FILA Solutions (Fabbrica Italiana Lucidi ed Affini), an Italian company that produces systems for the protection and care of all surfaces, is an example of the excellence of Made in Italy products. Over the years, FILA Solutions has become a leader in the construction sector in the United Arab Emirates.
The General Manager of FILA Solutions’ Gulf branch is Fabrizio Nicoli, who grew up in Bergamo and has been living in Dubai for several years.
Last year, FILA Solutions was shortlisted for the 2021 edition of the Construction Week Award – an award dedicated to global business excellence and to the best managers in the world of construction.
FILA Solutions was created in the Province of Padua in 1943 by Guido and Pietro Pettenon. The company soon became the Italian leader in high-quality shoe polish production, also becoming a supplier of the Italian army.
In the 70s, thanks to the intuition of Beniamino Pettenon, the current president, the company revolutionized its business model by starting to focus on professional products for surface protection.
In those years, FILA Solutions also launched its first co-marketing initiatives and released its first press campaign in collaboration with Sannini, terracotta floor manufacturers. The company opened its first quality control office, which later transformed into its current research and development center. The research center analyzes surfaces and materials – such as marble, porcelain stoneware, terracotta, stone, and wood – and, with the support of international institutions, tests and certifies new products.
Today, leading FILA Solutions are Francesco and Alessandra Pettenon. They carry the family business and an entrepreneurial vision based on the values of innovation and sustainability.
Thanks to the experimentation of new eco-friendly solutions, FILA Solutions won the silver medal, awarded by EcoVadis, a platform that evaluates the sustainability of the supply chain. Also, the company is part of Climate Pledge, Amazon’s Foundation that commits to achieving zero CO2 emissions throughout its business by 2040.
The success of FILA Solutions, explains Francesco Pettenon – is mainly based on internationalization: the company has branches in Germany, France, Spain, Great Britain, the USA, and the Arab Emirates, and it exports 60% of what it produces in 80 different countries.
In an interview for Forbes Italy, Francesco Pettenon said that he believes that “to grow their business abroad enterprises must dedicate a considerable part of their business strategy to governance and organization.”
“Our board has always been composed of members of our family. Recently, we were joined by two Bocconi University professors: Gabriella Lojacono, Associate Professor of International Management at the Department of Management and Technology, and Leonardo Etro, Professor of Finance and M&A. They joined our Board of Directors in July. The aim is to increase the competencies of the board to support the international development of our group. This is something that few family businesses do,” said Pettenon.
FILA Solutions has been involved in many projects around Italy and Europe: from the renovation of Villa Contarini in Padua to the building of Tottenham Football Stadium in London, Valencia Airport in Spain, the Armani Hotel in Dubai, the Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi, and the Cha Bio Complex research center in South Korea.
Today, the United Arab Emirates is one of the more fast-growing and competitive economies worldwide. The construction sector is crucial for its growth. FILA Solutions is an example of Italian excellence and entrepreneurial spirit which thanks to a winning business model has been able to become a leader in the UAE.
