In Casalecchio di Reno, near Bologna, there is a company founded after World War II that still innovates and leaves its mark today. This is Ghimas, an Italian biomedical company that has been part of the US group AAT since 2021. From Emilia to the entire world, thanks to exports to 40 countries worldwide. Giampaolo Colletti interviews Alberto Poletti, General Manager of Ghimas, for FARE INSIEME.
by Giampaolo Colletti
@gpcolletti
Photocredit: Giacomo Maestri and Francesca Aufiero
In Casalecchio di Reno, in the outskirts of Bologna, the Apennines begin to make themselves visible and the Reno river cuts across the plain like a shining scar. This is where Ghimas was established. In production, the dry sound of bottles lining up on the lines marks the time of the days. It's the steady beat of a company that, from here in Casalecchio, has grown to export to over 40 countries worldwide, keeping its heart firmly rooted in the local area and its gaze fixed on the future. It all began in 1947, when Italy was emerging from the war and the Bologna plain was filled with shops and workshops. It was founded by three local families driven by a shared passion for chemistry and dental care. It began as a small artisanal workshop producing dental materials. Over time, the workshop grew into a company, then into an international reference point for regenerative medicine and longevity. «We started with teeth, but today we work on the entire body. Our goal is to help tissues regenerate and regain their natural function», says Alberto Poletti, General Manager of Ghimas.
Company profile. Ghimas is an Italian biomedical company based in Casalecchio di Reno, part of the US group AAT since 2021. It currently employs 35 people at its Casalecchio di Reno site, it exports a quarter of its revenue abroad and will exceed €5 million in revenue by 2025, growing by 10%. But what really matters is not size, but the depth of research conducted every day in these laboratories. We are at the heart of the Emilia-Romagna health and biomedical district. Here, high-tech medical devices, cosmetics, and supplements are designed, developed, and produced. The mission is to preserve health and quality of life during the natural ageing process, focusing on regenerative medicine and longevity medicine. Ghimas has built its identity on a simple principle: helping nature do its work. From bone biomaterials that promote bone regeneration to next-generation fillers for aesthetic medicine, up to complex medical devices, every product is born with a regenerative logic. «Ours is a story of bio-regenerative medicine. We began working on materials like calcium sulfate and hydroxyapatite, then we expanded the field to longevity and aesthetic medicine, always starting from the same idea: to promote the natural repair and the wellness processes», says Poletti.
The deep meaning of the company. The history of Ghimas recounts a scientific and cultural evolution: 1.5 million applications of Chlosite gel, over 3 million uses of synthetic biomaterials for bone regeneration, more than 100 million applications of Plastor. These numbers are accompanied by a clear vision: to make longevity an accessible commodity. «Longevity medicine is not a luxury for the few» – explains Poletti – «but a preventive medicine, for a widespread well-being. We cater to all those who are ageing and want to take care of themselves, not only for aesthetic reasons but also for functional ones. This is where our work finds its deepest meaning.» In the Casalecchio laboratories, you can breathe an atmosphere that combines industrial precision and artisanal passion. The operators move their hands with the calm of those who know that every detail counts: a degree higher in the temperature of a reagent, a different drying time, a label that must be perfect. It is through this obsessive attention to detail that Ghimas builds its authority.
«Ours is teamwork, based on simplicity and transparency. Without passion, you get nowhere. Passion is what allows you to overcome difficulties and face the complexity of a constantly evolving sector», says Poletti.
Innovation and the future. Research and development is the beating heart of the company. Ghimas collaborates with doctors and universities, as well as with international research centres. The latest project developed is a medical device based on a natural organic matrix rich in proteins and mucins, with pro-angiogenic properties, designed for the regeneration of vulvovaginal and skin tissues. Since 2021, Ghimas has been part of the US group AAT, a strategic move that has brought international capital and expertise without compromising its Emilian soul. «We have maintained our autonomy and our culture. Our strength has always been our ability to combine the concreteness of the Emilian region with a global vision.» Ultimately, Ghimas's identity lies entirely here: a factory that produces time, working to prolong the quality of life, not just its duration. In a fast-paced world, this small but great company from Casalecchio has chosen a different path: that of a slow, continuous and deep regeneration.
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