By clearly defining assignments in the management of the company, Silvio is CEO responsible for sales, Andrea, Vice President Manufacturing, Stefano, CFO and Fabio is Vice President Fabric Development, a strong synergy exists between the individual departments with a dynamic approach to decision making. This leads to a very quick response to the wishes of customers, a great deal of creativity in fabric development and styling and provides a decisive impulse also in plant operation.

The particular strengths of the company that have made it a leader in its field include very modern designs, in part avantgarde, the exceptional fabric quality and an optimum price/performance ratio of its products that are exported and recognized throughout the world.

The strong market position attained by the company has also been influenced by ongoing and decisive investments in new equipment.

As a matter of fact, during the last five years, in other words between 1992 and 1997, some Lit 80 billion were invested. This has meant not only the entire complement of machines has been replaced, but also emphasis was focused on new storage facilities, information systems, logistics and an intensive and comprehensive personnel training program.

With a core of employees numbering 520 persons and a sales volume of 13 million meters of fabric in 1997 (of which 5 million meters were produced by commission weavers), the company’s gross sales reached Lit 165 billion. In comparison with 1992 this is equivalent to an increase of 300% in gross sales.

In the same year, the company paved the way toward this extremely positive result with knowledgeable forethought, as Cotonificio Albini purchased the oldest and most famous three names in the shirting business. These were the English companies Thomas Mason, David and John Anderson and Ashton Shirtings, each with two centuries of history behind them. The exclusive fabrics produced by these three companies are supplied among other customers to the well-known shirtmakers in London’s Jermyn Street where world-famous personalities have their shirts custom tailored. Heading the illustrious list of customers is the British monarchy.

Seventy-five percent of production is exported, predominantly to customers in Europe, USA, Japan and the Far East.

The basis of the high level of quality fabric in poplin, twill, oxford, stripe and check patterns, piece-dyed and yarn-dyed starts with the selection of the best raw materials. This is subjected to very modern and progressive manufacturing processes and very stringent quality control, with finally every meter of fabric woven being carefully inspected.

The materials being processed include cotton, linen and various blends of both fibers in counts ranging from Ne 30/2 through Ne 170/2. In the case of 100% linen yarns, the company produces counts of up to Nm 39/1.

Part of customer service includes a timely delivery of goods on order, also including the supply of short lengths of fabric. This necessitates an optimum in the logistical control of material flow through the plant and a very careful and precise scheduling in the preparation and weaving departments.

Also the modern dyehouse is geared to production requirements, with dye lots of 30-600 kg of yarn being processed as an integral part of the total production amounting to 45,000 kg per week.

In order to increase the flexibility of the weaveroom, a decision was taken to adapt the 167 shuttleless machines to QSC technology, in order to ensure a quick change of style on the weaving machine, thus minimizing downtime.

According to Mr. Andrea Albini, Vice President Manufacturing of Cotonificio Albini, in 1996 42 DORNIER rapier weaving machines were purchased in order to be more versatile in the production of predominantly fabrics requiring a high number of harness frames and also in order to meet the demand for styles requiring two warp beams. The careful handling of the filling by the DORNIER Weaving System, in other words the low filling pick up speed, short rapier overstroke and optimized contour of the cams in the gearboxes for rapier movement, made the weaving of low-strength cotton yarns and expensive linen yarns at a speed of 515 ppm economically feasible.

Through the dynamic management of the company, the high technological level of the manufacturing equipment, the finely tuned logistics and a very well trained and motivated group of employees, Cotonificio Albini has the capability to face the ever increasing challenges of the international market in the future.