By dint of Narciso Bevilacqua’s initiative, Poliplast was founded in the spring of 1970, when he decided to bring the family’s entrepreneurial vision to fruition. The pioneering adventure began in a disused cellar in Mansuè, Italy, and this was where Narciso printed his first plastic items. The company’s first order – a toy component – was produced by means of two used presses and the help of a part-time operator. In the meantime, Narciso capitalised on the experience he had garnered in the furniture sector and strengthened relationships with the local furniture makers; by promoting his plastic solutions for components traditionally only made in wood and/or metal, Narciso was able to further develop the business. Furthermore, Narciso encouraged his family members to get involved with the business right out of the gate; a distinctive characteristic that became part and parcel with Poliplast’s way of doing business.

The business expanded significantly during the 80s, due to an increase in demand and Poliplast’s ability to provide innovative, high-quality solutions. More employees were hired and in 1986, the factories were expanded for the first time in order to strengthen the fleet of machinery and add new presses. Promotion abroad was also intensified. Eastern European countries were the first to show signs of interest and as a result, Narciso established collaborative relationships with Hungarian, Polish and former Czechoslovakian and Yugoslavian operators. This propensity to export has and will always be a constant in Poliplast’s commercial approach, resulting in the company operating in various countries around the world. The 80s also saw the arrival of Rosa and Narciso’s youngest children: Elisa and Davide.

During the 90s, the company’s efforts turned towards technological innovation and increasing the quality of the products offered. Innovative painting procedures – such as Cubik painting – were implemented, new finishes and materials were experimented with, and the fleet of machinery was expanded to include two-colour presses and the introduction of assembly robots. In 1990, the “finished product warehouse” took shape in order to speed up delivery times and offer a better service to the customers. Furthermore, 40 employees now worked for Poliplast (compared to the meagre 6 in the 70s). As new technologies began being introduced, the types of items produced also increased: in addition to expanding upon the handle and knob ranges, furniture feet and packaging accessories were also launched.

The turn of the century saw Poliplast engaged in the search for new markets. The company’s high-quality production results, commercial dynamism and “Made in Italy” design determined its success, as the company reached and began supplying 39 countries worldwide. At the same time, extensive resources were invested into the design of new product lines, where design was fundamental when it came to satisfying the needs of an increasingly sophisticated market; with this in mind, Poliplast enlisted the help of specialist designers, such as Angelo Vaghi, to design handles, knobs and feet with modern yet functional lines.

Despite the unstable economic situation, caused by the global financial crisis of 2009, Poliplast continued its business development plans by further expanding the fleet of machinery and the surface areas of the production plants – increasing them to over 3000 sqm – which allowed for an annual yield of 40 million pieces. It was during these same years that the company also began pursuing a green vision; this was evidenced by the construction of a photovoltaic system with a 55.5 kWp peak power, which supplied clean energy to the production facilities. Likewise, the company’s air conditioning is also supplied by a biomass system with ultra-low harmful emissions (as far as the environment is concerned).

Thanks to the company’s over 50 years of experience, Poliplast is now preparing to face the challenges dictated by globalisation. The company is doing so by automating its production processes (including the recent installation of automated warehouses for finished products and moulds), and constantly searching for innovative design solutions and new products. The digitalisation process has also been advanced (from both a management and communication point of view) and strengthened by the company’s participation in the industry’s major trade fairs (resumed after the pandemic). The work started by Narciso all those years ago is now being pursued by his heirs who, with renewed dynamism, continue to export and enhance the Made in Italy values all over the world.