News
Reproduction furniture
2008
PRESS RELEASE
THE NEW WATER-BASED COATINGS FOR REPRODUCTION FURNITURE
DEVELOPED BY ICA GROUP COMBINE EXCELLENT APPEARANCE AND
TRANSPARENCY WITH RESPECT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
The Italy-based group – a leading name in the manufacture and marketing of
special coatings for wood – has developed coating cycles (in collaboration
with Giardina Officine Aeromeccaniche) that make it possible to achieve
finishes that are easily comparable to those achieved using traditional,
solvent-based products, but with a drastic reduction in environmental
impact.
Civitanova Marche, March 3, 2007 – Resistance to change is a deeply rooted phenomenon
within the reproduction furniture industry. The need to maintain high levels of transparency in
the finish has constrained the industry, for many years, to use nothing but nitro coatings,
which seemed to be the only type of coatings able to guarantee the required standards of
finish. These days, however, there are no longer any differences in quality between waterbased
and solvent-based coating cycles (this applies both to transparent finishes and to
lacquered, glazed finishes). For this reason, ICA Group – a specialist in the manufacture and
marketing of special wood coatings, based in the city of Civitanova Marche, in the Italian
province of Macerata – has developed cutting-edge water-based coating cycles that have
what it takes to ensure that the final appearance of the coated item remains intact.
Alongside ICA Group’s transparent antiquing water-based cycle, which makes it possible
to achieve exceptional transparency, the company now offers a lacquered, glazed, bicolor
water-based cycle that is perfect for adding a touch of the new to a classic piece of furniture.
Moreover, ICA Group’s solutions allow for a drastic reduction (over 90%) in solvent
emissions, thus considerably lowering the environmental impact of wood coatings
and, in the process, protecting the health of the person applying the coating and the
final user.
For the development of state-of-the-art solutions for the furniture industry, ICA
Group benefits from the input of Giardina Officine Aeromeccaniche, a company located
in Figino Serenza, in the province of Como, which specializes in the delivery of integrated
coating systems. The range of water-based coating products designed by ICA Group
specifically for use on assembled furniture is extensive. For transparent antiquing cycles, the
range includes TAPU, a walnut-colored water-based coating that gives the furniture an
“aged” look, as well as transparent, monocomponent, water-based base coat FA293,
dark-walnut-colored, water-based antiquing agent INVA and transparent
monocomponent, “shellac effect” water-based top coat AO239G65. For lacquered,
glazed cycles, the range includes white, bicomponent, water-based base coat FAB433, as
well as platinum-gray, lacquered, bicomponent water-based top coat AO510/R7036,
light-gray, lacquered, bicomponent water-based top coat AO510/R7035, darkwalnut-
colored water-based top coat PN and transparent, bicomponent water-based
matt top coat AO470.
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ICA Group’s transparent, antiquing, water-based cycle for assembled furniture is
particularly suitable for use on reproduction furniture made from woods such as
cherry, walnut, toulipier, lime and poplar. This cycle is composed of one coat of TAPU (a
water-based “antique-effect” coating), which should be sprayed on and manually rag-rolled,
followed by two sprayed-on coats of FA293 (transparent, monocomponent water-based base
coat), which provides excellent wettability of the wood fiber and is able to guarantee
excellent transparency. Once INVA (dark-walnut-colored, water-based antiquing agent) has
been sprayed over the existing coating, the next phase involves the spray application of one
coat of AO239G65 (transparent, monocomponent “shellac-effect” water-based top coat). The
cycle ends with the application of antiquing wax.
(See APPENDIX)
ICA Group’s lacquered, glazed, bicolor water-based cycle for assembled furniture is
ideal for woods such as toulipier, lime and poplar. Only water-based bicomponent
products are used within this cycle, since they can block the extractive substances
that are found in many of the wood species traditionally used in the furniture sector.
The use of bicomponent coating products also makes it possible to guarantee longterm
fullness, thus giving reproduction furniture an excellent appearance. The cycle
starts with the application of three coats of white, bicomponent water-based base coat
FAB433, which delivers exceptional fullness and is extremely easy to sand – properties
that are aligned with the specific requirements of the reproduction furniture industry.
Subsequently, the frame of the piece of furniture should be sprayed with one coat of
platinum-gray, lacquered, bicomponent water-based top coat AO510/R7036, while any
drawers on the piece of furniture should be spray-coated with light-gray, lacquered,
bicomponent water-based top coat AO510/R7035. The cycle ends with a coat of dark-walnutcolored,
brushable water-based top coat PN and a coat of transparent, bicomponent
water-based matt top coat AO470.
(See APPENDIX)
ICA Group developed these coating cycles in partnership with Giardina Officine
Aeromeccaniche, a Lombardy-based specialist that has designed a highly innovative
drying procedure which makes it possible to dry coatings in a matter of minutes
thanks to the Selected Microwave system. Water-based coatings do not dry in the same
way as traditional, solvent-based coatings: water-based coatings take longer to dry, and the
results achieved are highly dependent on the atmospheric conditions at the time when the
products are being applied and/or are drying. If the air is too warm, the coating can form a
surface film that imprisons air molecules, and this leads, over time, to the film bleaching and
cracking. The solution developed by Giardina Officine Aeromeccaniche involves
placing the coated furniture inside a mixed oven (selected microwaves/warm air) for
just a few minutes until it is dry. In this way, the wooden object does not start to
heat up excessively. The selected-microwave section uses only 6kW per session.
Giardina Officine Aeromeccaniche also produces continuous-drying systems that can
be inserted into existing assembled-furniture systems.
ICA Group’s products deliver the high-quality solutions that wood-coating
professionals demand. In particular, the company’s water-based coatings are
constantly being refined in order to become even more efficient in terms of
atmospheric emissions and environmental impact. By investing heavily in R&D, ICA
Group has developed a bicomponent polyurethane coating capable of achieving
results that are perfectly comparable to those produced using normal, solvent-based
coatings. In 1995, the European Union awarded the LIFE mark to ICA’s range of waterbased
bicomponent coatings in recognition of the “sustainable long-term development”
demonstrated by ICA in its efforts to reduce atmospheric pollution. ICA’s research in
this field was presented to the European Commission as one of the leading practical examples
of the LIFE (l’Instrument Financier pour l’Environnement) program, an initiative launched
for the purpose of giving financial incentives to organizations engaged in “sustainable longterm
development”. The central objectives of the LIFE program are the control and reduction
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of pollution in its various forms through ‘clean’ technologies. ICA’s was the only project in
the coating products sector to receive an award: the products developed by ICA were
shown to work effectively towards a reduction in atmospheric emissions of Volatile
Organic Compounds (VOCs), and, specifically, Volatile Organic Solvents (VOSs). ICA
Group’s products, which are intended for use by professional users, are sold all over
the world. ICA’s highly specialized distributors cater to the requirements of the
various industry sectors in which wood coatings are used (interior design, carpentry,
outdoor structures, frames,
ICA Group supports the relaunch of the entire wooden furnishings industry in Italy
September 2007
ICA GROUP PLAYS A VITAL ROLE IN THE RELAUNCH OF THE “MADE IN ITALY” FURNITURE INDUSTRY
Through its cutting-edge product range, the Italian group – a leading specialist in the manufacture and marketing of special coatings for wood ¬– is driving the expansion of the furniture and furnishings industry in Italy. In 2006, the group’s consolidated turnover reached €96.9 million – 12% up on the previous year.
Civitanova Marche, September 3, 2007 – ICA Group, based in Civitanova Marche (within the Italian province of Macerata), is making the most of its capacity for innovation, its state-of-the-art technology and its creative flair in order to support the relaunch of the entire wooden furnishings industry in Italy. By using the expertise it has built up in planning and launching a plethora of coating products that combine excellent aesthetic results with minimal environmental impact, the Italian group – a specialist in the manufacture and marketing of special wood coatings that are sold worldwide under the ICA and Salchi brands – is doing its bit to promote the growth of the Italian wooden furniture and furnishings industry by helping to increase its market share. First and foremost, ICA Group is focused on meeting the needs of the leading Italian furniture manufacturers by leveraging its 20+ years of experience in the development of coating products that have exceptionally low levels of environmental impact.
“From the outset”, explains Sandro Paniccia, President and CEO of ICA Group, “our development strategy has been all about innovation. Continuously improving the quality of our products, while simultaneously reducing environmental impact across the entire wooden furniture industry in Italy, is an objective that we have been pursuing since day one, across all levels of the company. In the global market, it is essential to differentiate yourself by making products that can improve the health of the user. This explains why, year on year, our group continues to invest heavily in environmentally friendly products, substituting solvent-based products and cycles with water-based equivalents to ensure compliance with the limits imposed by the VOC directive [Italian Ministerial Decree 44/04]”. Since its establishment in 1971, ICA Group has always based its corporate approach on the continuous application of innovation to its products and manufacturing processes. Time and again, the company has demonstrated its commitment to enhancing the quality of its products by tapping the potential of advanced technologies. For the three-year period 2006-2008, ICA Group has drafted an investment plan that includes €20.4 million of investment in the technological innovation of its products and processes. In 2006 alone, the total investment in this type of innovation amounted to €8.4 million.
The company’s investments in R&D, which are geared towards producing the most innovative, technically advanced coating products on the market, are similarly substantial. ICA Group is acutely aware of the fact that it plays a crucial role in the products its clients make, and is committed to helping them become more competitive. In total, for the three-year period 2006-2008, the company has set aside €6.6 million for investments in research targeted at product innovation. In 2006 alone, the total investment in this type of innovation reached €2.1 million.
A crucial contribution to the endeavor to boost the competitiveness of its clients is provided by the technical expertise that ICA Group makes available. The company’s technical support team – which has expanded over the years in line with the growth of the company and its customer base – now includes 33 specialist technicians who have been trained to the highest levels. As such, the team is able to offer constant, rapid assistance to ensure that the company’s clients can operate as efficiently as possible.
At present, ICA Group – which produced 29,000 tons of wood coatings in 2006 – employs a total of 307 staff across its various offices, sales subsidiaries (located in Italy and overseas) and manufacturing plants. The company’s four plants – three of which are in Civitanova Marche and one of which is in Romano D’Ezzelino (in the province of Vicenza) – have a combined indoor surface area 42,000m2, while the total site area of the four facilities amounts to 130,000m2. ICA Group has a presence in 45 overseas markets and is one of Europe’s leading producers of special coatings for wood. The company has 1 sales subsidiary in Germany, 6 warehouses (three in Spain, one in France, one in the UK and one in Ireland), 50 distributors and 70 specialist resellers. In 2006, ICA Group’s exports represented 33% of its total turnover.
ICA Group’s financial results make clear how the company’s focus on the development of innovative products for the Italian interior home furnishings sector is having a very positive impact across in the industry. In 2006, the company recorded a total turnover of €96.9 million – an increase of 12% on the previous year. ”Behind this consistent growth,” adds Sandro Paniccia, “lie the great results we are achieving both in Italy and in our export markets”. In its domestic market, the company delivered an increase of 9%, which was due mostly to increased sales of water-based coatings. Better still, ICA Group managed to increase its turnover from export markets by a full 19%. This highly positive trend in exports consolidates the 2005 results, thus underlining the success of the company’s decision to continue to boost its presence in markets such as Spain, Poland, Greece, Canada, the USA, Russia, the UK, Ireland and France.
In terms of its various product ranges, 2006 saw significant increases in sales of water-based coatings, UV coatings and interior and exterior coating products. Indeed, by sub-dividing the 2006 turnover by product type, it emerges that water-based coatings proved to be the biggest sellers (31%). This increase is due mainly to the investments that the company has made in technological research aimed at reducing environmental impact. ICA Group expects to close 2007 with further increases: “In the current year,“ concludes the ICA Group President “consolidated turnover should reach €110 million: 14% up on 2006”.
ICA Group products are distributed in Italy through 85 direct agents who have been working in the industry for decades and who know the business inside out. These agents have a particularly thorough understanding of the clients’ perspective and are, therefore, able to supply services and products that are calibrated to fulfill their requirements. Moreover, ICA Group’s Italian sales network benefits from the input of 7 sales branches (at Premariacco, in the province of Udine; at Motta di Livenza and Oderzo, in the province of Treviso; at Silvi Marina, in the province of Teramo; at Vimercate, in the province of Milan and in Modena and Pesaro), 51 warehouses and 60 specialist resellers. As a result, the company has an almost ubiquitous presence throughout Italy.
ICA Group’s coatings are used principally on wooden products (89% of total turnover). Wooden products coated with ICA Group coatings are to be found in the home furniture industry (assembled furniture and complementary furnishings), in the paneling sector (paneling for furniture, dividing walls and flat panels for exterior use, including doors), on chairs, on office furniture and in hotels and other public premises. In addition, ICA Group coatings are used in contract maintenance (e.g. for theatres) and on kitchen furniture (such as cupboard doors, tables and drawer units), bathroom furnishings (bathroom panels and bathroom accessories), interior carpentry (doors, edging, architraves and wooden sections for staircases), exterior carpentry (wooden floors including parquet), ships and boats (interior furnishings and other components), wooden houses, garden furniture (permanent outdoor furniture such as gazebos, wooden bridges, roofing and fencing), children’s furniture and toys, coffins, musical instruments (guitars, pianos, organs and stringed instruments), store interiors, exhibition stands, profiles for picture frames, mirror units, furniture, baseboards, doors and windows, as well as on numerous non-wood products such as those made from glass or plastic.
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