Set for More Success

As Brianza USA prepares to celebrate 10 years of successful growth in North America, its parent company, Brianza Plastica, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of fibreglass sheets, is making significant investments to grow its presence in the United States further during the years ahead. In addition, it is also appointing some new senior managers and setting ambitious growth targets for the coming decade. Words John Rawlings

Brianza USA is the North American division of Brianza Plastica, one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of fibreglass laminates, based in Italy, near Milan. It has over 60 years of experience and is a preferred supplier of semi-fin ished products for the automotive market – specifically commercial, passenger vehicles and RVs. Having supplied the caravan industry in Europe since 2006, in 2014 Brianza Plastica decided to set up its own subsidiary in North America, so that it could directly and locally supply the RV industry there.

To provide the best service to the RV industry in North America, Brianza Plastica made the logical decision to locate Brianza USA’s first service, storage and dis tribution facility in the ‘RV Capital of the World’ – Elkhart, Indiana, where the majority of RV manufacturers are based. It wasn’t long before Brianza USA had outgrown that facility and had to relocate to larger premises in Elkhart so it could fulfil the timely supply of its products to the RV manufacturers in the USA.

For its first nine years of growth in North America, Brianza USA Corporation has to thank its President, Filippo Milani. Thanks to his hard work and leadership, plus his extensive experience of fibre glass laminates developed during his successful career with Brianza Plastica in Europe, Brianza USA has experienced rapid success over its first nine years of operations in North America, both in terms of volumes and size of its distribution facility.

The next decade

To build on its success so far and achieve its growth targets for its next decade in North America, Brianza Plastica is taking another significant step forward by mak ing further investments in Brianza USA, enlarging its workforce and appointing some important new and experienced managers to the business. This includes a change at the top. After his nine successful years setting up and growing Brianza USA to the size it is today, Fillippo Milani is now going to take on a new challenge in a different industry in the United States. He has passed control of Brianza USA to the new President, James Witty, who took over the role in June 2023, having been promoted from his previous role as Vice President of Sales at Brianza USA.

“This is an important ‘passing of the baton’,” says Alberto Crippa, Sales Executive and Board Member of Brianza Plastica in Italy. “This will take place with a view to maintaining continuity and capitalising on the essential contributions made by Fillippo Milani during his nine years of dedicated work, while simultaneously enhancing the great experience in the sector that James Witty will bring to the role,” he continued.

Two other new managers have joined Brianza USA, both with prior experience in the RV sector: Kolin Adams, who takes on the position of Territory Sales Manager, and Erik Rheinheimer who becomes the Plant Manager. In addition, Alberto Crippa has been appointed as the Sole Director, overseeing Brianza USA’s operations from head office in Italy, while Andrea Bollani has assumed the duties of technical support and a bridge between the US and Italy.

A consultative approach

With the new team in place, Brianza USA Corporation is set for more success and intends to achieve this by implementing a strategic and widespread technical commercial consultancy service for its customers.

This will capitalise on the expertise of the new team in Elkhart, as well as the technical staff from Brianza Plastica in Italy, which includes several technicians and engineers. One of these is Stefan Bachstein, who has spent decades researching and developing cutting-edge solutions and innovations in the field of plastic composites.

The new President of Brianza USA, James Witty, has made his first objective for his new role very clear: “I intend to build the strongest team in the industry and replicate the remarkable success of Brianza Plastica in Europe within the United States,” says James Witty. “Throughout my career, I have been successful in introducing new products to the market and I would like to do the same for Brianza USA. Under my guidance, we will provide the RV industry with the best products, solutions and services. I believe in consistency, relationship building and hard work,” added James Witty. His extensive sales and leadership experience and indepth understanding of the RV manufacturing industry and processes, have been developed during his career in his previous positions of Vice President of Sales, Brand Manager/Factory Direct Representative and as Director of Sales at Brianza USA.