The manufacturing facility in Plopeni, Prahova, opened about a decade ago when Bialetti closed a plant in Italy and relocated it. Its officials did not return calls for comment on the operations in Romania.
Bialetti was established in 1919 and has plants in Italy, Romania and Turkey, its corporate website says. It makes espresso machines and especially stove-top coffee makers under such brands as Bialetti, Aeternum, Rondine and CEM. It also makes equipment for the pasty industry and coffee pods.
Romania’s home appliances manufacturing industry is developing in full gear, with new plants opening, plants of smaller players being acquired by bigger rivals and arrival of heavyweights.
There is room for development still, because only seven major companies are active in Romania in this business – six finished goods manufacturers and one component manufacturer. Then there is Bialetti, which, however, operates under a different NACE code, 2599 – Manufacture of other fabricated metal products.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)