Luigi Poli was a real pioneer in Italy when, during the 80′s, he specialized in design and production of machines and plants for the extrusion and transformation of foamed plastics. ”The best advertisement for FAP has always been innovative, high-quality machines, on which clients can build the success of their enterprises”. These are words of Luigi Poli, who in 1987 founded FAP, a company based in Besana in Brianza (Monza Brianza) that builds extrusion plants and specializes, in particular, in systems for producing foam film. His words perfectly encapsulate the philosophy that, stemming from the typical Brianza mindset (a trait recognized both in Italy and internationally), has always guided this company. Indeed, Brianza people are committed to their work, even when the going gets tough, and they regard their products as the best possible testimony both to themselves and to their businesses. In 2020, the reins of the company passed to Fabrizio and Francesco Poli. The two brothers both joined the family firm when they were very young. Accordingly, after lengthy “apprenticeships” in the various departments and in various roles, they are now entrepreneurs with considerable experience to bring to bear, despite their still relatively young age. Today, they are engaged not only in the day-to-day running of the company, but also in a drive to raise the level of every aspect of its operations through major investments of the kind that, especially right now, demand a good deal of courage and expertise.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
FAP: In the last 34 years FAP has never stopped making a name for itself in high-technology solutions for the extrusion of non-cross-linked polyethylene and polypropylene foam materials, offering a complete “turnkey” project including custom-made design, in-house assembly, training and production startup, guaranteeing the service and reliability of its technology.
E.E: What’s the news for 2021 about new products?
FAP: Through our research and development laboratory in France, we study new applications made possible by materials that have yet to reach the market, so that our technology can be made suitable for processing them. In other words, we always try to anticipate the needs of processors and the market, to be sure we are ready.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
FAP: FAP is a leader in the design and production of high-performance twin-screw extrusion lines for polyethylene and polypropylene foam production, fully automatic winders, lamination lines and cutting/welding units for foam and bubble films. FAP extruders ensures productions from 120 to 1200 kg/h with densities from 16 to 400 kg/m3 and thicknesses from 0.8 to 25 mm. All types of machineries and lines are made adopting the most advanced technologies, the processes are stable and easy to be run by the operators, minimizing industrial waste. The key to FAP’s success is based on pillars such as: quality, flexibility, competitiveness, innovation, attention to Customer’s needs.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
FAP: Foam materials are used extensively in various markets, such as construction and packaging, light industry, automotive, food and others. Thanks to many years of international experience and fruitful cooperation with customers around the globe, FAP’s lines have unparalleled performance characteristics in terms of flexibility and stability in extrusion processes, recognized by the market to be superior even to American and German technologies. Due to this fact we have any kind of requests from every corner of the globe where there is a “fight” for a quality product (very low or very high density) and innovative solutions. We are proud to declare that extruders are equipped with exclusive engineered design of essential components as double screws and extrusion heads.
Fabrizio CEO and Francesco Poli Sales Director
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
FAP: Foam manufacturers have to adapt to ever-changing market demands by offering next-generation solutions for new industries where other types of materials have been used previously. For this reason, FAP has decided to share its experience with the entire foam industry opening its own Internal research center as mentioned before based in France for now and equipped with laboratory extrusion line.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
FAP: We are aware about the coming restrictions on PS foam packaging trays and containers widespread in the food industry, and today we are proud to offer our high technological solution for companies which facing with this problem. According to the numerous requests, in FAP we have found and approve the safe solution to offer to companies which have to switch over to EPP production or want to start a new one. The safe production of polypropylene foam samples was carried out using natural CO2 gas, which is directly injected into the extruder during the extrusion process by special systems. We are continuing to improve, develop and carry out different tests also by requests from our clients.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2021?
FAP: Work on our new production site, which will also be in Besana in Brianza (Monza Brianza), is scheduled to begin in June. The project involves expanding the production area, which is now insufficient to manage our ever-increasing number of orders. Furthermore, we will be moving our research and development laboratory to Italy, thereby expanding our international research center here.
