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The Sarnico-based company closes 2021 with excellent results and reveals the next news for both the super yacht and naval market
Its well established that 2021 was a positive year for boating and it is really hard to find anyone to complain. However, when success goes well beyond the forecasts of the company itself, and also the general growth rate of the sector, then there is only to be happy and try to understand why.

Besenzoni, a company from Sarnico (Bergamo) manufacturer of accessories such as pilot seats, gangways, davits, ladders, etc. closed the year with a growth in turnover of more than 35% compared to 2020. Easy, one could say, that was the year in which the pandemic broke out. The absolute turnover figure, however, is also higher than that of 2019, the last year without an "asterisk" with which sensible comparisons can be made. If that weren't enough, the signs with which the current year began are even better.

The owner Giorgio Besenzoni explains to SUPER YACHT 24 the reasons for the success of his company, which in 2022 celebrates 55 years of activity and is confirmed as one of the most prestigious brands in Made in Italy boating, always at the forefront of innovation. of technology and service. With 110 direct employees, the term "accessory designer" for Besenzoni seems a bit simplistic.

What are these positive numbers due to?
“I think there are several concomitant factors. First of all, the market in general is obviously pulling, and we as shipyard suppliers benefit from this. Then we have a very diversified catalog, the breadth of which allows us to be flexible and focus on the products that are most in demand in a given period. Finally, we have an excellent balance of turnover between Italy and abroad, practically 50/50, which puts us in a position not to depend excessively on the fluctuations of a single geographical area. "

Are there areas where growth is stronger anyway?
"In recent years the Turkish market has proved very effervescent, but all of Northern Europe is doing well too."
Let's also talk about critical issues, how are you managing the huge increase in energy costs?
“We cannot do anything about the prices to pay for the bills, we are a taxable person. With customers, on the other hand, we have worked to find satisfactory agreements with everyone, partly by revising the price lists, partly by reshaping the flow of orders. I must say that we are succeeding. "

Do you have problems with your supply chain?
"Here too we are managing it quite well, there is some disservice but the problem is transversal to the whole industry. It helps us that we have been working with many suppliers for decades, the relationship is really consolidated. "

In what directions are you investing?
"We have renewed many of the production equipment, for example the water cutting has been replaced with electric pumps. We also have a new management system and we are investing heavily in staff training, especially customer care, both internally and externally. "

What new product are you preparing?
“We are working to integrate the Be-Electric range, which includes gangway, ladder, anchor windlass, tender lift and soft top, all fully electric components. In a few months we will present some news, which are a bit of a 'return to the origins' of Besenzoni. "

You also produce for the actual shipbuilding industry, how important is this market?
"It is a minority share of our turnover but it increases every year. Our products for work boats and military ships are assembled by many foreign shipyards, even on ships from 150-300 meters: we are talking above all about ladders, gangways and command chairs. "

Are you also working on the sustainability front?
"Yes, our core business remains automation and hydraulic handling, but the BeElectric range represents a revolution in this sense. Internally we have eliminated the use of polluting oils and only use biodegradable ones. We are also working on energy saving and heat recovery systems, but these are complex projects and it will take time. "

Let's talk about the superyacht market, what are the shipyards' requests?
“Each has its own specificity and orders vary every time, this is the best challenge. For some years we have then created the Unica division, which deals only with the design and implementation of custom solutions for both shipowners and shipyards, also providing support for on-board assembly and ongoing assistance all over the world. "

by Riccardo Masnata