What Pola E Massa does

Pola e Massa is an Italian, family-owned industrial machinery manufacturer founded in 1978 and headquartered in Ovada, Alessandria (Piedmont). The company designs and builds surface-treatment and automation equipment for flat laminated materials, operating through two specialized divisions: Printed Circuit Boards and Metals and Other Materials. Its core products include the benchmark PeM Planarizer series (650, 650 DS, Evolution 3000, 1B/2B, 650 4B) for PCB planarization, brushing/deburring machines offered in Unibloc (compact) and Modular (configurable) architectures, washing systems, pumice machines, stripping/developing/etching/micro-etching lines, filtering systems (centrifugal, canister, gravity, demineralizer), and automation cells including the PeM Heron 6-axis collaborative robot and a family of loader/unloader and conveyor units (VEF/PL, LHC, VSC, VTC, etc.). The firm also delivers recurring-revenue services covering advisory and feasibility studies, installation and commissioning, operator training, planned preventive maintenance, extended warranty, and spare-parts supply.

The business model is built on customized industrial capital-goods sales backed by multi-year contracts, supplemented by professional services and consumables. Pricing is quote-based and varies by configuration (Unibloc vs. Modular), automation level (manual, semi-automatic, full-automatic), material selection (stainless steel, titanium, polymeric), and accessory scope. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales from the Italian headquarters, authorized local distributors in foreign markets (e.g., All4PCB in North America), and active participation in APEX EXPO, Productronica, and IPC APEX EXPO. The company serves a horizontally diversified base across roughly 40 industrial verticals including PCB manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, motorcycle, railway, shipbuilding, chemical milling, construction, energy, furniture, healthcare, jewellery, mechanical engineering, and consumer electronics, with installed equipment in 30+ countries and over 80 PeM Planarizer installations at leading PCB manufacturers worldwide.

Operationally, Pola e Massa is a private limited company (SRL, share capital EUR 300,000, VAT IT 01318280060) with 11-50 employees, ISO 9001:2015/2025 quality certification, and CE marking on all products. It maintains an internal R&D function with research-institution partnerships and positions itself as a "Made in Italy" specialist offering both catalog machines and fully customized solutions. There is no disclosed revenue, no external funding history, and no identified parent or subsidiary structure, consistent with a self-funded, founder- and family-controlled industrial niche player.

Name

Pola E Massa

Legal name

POLA E MASSA SRL

Website

https://polaemassa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pola e Massa is an Italian, family-owned industrial machinery manufacturer founded in 1978 that designs and builds customized surface-treatment and automation equipment for printed circuit boards and flat metal/material processing, serving manufacturers across 40+ verticals and 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Surface Treatment Machinery

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

PCB Fabrication (Rigid PCBs) (HDAHAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conveying, Feeding & Accumulation Systems (Packaging Lines) (IMAHAOAK), Industrial PCB & Substrate Components (Bare PCBs, rigid-flex, ceramic substrates, thick-film) (IMAGAJAM)

Keywords

• PCB surface treatment machinery
• Industrial brushing machines
• Metal finishing equipment
• PCB planarization systems
• Manufacturing automation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Ovada

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of surface treatment machinery (brushing, deburring, washing, stripping, developing, etching, micro-etching, planarizing machines) and automation systems. Equipment is sold as capital goods with varying levels of automation (manual, semi-automatic, full-automatic) and in standard or customized configurations. Machines are available in stainless steel or polymeric materials for different process requirements.
2. Technical Assistance and Maintenance: Post-sales technical support including installation, commissioning, remote diagnostics, and on-site customer support. Long-term maintenance services with over 30 years of experience enabling efficient and timely response. Services include planned preventive maintenance programs and extended warranty options.
3. Spare Parts Supply: Well-stocked spare parts warehouse ensuring rapid availability. Filter cartridges, brushes, and other wear components supplied through dedicated inventory management to minimize production downtime. Take-back programs for used equipment providing financial resources for new investments.
4. Training Services: Direct training at customer premises for operators and maintenance personnel, ensuring efficient and timely use of purchased machinery. Part of comprehensive customer support ecosystem.
5. Advisory and Feasibility Studies: Pre-sales technical consulting including lay-out analysis, manufacturing process design, feasibility studies, system integration, technology evaluation, and dedicated software. Pola e Massa provides investment assessment support beyond simple equipment supply, assisting customers in their long-term growth process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pola E Massa designs and manufactures industrial machinery for the surface treatment and automation of flat laminated materials, organized in two divisions: Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and Metals & Other Materials. Core products include the PeM Planarizer series for PCB planarization, Unibloc and Modular brushing/deburring machines, washing, stripping, developing, etching, and micro-etching systems, plus the PeM Heron 6-axis collaborative robot and a full range of PCB loading/unloading automation systems. Equipment is offered in manual, semi-automatic, and fully-automatic configurations and customized per customer specification.

Product overview

Pola e Massa is an Italian industrial company founded in 1978 that designs and manufactures surface treatment and automation equipment for printed circuit boards (PCBs) and metals/other materials. The company operates through two specialized divisions offering complementary product lines. The PCB Division provides PeM Planarizer machines (650, 650 DS, Evolution 3000, 1B/2B, 650 4B), brushing/deburring machines in Unibloc and Modular configurations, pumice machines, washing machines (PeM Washer 650), stripping machines, developing machines, etching machines, micro-etching machines, filtering systems (centrifugal, canister, gravity, demineralizer), and automation systems (PeM Heron collaborative robot, VEF/PL, LHC, PeM Swan, TK, VE/L, VE-PL/VHC-PL, VHC, VSC, VTC, VTC-IS, VE). The Metals Division offers brushing/deburring machines, washing systems, degreasing systems, chemical treatment machines, surface roughness machines, aesthetic finishing machines, filtering systems (canister, gravity), and automation systems. Both divisions also provide services including advisory/feasibility studies, technical assistance, training, and spare parts. Products are available in manual, semi-automatic, and fully-automatic configurations with extensive customization options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PeM Planarizer Series (650, 650 DS, Evolution 3000, 1B/2B, 650 4B) Mechanical planarization equipment for PCB manufacturing that removes excess paste from conductive holes without ovalization. Includes PeM Planarizer 650 (compact multi-roll vertical brush system), 650 DS (double-side single-pass processing), Evolution 3000 (single vertical brush with 3-axis control for selective treatment), 1B/2B (reinforced frame with dual independent brushes), and 650 4B (quadruple brush compact design). Over 80 installations at leading PCB manufacturers worldwide.
• PCB Brushing and Deburring Machines (Unibloc and Modular) Brushing and deburring machines for PCB production. Unibloc integrates brushing, washing, and drying in a single compact frame; Modular provides 2 or 4 brush modules combined with separate washing/drying units and extensive accessories for complex production requirements. Available in manual, semi-automatic, and fully-automatic versions.
• Pumice Machines Stainless steel pumice machines for cleaning copper surfaces and creating proper roughness for better coating adhesion before dry-film application, using pumice or aluminum oxide.
• PeM Washer 650 Stainless steel washing machine with roller conveyor and integrated drying. Compact and flexible solution for multiple applications, particularly suitable for post-HAL washing in PCB production.
• PCB Stripping Machines Stainless steel or polymeric (PP) machines designed for dry-film, solder mask, and Sn-Pb stripping processes in PCB manufacturing.
• PCB Developing Machines Stainless steel or polymeric (PP) machines specifically designed for developing processes in PCB manufacturing.
• PCB Etching Machines Chemical etching machines using corrosive solutions to remove unprotected copper and reveal circuit layout. Available in configurations for acidic or alkaline chemical solutions.
• PCB Micro-etching Machines Customized micro-etching solutions for acid/alkaline degreasing, copper activation, pre-dip preparation, and post-dip treatment. Used for solder mask preparation, dry-film pre-lamination, and pre-preg adhesion improvement.
• PCB Filtering Systems (Centrifugal, Canister, Gravity, Demineralizer) Multi-technology filtration suite: Centrifugal high-speed rotating filter separating solid residues from liquid; Canister filter using replaceable cartridges for low-medium performance; Gravity fabric filter with automatic roll replacement for medium-performance continuous filtration; Demineralizer system reducing mineral salts in washing water to prevent scale and water spots.
• PeM Heron Collaborative Robot 6-axis anthropomorphic collaborative robot for loading and unloading semi-finished and finished products from PCB and metal processing lines. Available in three formats selectable by weight limits and arm length, with multiple configurations. Designed to reduce installation and programming effort while delivering productivity gains and investment return optimization.
• VEF/PL Automation System Vacuum-based loader/unloader system with lateral translation capability for handling PCBs and separator sheets in horizontal position. Available in loader and unloader versions with flexible configuration options.
• PCB Automation Family (LHC, PeM Swan, TK, VE/L, VE-PL/VHC-PL, VHC, VSC, VTC, VTC-IS, VE) Range of dedicated automation systems for loading, unloading, buffering, vertical transfer, and orthogonal diverting of PCBs in industrial processing lines. Models cover horizontal load/unload (LHC, VE/L, VE), vacuum loading (VE-PL/VHC-PL, VHC), vertical transfer conveyors (VTC, VTC-IS), rigid-flex handling (VSC), and specialized PCB handling systems (PeM Swan, TK).
• Metal Brushing and Deburring Machines (Unibloc and Modular) Brushing and deburring machines for flat sheet metal processing. Unibloc provides compact integrated rounding, oxide removal, deburring, aesthetic brushing, satin finishing, and slag removal in a single frame; Modular offers 2 or 4 brush modules configurable for single or double-side treatment. Available in manual, semi-automatic, and fully-automatic versions.
• Metal Washing Systems Washing systems for flat sheet metal parts in stainless steel, titanium, or polymeric materials. Can use water only or integrate detergents for various piece sizes.
• Metal Degreasing Systems Industrial degreasing systems that remove contaminants including oxides, thermal treatment residues, burnt grease, processing oils, fingerprints, and finishing substances from metal surfaces.
• Metal Chemical Treatment Machines Machines for cleaning, organic/inorganic material removal, and surface modification including developing, stripping, etching, and surface roughness changes on flat metal sheets. Available in stainless steel or polymeric construction.
• Metal Aesthetic Finishing Machines Machines for aesthetic surface finishing on flat metal sheets to meet design requirements and consumer preferences.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 PeM Planarizer installations at leading PCB manufacturers worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• All4PCBregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 January 2025All4PCB is a regional partner for the North American market, working with Pola e Massa to present their innovative high-end machinery portfolio at IPC APEX EXPO events. The partnership enables local customer engagement, sales support, and market presence in the US electronics manufacturing sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ERSA GmbH: German manufacturer of soldering, rework, and inspection equipment for electronics manufacturing. Adjacent peer in PCB processing equipment, sharing the German/European industrial machinery DNA and similar end customer profile.
• SEHO Systems: German manufacturer of soldering and selective soldering equipment for electronics manufacturing. Adjacent direct peer in PCB processing equipment, sharing similar customer base (PCB manufacturers) and European industrial machinery heritage.
• Schmid Group: German manufacturer of equipment for PCB, semiconductor, and solar industry, including wet processing and surface treatment lines. Direct competitor in PCB processing equipment with broader end-market reach.
• Manz AG: German manufacturer of equipment for PCB and semiconductor manufacturing, including wet processing and automation systems. Directly competes with Pola e Massa's PCB division in wet processing and surface treatment equipment for similar printed circuit board customers.
• Timesavers International: Dutch manufacturer of metal surface finishing equipment for industrial applications. Direct competitor in the metals division broad market, with comparable flat-sheet metal surface treatment equipment (brushing, deburring, finishing).
• RENA Technologies: German provider of wet processing equipment for PCB, semiconductor, and solar manufacturing. Direct competitor in PCB wet processing (etching, developing, stripping) and surface treatment equipment serving the same PCB manufacturer customer base.
• Loeser GmbH: German manufacturer of metal grinding, polishing, and finishing equipment for industrial applications. Direct competitor in metal surface treatment equipment for industrial customers, comparable to Pola e Massa's Metals Division.
• MEC Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of PCB and semiconductor equipment, including wet processing systems. Direct peer in PCB processing equipment, particularly in planarization and wet process tooling competing with the PeM Planarizer series.
• Centrotherm International: German manufacturer of equipment for semiconductor and solar industry, also serving PCB manufacturing. Direct competitor in PCB processing equipment at larger scale with similar highly-engineered industrial machinery approach.

Broad incumbents

• Atotech (Element Solutions): Global supplier of specialty chemicals and equipment for PCB manufacturing. Competes with Pola e Massa's chemical processing equipment (etching, micro-etching, developing) at much larger scale, offering bundled chemistry-plus-equipment solutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pola-e-massa-srl

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Pola E Massa