For them, the paradigm shift has already begun some time ago. Because, as the CEO says Louis Rapullinothe change of pace of the South also on the industrial level and in steel in particular is now a certainty. «They have always considered us the ugly, dirty and bad ones only because steel and the iron and steel industry in general have long suffered this bad reputation. But the reality is very different, and this is also demonstrated by the degree of environmental sustainability achieved by our plants». Luigi Rapullino, or Sideralbathe family company founded together with his father Tommaso in 1993 which today is just outside Naples, in the industrial area of Acerrais committed to implementing an investment plan for over 33 million euros, which has been partly supported by Invitalia but which relies above all on the Group’s resources.
The new resources are intended to expand the site by another 18 thousand square meters (the total covered surface area will thus reach 72 thousand square meters) and to further increase the product range. Every year Sideralba produces and markets over 600,000 tons of steel, including coils, tubes, strips, sheets and open profiles, and is now a reality of excellence in the steel sector, not only in Italy. Four production sites and one in Tunisia in 50% partnership with the Marcegaglia group: the coils that arrive by sea at the port of Naples continue on to Italy and Europe. Turnover of 380 million, 250 employees in Acerra alone that will reach 300 when the Industrial Plan is completed (within this year): «With Invitalia we are discussing the possibility of continuing together, otherwise we will do it with our resources» says Rapullino, who has become a regular point of reference for the steel community and a staunch defender of family values also in the management of the company: «Our values are the result of our history, they guide all our decisions and define our processes, from production to customer relations», he observes.
Relationships
From Naples to North Africa it is a short step and the idea of nominating the South as a steel hub, strengthening the commercial and industrial relations already in place with the countries on the southern shore of the Mediterranean finds him completely favorable: “In a territory that in 2030 will have about 30 million inhabitants, only 24 hours away in terms of transport of goods from Naples, this opportunity is decidedly concrete and feasible. It can be compared, without excessive optimism, to the impact that companies from Northern Italy had on European markets after the birth of the EU: for them it was the turning point, for us it could be the same thing” says the industrialist from Campania who was a guest yesterday at the Neapolitan meeting of Siderweb.
The ambition supported by factual data, often little and poorly communicated. «Not only in Campania – explains Rapullino – but throughout the South there are companies that work with very high quality steel. And many, now almost all, have zero impact in terms of environmental sustainability. Important investments have been made in recent years which have contributed to increasing production and eliminating pollution. This is why certain labels from the past don’t suit us.”
Sideralba, fresh from two years of growing numbers, saw 2024 as a necessary adjustment phase after a strong push (a trend common to the entire sector in the South: the 2022 data say that in the South the turnover had grown by 5.8% compared to the previous year, and the added value of 5.1%). The choices and vision to optimize production sites clearly pay off, such as the decision to build a plant capable of producing energy to reduce management costs. «Today the amount of energy that we don’t use we sell on the market» says with legitimate pride Rapullino who can also boast of another record, which is also definitely not negligible: starting a year, 2024 to be precise, without any financial debt . Also in this case, the issue of a 12 million euro minibond proved successful, helping to finance the Group’s industrial plan.
The steel hub, the bridge between Europe and North Africa through the Mezzogiorno, is the next challenge: «The Mattei Plan says Rapullino indicates that the possibility of investing in Africa on concrete projects and in respect of territorial identities is possible. Our experience in Tunisia, which has allowed us to get to know a new reality and to expand our markets outside Europe, confirms it: the Mezzogiorno is the ideal area to create this new opportunity and steel and its semi-finished products are an indispensable sector for the growth of economies throughout the world. Being part of this scenario can only make us proud».
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