What Preo does

PREO S.r.l. is a Milan-based, family-owned Italian designer and manufacturer of industrial adhesive application systems, founded in 1938 by Antonio Preo originally as a producer of precision measuring instruments. The company pivoted in the 1990s to specialize in hot-melt and cold-glue systems and now operates from a vertically integrated 4,000 sqm ISO 9001-certified facility in Corsico (Milano). Its product portfolio spans two core categories: Hot-Melt Adhesive Systems — including the new VELA melter line (5/12/18 kg tank capacities), Easy Touch, JV, Millennium, and BULKMELTER series, paired with a broad gun family (DOUBLE E, NEW LIFE, REVOLUTION, STRAIN 121 electromagnetic, SHARK manual, SPRAY-SPYRO, K100 coating heads) and electric heated hoses — and Cold Glue Systems — including CLD diaphragm pumps (up to 1,500 mPas), CLP piston pumps (up to 10,000 mPas), COLD LINE guns with zero-cavity self-cleaning nozzles, the TRATTO pattern controller (up to 99 programs across 8 independent guns), and precision dispensing needle valves. The technical backbone features plug-and-play modularity and Industry 4.0 interconnectivity via PLC interfaces and Modbus TCP-IP for remote monitoring.

The business operates a B2B hardware-led revenue model: primary sales come from equipment (melters, guns, pumps, controllers, heated hoses) with recurring revenue from proprietary spare parts and consumables (DR. KLEAN maintenance kits, MX500 grease, MX501 PTFE spray, MX502 PUR cleaner) and 24/7 technical support. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers must register to download technical documentation. Distribution runs through direct sales to major accounts alongside an established network of country-specific distributors (Getra in France, Preo Polska, Protek Packaging in UK, Preo CS in Czech Republic, Topjet in Spain) covering Italy and 50+ international markets, with heavy investment in 9+ annual European packaging trade fairs. The company is wholly owned by SGH-Saint George Holding S.r.l. (controlled by Ermanno and Giorgio Preo following the October 2023 buyout of the remaining 50% stake), with third-generation Ermanno Preo serving as CEO. End customers span packaging, food and beverage, cosmetics, medical, aerospace and military, automotive, graphics and printing, textiles and non-wovens, and industrial manufacturing — described in company materials as "blue chip companies worldwide."

Name

Preo

Legal name

PREO S.r.l.

Website

https://preo.it

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PREO S.r.l. is a Milan-based, family-owned Italian designer and manufacturer of industrial hot-melt and cold-glue adhesive application systems — including melters, application guns, heated hoses, pumps, and pattern controllers — serving blue-chip customers in packaging, food and beverage, cosmetics, medical, aerospace, and automotive industries across 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Adhesive Application Systems

NAICS

Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Adhesives & Sealants (2891)

akta.pro primary industry

Tapes, Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (IMAEAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Dispensing & Pump Systems (Pumps, Sprayers, Misters, Droppers) (IMALAJAB)

Keywords

• Industrial adhesive systems
• Hot-melt equipment
• Cold glue applicators
• Packaging machinery components
• Adhesive dispensing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

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, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Hot-Melt Adhesive Systems: Core revenue stream from manufacturing and selling hot-melt glue machines including melters, guns, applicators, and heated hoses. Complete made-in-Italy production with design, manufacturing, and after-sales service.
2. Spare Parts and Maintenance: Sales of spare parts including DR. KLEAN maintenance kits, ECOCLEANER 96 oil, MX500 lubricant grease, MX501 PTFE spray, MX502 PUR cleaner, nozzles, and other components.
3. Cold Glue Systems: Cold glue application systems including guns, pumps, pattern controllers, and dispensing needle valves for various industrial applications.
4. Technical Support and After-Sales Service: 24/7 customer service and technical support, fast and efficient after-sales assistance. Complete design and production chain managed internally allows for quick technical feedback to customers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PREO designs and manufactures industrial adhesive application systems, primarily hot-melt adhesive melters/applicators (VELA, Easy Touch, JV, Millennium, BULKMELTER series), hot-melt guns and electric heated hoses, and cold glue systems (CLD/CLP pump units, COLD LINE guns, TRATTO pattern controllers, dispensing needle valves), along with accessories and maintenance consumables. The portfolio targets packaging, food and beverage, cosmetics, medical, automotive, aerospace, textiles, and graphics/printing manufacturers, with Industry 4.0 connectivity and modular customization as core differentiators. Production, design, and after-sales service are managed entirely in-house at the Corsico (Milano) facility.

Product overview

PREO is a leading designer and manufacturer of industrial gluing machines, offering two main adhesive application system categories: Hot-Melt Adhesive Systems and Cold Glue Systems. The Hot-Melt portfolio centers on melters (tanks that heat and melt adhesive) including the VELA Series (with 5/12/18kg capacities), EASY TOUCH Series (Industry 4.0 Ready), JV Series, Millennium Series, and BULKMELTER Series, which work in conjunction with adhesive guns (DOUBLE E, NEW LIFE, REVOLUTION, SPRAY-SPYRO, STRAIN 121 electromagnetic, SHARK manual, K100 coating heads) and electric heated hoses for transporting heated adhesive. The Cold Glue portfolio includes CLD (diaphragm pump) and CLP (piston pump) systems, COLD LINE guns, TRATTO pattern controllers, and dispensing needle valves. Accessories include the TWISTER automatic loader, nozzles, and maintenance products (DR. KLEAN kit, MX502 PUR cleaner, MX500 grease, MX501 PTFE spray). The company manages the complete design and production chain internally in Italy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VELA: Hot-melt adhesive system line featuring innovative design, 7" touch screen display, Industry 4.0 compatibility, modularity, and energy efficiency. Includes VELA P05, P12, P18, W05, W12, W18 melters.
• Easy Touch
• JV Series
• Millennium
• BULKMELTER (BM)
• EASY Series
• DOUBLE E
• NEW LIFE
• REVOLUTION
• SPRAY-SPYRO
• SOFFIO
• LOW PROFILE
• STRAIN 121
• SHARK
• COLD LINE
• TRATTO
• DR. KLEAN

Products and services

• VELA Series Hot-Melt Melter Hot-melt adhesive melter with pneumatic pump, 7-inch touch screen display, modular plug-and-play connections, and Industry 4.0 connectivity via Modbus TCP-IP. Available in tank capacities of 5kg, 12kg, and 18kg. Designed for industrial packaging and processing manufacturers.
• Easy Touch Series Hot-Melt Melter Industry 4.0 Ready hot-melt melter series available in P and W configurations with tank capacities from P1 to P20 and W1 to W20. Features microprocessor control and programmable glue pattern parameters. For industrial packaging and processing lines.
• JV Series Hot-Melt Melter Hot-melt melter series in JV P05 and JV W05 configurations, designed for compact applications with pneumatic pump system. For industrial hot-melt adhesive users.
• Millennium Series Hot-Melt Melter High-capacity melter series including M30 and M50 models for industrial hot-melt adhesive applications.
• BULKMELTER Series Hot-Melt Melter Bulk melter systems designed for high-volume hot-melt adhesive processing with large tank capacities (BM20 and BM200). For industrial-scale production lines.
• DOUBLE E Series Hot-Melt Adhesive Guns Hot-melt adhesive guns with high-speed application up to 6,000 cycles per minute, precision control, and replaceable double cartridge gasket system. For industrial packaging operations.
• NEW LIFE Series Hot-Melt Adhesive Guns Hot-melt adhesive guns designed for reliable performance with replaceable cartridge gaskets and self-cleaning nozzles. For industrial hot-melt application.
• REVOLUTION Series Hot-Melt Adhesive Guns High-performance hot-melt adhesive guns with integrated glue filter and protective non-stick coating. For industrial hot-melt application.
• STRAIN 121 Series Electromagnetic Guns Electromagnetic guns for high-precision glue point dispensing. For industrial applications requiring accuracy in glue application.
• SHARK Manual Hot-Melt Guns Manual hot-melt adhesive guns for hand-held application in various industrial settings.
• SPRAY-SPYRO Series Hot-Melt Guns Hot-melt guns designed for spray and spyro application patterns for specialized adhesive distribution. For industrial packaging applications.
• K100 Series Hot-Melt Coating Heads Coating heads for hot-melt adhesive application in continuous bead and spray patterns. For industrial packaging and processing lines.
• Electric Heated Hoses for Hot-Melt Adhesives Heated hoses that transport hot-melt adhesive from melter to gun while maintaining optimal temperature. For industrial hot-melt adhesive application systems.
• CLD Series Cold Glue System with Diaphragm Pump Cold glue application system with diaphragm pump for distributing low-viscosity water-based adhesives up to 1,500 mPas. Stainless steel construction with minimal maintenance requirements. For industrial cold glue users.
• CLP Series Cold Glue System with Piston Pump Cold glue application system with piston pump for distributing medium-viscosity water-based adhesives up to 10,000 mPas at high pressure. For industrial cold glue users.
• COLD LINE Series Cold Glue Guns Cold glue guns for vinyl adhesives capable of up to 6,000 cycles per minute with AMX-45 module, zero-cavity self-cleaning nozzles, and integrated glue filter. For industrial cold glue application.
• TRATTO Cold Line Pattern Controller Glue pattern control programmer for COLD LINE systems with LCD display and rotary switch programming. Can memorize up to 99 programs and manage up to 8 independent guns with 8 different glue patterns each, supporting encoder and timer modes. For industrial cold glue systems.
• Dispensing Needle Valves Precision dispensing needle valves for highly accurate fluid application. Capable of tens of millions of cycles with retaining cartridge for quick cleaning and maintenance. For cosmetics, electronics, and precision industrial applications.
• TWISTER Automatic Loader for Hot-Melt Adhesives Automatic loader for hot-melt adhesives with INOX (stainless steel) version for automated loading of adhesive materials into the system. For industrial hot-melt adhesive installations.
• DR. KLEAN Maintenance Kit Complete maintenance kit for hot-melt adhesive systems including Ecocleaner 96 oil, cleaning swabs, protective gloves, safety glasses, masks, cotton wipes, and multilingual instruction manual. For industrial hot-melt users.
• MX502 PUR Cleaner

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% increase in overall sales and 35% increase in export sales in 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Getra SAScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 November 2025French partner exhibiting PREO machines at Prod&Pack 2025 at Eurexpo Lyon. Located in the heart of France's main industrial region serving agri-food, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, e-commerce, logistics and mechanical engineering sectors.
• Preo PolskacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 November 2025PREO's partner in Poland exhibiting at Packaging Poland 2025 in Warsaw. Showcases the future of packaging industry, innovative technologies, and business contacts.
• Preo CScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 September 2025PREO's Czech Republic partner participating in the Conference on 'Trends in Surface Preparation and Gluing 2025' at Hotel Studánka, organized by MATRIX Automotive, 3M-group, Skoda Auto and Iveco.
• Protek Packaging LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 3 September 2025Long-standing UK partner exhibiting PREO products at UKPackaging Expo 2025 in Manchester, premier event for packaging professionals to explore latest advances in packaging technology and intelligent automation.
• M.H. MATERIAL HANDLINGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 May 2025Italian company with decades of experience in handling and logistics. Renewed collaboration at Ipack-Ima 2022 and 2025 to offer an inviting and functional exhibition area and joint solutions for customers.
• Topjet SrlminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 May 2022Italian partner hosting PREO at Hispack 2022 booth D 223 Hall 3 Level 0 at Fira Barcelona.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nordson Corporation: Global leader in precision dispensing equipment for adhesives, sealants, and coatings. Directly comparable via its hot-melt and cold-glue application systems serving packaging, product assembly, and converting markets, just at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint than Preo.
• Graco Inc. US-listed manufacturer of fluid handling equipment, including industrial spray, dispense, and adhesive application systems. Comparable at the equipment-level (dispensing pumps, applicators) though broader and more diversified than Preo.
• Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (Adhesive Technologies): Diversified global chemicals giant whose Adhesive Technologies division both manufactures adhesives and supplies application equipment/solutions, overlapping with Preo's customer base in packaging, automotive, and consumer goods manufacturing.

Direct peers

• Spraymation, Inc. Manufacturer of hot-melt adhesive systems, melting units, handguns, and controls targeting packaging and product assembly markets. Directly comparable in product mix and end-customer verticals to Preo's hot-melt portfolio.
• Robatech AG: Swiss-based manufacturer of hot-melt adhesive application systems, melters, guns, and pattern controllers serving packaging, woodworking, and product assembly. Same product breadth and customer verticals as Preo, with comparable engineering-led positioning.
• ITW Dynatec: Division of Illinois Tool Works manufacturing hot-melt and cold-glue adhesive application systems, hoses, guns, and pattern controllers for industrial packaging lines. Closest pure-play competitor to Preo, with overlapping product categories (melters, applicators, heated hoses).
• Bühnen GmbH & Co. KG: German family-owned manufacturer of hot-melt adhesive systems, handguns, and tank melters serving industrial customers in packaging and assembly. Closest European mid-market peer by size, ownership profile, and product mix.
• Valco Melton: Specialist manufacturer of hot-melt adhesive systems, pattern controls, and inspection systems for the packaging and converting industries. Directly overlaps Preo's core packaging-end-user focus and hot-melt product line.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@preosrl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Preo