2017 Sustainability Overview | Prysmian Group

INVESTING INTO EXCELLENCE PRYSMIAN GROUP 2017 SUSTAINABILITY OVERVIEW During 2017 Prysmian continued to invest in all corporate businesses, with particular attention to the submarine cables, the optical fibre and cables for Telecom applications, further strengthening its presence in those segments boasting higher added value. Prysmian Group's production activities, explains COO Andrea Pirondini, “are characterised by a strongly decentralised model, which leverages 82 factories across 50 countries, thus allowing the company efficiency and effectiveness in meeting the various market demands at a global level”. Once again, during 2017, the Group has continued to implement an industrial strategy based on two pillars. First, the creation of products with higher added value and technological content in a limited number of establishments, “destined to become centres of excellence with high technological skills, exploiting economies of scale, with consequent improvement in production efficiency and reduction of capital invested”, according to Pirondini. Secondly, the constant search for greater manufacturing efficiency in the commodities sector, while maintaining a well-diversified geographical presence in order to minimise distribution costs. In 2017 the value of gross investments amounted to €257 million, up some 10% compared to the previous year, including the purchase of assets of the Chinese plant in Yixing active in the production of HV cables, and the further acceleration of investments in the Telecom business. The incidence of investments linked to the industrial footprint remains in line with previous years. “Our goal”, Pirondini says, “is that of optimising the cost structure while guaranteeing an adequate saturation of the plants within the various countries”. In 2017, gross investments grew 10% to €257 million. Chief Operating Officer Andrea Pirondini outlines the benefits of a strongly decentralised model, which allows the Group efficiency and effectiveness across 82 facilities all around the world. STRONG INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY