History of KME Italy S.p.A.

Due to the fact that the Italian plants have been managed directly by SMI (now KME Group SpA) until 1977, the time line of KME Italy (known as Europa Metalli SpA untill 1.5.2007) starts in 1977, the year when SMI became a holding. All data before 1977 have been included in the History of KME Group.

01.01.1977

SMI, in agreement with Trafilerie e Laminatoi di Metalli (TLM), the Italian subsidiary of the French Group Péchiney- Ugine-Kuhlmann (PUK), creates a new company, La Metalli Industriale S.p.A. (then Europa Metalli S.p.A.).

The new company assumes the control of the 6 Italian plants of SMI (Metalrame S.p.A. included) located in Fornaci di Barga, Campo Tizzoro, Limestre Pistoiese, Brescia, Serravalle Scrivia and Avellino and the 3 factories of TLM (Casarza Ligure, Villa Carcina e Milano).

SMI is the holding company with a 84% stake. Italrame S.p.A., Metalrame S.p.A., SMI-Hellas S.r.l. become subsidiaries of the new company.

1977

Acquisition of CEIP, producer of PVC coated cables, located in Isola delle Femmine (Palermo)

1977-78

Closure of the Milan plant

1978

Inauguration of the Research Center in Fornaci di Barga (LU)

1979

Incorporation of the subsidiary LIME-Officine Meccaniche (Limestre Pistoiese, PT)

1980

Ceasing of the wire-drawing in Avellino and incorporation of Italrame S.p.A into Metalrame S.p.A that carries on the production of wire-rod. Afterwards the stakes of the new Metalrame S.p.A. and Ceip S.p.A. converge in a new company, denominated Conduttori Sud S.p.A., established in a 50% participation with Cavi Pirelli S.p.A.

1981

SMI-Española becomes a subsidiary of La Metalli Industriali S.p.A.

1982/83

Disposal of CEIP activity and birth of the subsidiary Metalrame Tranciati S.r.l. (Marcianise, Avellino) for the production of coin blanks

1984

Establishment of the 50% subsidiary Maionchi-La Metalli Industriale/DMS S.p.A. (San Giuliano Terme, Pisa) for the production of shotgun cartridges. In the same year the selling of SMI-Hellas S.r.l. takes place.

1985-1986

Disposal of the production of screws and metallic smallwares in the Limestre Pistoiese plant and setting up of Tranciati Sud S.p.A., slitting center located in Marcianise (AV)

1986

La Metalli Industriale S.p.A. changes its corporate name into LMI-La Metalli Industriale S.p.A.

1987

Through an agreement between SMI and Pechiney, LMI-La Metalli Industriale S.p.A. acquires 100% control of Tréfimétaux SA, the French leading producer of copper and copper alloys intermediate goods. At the end of the year LMI-La Metalli Industriale S.p.A. changes its corporate name into Europa Metalli – LMI S.p.A.

Europa Metalli-LMI S.p.A. takes over 90% of the Spanish company SIA - Sociedad Industrial Asturiana from the Banco de Bilbao y Vizcaya.

1988

Disposal of the stake in SMI Española S.A.

1989

Disposal of Maionchi-La Metalli Industriale/DMS S.p.A.

1990

Europa Metalli-LMI S.p.A. purchases from MAN the 76,9% of KM-Kabelmetal, the German leading company for copper semis.
Closure of the Casarza Ligure (GE) plant. The production of copper tubes is moved to the Serravalle Scrivia (AL) factory and to other companies of the Group
Europa Metalli-LMI S.p.A. sells Metalrame S.p.A. and its facilities in Avellino to the Belgian Group Union Minière S.A. (today Umicore)

At the beginning of the Nineties: disposal of the subsidiaries Metalrame Tranciati S.r.l. and Tranciati Sud S.p.A.

1991

Europa Metalli-L.M.I S.p.A. brings together all the production activities linked to Defence sector and the munitioning in a new company, Europa Metalli-Sezione Difesa SE.DI S.p.A. (Campo Tizzoro, PT)

1992

Closure of the Villa Carcina (BS) factory. The manufacturing of copper and copper alloys rolled is transferred to the Fornaci di Barga (LU) and Campo Tizzoro (PT) plants

1995

Following a vast plane of financial and industrial restructuring decided by the GIM-SMI Group, Europa Metalli-LMI S.p.A. grants all its industrial activities to a new company denominated Europa Metalli S.p.A.. Simultaneously Europa Metalli-LMI S.p.A. is merged into SMI S.p.A. and the new company, Europa Metalli S.p.A., becomes a 100% subsidiary of the new industrial group KME Germany AG, or KME for short .

1997-98

Closure of the Brescia plant. The production capacity is moved to the Serravalle Scrivia (AL) plant and to other KME’s Group companies

1998

The subsidiary LIME-Officine Meccaniche (Limestre Pistoiese) is merged into Europa Mealli S.p.A.

2004

Through an agreement signed by the SMI Group, the superconductors business of Europa Metalli in Fornaci di Barga will be transferred to the Finnish Outokumpu Group. This business conveyance is part of a larger asset swap agreement between the two Groups

2006

Closure of the Campo Tizzoro (PT) factory. The manufacturing of copper and copper alloys rolled is transferred to the Fornaci di Barga (LU) plant and to other KME Group companies.

2007

Aiming at strengthening the integration among the Group's companies, KME Group (former-SMI) decides to adopt the single brand name of KME® to identify all its subsidiary companies. As a consequence, Europa Metalli S.p.A. changes its corporate name inHow to get to KME Italy S.p.A.