Italian auxiliary equipment manufacturer Moretto SpA has opened its first U.S. operation, in Columbus, Ohio, to handle sales, service and spare parts. Mr. Paolo Gasparotto, business development manager, said the 15,000-square-foot facility opened in October to cover the United States and Canada. Initially, Moretto is employing four people in Columbus, but Gasparotto said the company will add staff as business expands.

Moretto SpA, based in Massanzago, Italy, is an international maker of auxiliary equipment, operating subsidiaries in Germany, Poland, Brazil, Turkey and now, the United States. The company employs 400 worldwide. Moretto’s product line includes conveying systems, temperature controllers, dosing systems, dryers, grinders and chillers. Gasparotto said the company does not release sales numbers. Moretto has long had an interest in setting up a U.S. base, and the industry has speculated when it would happen.

“It’s an idea we’ve had for almost 15 years,” Gasparotto said. Moretto will continue its relationship with Advanced Blending Solutions LLC of Menominee, Mich., which covers the Italian auxiliary equipment maker’s equipment for extrusion, he said. Gasparotto said the main reason for setting up in the United States is that major multinational customers want local support. “They want us to be on direct sales,” he said. Columbus, in central Ohio, is a good location to reach automakers in the Detroit area, the Midwest and the South, he said.

About Moretto SpA

Moretto S.p.A. researches, develops and manufactures automation for plastics processing industries. Systems stand out for their low energy consumption and their original solutions.