Luca Rappini – FMB Group – Interview

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    1. Can you please share with us your current position/job and profile of the organization you work for?

    I’m the CEO of FMB Group (Dry cleaning machines manufacturers: Union S.p.A, Firbimatic S.p.A. and Realstar S.r.l.).

    2. In which countries and market sectors of Professional Textile Care did you work and did you gained experiences?

    We worked and gained experiences in dry cleaning machines sector all over the world.

    3. Could you please describe the most important characteristics and trends of the current PTC markets in terms of customer/market demand characteristics and trends?

    The global trend of new dry cleaning machines market is slightly downward.

    Anyway, there are markets like US market that are stable or even increasing thanks to the fact that US customers demand Italian machines considered as solid, fast and reliable machines.

    4. What do you see as the most important success factors for todays PTC companies?

    In this period we see as at the most important factor the capability of proposing machines that can save costs (and so save energy).

    5. What are your organization objectives and when would you consider your organization to be successful?

    We consider our organization is already successful, but our purpose is continuing to improve.

    6. What do you consider the most important future demands of clients in PTC markets?

    The most important future demand in our opinion is the demand of machines that can save costs (and so save energy).

    7. What are key issues for the PTC companies to fulfill future demands of clients and PTC markets?

    The key issue is continuing the R&D activities and developing/proposing new models (as it will be done by us at next ExpoDetergo exhibition).

    8. How important is sustainability / circularity for your current business performance and what do you do to improve your performance as an organization?

    In our opinion sustainability / circularity are very important; it is also for this reason that we are currently involved in some projects related sustainability / circularity.

    9. Do you see sustainability as an important driver for (new) business or as a factor for saving costs?

    We see it important for both reasons.

    10. Do you see technical innovation as a key factor to enhance your business performance, and what technologies are essential to provide sustainable and profitable PTC services in the future?

    In our opinion technical innovation is the key factor.

    11. What do you see as the most important innovations of the (near) future and how do you believe these innovations will change the way the industry operates?

    We think that IA based new functions will be the most important innovations of the (near) future.

    12. According to many publications, a transformation of the PTC industry towards more customer and IT driven processing, is seen as essential to be successful in the future. What is your policy to adapt your business/service model to changing market demands?

    Our policy is to always try to satisfy the needs of the market.

    13. We have seen an enormous increase in scale of operation of PTC companies. Do you see there will be attractive opportunities also for the more smaller companies and what is needed for small companies to be successful?

    We think there will be attractive opportunities also for the more smaller companies

    14. How do you feel the PTC industry can take more market share in the markets of textile cleaning, compared to domestic washing?

    In our opinion the PTC industry should point out (many ways are possible) the message that, thanks to all its services, the PTC industry makes easier and more comfortable the life of the families (avoid or reduce the need of domestic washing) and provides treatments that are softer than domestic treatment (soft treatments preserve the life of the textiles).

    15. What do you see as major opportunities for the professional laundry and cleaning industry for the longer term future?

    We see as major opportunities the proposals of new services that become possible grace to the new technologies and devices (smartphones, etc.)

    16. What do you see as major threats for the PTC industry in the coming years?

    Possible threats could be decisions (international regulations or other) that could complicate the expansions of the PTC industry and then to drive away customers from the PTC.

    17. What would you say industry (inter-)national associations should do to support the PTC industry professionally, now and in the future?

    Industry (inter-)national associations should continue to promote the initiatives of the industry and should transmit the needs of this industry to the governments or local authorities. The associations should also capture the presence of new technologies that could be used by the industry and promote the use of them

    18. What is your vision on the future perspective of the industry?

    We feel that there are many opportunities for this industry

    19. What is your key-message to your professional PTC colleagues for now and in the future?

    We need to transmit to the final customers the message that our machines and services make easier and more comfortable the life


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