In this brief interview provided by the folks at Valmatic, journalist Roberto Carminati speaks to Maurizio Levratti, Valmatic's Director, in order to garner some insight on where the company comes from, what it does, and how the firm plans to capitalize on the growing worldwide trend of single use packaging.

Now operating in some 40 different countries, Valmatic was established 35 years ago when its business was based on producing and distributing special thermoforming machines for the packaging industry in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.

Valmatic was established in San Prospero (Modena, Italy) 35 years ago as a manufacturer of thermoforming machines for the production of suppositories and vaginal ovules. Subsequently, Valmatic developed a specialized contract packing capability aimed tvo provide customers around the world with form/filled/sealed and empty suppositories or vaginal ovules. Valmatic utilized the engineering, manufacturing and contract packing experience it has acquired in order to develop a number of form/fill/seal machines for the production of thermoformed unit dose containers.

How would you describe your company’s most important strong points?

Valmatic is a highly specialized designer and manufacturer of thermoforming filling lines for producing single dose containers and suppositories. Together with competence I think versatility is definitely one of our most prominent peculiarities, which allows us always to fulfil any customer’s needs in a variety of different segments, ranging from the food industry to the cosmetic and pharmaceutical markets, just to name a few. Our skills have, of course, evolved with time.

Could you give us a few examples of the evolution your firm has undergone recently?

In 2015, Valmatic is going to celebrate its 35th anniversary: it was established in 1980 as a producer of thermoforming machines with a robust focus on suppositories and vaginal ovules. While then developing a ten year long experience in automatic machinery manufacturing, the firm has created its unique contract packing service.

This strategy builds upon outsourced manufacturing and that translates into single-dose filling for such liquids as dietary supplements, beauty and personal care products, creams and gels, balms and, last but not least, medical devices, which need to be carefully manipulated and handled in a completely controlled atmosphere. Thus, Valmatic is now able to display and offer what we have dubbed a full service offering: it includes both the creation of single dose customized containers and the development of secondary packing such as cards, counter displays, cases and more, providing clients with a ready-to-market, finished product.

Is customization also key when it comes to dealing with your customers and suppliers?

Of course it is. I think this is also one of the reasons for Valmatic’s success. As I said, the company offers its client a full-service portfolio, but on the other hand we consider every member of our supply chain as a real partner, sharing our same ideas and goals. Most of them are just as versatile and careful as Valmatic’s employees are, and they pay the same attention to quality.

Where does the most significant part of your revenues currently come from?

I would instead consider that our most significant competitive advantage comes from our ability to integrate the business of automatic thermoforming machines with the competencies we have developed in the outsource services arena and that have ultimately built upon our technical skills. We are able to ensure our customers and their products highly specific, dedicated production lines for high volume production. Valmatic is, in fact, investing in both fields, services and direct manufacturing, in Italy and overseas, in order to better penetrate a number of other countries we consider crucial for our business and in which the company foresees important chances of a further growth.

How many different countries is the company able to serve today, and how?

The outsourced packaging services business is nearly exclusively dedicated to the Italian market, whilst on the other hand our form/fill/seal machines are distributed in 40 nations, approximately.

Between 2013 and 2014 you launched a series of new machines and technologies on the market: could you describe some of the most important ones?

At last year’s Interpack in Düsseldorf, Valmatic introduced the new VAL175 thermoforming and filling machine, projected for the production of thermoformed, plastic unit doses and aimed at producing single dose containers, form filled in laminated plastic sheets. Thanks to the the machine’s easy access, the format changeover – from one to 300 milliliters – is, in fact, really fast and convenient to clean. The VAL175 has been designed for the cosmetic, chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries and could be described as a complete all-round machine, conceived for medium and large production volumes. It can manufacture unit-dose and vials with or without flat bottoms (stand-up); its goals can range from the single-folded film to a multiple plastics films coupling. Finally, it can couple an aluminum film with a plastic one too. VAL 175, last but not least, relies on excellent mechanical technology, combined with a cutting edge electronic control both for the operator interface and the internal motion management. It is equipped with a Siemens touchscreen operator panel and with a 10 inch display, fitted for remote control.

What kind of trends are about to shape and drive the packaging industry in the near future and how will you face the forthcoming challenges?

It is my opinion that the single use packaging market is about to experience significant growth and this evolution is also to be driven by demographic factors. Single use containers are designed to meet the requirements of a new customer base, made up of small families and singles living in a different social environment that pushes them to spend a more significant amount of time out, due to their jobs or their leisure activities. This is one of the reasons why Valmatic believes this model of packaging is skyrocketing despite the fact it can still be considered an innovation, under many aspects.

And, thus, what will the company’s future roadmap look like, according to your vision?

Valmatic is strongly committed to quality, innovation in packaging and product control and believes that innovation and growth have to be managed by an effective organization, prepared for monitoring the entire production process in order to provide clients with a top notch "made in Italy" solution portfolio. The company was recently appointed with authorization for biological cosmetic packaging and with the authorization for dietary supplement packaging, too. Of course, we had to invest a significant budget to obtain these certifications, but this strategy will allow the firm to expand its customer base and was appreciated by our existing partners and clients.

Does innovation spring from the collaborative relationship you have with your partners?

It does, undoubtedly, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic arenas as well as in the food and chemical industries. To give you a brief example, we recently launched a product line called Zig Zag Dopopuntura (i.e. After-bite) which is a single-dose easy to use solution designed to alleviate the annoying effects of an insect bite and can be carried in a small bag anywhere you go. Zig Zag is entirely based on natural cosmetic ingredients and fully natural active principles. In addition to that, single dose containers can also be used for sampling, since, thanks to their technical properties, thermoformed containers are an ideal way to provide consumers with an attractive and personalized solution. When it comes to the cosmetic and personal care industries, Valmatic can offer a large number of captivating containers, enriched with metallic, gold, or silver effects.