, for the cooperatives which
ran the threshing machines and for other companies too. From Novem-
ber to February, we mostly concentrated on the orange cleaning machines.
We even received an order for latticework destined for the universal exhi-
bition in Rome known as E42 which, however, was never held because of
the war. We purchased new machines: a milling machine, a lathe and a
boring machine. My colleagues will have told you about production dur-
ing the war. I dont know if they told you that we also built heaters for the
airforce which were sent to the Italian expeditionary force in Russia.
We did workshifts of twelve hours from two oclock in the after-
A machine made for IRCE. noon until two in the morning. In winter it was cold. Every now and again
we went to warm ourselves near the big heater which
they called estuvón. After 8 September the Germans
came into the factory and we tried to get along with
them. They repaired the engines of their vehicles.
The progress of the war was already showing signs of
the tragedy it would end in. With the Germans in-
side Sacmi we secretly made nails which the Resist-
ance fighters hid in the roads where the enemys
convoys passed by. At night, when the Germans were
not around, we used to bury the most valuable ma-
chine tools underground in a courtyard near the part
of the factory that looked out onto Via Framello.
We even buried machines from Cogne.
After the front line moved on, you started work
again with a great deal of effort, didnt you?
Golinelli: Yes, straight away, but it was diffi-
220
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
221
The history of Sacmi
division was the first department to be transferred and it only took one
day to do this. The heaviest machine tools were transported to the new
premises in June-July of the same year. Production was not held up. Few
people know that the first draft of the design for the new headquarters
was actually done by the president, Aurelio Mingotti.
I would like to return again to the subject of the Welko affair and the
related problem which arose out of the fact that it was no longer possible to con-
tinue to control the presses manually.
Spisni: In fact we had already known for some time that this was
no longer possible. We had experimented with automation using pneu-
matic controls but they werent reliable enough so we didnt continue. At
that time (Miceti was still Managing Director) we reached an agreement to
work together with Welko, who held the patent for an electronic control
system for clutch presses. Later on, a joint engineering department was
set up as a research base at Welkos headquarters in Milan. Apart from
me, the others from Sacmi who worked in that department
were Casadio and Anderlini, both of whom went to Mi-
lan every week and stayed there. I, on the other hand,
remained in Imola. We worked with Welko to find a
new controller and a new press but the relationship
broke up. Two of the members of Welko left the com-
pany, which nevertheless continued to operate, and
one of them, Cicorella, (who was the manager of
Welko) set up Sacmi Impianti SpA with us. This new
company was based in Milan and was started up in
A glueing machine for crown caps. order to develop business overseas. Sacmi owned the majority of the shares
in the company. Research for the new controller and press went on and
finally resulted in the PE 150 - the first of Sacmis successful clutch presses.
222
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
223
The history of Sacmi
224
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
and development first hand I am curious to find out how it has been
described. I hope it hasnt all been simply put down to the grace of
God.
225
The history of Sacmi
226
The veterans of Sacmi tell their story...
Alieri: We need to look at what will happen in the rest of the
world and always keep an eye on the market. I think there is still room for
the ceramics sector to expand - and not just in the Far East but also on our
own continent, especially in the North. The ceramics industry uses a raw
material which is ecologically healthy and clean. There is no danger of
pollution. Even bottle caps have a future with a broad horizon. Both ce-
ramic products and bottle caps will continue to be in demand - especially
if we think of the use of plastic.
As far as Africa is concerned, I think that the view of the manag-
ing director, Cicognani, is absolutely spot on. Africa is a poor continent
that still needs to develop economically. It is certainly a market to keep an
eye on. On the other hand, as far as the most basic human needs are
concerned, Sacmis philosophy has always been: first feed oneself and then
think about building a house. This applies to the future too. The ceramics
sector is not a rich one. It is better defined as popular all over the world
and therefore has immense potential in terms of consumer demand. We
shall certainly see many changes in the future. Sacmi will have to ask itself
many times: what do the consumers want? In the past the company has
always responded to this question and taken pains to satisfy the customers
needs.
The history of our company has always had a human dimension.
Just think, when I joined there had already been two generations of coop-
erative members behind me. Then others arrived and yet more will come
in the future. We have spent so many nights in discussion here - even
arguing - right up until the small hours, until two in the morning. But the
next day everybody was at their work, calm and trusting in the company,
with a clean conscience and without rancour. I very much hope it will
continue to be like that.
227
The history of Sacmi
230
The role played by Sacmi in society...
S acmi has always honoured its principles of mutual aid with great
conviction and generosity and following the spirit of the law and
statutory regulations. It has even offered assistance in the fields of
health, culture, art, education, sport and leisure. It has always been thor-
oughly committed to these principles, depending, obviously, on the state of
its own finances. The largest and most solid investments in these areas have
been made in the last few decades. Within the Cooperative, Sacmi can boast
of having achieved more concrete results, as far as mutual aid and social
security provisions are concerned, than can be found elsewhere in Italy.
Every year it has given financial support to the Cassa di Previdenza e Assistenza
della Cooperativa Sacmi and to the Polizza Sanitaria in favour of all the share-
holders and employees. The Mutual Aid Fund has been used to make dona-
tions and contributions (of considerable value) towards funding research,
education, culture, company training, social welfare and charity.
One of the most important donations was that made to the
Ospedale Civile (city hospital) in Imola in1989, when Sacmi gave the insti-
tution a CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) scanner. The same hos-
pital (AUSL 23) was also presented with another special piece of equip-
ment, the VD 5000 Urodynamic Investigation System, for the urology
department, as well as a Toshiba portable ecograph. Sacmi has also given
financial assistance to the Mobile Clinic run by Dr. Claudio Costa, an
Delivering the CAT scan machine.
orthopaedic specialist, in order to buy equipment and material. This clinic
is present to provide medical assistance at all the races in the world motor-
231
The history of Sacmi
cycling championship. Dr. Costa and his small mobile clinic are well-known
and valued throughout the motorcyling world.
Sacmi has also helped the Cooperativa Il Sorriso which runs a com-
munity project for recovering drug addicts. In addition, it has made con-
tributions to the Congregazione delle Piccole Suore di Santa Teresa del
Bambino Gesù to help build the Casa dellAccoglienza in Imola which
provides assistance for the handicapped. Other substantial contributions
have gone to the Comitato piemontese pro alluvionati (Committee of Pied-
mont for flood victims) when disastrous floods hit that region, to an or-
ganisation sending foodstuffs to people in need in Yugoslavia, to the
Associazione studi tumori solidi (for research into tumours) and to many
other organizations and charities.
In order to help the people hit by the earthquake (1997-1998) in
Umbria and the Marches, Sacmi, together with the Comune di Gualdo
Tadino, committed itself to bearing expenses for re-building work up to
the amount of 100 million Lit. In the field of culture and the preservation
of our artistic heritage, Sacmi has played a substantial role in the work of
restoring the frescoes in the Basilica-Santuario della Madonna del Piratello. This
Donation made to the Centro
Universitario Ospedaliero Ignazio Den church was built in Imola from c. 1490-91 by Caterina Riario Sforza of Forlì
di Conakry in Guinea.
and Imola with the authorisation of Pope Innocent VIII1.
The Cooperative has also financed restoration work on the Palazzo
Ducale in Sassuolo. This included the repair of the portals and the niches
containing statues on the main facade, the restoration of the original net-
work of canals and the repair of window and door frames in the state rooms
and French chamber. Similarly assistance has been given to the restora-
tion of the Palazzo Sassatelli-Monsignani in Imola (a contribution was made
1
CORTINI G.F., La Madonna del to the Foundation for Musical Culture in order to build the headquarters
Piratello presso Imola, Galeati and
son, Imola 1889. of the Piano Academy).
232
The role played by Sacmi in society...
A further gift was made to the Istituto Alberghetti (both to the tech-
nical and the vocational schools). Both schools received a new computer
room and Sacmi provided the software.
Sacmi has taken part in the Progetto solidarietà Imola-São Bernardo
(Brazil) - a project promoted by a committee made up of the Town Coun-
cil leaders of Imola, the diocesan Bishop, the Missionary Centre and vari-
ous other social, cultural and religious organisations. In this way, the Co-
operative has made a considerable financial contribution to their project
to bring together different peoples from all over the world. A vocational
school was built in São Bernardo to train the young people of the shanty
town and provide them with a skill with which to find work. The new
school was opened at the end of November 1996 and the event was at-
tended by the president of Sacmi, Loretto Sullalti, the managing director, 2
BENTINI J. (edited by), Il patrimonio
culturale della provincia di Bologna.
Cicognani, and the director of Sacmi do Brasil, Ermes Gaddoni. Since Gli edifici di culto del centro storico di
Imola, Soprintendenza alle
then, work has begun on building an extension to the school - a project Gallerie, Bologna 1974, pp. 40-41.
233
The history of Sacmi
which will cost an estimated 500-600 million Lit. and is, once again, being
largely financed by Sacmi. In addition, Sacmi has also contributed to the
building of a Centre of ceramics technology in the State of Santa Catarina
in Brazil by making a large donation to the Fondação Santa Catarina3.
From the time Sacmi began operations, in 1919, up to today, the
heads of the Italian State have been the following: Victor Emanuel III
Equipment donated by Sacmi to the (1900-1946), Umberto II (May-June 1946), Enrico De Nicola (1946-1948),
F. Alberghetti technical school.
Luigi Einaudi (1948-1955), Giovanni Gronchi (1955-1962), Antonio Segni
(1962-1964), Giuseppe Saragat (1964-1971), Giovanni Leone (1971-1978),
Alessandro Pertini (1978-1985), Francesco Cossiga (1985-1992), Oscar Luigi
Scalfaro (1992-1999), Carlo Azeglio Ciampi (1999)4.
Over the same period the mayors, podestà and prefects of Imola
have been: Nicola Falanga, Prefect (November 1919 - October 1920); Giulio
Miceti, Mayor (October 1920 - June 1921); Agostino Marcialis, Prefect (July
- August 1921); Italo Ballarini, Prefect (August 1921 - October 1922); Amilcare
Gibertini, Prefect (October 1922 - January 1923); Annibale Ginnasi, Mayor
and then Podestà (January 1923 - March 1927); Luigi Cerrato, Deputy Podestà
(April - August 1927); Guglielmo Froggio, Prefect (July 1927 - April 1929);
Annibale Ginnasi, Podestà (April 1929 - January 1930); Riccardo Foschi,
Deputy Podestà (August 1930 - January 1936); Angelo Buzzi Langhi, Prefect
(January - August 1936); Giuseppe Portoghese, Prefect (August - October
1936); Stefano Padovani, Podestà (1936-1943); Adelchi Valente, Prefect (Sep-
tember - October 1943); Carmelo Bivona, Prefect (October 1943 - August
1944); Valentino Pirazzoli, Prefect (September - December 1944); Carlo Ponzi,
3
SACMIAR, Minutes books from Prefect (December 1944 - April 1945); Mario Tarlazzi, Mayor (15 - 22 April
the General and Board meetings;
SACMI Seventyfifth 75, p. 76. 1945); Giulio Miceti, Mayor (April 1945 - April 1946); Amedeo Tabanelli,
4
Enciclopedia universale di base, De
Agostini, Novara 1991, p. 334; Mayor (1946-1948); Veraldo Vespignani, Mayor (1948-1962); Amedeo Ruggi,
BCI, newspaper and periodical
library. Mayor (1962-1971); Enrico Gualandi, Mayor (1971-1976); Bruno Solaroli,
234
The role played by Sacmi in society...
235
The history of Sacmi
236
The role played by Sacmi in society...
237
The history of Sacmi
238
The role played by Sacmi in society...
love, I say from the bottom of my heart: Goodbye Sacmi, and good luck!
Today Imola has a population of over seventy thousand. It is a
small city where the people live a good life - a peaceful, quiet city. It is full
of light and green spaces and is active in all fields: in agriculture, industry,
business, sport, music and culture. Imola is known throughout Italy and
the world. This is thanks to its vitality and the entrepreneurial spirit of its
people - all its people. It is also due, in no small measure, to its best known
company; Sacmi. I have an image from my childhood of signora Maria
under the lime-trees of Viale Crispi coming from Porta Mazzini. It was the
afternoon. A small child of about my age was trotting along beside her.
His name was Riccardo. Maria was carrying a bag with a typewriter inside
it. She then went inside through the door to the factory office. Maria was
going to type a letter or invoice, or something similar, for her husband
Giulio. He had to recruit his staff from his own family as the Cooperative
had no typewriters back in those days. Today the word-processors and
computers in use in the great industrial complex of Sacmi and through-
out its various branches over the world are innumerable and they use
countless different alphabets and languages.
Before taking my leave of Sacmi and my readers I would like to
offer my most sincere thanks to two people: the senior board member
Dante Pirazzini, who has given me invaluable support and help in produc-
ing this book, and my friend and colleague, the journalist Franco Quartieri.
Other sources
239
The history of Sacmi
240
As we were, as we will be!
2 December 1919 was a special day towards the end of the most dramatic
decade in the history of Italy and Europe. Twenty years later there would be an-
* The much-discussed question
other such period and it would be equally tragic. about when the millennium really
begins is still in debate: 1st January
The First World War had just ended with millions dead and injured. An 2000 or 1st January 2001?
241
The history of Sacmi
era began which was marked by unemployment and poverty, even if not total
destitution, in most areas of Europe including Imola.
It was certainly not, therefore, great future prospects which inspired the
nine partners who started up the Società Anonima Cooperativa Meccanici Imola.
It was termed anonima and cooperativa in accordance with the commercial
code of the time. Anonima specified that personal responsibility was limited to
the subscribed shares. The term cooperativa was added to indicate (although not
normally required) its specific company identity, i.e. to underline its belief in soli-
darity and equality in the workplace.
The pioneering workers of Rochdale, who had set up the first cooperative
company 75 years earlier in Lancashire, England, would have found Imola fertile
ground to test out their ideas. The aim of this group of poor unemployed textile
workers had been to put into action their cooperative theories and on 24 October
1844 they had established a company, with a capital of one pound for each share,
in order to be able to take affairs into their own hands and keep them in their
own hands.
The objective of the new mechanics cooperative in Imola was to provide
independent work for repairing agricultural ploughs. It was an initiative which
gave hope at the end of that difficult year and represented an auspicious start for
the new one.
The nine workers from Imola did not know, and could not possibly imag-
ine, that they were the founders of what was to become the most prestigious coop-
erative in Europe and, according to several qualitative indicators, outside Europe
as well.
With their goals achieved, the results over time were exceptional and quite
unpredictable, not only for the first cooperative members, but also for those who
succeeded them right up until the 1950s.
The company is not top in Europe, nor in Italy, for total sales but today it
242
As we were, as we will be!
is top for sales per employee/shareholder. It does not come top according to number
of employees, but it is now ahead of other companies in terms of profit per share-
holder and per employee. It is the leading company as regards reserves, accumu-
lated cash-flow and shareholders equity per shareholder and per employee. It is
also the world leader in machine construction and system installation for the ce-
ramics and packaging industries.
Sacmi has the largest total shareholders equity which each shareholder
leaves intact in the Cooperatives reserves. This is the fruit of over forty or forty-five
years (today a little less) of labour by each shareholder.
Sacmi does not believe in economic, financial and productive values only.
This Cooperative also has a strong social identity which no internal economic
indicator can adequately represent.
These cooperative values are proven by the accumulation of profits, re-
investment in technology and training provided for personnel and for customers,
both in Italy and in the ceramics and packaging industries all over the world.
These values are also demonstrated by the contribution made by Sacmi, as perhaps
by no other company to the same extent, to the success of the so-called made in
Italy label in the sectors in which it is involved. Its cooperative principles are also
shown by the fact that the company has provided employment with machine proc-
esses and operations in industrial systems which cover the whole ceramics sector -
from sanitaryware to tiles and packaging.
It is also undeniable that, if the districts of Sassuolo and Emilia can be
considered the area where the international ceramics industry is at its most ad-
vanced and is mainly concentrated, then this is largely due to Sacmis contribution
as a producer of presses and turnkey plants. In fact, Sacmi attributes its own
international expansion to the development of the market for these very products.
The authors of success have been the hundreds of shareholders and work-
ers who have followed on from one another as engineers and directors patiently
243
The history of Sacmi
building upon and consolidating the company and the concepts on which it is
based.
Two old photographs of Sacmi give a little idea of the huge steps forward
the company has taken since its beginnings.
One photo, probably taken towards the end of the 1930s, shows a light
lorry parked in front of the modest headquarters of the company with a sign
carrying the words Cooperativa Meccanici. The other photo shows nine share-
holders and apprentices, eight of whom are wearing overalls which are worn out
almost to the same extent - the best sign of a common work ethic and of general
sacrifice.
It is impossible to remember, or even to name, (as this volume ideally
should), all the members of the cooperative throughout its life so I shall mention
those to whom their well-being was entrusted - the company presidents up to 1940.
These were Luigi Santandrea, who was the first as well as the last president during
the period leading up to the Second World War; Tiepolo Castaldi, Aldo Galassi,
Guido Selvatici, Rodolfo Galassi, Aurelio Mingotti (1940-44), who I met during
his long second run as president; and finally the talented Arrigo Casadio - the only
true engineer to become president of Sacmi.
Since the mid-1950s I have had much experience of Sacmi and all it stands
for: the long meetings, the lively debates and the direct participation of the sharehold-
ers in dealing with problems - all of which have no parallel in any other cooperative
company. The shareholders are often obstinate in their desire to reach the heart of the
matter and keen to have their say based on their direct experience acquired in the
factory or on outside worksites. However, they always act in the interests of the
company with the principle of collectiveness remaining uppermost in their minds and
barely ever push personal interests or harbour individual grudges.
I have personally known all the shareholders of Sacmi since the mid-1950s.
I have worked with all the company presidents, first in my capacity as a financial
244
As we were, as we will be!
and tax expert, and then in the position of company auditor alongside my unforget-
table colleagues Elio Pagani and Gino Marani.
In 1955 the president was Ciro Gasparri. After him came Amleto
Scomparcini, Rino Morini, Nerio Cavina and Rodiero Alieri. The latter, with
sixteen years as president of the company, equalled Aurelio Mingottis second run
as president. Next Loretto Sullalti was elected president.
All the company presidents have proved to be extremely capable and wise.
Today, Demos Baldisserri is continuing the excellent example of his predecessors as
the head of a cooperative company with more and more complex problems to deal
with. Along with Gianfranco Santilli and Mauro Billi, I belong to the Board of
Auditors of a holding company which has more than thirty associated companies
operating all over the world among which, in addition to Sacmi Impianti, the
following are counted: Sacmi Deutschland, Sacmi Iberica, Sacmi Portuguesa, Sacmi
Istanbul, Sacmi Singapore, Sacmi Hong Kong, Sacmi do Brasil, Sacmi de Mexico
and many other well-established and respected subsidiaries.
We sincerely hope that the holding company will begin the Third millen-
nium with a thousand billion Lit. in turnover, more than a thousand billion Lit.
capital and shareholders equity and over 1600 members of the workforce.
I must reiterate my great regret at not being able to name here so many
other shareholders, consultants and managers, known to me from the company
meetings, all of whom deserve a mention for the work they have done.
Before and after the Liberation, and for a long time, Sacmis employees
received an excellent basic training from the Alberghetti technical schools in Imola.
These schools provided a thorough preparation for the apprentices who, at the age
of 15 and 16, started work at Sacmi, where their technical skills were honed to
such an extent that they would become sought-after as installers and inspectors of
important foreign systems.
Over time, the level of education of the personnel employed at the com-
245
The history of Sacmi
pany has increased more and more markedly. The days when Aldo Villa was the
first qualified engineer and first person holding a degree to enter the company, in
1958, are long gone. Today Sacmi has one of the highest numbers of university-
educated staff in the industry.
The technical and management structure of the company has been a fun-
damental factor in its consolidation. It is exceptional that throughout Sacmis
existence and the various stages of its development there have only been three
managing directors. They have been three great and well-respected directors, all
with strong personalities and undisputed in their leadership of the shareholders
General Meetings and the Board of Directors. In the latter case they have been
careful to exercise their own prerogatives but also vigilant in their attempts to
ensure that the Boards functions as a large representative body retain primary
importance. It is because of these traditions and principles that the Board of Direc-
tors wanted this book in order to mark Sacmis 80th anniversary.
The current Board, elected on 9 May 1998, is made up of Demos
Baldisserri (President), Carlo Cortecchia (Vice-President), Dante Pirazzini, Dino
Zanoni (Secretary) and Daniele Marchi. These men decided that it seemed a good
idea and the right time to tell the story of this great cooperative which has had such
an influence in Imola and has put this towns name on the international map
thanks to its high technology production.
The first managing director of the Cooperative was Giulio Miceti, who
started the ceramics business during the last war and post-liberation period. He
was succeeded by the unforgettable Aldo Villa whose work in the ceramics industry
has been remembered with a prestigious international prize. Villa was a keen
promoter of Sacmis international status and a generous and indefatigable leader
throughout his working life; which was spent entirely at the Cooperative. Today
the managing director is Giulio Cicognani, a worthy successor to Villa, who has
been responsible for the international expansion of the company (and it could not
246
As we were, as we will be!
have been done better) and for consistently building it up and improving its tech-
nology. He has done this with the help of equally competent and industrious col-
leagues. Among others, I would particularly like to mention the deputy managing
director, Valentino Pischedda, and managers Giuseppe Cassani, Mauro Morini,
Eugenio Emiliani, Francesco Bendanti, Bruno Tumidei and Antonio Pasini. The
Board of Directors, the managers and engineers are all committed to Sacmi in its
present-day form as a Cooperative and holding company to many other businesses
throughout the world. On the eightieth anniversary of its foundation, we should
also remember the administrative managers. In particular I would mention the
longest-serving administrative manager, Benito Benati, as well as Pischedda, who
is now deputy managing director and in charge of Sacmi Group finances.
As regards development, the company needs to plan for and ensure a firm
commercial, economic and productive footing and an income in proportion to the
size the company has already reached. These should be connected to growth rates
which nevertheless safeguard a balance between commercial expansion and pro-
duction, between innovation and consolidation, between sales shares and trends
and a sound financial basis.
A second aspect of the Cooperatives policy, as regards its future, concerns
the number of shareholders to admit each year. Up until now, a constant and
selective number of shareholders have actually been admitted in relation to the
number of employees who have fulfilled the time and preparation requirements
entitling them to ask for admission. Considering the growing number of employees,
this problem will become more and more acute in the future and will involve
making balanced and forward-looking decisions.
As far as principles are concerned, the ideas of the Rochdale workers must
remain the cornerstone of Sacmis cooperative beliefs, even if they have to be re-
fined over time and adapted to the specific nature of the Cooperative. The tenets
to be upheld are: 1 - free and voluntary participation; 2 - democratic organisation
247
The history of Sacmi
of the company, a belief expressed in the rule of voto pro-capite (one man; one
vote); 3 - management of the company according, at all times, to the objectives and
principles the shareholders and workers are committed to and personify; 4 - propor-
tional distribution of profits among shareholders, as assigned by the Shareholders
Meeting and related to the quality of work performed by the shareholders at the
Cooperative; 5 - destination of funds to promote cooperation and the development
of education according to cooperative ideas.
These are the main principles which have been applied over the eighty
years the company has been established.
Since 8 July 1996 a policy of top quality has been in force. This has
meant that the Cooperative was among the first to have received Quality Certifi-
cation, according to the UNI EN ISO 9001 standards. It obtained this due to the
fact that it has put into practice various procedures which have been planned,
documented and diffused in order to ensure that its products and services meet the
required standards. The objective is to obtain customer satisfaction - the main aim
of any companys quality control system.
Sacmi is a large Cooperative which is proud to celebrate its past and
prepare for the future under the symbol of solidarity. Sacmi knows that these days
companies need to look to tomorrow, to the long-term future of the company and
that of the men and women it is made up of.
The most solid foundations of Sacmi are, and should continue to be, its
principles, the choices it makes, its plans and its actions. The men and women of
Sacmi consider their work and their future as one and believe in cooperation to
achieve common goals.
Armando Sarti
President of the Board of Auditors
248
249
THE PRESIDENTS
252
The men and women of Sacmi...
The shareholders
1919 1945
Giovanni Bartoli (founder) Enea Cremi
Tiepolo Castaldi (founder) Dante DallOlio
Vincenzo Franceschelli (founder) Ciro Gasparri
Aldo Galassi (founder) Doriano Golinelli
Filiberto Gamberini (founder) Antonio Gollini
Paolo Nonni (founder) Giulio Miceti
Armando Panari (founder) Luciano Sassi
Luigi Santandrea (founder) Roberto Sgubbi
Guido Selvatici (founder)
Giulio Vespignani 1946
Aurelio Cani
1920
Augusto Cassani 1947
Livio Anastasi
Rino Marani
1922
Amleto Scomparcini
Antonio Gasparri
Silvio Zanzi
Giacomo Ravanelli
1948
1923
Eugenio Bassani
Primo Ermanari Graziano Gambetti
Fulvio Muccinelli
1929
Rodolfo Galassi 1949
Gilberto Melli
1930 Francesco Zaccherini
Renato Zappi Oriano Zambrini
1937 1950
Arrigo Casadio Mario Liverani
Ardì Galassi Tonino Maiardi
1939 1951
Aurelio Mingotti Giuseppe Cavina
1940 1952
Giovanni Ferri Amerio Frasini
Pietro Gildeni
253
The history of Sacmi
254
The men and women of Sacmi...
255
The history of Sacmi
1976 1980
Corrado Casini Roberto Alvisi
256
The men and women of Sacmi...
257
The history of Sacmi
1989 1993
Andrea Lupini Lucio Baldisserri
Vasco Mazzanti Gino Baroncini
Domenico Olivieri Paolo Billi
Maurizio Visani Andrea Bresciani
Mauro Cacciari
1990 Enzo Capirossi
Fabio Balbi Claudio Casanova
Ennio Baldisserri Giancarlo Cavina
Daniele Canettoli Paolo Eurelli
Ferdinando Cassani Andrea Fiorentini
Giorgio Cattani Stefano Frascari
Gabriele Ferri Valter Lendinari
Alberto Landi Giuseppe Lesce
Alberto Loreti Francesco Mazzacani
Claudio Marani Maurizio Mazzini
Mauro Masini Gian Luca Pratella
Giuliano Santandrea Giacomo Rondinini
Stefano Scardovi Stefano Tinarelli
Zeno Zuffa Silvano Valli
Mario Zaccherini
1991
Domenico Bambi 1994
Massimo Cavalli Federico Angioli
Giancarlo Galassi Vanes Bendanti
Roberto Guidi Bruno Bertolini
Moraldo Masi Maurizio Borgatti
Eugenio Mingrone Gildo Bosi
Bruno Zaccaria Carlo Campana
258
The men and women of Sacmi...
259
The history of Sacmi
The Presidents
260
The men and women of Sacmi...
261
The history of Sacmi
262
The men and women of Sacmi...
263
The Board of Directors, Board of
Auditors, the General Manager and
Deputy General Manager as of 1999.
Contents
The Cooperative constructs the first machine bearing the SACMI trademark.
Le bateau largue les voiles. 46
The role played by Sacmi in society and culture and its contribution to social welfare
and the preservation of our artistic heritage.
From modest beginnings, the company enters the international scene. 230