"Philip Morris Manufacturing and Technology Bologna" (PM MTB) is a leading facility in the field of smoke-free product development. It is the largest factory built from scratch in Italy in the last 25 years, with over 1.5 billion euros invested. Its products are exported to more than 50 countries. In 2023 alone, the total value of exports exceeded 1.8 billion euros. Just imagine the value of exported smoke-free sticks is higher than the export value of two iconic Italian products olive oil and cheese.

You can learn more fascinating details in the interview with Matteo Zompa, Director of "Manufacturing IT – Philip Morris Manufacturing and Technology Bologna."

The business news portal FED.AZ presents the interview with Matteo Zompa.

Dear Matteo, if there is demand from existing and new markets, do you intend to expand your product range by the end of this year? In other words, what new products might be introduced to the market? Taking this into account, what is the overall production volume forecasted by the end of 2025?

Philip Morris Manufacturing and Technology Bologna (PM MTB) is the center of excellence for large-scale production of innovative smoke-free products, prototyping and staff training. It represents the largest greenfield factory built in Italy in the past 25 years and is the result of investments for more than 1.5 billion euros.

The plant has more than 30 production lines, the newest of which are dedicated to the production of LEVIA - the new tobacco-free sticks also designed for use with IQOS ILUMA, Philip Morris' first in this product category.

The sticks produced in Bologna are marketed by Philip Morris Italy in the country, as well as being exported to more than 50 markets for an export value exceeding 1.8 billion euros in 2023. To give an idea of the strong export vocation of the production hub, suffice to say that the value of exported tobacco sticks is higher than that of two Italian excellences such as olive oil  and aged cheeses.

How important are technological innovations and scientific research in your company’s strategy? What new technological developments are you working on in the field of “smoke-free” products?

As is known, Philip Morris is undergoing a profound transformation regarding its mission and identity. Its goal is to realize a smoke-free future in which all adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke decide to quit cigarettes and switch to new smoke-free products. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, it has been necessary to radically transform its business model and organization, which requires new and top-notch skills in every area.  To achieve this goal, the company has invested more than $14 billion since 2008 to develop, scientifically substantiate, and commercialize smoke-free products. As one can easily imagine, therefore technological innovations and scientific research play a decisive role in the company's strategy.

In the future, among the company's plans is to go beyond nicotine and expand its action to life-sciences - where it already has a solid base and significant experience - providing innovative products and solutions.

To what extent are the production technologies used in your facility automated, and how is artificial intelligence being utilized?

Philip Morris Manufacturing Technology Bologna has built a smart factory with a comprehensive digital architecture that uses AI and machine learning to optimize processes in real-time, as well as predictions that emerge from data analytics. As a result, In February our factory was able to secure the Microsoft Intelligent Manufacturing Award in the "Innovate!" category. Its digital ecosystem spans from tobacco processing to production and distribution, ensuring traceability and efficiency. The use of digital twin technologies and the focus on sustainability have been able to reduce losses across the value chain.

Finally, we are developing solutions based on these technologies for sustainability and data democratization. That is because we believe that digital can greatly help processes, while maintaining the centrality of the human figure.

As a technological production center, how do you develop the skills of your employees? Do you collaborate with universities or research centers in Italy or internationally? What programs are available for training young professionals in the field of technology?

Our factory is not just a production site, but a competences hub defining production processes for the manufacture of smoke-free products implemented in other PMI plants around the world.

It is for this reason that the factory hosts the Center for Industrial Excellence, focused on R&D services in areas such as industrialization, process innovation, engineering, and sustainability-the largest in the world for Philip Morris International on these topics.

Also located at our factory, the Institute for Manufacturing Competences (IMC) is the center for higher education in competences related to Industry 4.0, dedicated to the development of the industrial skills of the future, with a particular focus on training and professionalization, technology transfer and open innovation, applied research and the university-business relationship.

The realization of the Philip Morris IMC sees the involvement of the Emilia-Romagna Region and its activities are carried out in collaboration with important entities from the academic and training world, including universities, competence centers, ITS and start-ups.

Conducted the interview:

Elnur Huseynguluyev

Director and Chief Editor