AlCircle: How do you visualize the year 2023 for the global aluminium industry, considering the extrusion sector?

Valerio Presezzi: Regarding global industry, in 2023, we are not expecting any particular downturns with respect to the trends of recent years. On the other hand, the outlook is clear and decisive in our extrusion and melting industry.

The market for system supply is going strong, actually very strong. The global market, in general, is experiencing a fundamental transformation in terms of application.

More specifically, many clients are setting themselves up best to satisfy the automotive market and its conversion to electric, as well as the market for high-speed trains and fabrications engineered in aluminium and its alloys. This entails an upwards adjustment in system sizes and, not least of all, technological advancement, a requirement that we regularly satisfy insofar as part of our mission: to provide technology combined with high energy-saving machines and systems.

AlCircle: Could you please brief us on Presezzi’s performance in 2022 and how you envision 2023?

Valerio Presezzi: The Presezzi Extrusion Group’s strong resilience was fully expressed during the year just ended, thanks in part to its far-sighted investments over the years in strategic products, internal processes, international patents and staff professionalism, recording a (provisional) Turnover as of 31 December 2022 of approximately +59% compared to 2021, while the forecast for 2023 is about +3%.

In 2022, we developed 34 new projects, 10 of which were for new clients who chose to believe in us and 24 new orders from long-standing clients who demonstrated their unwavering trust and confidence in our reliability.

Valerio Presezzi: To better convey how the Presezzi Extrusion Group intends to approach 2023, I would like to articulate the term Sustainability into two words: “Virtuous Future”, a future where in order to be leaders, it is essential to be virtuous in directing the economic and environmental sphere.

Backed by a substantial increase in business volumes, significant market results, and confidence in the rising demand for extruded profiles in the automotive, construction and transport industries, the company has strategically invested substantial resources in the development of energy-saving technologies in the name of innovation and the ongoing quest for excellence with low-impact solutions.

Over the past year, we have successfully obtained EPD® (Environmental Product Declaration) certification for two of our flagship products: the Z.P.E. permanent magnet heater and E.S.S. Extrusion Press.  With the EPD, the Presezzi Extrusion Group seeks to facilitate the virtuous conduct of its clients, providing them with a tool that certifies the environmental impact of the machine for working metal throughout its entire life cycle, thus obtaining vital information for assessing the overall effect of the final product, further demonstrating our commitment to a sustainable future.

AlCircle: Which industrial sector do you expect to drive the demand for aluminium in 2023?

Valerio Presezzi: The number and variety of applications for extrusions in aluminium and its alloys have noticeably increased in recent years. Thanks to our expertise gained working in close contact with the production needs of individual applications, our company is frequently chosen as a technological partner, producer and supplier of extrusion lines and foundries for major extruders worldwide, leaving no industry untouched. Considering our operations on a global scale and the current situation as a whole, there has been a substantially balanced demand for systems to produce profiles for B&C (Building & Construction), Mobility / Automotive and Industry. The systems purchased over the last two years and to be supplied in 2023 are characterised by a significant increase in applications for the Mobility / Automotive industry, a trend set to continue judging by the requests we are receiving today, knowing that the systems will go into production in the second half of 2024 and 2025. Presezzi Extrusion is fully equipped to meet demand thanks to high-performance, energy-saving technologies developed specifically for this industry, process traceability systems and several process technologists directly on its team, thus offering the client added value beyond the system itself.  

AlCircle: What innovative products are you planning to develop for the global aluminium industry in 2023?

Valerio Presezzi: Research and development are highly important for our business as well as a smart way of seeking out all the technical moves that can generate positive actions for mankind and the environment. Our most important mission today is research into achieving increasingly safe and efficient know-how and machinery with the precise objective of energy saving, i.e. requiring less energy per ton produced.

Improving this parameter results in the following:

• Fewer CO₂ emissions
• Less demand for electricity
• Less gas consumption