ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR TO FRANCO MANFREDINI

The "Ernst & Young, Entrepreneur of the year" prize for the 2005 "Quality of Life" category was awarded to the Chairman of Casalgrande Padana, Franco Manfredini.

This important international recognition was consigned on 17 November at Palazzo Mezzanotte in Milan as credit "for sensitivity towards safeguarding the environment, the health and safety and for products able to overcome architectural barriers."

Casalgrande Padana was one of the first companies in the sector to acquire deep awareness of environmental matters in an attempt to safeguard nature, safety and health while maintaining and developing a competitive position on the markets. This commitment led to research into strategies through which the company became an avant-garde enterprise regarding research into technologies, raw materials and processes able to curb the effects on both man and the environment, caused by manufacturing activities. This precise dedication to sustainability became even more accentuated during the past decade and encouraged Casalgrande Padana to define a specific project pursued through integrated and complete rules and regulations. The ISO 14001 and EMAS certificates obtained represent significant stages of this policy.

But the particular attention Casalgrande Padana dedicates to overcoming architectural barriers and constructing public works that can be used by everyone was also awarded.
The Loges system of tactile surfaces uses a special language impressed on Granitogres tiles made of fine porcelain stoneware to help the visually disabled to become self-sufficient and safe in their movements by guiding them along routeways.