Written by Chiara Bezzi, Chief Editor
- PREO History started in 1938, it was a company that produced high-precision measurement instruments. During the 90s the company started to focus and project their know-how on the design, production, and sales of hot-melt adhesive systems. Could you explain to us step-by-step this evolution process?
PREO Srl has its historical roots close to the beginning of the Second World War when in 1938, my grandfather, Antonio Preo founded "Officine Meccaniche Preo". It is only thanks to the intense work at the beginning of the business that the company managed to expand, becoming a European leader and reference center in the construction of very high precision mechanical parts for the medical, optical, and, above all, aerospace and military industries. Approaching the design, production, and sale of systems for hot-melt application, we then began to outline one of our main goals: to become manufacturers of hot-melt machinery on a global level. Now we have reached our third generation, and we want to continue our growth at an international level by increasingly focusing on the foreign market.
- You recently experienced an important change in management. How is the company structured today?
From October 2023 I took over the company, becoming the new CEO. My goal is to consolidate the prestigious position achieved in 85 years of activity and history both in the national and above all in the international market while maintaining and guaranteeing the excellence and quality that has always distinguished the products and services offered.
- What are your focus points and your strengths in designing and developing your products? And which are the focal points in distribution and after-sales service?
We stand out for the reliability and innovation of our products, so much so that we have gained a prestigious role both in the development of standard machines and the design of customized solutions and systems.
Thanks to a widespread distribution network in Italy, as well as in 50 foreign countries, a winning commercial policy, and a rapid and efficient sales and after-sales service, we can offer the best possible solution to all gluing needs, acting in multiple sectors, such as packing and packaging, graphics and printing, bottling, automotive, paper converting, textiles, pharmaceutical products, and many others. This assures that our products are adopted by the most important companies worldwide.
- In your long-term strategy, how much does the local market influence your decisions? What are your growth aims in the export market?
We are the only company that is entirely Italian and that manages the whole process internally, making us the only company in Italy that does all this: from the design to production up to after-sales service, providing very fast and technical feedback to the customer, who has a trained and ready staff at his disposal, to meet his needs. The domestic market is of fundamental importance to us, thanks to the massive presence of packaging machine manufacturers who have been using our systems for several years now, exporting them in turn and making our brand known abroad. Our goal is to continue international growth by significantly improving the already satisfactory results achieved so far.
- In the past years, how much has the Made in Italy factor influenced you in designing the success of your products?
We employ a staff of highly qualified technicians, we have one of the most modern and innovative equipment and a widespread sales and after-sales network; we develop a very important technical-commercial and production structure, entirely Italian, in the sector of machines for the application of hot adhesives, to help further strengthen the image of Made in Italy in the world, which has now become one of our essentials strengths, as well as our business card to begin what will be our next challenge: the unconditional conquest of the international market.