Dr Coppo recognised for his, and his family’s, fantastic industry achievements
Arcturus Group was in the beginning a small mechanical workshop in Milan, acquired in 1978 by Pierluigi Coppo and his brother Franco. Today the Group is one of the leading producers of high-quality design items of tableware, kitchenware and living, both for home and HoReCa market. With more than 1.000 employes, Arcturus Group works worldwide and has offices in Italy, Germany, France, United States and China.
Pierluigi Coppo was born in Casale Monferrato (Alessandria, Piedmont) in 1948 and today he is the President of the Holding Arcturus S.r.l, founded by him in 1978, with his brother Franco, starting from a small mechanical workshop.
Pierluigi Coppo was born into a family of small entrepreneurs in the field of mechanics, and after graduating with honor in Economy and Statistic, he pursued a two-year master degree in Financial Management with a study and work program in an Italian society controlled by General Electric.
At the age of 30-years-old he began his entrepreneurial journey with his brother Franco, an engineer, four years younger than him, who supported him in all subsequent acquisitions and restructurings.
From the early years by acquiring Alluminio Paderno, a company active in production of professional cookware, he founded Paderno S.r.l. The company has become a leader in Italy and worldwide in the manufacture of kitchenware for restaurant and professional kitchens, offering 10.000 product references.
In 1997, it was the turn of one of the renowned brands of Made in Italy, the Piedmontese Sambonet, specialised in the production of cutlery and stainless steel silver-plated for the home and restaurants, a global leader in hotel supplies.
Starting from 2009 Pierluigi Coppo developed a strategy of expansion in international market, through the acquisition of prestigious foreign brands.
The first one is Rosenthal AG, German company globally recognized as a leader in tableware porcelain, with about 1.000 employees and brands such as Studio-Line, Rosenthal meets Versace, Hutschenreuther and Thomas. Through the integration of Rosenthal and Sambonet, he created one of the most important international groups in the elegant table sector, which enlarged in 2013 with the addition of Arzberg and in 2015 with the French Ercuis SA (a producer of stainless steel and silver cutlery)and Raynaud SA of Limoges (specialized in porcelain production).
Since 2021, the Group has entered a new phase of governance restructuring, transitioning from a centralized management to a Board of Directors that also includes two independent members and involves the second generation of the family with their respective children, Giovanni and Alessandra, who are already part of the Group in important managerial roles. The Board is entrusted with the overall management of the holding to initiate further growth and strengthen the internalization plan.
Today, Arcturus Group operates through production facilities in Italy (in Orfengo, between Novara and Vercelli), Germany (in Selb, Upper Bavaria), France (in Limoges), and commercial branches in China (Shangai) and United States (New York and Miami). It has become a leading entity in terms of quality, diversification and complementarity in the tableware and kitchenware sector, ranging from mid/high level to luxury, thanks to the distinct identities of its ten brands. The Group employs approximately 1.100 people. It is present in over 80 countries, with exports accounting for 80% of its sales.
Sambonet and Rosenthal can boast collaborations with renowned artists, architects, and designers, including Salvador Dalì, Walter Gropius, Jasper Morrison, Tapio Wirkkala, Bjorn Wiinblad, Patricia Urquiola, Roberto Sambonet, Gio’ Ponti, Gianni Cinti e Marcello Morandini, as well as many young designers starting their careers. The commitment to design continues today in the work of Sambonet Design Center in Italy of Rosenthal Creative Center in Germany, signing 90% of the news products.
Sambonet is among the first companies to have obtained the excellence certificate for implementing an integrated management system for quality, environment, and safety.
In 2016 Pierluigi Coppo was awarded the title of “Cavaliere del Lavoro” (an Italian recognition that is assigned annually by the President of the Republic to 25 entrepreneurs who have made significant contributions to the promotion of the national economy and the improvement of living and working conditions in the country), a prestigious honour that he dedicates to his brother, his family, and the collaborators who contributed to his professional journey.
