Looking ahead to 2025, what have been the most significant results achieved by Fass so far, also in relation to the investments made by the company?
In 2025, Fass continued its strategy of expansive and strategic investments.
For several years, the company has pursued a dual objective: strengthening its digital and technological infrastructure and promoting a solid culture of sustainability.
Clear evidence of this approach includes numerous investments in Industry 4.0 and, more recently, the acquisition of an Industry 5.0 machine, finalized in the first part of the year with the purchase of a new full-electric injection molding press.
At the same time, the company is reinforcing its data infrastructure, increasing both capacity and usage through advanced digital technologies. In this direction, Fass is implementing an energy analysis system aimed at optimizing industrial consumption. The initiative, expected to be completed by the end of the year, will enable comprehensive mapping of energy usage, providing a concrete lever for managerial, production, and strategic improvement.
Moreover, confirming Fass’s ability to embrace and enhance technological innovation, a 3D configurator has been developed. It allows current and potential clients to customize the most requested products—handles and mops—by combining different materials, colours, and designs. It is a simple yet highly innovative tool that strengthens the competitive advantage deriving from the company’s vertical integration.
In terms of economic and financial performance, we expect to close 2025 by consolidating the turnover and profitability achieved in 2024, without significant negative deviations. This is despite a first half influenced by a slowdown in demand—both domestic and international—caused by the combined effect of inflation, geopolitical instability and, more recently, uncertainty related to potential tariffs imposed by the United States. These factors have affected consumption patterns and procurement strategies among our clients, who have maintained lower stock levels compared to previous years.
The second half of the year is showing clear signs of recovery, supported by the consolidation of an important project with one of our main clients and by the strengthening of existing commercial relationships. A positive quarter-on-quarter variation of approximately 15% is expected, confirming the solidity and resilience of Fass’s management model and enabling the company to reach its set objectives.
Fass has demonstrated its ability to respond promptly—strategically, operationally, and financially—while maintaining balance and continuity even in a complex scenario. This solidity is supported by careful internal planning and by a consolidated relationship of trust with financial institutions, which ensures the availability of the resources needed to face potentially less favourable market phases.
Has Fass invested in projects in recent years that support the community or the local territory?
Fass and the Niccolai family have always had a strong sense of belonging to their territory and community. Values such as respect, responsibility, and social commitment are a precious inheritance passed down by the founders, Piero and Romana, our grandparents, and remain at the foundation of our corporate identity.
Support for local sports is one of the clearest expressions of this bond: our grandfather was president of the Larciano football team for many years, and today we continue to support it so it may proudly represent our community. Likewise, we support cycling events, associations, and sports groups in the area, convinced that sport is an essential driver of growth, cohesion, and well-being.
Another area that is fundamental for us is education. We contribute to projects aimed at strengthening the educational offerings of local schools. School–work alternation is another example: every year we host students from lower and upper secondary schools in the province of Pistoia. Our goal is to continue strengthening our connection with the local community by supporting initiatives that create shared value and promote opportunities for growth, especially for younger generations, because without them, companies like ours would not exist.
We are also particularly proud to support organisations engaged in scientific research and social work, such as the Tommasino Bacciotti Foundation, and to have contributed, even modestly, to the creation of the headquarters of the association 365giorni al femminile, which promotes a culture of solidarity and freedom from all forms of discrimination and violence against women.
Can you tell us about the welfare programmes or tools available at Fass?
In recent years, our workforce has grown steadily: from around 80 people in 2021, we now exceed one hundred. This growth reflects the company’s evolution and the consolidation of our development path. At the same time, a larger structure makes it more challenging to maintain a familial approach and direct awareness of every internal dynamic. For this reason, our commitment remains to guarantee a fair and safe work environment based on mutual respect, collaboration, and the enhancement of people, while ensuring economic stability and concrete opportunities for personal fulfilment.
Fass’s true added value has always been its human capital, an intangible asset to be protected and nurtured over time. In this same direction, the HR department has been strengthened, becoming autonomous in recent years and now fully dedicated to promoting a healthy work culture, continuous training, and professional development for our staff.
This commitment has supported the strengthening of a solid ethical and social culture, confirmed by the maintenance of the SA8000 certification, one of the most internationally recognised standards for corporate social responsibility. The renewal obtained in 2025, following audits conducted by independent third-party bodies, attests to Fass’s full compliance with requirements concerning safety, health, equal treatment, and fair remuneration, as well as its continuous improvement efforts.
Looking ahead to 2026, what strategic goals have you set to support growth and innovation?
For 2026, the goal is to maintain the business volumes achieved in the second half of 2025, while consolidating and optimizing the use of new industrial and digital technologies. The intent is to fully leverage installed production capacity while improving efficiency and reducing production costs.
Operating in a highly competitive sector with limited margins, Fass’s competitiveness depends on its ability to contain unit costs through the use of increasingly efficient machinery, the reduction of energy consumption, and more rational resource management.
In this context, we are evaluating the expansion of our photovoltaic system, with the aim of completing the project by the first half of 2026. The investment, totalling around 1 MW of installed capacity, will allow the company to cover up to 25% of its energy needs through self-generation.
At the same time, the company’s digital and technological transformation will continue: between the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026, we expect to finalize Industry 5.0 investments worth approximately 500,000 euros, aimed at process innovation and improvements in both production and energy efficiency.
Another strategic focus concerns research and development, with the goal of completing and patenting a new model currently in the engineering phase. This will enable us to keep our product range up to date and to offer new solutions to our clients, in a sector that is unfortunately often static and not very receptive to innovation.
In conclusion, a new certification process is set to begin, aimed at further strengthening quality and safety systems across all production stages, while providing greater protection and assurance to our collaborators.