From September 2019 the well-known Montoni brand, manufacturer of dies, extrusion molds and cutting systems, will continue its operations within the “Dies & Moulds Business Line” under the umbrella brand of Pavan. In 1989, the Pavan Group acquired Montoni based on their already strong partnership and given that dies represent a strategically important segment for the pasta industry. Following the acquisition of the Pavan Group by the world's leading technology group GEA in November 2017, the Pavan sub-brands will now be gradually integrated into GEA's brand architecture.

The brand name Montoni disappears – but the technology remains

“Now as part of the larger GEA Group, the Dies & Moulds Business Line is able to leverage the benefits of working within a more global context. Under the umbrella brand Pavan, Montoni can continue but with even greater flexibility and know-how while upholding the quality standards that have made it successful for so many years,” explains Keimpe van der Hoeven, Managing Director of Pavan Group.

Seizing the opportunity of production change

Montoni was founded in 1924 in Pistoia, Italy, by Ansicola Montoni. At that time, dies were made of copper, chosen for its malleability, out of which shapes were stamped. In the 1960s, die manufacturing drastically changed with the introduction of interchangeable inserts. By the 1970s, pasta production began to change radically, moving away from its craft origins to becoming a full-blown industry – adjusting to the needs and the requirements of an evolving market.

Montoni technology at the top of the industry

The strong focus on quality has made Montoni technology extremely successful over the years. “Our products are positioned at the top of the category in terms of quality, thanks to our modern software and manufacturing equipment,” says Simone Del Tongo, sales director of the Dies & Moulds Business Line. In fact, the current production area consists of fully automated machines working 24/7—unmanned—which produce products with very high accuracy and level of finish. “We currently serve more than 200 pasta plants in 75 different countries,” adds Del Tongo. The company has established important and long-standing relationships with pasta manufacturers and universities to develop new and even more sophisticated extrusion systems, in line with the latest food industry trends.

During the last few years, the most important developments included the complete overhaul of the die washing machines and the new penne cutting unit, RotoPennaut. Die washing machines now deliver increased washing and water recycling efficiency. The updated RotoPennaut design combines the flexibility of the standard Pennaut with the needs of modern pasta plants by reducing maintenance and cleaning times.