IMA

What IMA does

IMA S.p.A. is an Italian industrial machinery manufacturer founded in 1977, originally established in Turin and now headquartered in Palazzolo sull'Oglio (Brescia). The company specializes in cutting room automation for the garment, furniture, automotive, and medical sectors, designing and producing fabric spreaders (Phoenix series, MITHOS 892), automatic cutting machines (Typhoon, Tempest, Vortex series, Zephiro 922.50), loaders, unwinders, and labeling systems (Polaris).

The company's technology stack centers on the Syncro Cutting Room platform — a cloud-based Industry 4.0 solution that integrates IMA's equipment into a unified ecosystem for real-time monitoring, workflow optimization, and data-driven cutting room management. Hardware is paired with proprietary software (CAD/MES modules), and the firm holds at least one notable mechanical patent (a dual-pillar self-feeding system) on key machine lines. IMA was an early Industry 4.0 adopter in the cutting room category, launching its first digital product line in 2013.

IMA operates a direct enterprise sales model supplemented by an international network of agents and distributors spanning EMEA, North America, LATAM (Mexico, Colombia), and South Asia (Bangladesh, Pakistan). Customers are predominantly major Italian and international fashion brands in the garment sector — its largest vertical — with secondary presence in furniture upholstery, automotive interiors, and medical PPE manufacturing. The company is privately held, has not raised outside funding, and operates with 51–100 employees; it became independent from Macpi Group following a prior corporate restructuring.

Name

IMA

Legal name

IMA S.p.A.

Website

https://imaitaly.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IMA S.p.A. is an Italian industrial machinery manufacturer (founded 1977) producing automated cutting room equipment — spreaders, cutting machines, loaders, and CAD/MES software — for the garment, furniture, automotive, and medical sectors, sold globally through direct enterprise sales and an agent network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Garment Cutting Machinery

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (33411)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Electronic Components & Accessories (3670)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Manufacturing ERP (Discrete, Process, Batch) (HDAEAEAB), AI Integration & Orchestration Platforms (Connectors, Workflow, iPaaS for AI) (HDAEANAI)

Keywords

• Industrial cutting machinery
• Garment cutting room systems
• Fabric spreading equipment
• Automatic cutting machines
• Textile CAD software

Headquarters

HQ city

Brescia

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

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. Industrial Machinery Sales: IMA generates revenue primarily from the sale of industrial machinery and equipment for cutting room operations. Products include spreaders, loaders, cutting machines, CAD systems, and tables. Revenue is generated through direct enterprise sales with customization to client specifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IMA designs, develops, and manufactures integrated automated systems for complete cutting room management in the garment, furniture, automotive, and medical sectors. The portfolio spans digital fabric spreaders, automatic cutting machines, loaders, unwinders, labeling systems, and conveyor tables, complemented by a proprietary Industry 4.0 software suite (Syncro Cutting Room, MAXIMA CAD, MES and ERP integration modules) that connects all equipment into a unified, cloud-monitored ecosystem.

Product overview

IMA is a manufacturer of industrial machinery and integrated systems for the garment and textile industry, specializing in cutting room automation. Founded in 1977 in Turin, Italy, the company produces the widest and most specialized range of spreading installations, cloth roll handling and management systems, automatic cutting machines, and software programs for complete cutting room organization. The product portfolio is organized around the Syncro Cutting Room ecosystem — a web-based Industry 4.0 platform that connects all IMA machines into a unified integrated system. Core hardware products include: fabric spreaders (Phoenix series: B, C, H, L, T, XL; MITHOS 892; Dual spreader-unwinder), fabric unwinders (868.15, 868.16), loaders/robots (Chronos 812, 808 series), automatic cutting machines (Vortex, Vortex 2, Typhoon, Tempest Plus, Tempest, Storm, Hurricane, Cyclone series), labeling systems (Polaris 908), and spreading tables (825, 826, 837, 839, 848.10). Software suite includes: Syncro Cutting Room (cloud-based management platform), Cut-Flow Connector (ERP/CAD/machine integration), Easy Link (integration module), Easy Plan/CrOm (MES module), and MAXIMA CAD (pattern design software). Digitization tools include Intelli-System, Digitizer Table, and DigitPen. The ecosystem is 100% designed and manufactured in Italy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Syncro Cutting Room Web-based Industry 4.0 application that monitors and controls the entire cutting line in real time from any internet-connected device. Connects all IMA machines (CAD, loaders, spreaders, labellers, tables, cutting machines) into a single integrated ecosystem with cloud data storage, AI-powered analytics, anomaly detection, and remote assistance capabilities. Sold to industrial garment, furniture, automotive, and medical manufacturers.
• Cut-Flow Connector Vertical management software module that automatically connects ERP, CAD, and IMA spreading/cutting machines into a continuous and centralized information flow, replacing manual and fragmented cutting room processes.
• Easy Link Integration module that intelligently connects the IMA cutting room system with external platforms and third-party enterprise software.
• Easy Plan (CrOm) Manufacturing Execution System (MES) module dedicated to control and optimization of the cutting room.
• MAXIMA CAD CAD software solution for pattern design departments of clothing companies, covering pattern design, size development, and fabric consumption optimization.
• DigitPen Portable pattern acquisition device with embedded memory capable of storing multiple models, enabling pattern capture without a PC and data download upon reconnection.
• Digitizer Table Electronic digitization table for converting physical paper patterns into digital CAD format.
• Intelli-System Automatic pattern digitization system that acquires patterns in seconds using computer vision, eliminating the need for traditional digitizing tables.
• Maxima Jet Plotters Ultra-wide ergonomic inkjet plotters for pattern and fabric printing in clothing companies.
• 812 Chronos Loader/Robot Robot for moving fabric pieces of any type and material, customizable to customer requirements.
• 808 Series Loaders (808.10 / 808.11 / 808.00) Automatic piece-change loaders for cradle spreaders featuring IMA's patented dual self-feeding (double pillar) system for efficient piece movement.
• 892 MITHOS Spreader

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability6 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• JUKImajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 September 2025Joint collaboration between IMA and JUKI for the 'ONE FLOW' event held on September 18th at IMA's facility. The event focused on efficiency and automation of production processes in the garment industry, demonstrating how technologies transform production into a continuous, intelligent, and connected flow. Both companies organized a private expert discussion session for industry professionals.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• ATOM S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of cutting room equipment including spreaders and automatic cutting machines. Another domestic Italian peer with similar B2B focus on garment and textile manufacturers, competing in the same regional customer base.
• Zünd Systemtechnik AG: Swiss manufacturer of digital cutting systems for textiles, leather, composites, and signage. Strong direct overlap with IMA's Typhoon and Vortex cutting machine lines, especially for technical textiles and apparel.
• Esko (Veralto): Belgian-headquartered provider of CAD/CAM software and digital cutting workflows for packaging, labels, and textiles. Overlaps with IMA in CAD software and cutting room digital workflow integration serving similar industrial customers.
• Lectra: French global leader in CAD/CAM and cutting room solutions for fashion, automotive, and furniture. Closest direct competitor to IMA across the integrated cutting room workflow (CAD, spreading, cutting) including the Gerber Technology brand acquired in 2021.
• Bullmer (Expert Group): German-based manufacturer of cutting room machinery including spreading machines, loaders, and automatic cutting equipment for the garment industry. Direct European competitor with overlapping product portfolio and customer base.
• Eastman Machine Company: US-based manufacturer of automated fabric cutting machines and material handling systems for textiles, composites, and industrial materials. Overlaps IMA on automatic cutting machines for garment, upholstery, and industrial fabrics.

Emerging players

• Mimaki Engineering Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers, cutting plotters, and textile printing systems. Adjacent player in digital workflow for garment/textile production, with growing overlap in integrated printing-and-cutting solutions relevant to IMA's manufacturing customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SYNCROCUTTINGROOM

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 IMA