2008 is forecasted to be a turnaround year for the Italian security sector, which includes manufacturers of safes, armoured doors and rooms, security containers and related components. According to the latest six-monthly report on the mechanical and engineering industry by Anima (the Federation of the Italian Associations of Mechanical and Engineering Industries), the recovery signs detected at the start of 2007 have become stronger during the second semester: as a result, a positive outcome is forecasted for 2008. The production value should settle around 79.7 million euros, 5% compared with 2007 and in line with the previous year’s growth ( 5.9%). The share of exports should remain stable at 30%, with an estimated value of 24 million euros, 2.1% compared with 2007. Compared with 2006, exports in this extremely specialised niche sector increased from 21.5 to 24 million euros, but the parallel increase in profits kept the incidence of exports on turnover unchanged. Europe is the main destination market: the European Union of 27 Member States absorbs 58% of sales, while the rest of Europe takes up 18%. The remaining export quotas are mostly destined to Africa (17%). Figures for Asia (5%) and America especially (3%) are low.



Although the international market outlook for 2008 is positive, the entry into the Italian market of low-quality foreign products continues, taking small market quotas away from Italian manufacturers and fostering a mediocre security culture. This translates into an increased offer which in turn influences mostly the prices, though not exclusively. Security is one of the central themes tackled by sector manufacturers, brought together by Acica . The association celebrated its first quarter-century of existence in 2006, having been created in May 1981 through the will of a few safe manufacturers who decided to constitute, within Anima, of the Italian Union of Safe Manufacturers, subsequently transformed in the Italian Association of Safe Manufacturers (Acica, www.acica.it) in April 1989. Today Acica represents the most qualified and prestigious manufacturers of safes, armoured doors and rooms, safety containers and related components: a sector which employs approximately 800 people.

One of the association’s priorities is to promote the message that security is not an abstract concept simply limited to a product’s certification – but rather that it is a target to be reached through constant efforts requiring reputation, experience, reliability. These are added values that Italian companies can offer and which are the key elements which set Italian manufacturers apart. In a highly competitive sector, which has pushed some Italian companies to stop production to become importers and retailers, Acica promotes a culture of quality aiming to prevent extremely low-quality and low-technology foreign products, supported solely by low prices, from penetrating the market. The development and promotion of the “Made in Italy” product is exemplified, in concrete terms, also through the promotion towards consumers, of the quality mark borne by Acica’s members’ products.