Italsofa Romania, part of Natuzzi international group, one of the world's biggest sofa producers, expects to derive a turnover of approximately 84 million euros this year, an increase of more than 10% against 2006.
Last year, the company completed its project related to the expansion of its production capacities, which began in early 2005, with total investments amounting to more than 2.5 million euros last year. "We've given up the idea of building a new plant for the time being and have instead decided to expand the existing facilities," Francesco Stasolla, vice-president of the company, told ZF Transilvania.
The company's representatives chose not to specify the percentage by which production capacities will increase in the wake of this investment. However, according to its management, the plant in Baia Mare currently operates at full capacity and the company pursues a gradual expansion of its current facilities. The Italian group has invested over 35 million euros in this plant so far. Last year, the company reported a turnover worth 76.3m euros (267m RON), compared with 62.4m euros in 2005, when Natuzzi's business advanced by 30% from 2004. In 2005, Italsofa Romania's net income amounted to 10.1m euros, an increase from the 9m euros it generated in 2004.
The Italians currently own two production facilities in Baia Mare with an area of over 65,000 square metres and a daily production capacity of around 2,300 seats (the gauge used to calculate sales of sofas). The total area of the land owned by the company is 200,000 square metres. In Baia Mare, Natuzzi exclusively manufactures leather and microfibre sofas - 99% of which are primarily exported to EU markets.
At present Italsofa, works with a single customer on the domestic market - the Linea Mex company. According to Stasolla, the export make-up will remain unchanged in the next period
