December 14, 2009
The K+S Italia, which until April 2008 still bore the resonant Italian name of “SOPOMA S.r.l. – Società di Potassio e Magnesio“, has since October 1984 supplied the Italian fertiliser and industrial markets with potassium and magnesium products. Another interesting fact is that K+S Italia is one of the very first K+S multi segment companies, as since 1996 it has also represented the K+S salt segment, complemented by the K+S Entsorgung GmbH (waste disposal) in 2000.
Dr. Hermann Bätz and his team of K+S Italia (photo: K+S)
Based in Verona, a team of seven employees handles all market segments, among which the KALI-division is still the most important. Verona was chosen as the place of business due to its excellent logistic advantages – right on the Brenner-route, and not far from the agriculturally important regions of North and Central Italy. In a prospering market, it was only logical that K+S opened a block-train compatible bagging station for potash and magnesium fertilisers as early as 1987.
Over the years, the Italian K+S subsidiary expanded its activities to include all of Italy, and today operates 5 pick-up centres spread all over the country. Beyond that, customers are able to procure the entire range of fertilisers manufactured by K+S KALI GmbH, even as assortments of smaller quantities.
“We emphasise a very high degree of customer-service, even if this sometimes entails a logistic tour de force, as farmers still purchase 80% of the fertilisers in bags,“ says Dr. Hermann Bätz, the original and still-active executive director of K+S Italia. “Our strong commitment to customer requirements – and this includes continuous availability of the goods, in connection with short journeys and well-targeted, expert implementation advice, for small-scale trade and agriculture – is surely one of the major factors of our ongoing success.”
