The energy crisis we are currently experiencing is putting Italian companies under such a severe strain that, in some cases, even their production is at risk. According to Istat, in March, the growth in the prices of energy consumer goods went from + 45.9% in February to + 52.9% in March 20221.
The most obvious consequences of the crisis are first of all the increase in energy costs, which are 8 to 10 times higher than in 2021. The impact of price increases, however, varies from sector to sector, and the most expensive price of the crisis is paid mainly by energy- and gas-intensive manufacturing companies such as the Oldrati Group, an international leader in the production of rubber, plastic and silicone products.
Since 2016, the Oldrati Group has implemented a series of initiatives aimed at increasing energy efficiency and minimising waste. A concrete example has been the introduction of an Energy Management Team, a cross-functional working group whose aim is to identify and implement continuous actions to optimise energy consumption, and therefore environmental impact, as well as to identify the best energy suppliers based on the reliability-price ratio.
In this historical phase so strongly characterised by rising energy costs, the Oldrati Group has further strengthened investments to reduce and optimise consumption, such as improving production schedules to take advantage of lower-cost hours, installing new photovoltaic plants and thermal insulation of production facilities.
These are just some of the many actions that the Oldrati Group has implemented. However, it will only become clear in the coming months whether they will be sufficient to counter the phenomenon of rising energy prices.
“In this particular historical moment, we, like all energy- and gas-intensive companies, are using all our resources to implement actions that increase company efficiency, but faced with the increases we are witnessing in recent weeks, I believe we need concrete and targeted interventions by governments. I hope for a common energy policy at the European Union level that will allow companies to give continuity to their production activities and to compete without obvious disadvantages. Tomorrow, even more than today, we will see the Italian and European manufacturing system weakened by the loss of business already gained, as well as new opportunities, in favour of other, more competitive macro regions,โ commented Manuel Oldrati, CEO of the Oldrati Group.
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“I cannot deny that in the past few days we have been very close to the decision to temporarily stop operations at one of our plants where energy costs have risen so much that it has resulted in an unsustainable economic loss. However, I am happy that our customers supported us in this specific phase and we were able to maintain the continuity of our operations.
Following the latest elections, a new government will be formed in the coming days. I would like to take this opportunity to wish them all the best in their work, and if the new government deems it useful, our Group will be willing to cooperate in order to mitigate the increase in costs.
Confindustria Bergamo has already initiated a round table on this issue, and we too, like other companies in the area, have been invited to collaborate, and I believe that opportunities for confrontation such as these are the best way to concretely tackle such an important challenge’.
Oldrati is a leading international group in the production of rubber, plastic and silicone products. Founded in Villongo (Bergamo) in 1964, it is present in Italy and internationally with 12 production sites, around 1750 employees and a turnover of 180 million euros. The Group’s continuous expansion is achieved through the progressive integration of high-tech companies and increasing internationalisation.
Ufficio Stampa Oldrati Group
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