OUR History
OUR History
Our History
SIATEX S.r.l.® is a trading company leader for textile machinery, garment machinery, furniture, laboratory equipment and also acts as main contractor for different kind of projects.
The Company is located in Italy, with branch office in Ethiopia, and the 85% of the annual turnover is made up to exports. The company was born in 1990 from a partnership between Sulzer Italy® and Piani family in Prato (Tuscany – Italy), one of the most famous cities throughout the world for the textile production excellences.
Piani Family has a long history in textile: since 1953 Mr. Giuliano Piani started working in textile machinery business in Prato, selling a huge quantity of shuttle looms. At that time Prato used to have about 18.000 looms and mainly 3 manufacturers, Crompton and Knowels (later on Nebiolo built on Crompton license), Galileo and San Giorgio. Piani was selling Crompton and Nebiolo later on with an average of 500 looms every year.
Then, in 1978, his son Mr. Franco Piani joined the company, bringing new energy and young knowledge, selling new Galileo looms and, after closing Galileo in 1982, new Picanol looms from 1984 up to 1989.
In 1990 SIATEX® (55% Sulzer Italy branch and 45% Piani Family) – textile machinery company comes to the market and Mr. Franco Piani becomes CEO and Managing Director.
During nineties SIATEX® works properly on Italian market selling new Sulzer Machineries and getting success all over the world selling used textile machinery. Considering that at that time the market was going towards a globalized system, the company had to reflect on working in a more international way. Mr. Franco Piani was helped by an enthusiast and qualified team and all together contributed to expand the operations throughout the world. Moreover, they worked properly in order to improve at international level the distinction of the products sold, and the quality of the services offered. It was a new way of making business in textile, in few years Siatex achieved a relevant position recording a turnover up to Lire 18 billion (€ 9 million).
In 1999 Piani Family becomes the only shareholder, keeping on with the trade of both new and second-hand textile machines such as Somet, Sulzer, Vamatex, Picanol, Nuovo Pignone, Smit, Picanol, Dornier and all kinds of finishing, weaving preparation, spinning, dyeing machinery supply.
In 2015 SIATEX® reached the third generation of Piani family because of the entrance of Mr. Stefano Piani (Franco’s son), as Business Development, Sales and Marketing Manager. The firm has a noticeable potentiality thanks to those who work in, such as sales managers, technicians, and administration. All of them are always ready and available for the needs of clients and partners.
In the last years, with Stefano’s entry, the company has expanded its business to other fields of activity: the textile sector remains a cornerstone in addition to the sector of garment, furniture and laboratory equipment. Siatex realizes projects as general contractor in different areas attending International Tenders.
Since 1980, Piani family is present in the African market and has also a representative sales office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The long experience in export has allowed us to learn how to work in the international market.
Nowadays, SIATEX® records trading operations in more than 65 countries of the world (between Europe, Asia, Africa, and South America) thanks to worldwide connections and local agents.