CMI, turnkey solutions for chemical filling

A forward-looking company undergoing major transformation, driven by a successful generational transition

Founded in 1982 with a strong focus on filling and capping solutions for chemicals and corrosive substances, CMI returned to its original business in 2020 following a period of diversification into markets such as beauty, aerosols and lamination. This shift coincided with a significant transition, marked by the appointment of Davide Comoli as CEO, representing the second generation of leadership within the company.

Tell us about your business and how you are performing in the market

“Our core expertise has always centred on filling and capping machines for acidic and corrosive chemicals,” explains Comoli. “Therefore, we possess deep know-how in this field, which we now are fully leveraging – with positive results in both orders and sales. Since I joined the company, in fact, growth has been steady. We closed 2023 with sales exceeding €8 million, surpassed €10 million in 2024, and our 2025 order book is already full, setting us on track to exceed €11 million. Following a phase of reorganisation and process optimisation, we successfully returned to our core business: the development of complete lines for filling and capping chemical and corrosive products. It is a market in which we boast over 40 years of experience and long-standing customers who have remained loyal to us throughout the years. Thanks to this expertise, we are now able to handle a wide range of products, including chemical, creamy, and viscous products, home and personal care liquids, as well as motor oils, and paints. We have also created a spin-off featuring spreadable creams, jams, honey, and some machines for cosmetic products, although these represent a very small portion of our turnover.”

What are the key strengths that have enabled you to build and consolidate your business over time?

“One of CMI's greatest strengths lies in our ability to deliver fully customised turnkey lines,” Comoli continues. “This is made possible through a trusted network of specialised partners, with whom we collaborate to develop comprehensive solutions. Customers entrust us with the entire process, from layout design to machinery procurement, and we handle both FAT and SAT procedures with in-house assembly and testing prior to delivery. Our capacity to provide a complete and highly innovative service is further strengthened by our in-house expertise, starting with our R&D and design departments, which develop hardware and software in-house. The presence of highly qualified in-house personnel allows us to respond quickly to a wide range of needs, from technical assistance and troubleshooting to after-sales support and management of format changeovers. Our machines are fully compliant with industry 4.0 standards, enabling continuous remote support. When necessary, we also dispatch our specialised technicians for on-site interventions.”

Guardando alla tecnologia quali sono gli elementi caratterizzanti delle vostre soluzioni?

“Le nostre macchine antiacido sono prodotte con materiali plastici o acciai speciali e leghe nobili come il titanio. La nostra competenza si estende quindi anche ai materiali perché non tutti i prodotti corrosivi si adattano a ogni metallo e serve associare i più idonei alle diverse componenti chimiche lavorate. Realizziamo i pezzi internamente, che si tratti di metalli o plastiche, su cui abbiamo una competenza avanzata. Da notare infatti, che una macchina realizzata in plastica richiede molte più ore di manodopera rispetto a una soluzione standard in acciaio inox. Il nostro personale è quindi anche specializzato in saldature su materiali plastici a cui si aggiungono fornitori che sanno scegliere le giuste mescole per gestire i diversi prodotti chimici da confezionare. Altro elemento caratteristico del nostro business è la varietà di formati, guidati dal marketing, su cui il settore chimico è molto attento, con significative differenziazioni nelle chiusure e packaging design innovativi progettati per essere caratterizzanti del brand. A questo si aggiunge la crescente sensibilità verso il green packaging che impone problematiche di macchinabilità e tenuta determinate da sgrammature e varietà di materiali riciclati, riciclabili e sostenibili. Per il nostro settore quindi, la forma è una variabile da non sottovalutare al pari di fragilità e instabilità dei materiali per il packaging che impongono alle macchine elevate performance e una versatilità in grado di gestire elementi in continua evoluzione tra prodotti, formati e materiali. Questo senza tralasciare la stabilità, la capacità di produrre grandi volumi contenendo al massimo i fermi macchina”.

Looking at technology, what are the defining elements of your solutions?

“Our anti-acid machines are built using plastics, special steels and high-grade alloys such as titanium. Our expertise, therefore, also extends to materials because not all corrosive substances are compatible with every type of metal. It is important to select the most suitable material for each chemical component being processed. All parts, whether metal or plastic, are manufactured in-house, where we have developed extensive expertise. In fact, it’s important to note that producing a machine made from plastic often requires significantly more labour hours than a standard stainless steel solution. Our personnel are also highly specialised in welding on plastic materials, and we collaborate with suppliers who have the expertise to select the most suitable compounds for packaging a wide range of chemical products. Another key aspect of our business is the ability to manage a wide variety of formats, which is increasingly important in the chemical industry, where marketing drives strong differentiation in closures and innovative packaging designs that serve as key elements of brand identity. Added to this is the increasing demand for sustainable packaging, which presents challenges in terms of machinability and sealing performance due to factors such as weight reductions and the use of recycled, recyclable, and sustainable materials. In our industry, shape is just as important as the fragility and instability of the packaging materials themselves. These challenges demand high-performance, versatile machines that can adapt to constant variations in products, formats and materials. At the same time, it is essential to maintain stability and the ability to handle high production volumes with minimal downtime.”

Speaking of technology, what  we will see at IPACK-IMA 2025?

“IPACK-IMA is a trade show where we have always showcased our most significant innovations,” Comoli continues. “This year, we will present a linear filling machine made from plastic and high-grade materials, specifically designed for corrosive products, along with a fully electronic rotary capper for trigger caps, which allows the profile of the capping cam to be configured via a control panel. Together with our partner Bosch Rexroth, we will also present a package for the testing of machine performance, developed with an industry 5.0 approach. This solution offers access to diagnostics and performance analysis, including sustainability metrics. ESG is a key driver for us. CMI Industries’ solutions enable the collection of measurable data through advanced digitisation and a highly streamlined supply chain. This is made possible by the local industrial ecosystem in which we operate, allowing us to significantly reduce emissions. Another important contribution to sustainability is the significant reduction in water consumption, achieved through the development of a patented washing system. This solution ensures maximum efficiency and speed, minimises downtime, and delivers exceptionally low energy and water consumption.”

In which markets are you present?

“One of our most important markets is undoubtedly Italy, which accounts for 30 to 40% of our turnover,” concludes Davide Comoli. “We also have a long-standing presence in Australia, where we have worked with a local agent for over 12 years, and in Turkey, where the speed, reliability and efficiency of our machines give us a clear advantage over local competitors. With speeds exceeding 50 pieces per minute, our solutions deliver unrivalled standards of quality, efficiency and performance – whether the competition comes from the Middle East, China, Africa or the Mediterranean basin. These are markets where we are already active and continuing to grow, with representation in Dubai and an expanding presence in the Americas, particularly in Mexico. In short, what makes CMI Industries a winning choice is our commitment to quality, high performance, reliability and the ability to deliver fully customised turnkey solutions.”