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Economic newspaper 'Expansión': Benito to grow in France
Read new (Expansión, 4/12/07, in spanish)
The foundry from Manlleu (Spain) bought a lot in Saint Genis de Fontaine (France), where the sales in France will be concentrated. The firm is also thinking in exploiting China as a market, not just a production centre.
Fundició Dúctil Benito, a company with headquarter in Manlleu (Spain) specialized in urban equipment, is willing to expand its natural marketplace to France, where commercial offices were opened a year ago. The company has now bought a lot of 2,000 sqm in Saint Genis de Fontaine, close to Perpignan. There, at the beginning of 2008, the firm will set in motion the building of a new warehouse with about 1,000 sqm surface to mainly welcome a product showroom. According to David Roura, Chief Operations Officer, the target is to find its place in the foundry market in France, as this one is a 85% of the market in Iberia.
Benito, a 100% family-owned company, employs 170 people now. In 2006, it had a turn-over of 81 million euros, which it is expected to reach 100 millions at the end of this financial year.
The company, with headquarter in Manlleu, produces urban equipment such as benches and chairs for squares and parks, bollards to limit cars’ access, manhole covers and grates, street lighting, waste collection systems and children and sports equipment.
The company is developing lighter products to increase export rates
Roura declares that Benito’s products are “difficult to transport” due to its weight and volume. That’s why “we think that the French market can be a natural growth for the Iberian market”, he adds. Roura also explains that “the company is developing lighter products and easier to transport to increase export volumes to Portugal, United Kingdom, Italy and Eastern Europe.
Furthermore, Benito, which counts with three joint-venture in China “is now approaching the Asian market as a client, not just as a producer”, Roura says.
Diversification
In last years, the growth of the building industry in Spain has centred Benito in this area. “Nevertheless, as this activity matures, we must try to diversify to other areas”, Roura says. The company has recently launched a new division of interactive information points, called Smartpoint. Those panels are equipped with touch screens and are used both for citizen information and advertising.
Belluga litter bin, from Rafael Moneo and Benito, at the garden o ...