EXA 2013: Brescia, the arms sector is not affected by the crisis; sector in recovery, new market outlets in the East.
The crisis is fought with weapons. The arms sector with its pros and cons shows a positive sign on the markets; in 2012 the Banco di Prova carried out 847 thousand tests and the president of the Banco, Aldo Rebecchi, in fact explained, "In the first three months of the year there was an increase of 17%". Precisely for this reason, the annual appointment with Exa, the international exhibition of sporting weapons, Outdoor and Security, at the Brescia Fair is of great importance for this sector, which is still positive despite the crisis. In fact, the president of the Consorzio Armaioli Bresciani, Pierangelo Pedersoli, stated, “Our sector too felt the crisis but it started earlier, in 2003, when the euro-dollar exchange rate became unfavorable”. Pedersoli then explained, "Investments have been made and new markets have been looked at, a decisive factor given that 95% of Italian weapons are destined for export: the reference market remains the United States, but new opportunities have opened up in Russia, South Africa, China and South America. In short, the recovery is there".
A prominent brand and example of this recovery is the Beretta arms factory which closed in 2012 with a record turnover of over 500 million euros; the president of Beretta holding, Cavalier Ugo Gussalli Beretta, commented, “We have always invested in new products, trying to improve old ones, now we are attacking new markets, including Russia, Australia and New Zealand”. The CEO of the Beretta arms factory, Franco Gussalli Beretta, then added that "the group's strategy also focuses on the enhancement of sales channels and on innovative formulas that broaden the catchment area, exploiting the internet".
Even at Perazzi they cannot complain and indeed boast of having won 12 medals out of the 15 available in skeet shooting at the London Olympics; Perazzi's technical manager explained, "2013? It did not get off to a bad start, indeed ours is a product of excellence, it is the history of clay pigeon shooting. New markets such as China or Arab countries are demanding the best".
The same positive atmosphere, even if more prudent, is that of the Fausti house, the brand of the three sisters remains one of the most refined in the Brescia armory; Giovanna Fausti in fact explained, "There is a recovery, as well as new markets, but there is also strong competition from abroad, at more accessible prices. This is why we have always focused on quality".
In short, the winning point of Made in Italy against the crisis is the combination of technological innovation and craftsmanship. All this can be seen on display in Brescia during the four days of EXA 2013.
See you at EXA 2014 ..
17 April 2013