Article taken from ItaliaImballaggio - 3 April 2025

OCME (Aetna Group), a reference point in the packaging sector for over 70 years, inaugurated its new production unit in Collecchio (Parma) with a ceremony that saw the participation of public authorities and the company's top management.

A new milestone for OCME, which further strengthens its roots in the territory, endorsing its commitment to promoting development, innovation and employment.

The event at the end of March began at the historic OCME head offices in Via del Popolo in Parma, where the Vice-President, in charge of Economic Development and Green Economy, Energy, Vocational Training, University and Research of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Vincenzo Colla, the Mayor of Parma, Michele Guerra, the Mayor of Collecchio, Maristella Galli and the Councillor for Industry of Collecchio, Roberto Dallavalle, together with other institutional representatives, took part in the presentation of the OCME 2 project and a short company tour.

Of particular interest was the visit to TechLab, a laboratory dedicated to product and process development, which houses a prototype of an advanced packaging machine created thanks to funding under Regional Law 14, a project co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. This is an adaptive packaging machine capable of efficiently managing formats and objects of different kinds. Thus, it stands as a concrete example of technological innovation at the service of production flexibility. An example of how public financing, through ingenuity, can be transformed into innovation to compete on world markets and into new employment for the benefit of the territory.

Immediately afterwards, the procession went to the new production site, located in Strada Nazionale Est, Collecchio, where the ribbon cutting ceremony took place, followed by a tour inside the plant. Covering an area of over 3,000 square metres, the new plant is a fundamental step for the company's growth. At the same time, it highlights, within the OCME portfolio, the increased industrialisation of the connection systems for the individual cells that form the production line, for which OCME boasts a global coverage among the key players in the Food & Beverage sector.

"This new plant - Vincenzo Colla commented – enables us to complete the internalisation of a product and create new jobs. An investment supported in part by the Regional government through Law 14, which has generated significant opportunities. I have seen the pride in doing things well, where an entrepreneurial experience of over 70 years is intertwined with technological innovation ".

"Human intelligence has managed to transform the products of our land - the Mayor of Collecchio, Maristella Galli, proudly added - by developing the technology to process and add value to them, making this territory one of the most productive areas in the country".

With this new technological development, Aetna Group shows it is willing to invest more and more in the territory, promoting a solid and established business model, as CEO Enrico Aureli said: "This inauguration is not only a step forward for OCME, but also a strong sign of the commitment we have towards our country and our region. Aetna Group, with a turnover of 530 million euros and exports accounting for 93%, continues to invest in innovation and the improvement of production processes. We never forget that our success is based on solid Italian roots and we are equally ready to look to the future with an international vision ".

"We intend to invest and attract the talents of our territory - CEO Valentina Aureli added - as we consider human resources to be strategic. A young person, today, can decide to embrace our industrial project by choosing to work in our Italian plants or even abroad, thanks to our international profile and branches around the world. Aetna Group currently employs more than 2,200 people, of which 524 are in OCME. Our company has recorded significant growth over the years, with an increase of 150 people in 2024 (of which 55 in the Parma hub) and with the forecast of a further 100 new employees in 2025".

With the new head offices in Collecchio, OCME aims to give a clear signal: growth and internationalisation are of vital importance and are based specifically on the promotion of the territory and local talent. Innovation, international vision and above all a strong investment in people – starting with the precious contribution of young people – are the recipe for a winning Italian company, a leader in markets around the world.  

On this issue, the Mayor of Parma, Michele Guerra, concluded by reiterating how fundamental continuous collaboration among industry, institutes and universities is, a virtuous bond of which OCME is a concrete example.