The AGP plant represents the industrial outcome of the F.I.U.M.E. research and development project (Fabbrica Intelligente con Uomini e Macchine Efficienti – Intelligent Factory with Efficient People and Machines), funded by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy pursuant to the Ministerial Decree of 31 December 2021 (Innovation Agreements – Project no. F/310006/00/X56 – CUP: B19J23000110005) under the Fund for Sustainable Growth. The total grant awarded, in full recognition of the project activities, amounts to over 2.1 million euros.

The project, structured over 36 months, was launched with a clear goal: to fundamentally rethink Cimberio’s production and logistics organisation, developing a synergic set of plant, process and software solutions capable of simultaneously improving efficiency, production flexibility and environmental sustainability. All the original objectives have now been achieved.

The most significant technical outcome is the development of a new production process for the surface treatment of brass components, designed to eliminate electrolytic nickel and other substances traditionally used in galvanic coatings. An industrially complex objective, given that nickel has been an established benchmark in the sector for decades: removing it while preserving the mechanical performance, corrosion resistance and quality standards of the coating required a substantial reformulation of the process chemistry and operating parameters. The solution developed by Cimberio maintains the performance and quality standards required by the market and, at the same time, significantly reduces the environmental impact of the galvanic cycle, particularly with regard to wastewater management and the mitigation of risks associated with the use of critical substances. The AGP plant is built on this technological foundation, fully aligned with the Company’s strategy of sustainable innovation.

The F.I.U.M.E. project has also generated patents aimed at reducing the temperature of process water, with measurable effects on energy consumption, heating-related emissions and the overall efficiency of the plant.

In compliance with the communication and information obligations set out in Article 34 of Regulation (EU) no. 241/2021, applicable to projects financed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Cimberio S.p.A. ensures adequate disclosure of the funding received for the implementation of the F.I.U.M.E. project.