Simmel Difesa is an

Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...

firm located in

Colleferro Colleferro (IPA: /kɔllefɛrro/) is a small town with 20 698 inhabitants of the Metropolitan City of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is a residential zone with many different industries and sports structures. It borders the City of F ...

that manufacturers land and naval munitions. Founded in 1948, Simmel specialized in the production of large-caliber munitions. In 1988, Simmel was acquired by the Fiat Group. During this period, Simmel itself acquired the assets of

Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino (better known as BPD), was a chemical company founded in 1912 by Giovanni Bombrini and Leopoldo Parodi-Delfino to produce gunpowder and explosives. Around its location in Colleferro (south of Rome) soon grew a small town ...

, a longtime manufacturer of gunpowder and munitions in Italy. Simmel was acquired by and became an operating company of the

Chemring Group Chemring Group is a global business providing a range of advanced technology products and services to the aerospace, defence and security markets. Chemring has extensive operations in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Asia. The company was ...

in 2007, which purchased Simmel at the cost of $102.5 million. In 2014, Chemring Group sold Simmel Difesa to

Nexter Systems Nexter Systems (formerly known as GIAT Industries or ''Groupement des Industries de l'Armée de Terre'', Army Industries Group) is a French government-owned weapons manufacturer, based in Roanne, Loire. Group organization The Nexter group is ...

. In October 2007, an explosion in the Colleferro munitions works killed one worker and wounded 13. Today, Simmel has over 200 employees and an annual turnover of over 80 million Euros. Simmel claims it is capable of manufacturing 300,000 rounds of ammunition annually. Current products include munitions ranging in caliber from 20-mm to 203-mm. Simmel's business is mostly oriented towards export with only 30% of its annual turnover resulting from business in Italy. In November 2009, Chemring's semi-annual report praised Simmel's performance, stating Simmel "had produced an excellent year-end result, with significant year-on-year growth". Simmel's production of cluster munitions has made the company a protest object of peace activists.peaceandjustice.it
/ref> Simmel claims it no longer manufactures cluster munitions.

Notes

External links

Simmel Difesa websiteChemring website on Simmel Difesa
* * Defence companies of Italy Manufacturing companies of Italy Italian brands Manufacturing companies established in 1948 Italian companies established in 1948 {{Italy-company-stub