Italforni

What Italforni does

Italforni S.r.l. is an Italian family-owned industrial equipment manufacturer founded in 1977 (with predecessor activity dating to the early 1950s), headquartered in Formigine, Modena, within Italy's traditional ceramic manufacturing district. The company designs and builds capital equipment for the global ceramic industry, with a product portfolio spanning roller kilns (rated up to 120 kg/m² load capacity on 62mm rollers), tunnel kilns (up to 150m length and 4000mm width), melting kilns (up to 30 tons/day per kiln), roller dryers (up to 300m length), intermittent kilns, sliding plate and belt kilns, brick processing lines, and industrial filtration systems rated at 99%+ efficiency. Its technical differentiation centers on electronic combustion systems (advertised at 20% gas reduction and 35% NOx reduction), self-regenerative burners in the HECO-5.0 intermittent kiln line (claimed 30% energy reduction), patented module separation systems, and an in-house automation/robotics division (EPICmec, established 2024) that integrates computer vision, predictive maintenance, and ERP/MES/WCS/SCADA connectivity for Industry 4.0/5.0 deployments.

The company's revenue model combines one-time capital equipment sales (custom-engineered kilns and turnkey plants), spare parts, professional services (maintenance, training, revamping), and recurring managed digital services (predictive maintenance, data analytics). Customer end-markets are diversified across tiles, tableware and sanitaryware, brick and tile, refractory ceramics, frits and pigments, technical and advanced ceramics, engineered stone, artistic ceramics, and selected adjacent chemical applications — including non-ceramic deployments such as terracotta components for cosmetics and infrastructure brick for Saudi Arabian road projects. The customer base spans government entities (e.g., the Italian State Printing Office), multinational ceramics groups, and industrial users across multiple geographies served through multilingual (IT/EN/DE) commercial channels.

Italforni operates as a privately held Mazzacani family business with 11–50 employees, ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing, and a generational transition underway since 2021 as the next-generation owners (Filippo, Gabriele, Riccardo) entered the business alongside founder-era principal Pietro Mazzacani, who became sole shareholder and President in 1999. The company is privately funded with no disclosed external capital raises.

Name

Italforni

Legal name

Italforni S.r.l.

Website

https://italforni.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Italforni S.r.l. is an Italian family-owned manufacturer (founded 1977, ~11–50 employees, Formigine, Modena) that designs and builds custom industrial kilns, dryers, brick processing lines, and filtration systems — plus automation/robotics via its EPICmec division — for the global ceramic and adjacent industrial markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Ceramic Kilns & Thermal Treatment Equipment

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment (IMAHAEAE)

Keywords

• Industrial kiln manufacturing
• Ceramic firing equipment
• Tunnel and roller ovens
• Turnkey ceramic plants
• Industrial drying systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Formigine

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Kiln and Plant Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of custom industrial kilns and complete turnkey plants for ceramic production. Revenue from large-scale capital equipment projects including roller kilns, tunnel kilns, intermittent kilns, melting kilns, and complete production lines.
2. Brick Processing Equipment: Sale of automated lines for brick processing including grinding, cutting, gluing, decoration, and thin brick production systems.
3. Filtration Systems: Sale of fume and dust filtration systems for ceramic production environments, including bag filters and dust collectors.
4. Spare Parts: Supply of compatible and reliable spare parts for Italforni systems and equipment from other manufacturers.
5. Maintenance and Technical Services: Technical support services, maintenance (including remote), installation, startup and testing of plants. Includes detailed technical reports following inspections.
6. Automation and Robotics (EPICmec): Custom automation and robotics solutions including robotic systems, handling lines, loading/unloading machines, packaging, and palletizing systems for the ceramic industry.
7. Revamping Services: Upgrades and modifications to existing kilns and equipment including lengthening, combustion system replacement, electrical system modernization, and transformations for improved flexibility and efficiency.
8. Digital Services: Advanced digital solutions for plant monitoring, control, and data analysis. Includes predictive maintenance technologies and Industry 4.0/5.0 integration.
9. Training and Consulting: Training services focused on specific technologies, covering all stages before, during, and after plant purchase. Know-how from over 70 years of experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Italforni designs and manufactures custom industrial kilns (roller, tunnel, intermittent, belt, melting, sliding plate), industrial dryers (roller, belt, tunnel, intermittent), brick processing lines, dust and fume filtration systems, and complete turnkey ceramic production plants. Through its EPICmec division (founded 2024), it also delivers automation and robotics solutions for ceramic manufacturers. The company supplies the global ceramic industry — tiles, tableware, sanitaryware, bricks, refractories, frits, technical and artistic ceramics — from its Italian headquarters.

Product overview

Italforni is an Italian industrial equipment manufacturer specializing in kilns and thermal treatment systems for the ceramic industry. The product portfolio comprises two main divisions: ITALFORNI (kilns, dryers, and turnkey plants) and EPICmec (automation and robotics, established 2024). Core products include Roller Kilns, Tunnel Kilns, Intermittent Kilns (gas and electric), Melting Kilns, Sliding Plate Kilns, and Belt Kilns for firing; Roller Dryers, Belt Dryers, Tunnel Dryers, and Intermittent Dryers for drying; plus Thin Bricks Complete Plants, Grinding Lines, Cutting Lines for Corners, Gluing Lines for Corners, and Aesthetic Surface Treatment Lines for brick processing; Fume Filtration Systems and Dust Filtration Systems for environmental compliance; and Turnkey Plant solutions for complete ceramic production facilities. EPICmec offers Robotic Solutions, Handling and Conveying Lines, Loading/Unloading Machines, Packaging, and Palletising systems. Supporting services include Digital Services (IoT and predictive maintenance), Assistance and Maintenance, Spare Parts, Revamping, and Training and Consulting. The company also undertakes Special Projects for custom ceramic applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EPICmec: Engineering Project for Industrial Ceramics - a division entirely dedicated to the development of customized automation and robotics solutions for the ceramic industry, established in 2024.

Products and services

• Roller Kilns Continuous cycle furnaces for firing ceramic products as they pass through heating zones on motorized rollers. Industry benchmark for efficiency with up to 120 kg/m² load capacity. Used by ceramic manufacturers for high-volume tile, tableware, and brick production.
• Intermittent Kilns (HECO-5.0 series) Static chamber furnaces for discontinuous-cycle production, firing various ceramic products up to 1700°C with automatic atmosphere adjustment. The HECO-5.0 series features self-regenerative burners that preheat combustion air using fume heat, cutting energy consumption and emissions by up to 30%. Used by ceramic producers needing flexible batch firing.
• Tunnel Kilns Continuous cycle furnaces where ceramic products pass through the hearth via carts advancing on rails. Length up to 150m, effective width up to 4000mm, operating temperatures up to 1500°C. Used by industrial ceramic manufacturers requiring large-volume continuous firing.
• Melting Kilns Tank furnaces designed to reach very high temperatures for converting raw material mixtures from solid to liquid state. Capacity up to 30 tons/day per kiln with heat recovery up to 650°C. Used for ceramic frits, pigments, and silica-free engineered stone production; supplied to the world's largest frit producers.
• Sliding Plate Kilns Continuous cycle furnaces where products pass through the hearth on refractory plates moved by a hydraulic pusher. Available in open flame or muffled configurations with handcrafted arched vault construction. Used for tableware, porcelain, and artistic ceramics requiring precise thermal treatment.
• Belt Kilns Continuous cycle furnaces where ceramic products pass through the hearth on a motorized conveyor mat or mesh. Operating temperatures up to 1500°C with accurate atmosphere and temperature control. Used for firing lighter or smaller ceramic pieces with uniform results.
• Electric Intermittent Kilns – Stoves Static chamber furnaces for low-temperature discontinuous cycle production. Maximum temperature 750°C with U-shaped tubular heating elements and rock wool thermal insulation. Used for drying, low-temperature firing, and laboratory/decorative ceramic applications.
• Electric Intermittent Kilns – Kilns Static chamber furnaces for high-temperature discontinuous cycle production. Maximum temperature 1350°C with Omron E5CC PID controller and over-temperature protection. Used by ceramic producers needing precise batch firing of technical or artistic pieces.
• Roller Dryers Continuous cycle dryers where products pass through hot air recirculation zones on motorized rollers. Single and multi-channel configurations (up to 7 levels), length up to 300m, working temperature up to 350°C. Used by ceramic tile and brick manufacturers to dry products before firing.
• Belt Dryers Continuous cycle dryers where products cross hot air recirculation zones on a motorized conveyor belt or mesh. Working temperature up to 350°C with full electric-hybrid operation options. Used for drying various ceramic pieces prior to firing.
• Tunnel Dryers Continuous or semi-continuous cycle dryers where products pass through hot air recirculation zones via carts on rails. Used for drying tiles, bricks, sanitaryware, and shaped ceramic materials prior to firing.
• Intermittent Dryers Static chamber dryers for discontinuous production. Products remain stationary inside the chamber for the entire cycle. Capacity from 2 m³ to 100 m³. Used for small-batch or specialty ceramic drying applications.
• Thin Bricks: Complete Plants Complete plants for thin brick production via either a full production line (raw material to finished product) or a cutting and grinding line from fired bricks. Used by brick manufacturers producing thin bricks for cladding and architectural applications.
• Grinding Lines Dedicated lines for squaring and grinding bricks and thin bricks to precise and constant dimensions. Available in semi-automatic or fully automated configurations. Used by brick manufacturers for dimensional finishing.
• Cutting Lines for Corners Cutting and grinding lines for producing perfect corners from solid and hollow bricks or thin bricks with automatic loading, high-precision cutting, and automatic extraction. Used by brick and thin brick manufacturers needing accurate corner pieces.
• Gluing Lines for Corners Innovative system for producing corners from properly cut and shaped thin bricks that are glued together. Offers reduced energy consumption, no water usage, and simplified plant design. Used by thin brick manufacturers producing corner pieces for installation.
• Aesthetic Surface Treatment Lines Surface treatment lines for bricks and thin bricks including glazing lines, chiseling lines for natural textures, and brushing lines for rustic antique finishes. Used by brick manufacturers to add aesthetic surface effects to finished brick products.
• Fume Filtration Systems Lime-based bag filters for effective treatment of fumes from kilns and thermal processes. Over 99% particulate removal including micro-dust, with modular and scalable design. Used by ceramic plants to comply with stringent environmental regulations.
• Dust Filtration Systems Baghouse dust filters for collecting dust from production processes such as cutting and grinding lines. Over 99% efficiency even for very fine particles. Used by ceramic and brick manufacturing facilities for environmental compliance.
• Turnkey Plant Complete turnkey solutions for the entire ceramic production cycle from raw materials to finished product. Serves sectors including technical ceramics, advanced ceramics, tiles, artistic ceramics, tableware, sanitaryware, refractories, and composites. Used by ceramic manufacturers seeking single-source, integrated production plant delivery.
• EPICmec – Automation & Robotics Customized automation and robotics solutions for the ceramic industry, including robotic solutions, handling lines, loading/unloading machines, packaging, and palletizing systems. Integrated with ERP/MES/WCS/SCADA. Used by ceramic manufacturers automating handling, palletizing, glazing, decoration, cutting, quality control, and internal logistics.
• Digital Services Advanced digital solutions for plant monitoring, control, and data analysis including predictive maintenance technologies and Industry 4.0/5.0 integration. Used by ceramic producers to supervise, control, and analyze plant working data in real time.
• Assistance and Maintenance Technical support and maintenance services for ceramic plants including remote assistance, inspection reports, and complete installation, start-up, and testing services. Used by existing Italforni and third-party plant owners needing ongoing operational support.
• Spare Parts Supply of compatible and reliable spare parts for Italforni systems and equipment from other manufacturers. Used by ceramic plants needing replacement components to maintain operational continuity.
• Revamping Upgrades and modifications to existing kilns and equipment, including kiln lengthening, combustion system replacement, electrical system modernization, and transformations for improved flexibility and efficiency. Used by ceramic plant owners modernizing or extending the capability of existing equipment.
• Training and Consulting Training services focused on specific technologies, covering all stages before, during, and after plant purchase, leveraging over 70 years of experience. Used by ceramic manufacturer staff needing technical know-how on Italforni equipment and processes.
• Special Projects Custom solutions for specific thermal treatment requirements including ceramic road markers, terracotta for cosmetics, license plates, brake abrasive, and colored chalks. Used by customers in government (e.g., license plate production), road infrastructure, cosmetics, and other specialty ceramic applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Electronic combustion reduces gas consumption by up to 20% and NOx emissions by up to 35%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• EPICmec – Engineering Project for Industrial CeramicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, Italforni founded EPICmec as a dedicated division for automation and robotics solutions for the ceramic industry. EPICmec represents Italforni's strategic expansion into industrial automation, combining Italforni's ceramics expertise with advanced robotics and control systems for smart factory solutions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Direct peers

• Sacmi: Italian ceramic machinery giant headquartered in Imola that designs and manufactures kilns, presses, and complete lines for tiles, tableware, and sanitaryware — directly competing with Italforni across the ceramic equipment stack and absorbing former kiln specialist Riedhammer.
• Riedhammer: German-based kiln specialist (now part of Sacmi) producing tunnel, roller, and shuttle kilns for technical ceramics, refractories, tableware, and sanitaryware — overlapping directly with Italforni's firing equipment portfolio.
• Händler Group: German manufacturer of industrial tunnel kilns, dryers, and complete plants for bricks, tiles, and sanitaryware — competing with Italforni on heavy industrial firing lines and serving similar European ceramic customers.
• Poppi Clementino: Italian industrial kiln manufacturer in the Modena ceramic district producing tunnel kilns and dryers for tiles, sanitaryware, and tableware — a long-standing domestic peer to Italforni with comparable customer base and product focus.
• Siti B&T Group: Italian ceramic machinery manufacturer offering kilns, dryers, and complete plants for tiles and sanitaryware, with deep overlap to Italforni's core kiln and turnkey plant offerings and a shared Italian ceramic-district heritage.
• Gouda Refractories: Dutch kiln and refractory specialist producing high-temperature kilns for ceramics, refractories, and engineered stone — overlapping with Italforni in firing technology for advanced and high-temperature ceramic applications.
• Keda Industrial Group (Anhui Keda): Large Chinese ceramic equipment manufacturer producing kilns, dryers, polishing lines, and complete plants for tiles and sanitaryware — a globally scaled direct competitor that has been expanding into European and emerging markets.

Broad incumbents

• Buhler Group: Swiss global industrial plant and equipment manufacturer with a broad portfolio across food, feed, and advanced materials — relevant as a broad incumbent benchmarking Italforni on industrial plant scale, engineering depth, and global service footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/italforni-srl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Italforni