Cutting tool specialist SIMA opens in Italy and plans export growth

SIMA, the Spanish manufacturer of table saws, cutting machines and surface preparation tools, has opened a new subsidiary office in Italy and plans other new offices in Brazil and Qatar this year.

The Italian business is located near to Milan and is being run by a newly recruited manager, Susan Ávila, who will manage the office and coordinate SIMA's network of seven sales representatives in the country.

SIMA, which is based in Granada in southern Spain, said the 1500 m2 office was opened in response to growing demand for its equipment in the country, where it claims to already have a 10% market share.

Javier García Marina, general manager at SIMA, said; "In addition to underlining our commitment to the Italian market, we can speed up deliveries to the rest of Europe by despatching them from the new premises, with the added benefit of reduced transportation costs. In this way, SIMA will become increasingly competitive."

SIMA said the Italian opening was part of a wider expansion of the company, with plans to open new offices in Qatar (the Middle East) and Brazil later this year.

The company, which is 40 years old and family owned, manufactures building material cutters, pavement and surface treatment machines and rebar cutting and bending tools.

It claims to be the market leader in Spain and "amongst the three leading European manufacturers", with annual production capacity of over 25000 units. SIMA has a total manufacturing area of 30000 m2, employs 120 people, and exports represent around 50% of sales.