From Malta to the Upper Brembana Valley: following the visit of the Piazza Brembana delegation to H’Attard in 2025, this year the Maltese delegation travelled to Italy to discover our local area and some of its leading artisan and industrial businesses.
Among the companies visited was IMEX, chosen as an example of a manufacturing business able to combine industrial expertise with craftsmanship, technology with artisan tradition, and deep local roots with a strong international presence.
A third-generation family business
During the visit, Giulia and Francesca Ghidini, respectively IMEX’s Production Director and Head of Logistics, Certifications and Safety, presented the company’s journey to the guests. Imex is now led by the third generation of the family. Business continuity means not only passing an enterprise on, but also preserving expertise, creating professional opportunities and continuing to generate employment in and for the local area.
With a workforce of around thirty people, IMEX also demonstrates how a relatively small company can build a solid commercial presence abroad. IMEX picture frame mouldings reach customers and markets worldwide, taking the manufacturing expertise developed in the Brembana Valley beyond Italy’s borders.
Internal organisation and international competitiveness
For IMEX, competing with Asian manufacturers offering particularly aggressive prices on the European market means not only guaranteeing the highest product quality, but also relying on an efficient internal organisation capable of coordinating every stage of the work.
Materials procurement, warehouse management, internal logistics, production planning and skills development must work together harmoniously as part of a fully integrated system. This balance enables a small company to meet deadlines, quality standards and commercial requirements while remaining competitive in international markets.
Production flexibility and customer focus
The Maltese delegation particularly appreciated the variety of Imex’s offering, from the range of styles and finishes to the different types of wood used. One of the company’s key strengths is its ability to customise frame mouldings according to each customer’s needs, adapting finishes, style, product features and packaging.
This flexibility enables the company to meet the needs of different markets without compromising on quality, attention to detail or the identity of a manufacturing business deeply rooted in its local area.
The visit by the H’Attard delegation was therefore an opportunity to show how family tradition, efficient organisation and an international outlook can coexist within a small business, turning strong local roots into a solid foundation for the future.
