Assopiuma continues its series of interviews aimed at shedding light on the manufacturing processes and values that all its members operate with. We sat down with Donato Rendina, owner of Citpiuma, a historical Assopiuma company which has been producing furniture paddings for more than forty years. 

“We are a strictly Made in Italy company and we are proud to have always worked for Italian clients, high-end brands in the design industry who became loyal to us over time with a competent and highly collaborative customized design approach, which is also fuelled by our geographical proximity. “

When was your company founded and what was its original outlook?
Citpiuma was born in 1976 as a company specialised in the production of feather paddings for the furniture industry. The goal was immediately to supply a top-quality product and gradually increase loyalty among a high-end clientele. In 1984 Citpiuma joined forces with Prisma for the production of polyurethane foam to be even more competitive in the industry.

How long have you been members of Assopiuma and what advantages to you still attribute to this ‘liaison’?
We were among the founders of Assopiuma in 1981 and that proved to be a winning strategy. I immediately believed in this association which promotes the knowledge and qualification of natural feather paddings to guarantee our expertise and the requirements of our products which stand out from the other products on the market.

How has your operating method changed over time?
Initially it was strictly artisanal work. We filled the cushions by hand, weighing quantities with a scale. Today, thanks to our implementation of increasingly advanced machinery, we can work with higher precision and speed and offer constant standards. We purchase the feathers from Molina (Assopiuma) already washed and sterilized and divided by type. Then we blow them to create the paddings with specific machines that measure quantities and weight so the paddings are all homogenous and perfect.

What are the key factors that have determined your company’s success?
Professionalism, a design approach, search for maximum quality, attention to detail. Naturally, the entrepreneurial spirit is essential. I, for instance, was the first to have the idea to clad the framework in feathers, a costly operation but an operation that gives the products a better look. And we were also among the first to use cutting machines.

What type of feathers do you use for your paddings and what products do you make?
More than 80% of our paddings are made with gold feather (goose feather), the best kind. We make everything, from cushions to the entire seat, finished sofas or armchairs, without upholstery.

How does your product distinguish itself from the competition’s?
In the past, there was a big difference, today, thanks to the selection of feathers and the new technology, the younger companies associated to Assopiuma have caught up with us. We all make high-level products, but competing with each other is an incentive to continue to do better.

Who are your clients in Italy and abroad?
We are a strictly Made in Italy company and we are proud to have always worked for Italian clients, high-end brands in the design industry who became loyal to us over time with a competent and highly collaborative customized design approach, which is also fuelled by our geographical proximity.

Assopiuma continues its series of interviews aimed at raising awareness about the production processes and values with which all its members operate. This time, we are sitting down with Pelucchi, a company which has been making paddings for the furniture industry since the 1950s.

“We invest in Assopiuma because we believe in the importance of the quality certification and control of raw materials. We think that our customers are the true asset of our company and we dedicate all our attention to finding solutions to their needs.”

When was your company founded and what was its original outlook?
Pelucchi S.r.l. was founded in the early 1950s.  Its mission has always been to provide manufacturers of padded furniture with products for sofas, armchairs and beds.

Why do you think it is important to invest on feather products as a company?
Feathers can provide a unique comfort for seating solutions, and from the point of view of design, they have a stronger aesthetic appeal than any other material. A feather cushion never loses its shape and does not become flat or thin if you fluff it appropriately. Furthermore, feathers are a green and 100% recyclable product and we all know how important these qualities are today!

How has your operating method changed over time?
It has changed drastically. Today we work with highly computerized machinery that guarantees a perfectly uniform production. Also, the way we construct the cushion covers has changed, we now have many containment chambers to keep the feathers in place.  And we shouldn’t forget the in-depth research and increasingly accurate study of comfort that lie behind each one of our products.

What are your company’s strong points?
The know-how. We are constantly committed to improving and consolidating our technical know-how. We think that our customers are the true asset of our company and we dedicate all our attention to finding solutions to their needs.

What is the current evolutionary trend in your industry?
We are certainly experiencing a strong growth. Over the past years, the demand for padded feather products has increased significantly. This is also because feathers are a material that give any padded furniture an added value.

Has there been a particular moment that marked a leap in your company’s evolution?
Fundamentally, I would say there are 3 factors that have contributed to our positioning in the field of feather products. The first is the continuous and constant improvement of the quality of our raw materials. The second is the use of filling machines that have significantly reduced processing times and, consequently, reduced costs. And the third is our care in the confection.

How does your product distinguish itself from the competition?
As I mentioned, our clients are an asset to us. We follow their instructions quite literally and consistently, using only top-quality products, both as far as the feathers are concerned and when it comes to the fabrics and polyurethane. Moreover, with our technical department, which develops prototypes and industrializes them, we can provide a complete consultancy at 360 degrees for any client.

What are the key factors that determine the success of a quality product?
The quality of the raw material and of the confection, and then the manufacturing process and traceability. The ability to always suggest new solutions and new and more performing materials.

Who are your clients in Italy and abroad?
Anyone who needs paddings for quality armchairs or sofas traded under the Assopiuma label.

What advantages do you think there are in being a company associated to Assopiuma?
First of all, Assopiuma is an association that protects the consumer and the wellbeing of animals, guarantees product traceability and the certification of raw materials. In addition, if you buy a product with the Assopiuma label, you also enjoy the guarantee that all rules and regulations as well as quality standards have been respected.

Why do you think it is so important to invest in Assopiuma and make it grow?
We invest in Assopiuma because we believe in the importance of the quality certification and control of raw materials. This allows us to offer guaranteed high-quality products. Assopiuma is the consumer’s asset; the more it grows, the more people will be able to be sure that they are buying a guaranteed and high-quality product.

Assopiuma continues its series of interviews aimed at promoting its network of manufacturers and the processes and values with which all its associates operate. This time, we are sitting down for a chat with MTP, a company which has been producing paddings for furniture since 1976.

“The success of a quality product is first and foremost determined by comfort. An aspect which feathers can only enhance. Another key factor: being able to create a product that responds to the client’s needs. And we can provide that response thanks to our made-to-measure production.”

When was your company founded and what was its original outlook?
We started in 1976 with the goal of launching a business for our family and of introducing more comfort into the world of sofas. In fact, sofas with padded cushions were something quite uncommon at the time. And producing cushions was considered to be a humble craft. A craft which, however, has evolved over the past years thanks to the support of cutting-edge machinery.
 

Why do you think it is important to invest on feather products as a company?
Feathers cannot be replaced by synthetic materials. It is natural and biodegradable, both aspects that people are strongly aware of today. Also, feathers are long-lasting. Synthetic paddings suffer the signs of time, while feather cushions maintain their features intact over several years. 

 
How has your operating method changed over time?
Our operations have changed radically. In the beginning we were using rudimentary equipment and elementary manufacturing processes. Today, we are producing high-quality products with state-of-the-art machinery. We have invested profusely in research and development and in new technologies, which has allowed us to improve the product both in terms of materials and in terms of construction quality. For instance, we can now perfectly calibrate the filling of the different types of padding. This is a crucial support that completes the manual work performed by our artisan workforce. 

A polyurethane plate is inserted to give to the feather cushion greater support: it is removable at the end of life, to ensure total biodegradability

What are your company’s strengths?
Competence, commitment to work, continuously striving for improvement. The heart of all this are our people, with their drive and determination always keep going.  

How is your industry currently evolving?
We are moving towards complex and high-quality processing. This is why it is important to invest in technology and research and development today. These are the strategic assets that can ensure a company’s future.

Has there been a particular moment that marked a leap in your company’s evolution?
The inauguration of a second production site with the latest modern equipment and, above all, the transition of the company into the second generation. This transition took place gradually and in the name of continuity; it brought in a fresh perspective and established a new kind of dialogue with our clients.

How does your product distinguish itself from the competition?
The high quality standards required by Assopiuma have led all members to work with highly comparable parameters. This means that substantial differences in terms of quality and sustainability certainly exist among non-members, but not among members of the association.

What are the “key” factors that determine the success of a quality product?
The success of a quality product is first and foremost determined by comfort. An aspect which feathers can only enhance. Another key factor: being able to create a product that responds to the client’s needs. And we can provide that response thanks to our made-to-measure production.

Family portrait © Luca Casonato 
Production images © IKB foto