Faccin, founded in 1960 in Visano (Brescia), is a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of sheet metal calenders, lines for domed bottoms, profile bending machines, and special-purpose machines.
The machines are marketed under the group’s three historic brands, Faccin, Roundo, and Boldrini, covering both standard and premium segments, with an ever-increasing level of customization.
Production takes place entirely in Visano on a site spanning over 25,000 m², through a vertically integrated manufacturing process supported by a highly qualified in-house Research & Development and engineering department.
With over 17,000 machines installed worldwide, the company serves a wide range of industrial sectors, boasting an impressive track record, with a primary focus on pressure vessels—intended mainly for the Hydrogen and Oil & Gas sectors, but also for Food and Chemicals—which account for approximately 40% of revenue, and on the Wind Energy segment for the construction of wind farms, which contributes about 20%, in addition to serving other end markets such as Construction & Heavy Equipment and Other Carpentry. Additional significant opportunities are generated by after-sales activities such as spare parts, technical support, and accessories.
With exports accounting for 85% of sales, the group serves an international portfolio of over 480 active customers through 15 sales representatives, 2 subsidiaries (in the USA and Germany), and an extensive network of distributors and agents.
The group is led by a management team with proven experience, which has reinvested in the transaction.
Origination
The sale process was initiated by the financial shareholders, followed by a beauty contest involving several financial and industrial counterparties.
Transaction Structure
IGI, with the support of a co-investor, acquired the company through a leveraged buyout, with reinvestment by the current management.
Investment Rationale
Faccin is a leading global player in the metal-forming machinery sector, historically recognized for the high quality of its small- and medium-sized machines and now increasingly established in the medium- and large-sized machine segment as well. This evolution has been made possible by a technologically advanced product offering characterized by a high degree of customization, which is particularly important in critical applications for the wind power and pressure vessel sectors, where the company is building growing credibility and recognition on an international level.
The group is able to offer highly flexible and customized solutions across a wide range of sizes, from small machines to large and extra-large systems, for highly complex technical applications.
Faccin stands out for its advanced design expertise, the build quality of its machinery, and performance standards that exceed those of its main competitors, establishing itself as a preferred partner for customers operating in specialized industrial contexts with high operational criticality.
The presence of three complementary brands, Faccin, Boldrini, and Roundo, gives the group a distinctive and hard-to-replicate market position, enabling it to effectively serve different segments based on application type, size, and technological positioning. This multi-brand structure, unique in the competitive landscape, ensures extensive coverage of the global market and strong commercial recognition, built over time through a combination of established technical expertise and long-term customer relationships.
The group can count on a solid and experienced management team, characterized by deep industrial expertise and a clear strategic vision, which has successfully guided the company’s operational and financial turnaround.
The production process, fully integrated within the Visano site, allows for direct and precise control over quality, timelines, and costs, while ensuring the operational flexibility essential for fulfilling highly customized and technically complex orders. The industrial structure is also capable of selectively and scalably outsourcing specific production phases, particularly for large-scale orders, thereby optimizing installed capacity, lead times, and space utilization, without compromising the quality standards that distinguish the brand.
Management has demonstrated the ability to successfully identify and serve the most dynamic end markets, proactively adapting the product portfolio to evolving demand and promptly capitalizing on opportunities presented by structural industry trends (e.g., wind energy, hydrogen storage, pressure vessels). This has helped mitigate exposure to the cyclical nature typical of capital goods, strengthening the long-term stability of revenues.
The group maintains a strong focus on innovation from an ESG perspective, developing machinery designed for direct on-site installation, thereby reducing logistics-related emissions, and investing in advanced automation, revamping initiatives, energy consumption reduction, and the use of recyclable materials, with the aim of further enhancing the overall sustainability of its product offering.
Value Creation Strategy
Strengthening the Wind Energy segment through greater market presence and customer recognition of the group’s expertise, as demonstrated by its numerous project references, while capitalizing on the positive future trend in the renewable energy sector.
Leveraging market leadership in the Pressure Vessels segment by capitalizing on the new cycle of infrastructure and energy investments, particularly in the USA, which will drive a recovery in demand in the short to medium term, with positive effects on volumes and product mix.
Gradual revitalization of the Other Carpentry segment, linked to the recovery of industrial production.
Development of the Construction segment, driven by major infrastructure projects that ensure an overall stable growth trajectory over the plan’s horizon.
Expansion into emerging end markets, such as hydrogen, where the Company is consolidating its positioning and high-potential business relationships.
Greater penetration into less-served geographies, particularly the Middle East and India, characterized by high levels of industrial and energy investment.
Integration of digital technologies (AI and IoT) to increase the energy efficiency of machinery, optimize consumption, and accelerate automation, thereby strengthening the technological differentiation of the product offering.
Strengthening of the after-sales segment, a high-margin business, through the expansion of services and the introduction of structured maintenance contract models to increase recurring revenue and customer loyalty.
Use Faccin as a starting point for a buy-and-build strategy with further acquisitions in Italy and abroad to broaden the product offering and expand into new or currently underserved markets.
Value Realization
Divestment of the investment through a sale to an industrial operator or another financial investor.