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You are here:Guest Speakers»Lorenzo Gratton (Renzo Borgonovo srl) and Matteo Trabattoni (FNT-Trabattoni Stampi srl-I)
Monday, 27 March 2023 15:54

Lorenzo Gratton (Renzo Borgonovo srl) and Matteo Trabattoni (FNT-Trabattoni Stampi srl-I)

Special "Producers of distressing machines"

Floor Forum International N° 125, September 2022

“Market for ageing wood evolves every two to three years”
In the world of ageing machines for wood, the Italian companies Renzo Borgonovo Srl and FNT-Trabbatoni Stampi (the FNT as an abbreviation for Figli di Nando Trabattoni) have worldwide renown. Both companies are based close together in the north of Italy, in the vicinity of Milan, and have been working together since their inception more than 60 years ago. The first as a builder of the machines, the latter as the provider of the unique rollers that make the machines so state of the art.

We interviewed Lorenzo Gratton (Renzo Borgonovo srl) and Matteo Trabattoni (FNT-Trabattoni Stampi srl), especially to get to know more about the newest evolutions on the market for what aged wood for flooring is concerned. Of course, they first have to explain exactly what it is both companies do. The parquet sector is only a part of their activities.

Matteo Trabattoni: “We need to go back in time. Renzo Borgonovo Srl was originally founded in 1961 as a design studio and engineering workshop dedicated to the production of special machines for finishing frames and linear profiles in wood and PVC. Thanks to the experience he gained and because he continuously updated his range, founder Renzo Borgonovo built out an important international position in the sector throughout the 80s and 90s. The market on which the company operates is now global, and sales span across all five continents.”

“In recent years, the machines designed and built by our company began to evolve. The company therefore sees a reduction in production linked to the frames sector and a strong increase in demand for its machines from manufacturers of mouldings, parquet flooring, panels, doors and other products related to the furnishing of houses, offices, and public areas.”

Lorenzo Gratton: “Our cooperation started in 1963, when Borgonovo started to produce embossing rollers for wood. The families Trabattoni and Borgonovo families always kept on working closely together and still do, but as separate companies. As a team, we deliver finished machines to a global market. These machines are unique, because Trabattoni Stampi literally provides hundreds of different rollers and patterns. Whatever the customer asks, it can be made!”

Turning point: 2007
“The flooring industry became increasingly important from 2007 onwards. That was a direct result of the massive import of floorings from China”, Matteo Trabbatoni takes over. “Customers started to contact us, as they had a problem with part of the contents of the container. Around 20% consisted of so-called bad pieces that could not be used. We found a solution in suggesting they could distress the surface of this wood, using our technology. The beginning was difficult, but very quickly a new trend was born and really conquered the markets from 2011 onwards.”

“I must add that it’s absolutely not only about distressing, but also about designs”, Lorenzo Gratton picks in. “Just change the roller and you can achieve whatever effect you want. The result can be ageing, but also a lot more than that. Think, e.g., about geometrical shapes. This moulding process is done by means of a heated rotary press, allowing a large number of finishing motifs to be applied to the wood. This starts with the appearance of the very popular old wood up to more modern designs.”

Markets differ
We of course want to know how fashionable distressing – or ageing – of wooden floors still is. Both interlocutors agree that this must be good for about 70 percent of the output.
Matteo Trabattoni: “You must keep in mind that markets differ. For example: consider the European market on the one hand and the American market on the other. In Europe, you will see the customer is more used to designing the entire place. The US is, on the contrary, more aiming at rustic effects.”
Lorenzo Gratton: “The effects are more extreme. The US demands more distressing, more ageing. In Europe, customers ask all kinds of different things, but here more sober effects are preferred. You always have to bear in mind that an American will try to combine the same effect in the entire house, which means you must consider elements such as walls and floor in one go.”

Both also indicate that there is a difference between the kind of markets themselves. A residential customer has different wishes than the project market of, for instance, restaurants or hotels. They also indicate the machines can be used for far more than just solid wood!

Also for MDF, plywood,…
Matteo Trabattoni: “A consumer most of the time opts for not too aggressive techniques. Private houses need to be softer. Public spaces are different, here things that are more visible are asked.”

“I must also add that our technology is very versatile. We don’t remove material, but compress it, and this means we can also work wood based materials such as MDF or plywood. MDF is very nice to work with, because the deeper you go, the softer it becomes. Because of the compressing, harder effects can be created on the surface. Thanks to the pressure, boards are stabilized and never turn back.”

Lorenzo Gratton: “As you can expect, MDF or plywood are not so much meant for use in the parquet sector, where is all about solid or engineered wood. But the combination with the floor can be very intriguing!”

More detailed designs and hard brushing
We must of course also ask the question what both gentlemen expect the future will bring. Both indicate, they see the trend changing every two to three years. They indicate that private customers are now looking for more detailed designs. There also see a trend towards hard brushing. Over the last decennium, there was a big demand for burnt wood, but this is changing towards a more rustic appearance.

What they do want to stress, however, is how easily their machines can meet the requirements of a transition in taste. This has everything to do with the ease of changing rollers and new developments in the way of heating.

Lorenzo Gratton: “Most machines must change their tools every once in a while. Forget that with our machines. Provided you maintain them well enough, the effect of our rollers always stays exactly the same and the machine checks itself for flaws. The rollers simply don’t wear off and there’s a simple explanation for that: you’re brushing steel against wood… “

Matteo Trabattoni: “A parquet installer will be amazed to see how easy and fast our machines are. They can simply not lack in a modern workshop.”

Lorenzo Gratton: “A very interesting development is how the rollers are heated nowadays. This used to be done with natural gas, but since 3-4 years, electrical heating is clearly on the rise.

Electricity has many advantages, mainly in the field of safety. Even though our gas-heated machines comply to the highest norms, still some people are wary. With electricity, one can no longer think of reasons not to install our products.”

Matteo Trabattoni: “The heating machines can also be integrated into the production line, which was not advisable in the past. The result: you win a lot of space at the same time! Does this mean we will no longer produce machines that use natural gas for their heating? Not at all! We continue to offer the option for gas, even the original models with open flame system remain available! If people want to see our technology in action, they can just contact us and visit us in both our companies in Italy. Interesting to know, is that we will also be displaying a functioning machine during the coming Domotex in Hannover. We guarantee, visitors will be amazed at how many new designs are possible!”