The year 1963: The press
machine that got business started
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FBM: "Made in Italy" in the kitchen
The history of La Termoplastic FBM began in Gallarate in the period of the economic boom thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of two brothers, Francesco and Bruno Munari, whose initials are still today present in the trade name.
In the year 1963 they decided to buy a molding machine for thermosetting materials and to become part of a sector representing one of the most promising frontiers in local industrial development, i.e. the production of cookware handles. This was the beginning of a 40-years activity where the devotion and the passion of the Munari family led La Termoplastic FBM towards today's achieved objectives.
The two brothers, supported by their wives Luciana and Valeria, sisters themselves, followed the new activity still continuing up with their previous working commitments and received the first orders from local companies destined to undergo an important entrepreneurial development: the Bassani Ticino in Varese and the Bialetti company in Omegna.
In the same period they started contacts with Sambonet, a company producing steel cookware which in that period was searching for new suppliers of Bakelite accessories: right the raw material used for the FBM products.
For the small Munari company these were the basic contacts that allowed its fast growth and introduction into the national sector.
In 1970 Francesco filed the first patent of the family company for the invention of the detachable handle for pans which reduced pan dimensions and allowed pan usage in the oven, thus anticipating the most recent "space-saving" concept.
The idea created a great interest in the sector with local companies and the consequent production increase signed the start of a success based on solid and substantial guidelines: constant creation of unique models and shapes featured by innovative taste and modern and revolutionary production lines.
Since the '70s, design, innovation and technological evolution have become the pillar stone allowing the company to reach in a few years a leading position in the sector in a few years. Due to the constant expansion the production had to be moved from the small basement of the brothers to a 300-square meter warehouse in the town of Samarate; four years later such warehouse had to be enlarged.
The demand for FBM-marked handles was such that in 1976 the company further increased its production by moving to a new 1300-square meter site in Cardano al Campo.
In these years the second generation of the family started cooperating with the company, the six sons and daughters of the two couples started working for the family company bringing with them new inputs and enthusiasm. Thanks to the far-sightedness inherited from their parents, this young generation led the company towards the potentials offered by the foreign markets by taking part in the first sector exhibitions and starting important export processes with the consequent consolidation of the company's strong presence within Europe. The new economic and productive impulse generated by the birth of new contacts in Europe required a new logistic change: the sites in Cardano al Campo and Samarate were closed and the company moved to Gallarate in a 3000-square meter warehouse, whose surface was doubled in the period between 1985 and 1987.
In 1986 FBM took part for the first time directly at the exhibitions in Frankfurt and Chicago, two extremely important exhibition areas for this sector. The company had therefore achieved a new and important target: the extra-European market.
This was the start of a constant expansion process leading FBM to Russia, South America, Far and Middle East allowing La Termoplastic FBM to become in the '90s the main European company in this sector.
In 1992 the company signed an important agreement with the foreign company Maymouth in order to be in a position to offer a more capillary and dedicated service to the whole international market.
Through this solid and long-lasting partnership Maymouth is still today the sole agent for La Termoplastic FBM on the European markets and is the direct distributor for the rest of the world. In 1995 La Termoplastic FBM found its final setting: a new 12 thousand-square meter site was inaugurated in the industrial area of Arsago Seprio. Here the technologically modern and innovative site was able to reduce the manpower costs and limit to a minimum.
At the end of the '90s the company started an important expansion project the aim of which was the consolidation of the company's direct presence in the world by opening warehouses located in different markets in order to be constantly able to offer the customers a more dedicated service and fast and efficient logistics.
In the year 2000 the company officially opened its first foreign production factory in Brazil: this new branch is built on over 5 thousand square meters and produces 35 million pieces per year.
Since 2006 La Termoplastic FBM has been cooperating in South America with a Mexican production unit. |
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FBM in the world
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