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History

1980

SO.F.TER. was set up by the entrepreneur and chemist Italo Carfagnini and it started its activities by manufacturing polymeric compounds for the shoe-making industry. It was a real success from the very beginning and the new Sofprene® thermoplastic rubbers asserted themselves at European level in a few years.
1983

In spite of its success from the very beginning SO.F.TER. started to investigate new market sectors to meet the growing industrial world need for high performance plastic materials.
1985 After a few years dedicated to development activities Forprene®, an innovative vulcanised thermoplastic elastomer, was patented for several manufacturing sectors and in particular for the automotive sector.
1986
 The elastomer range was enhanced with important trademarks such as Laprene®, Sofprene T® and Forflex®, all products which have properties similar to vulcanised rubber, but, as opposed to rubber, ensure an easy transforming process.
1988
 Evode Group Plc (Stafford, UK) acquires SO.F.TER. A fruitful cooperation starts with the other affiliates of the Group, very important for SO.F.TER's structure and organization and base of its future development. During this period, SO.F.TER. is awarded several times by the parent company as the best-performing company in the Group.
1993
 Laporte Plc (Luton, UK) acquires Evode Group Plc.
Thinking that the new Laporte management failed to keep the sinergies at the base of the relationship between SO.F.TER. and Evode, in 1994 SO.F.TER. management, through the holding Later, buys the company back.
1994
 The TPE Division was set up and dedicated to the development of Thermoplastic Elastomers and their applications in technical sectors, such as the automotive, household appliances, building and sports sectors.
1996
 Thanks to continuous applied research activities Pavprene® was developed, a new modifier for street bitumens that improves tarmac features and life cycle and increases comfort and driving safety.
1997

The Company achieved ISO:9002 certification.
The Engineering Thermoplastics Division, the division dedicated to the development and marketing of rigid plastic materials, was set up. In a few years a comprehensive range of products was developed for the automotive, household appliances sectors where the Company conquered an important market share thanks to the polypropylene compound Polifor®.
1998
 A joint-venture was set up with the US multinational Hanna which became PolyOne in 2000. New materials were created in the Engineering Thermoplastics Division with the following trademarks: Abistir®, Stirofor®, Blendfor®, Sanfor®, Norfor®.
2002
 The joint-venture with PolyOne came to an end when SO.F.TER. left the American group and was run once again by its founder Italo Carfagnini.
2003

The Company achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification for its quality management system.

New important products were introduced in every sector including Sofpur® for high-end shoes and Forgrin® an elastomeric pellet for infill of artificial grass.
2004
 Start of the production of Nylfor®, a new polyamide-based Engineering Thermoplastics for the automotive, electronics and building sectors.
2005
 SO.F.TER. BRAZIL with head offices in Campo Bom was setup for the production of TPV for Latin American countries.
2006

SO.F.TER. MEXICO was set up in Léon for the production of TPR for the footwear market in Mexico and in the nearby countries.

At the end of the year the new prestigious head offices hosting the three company divisions - TPE, ETP and SBS -  were inaugurated in Forlì.
2008

As part of a renewed innovation-driven strategy the new SO.F.TER. Research Centre was inaugurated, with the task of promoting the technological innovation in the group divisions and companies.
In October SO.F.TER. acquires from the American group Matrixx Inc. its European branch Matrixx Europe, along with its subsidiary Pozzi Plast; both located in Mantua.
2009

The new company, renamed SO.F.TER. TECNOPOLIMERI, is relocated in Forlì and is dedicated to the production of polyamide and PBT based compounds.

In June SO.F.TER. Mexico inaugurates its new headquarters with an install capacity of 10,000 tons/year.

In July SO.F.TER. updates its quality management system accordig to ISO 9001:2008 edition.
2010

SO.F.TER. acquires the business Heraflex®P for winter sport footwear, and Terra® for the infill of synthetic turf. By combining the Terra® and the Forgrin® product lines, SO.F.TER. becomes the leading manufacturer in TPE based infill materials.

In the second quarter of the year an agreement is signed for the leasing of P Group, an important Engineering Polymers manufacturer based in Ferrara (Italy)

Sofprene®, Forprene®, Laprene®, Forflex®, Pavprene®, Polifor®, Abistir®, Stirofor®, Cabofor® Blendfor®, Sanfor®, Norfor®, Nylfor®, Forgrin®, Sofpur®, Terra® are trademarks registered by SO.F.TER. SPA, Italy.