Andrea Razeto, the Vice-President of Confindustria Nautica, a member of the executive committee of Icomia, and the managing director of F.lli Razeto e Casareto – a historic Italian manufacturer of locks, handles, and other boat accessories – is a notable figure in the boating industry. With an in-depth knowledge of the sector, he is someone who could engage in discussion for hours. Born in Recco in 1967, Andrea Razeto is focused on managing Razeto e Casareto, an Italian excellence founded in 1920, which is now valued by boatyards around the globe, while also capably and diligently handling his representative role within Confindustria.
The Icomia congress held last 3 June in Gothenburg (Sweden)
Andrea Razeto served as president of Icomia (International Council of Marine Industries Associations), an association that has united the major national marine federations globally since 1965 to represent a single voice for the boating industry, from 2018 to 2020. On June 3rd, during the annual congress in Gothenburg, Sweden, he was re-elected to the executive committee for the 2022-2027 term. This presented a perfect opportunity to chat with Andrea Razeto as part of our column ‘The Protagonists of the Boating Industry’.
Andrea Razeto, how can excellence be achieved by producing everyday objects that often go unnoticed, such as boat handles and locks?
“In over a century of company history, we have always specialized in our field. By manufacturing locks, handles, and other small components specifically for the marine industry, we have consistently prioritized the quality of raw materials: our products do not corrode, do not rust, and are robust and vibration-resistant. We operate in a small, niche market, and our definition of mass production is capped at a few hundred or a thousand pieces at most, unlike our competitors who produce hundreds of thousands of items. This approach allows us to customize our products better and meet our customers’ needs, while still offering a very wide range of items.”
Your company has received numerous awards for its manufacturing excellence. Among these, is there one that stands out as particularly satisfying?
“All the awards we have received are equally significant and bring me the same level of satisfaction, as they recognize different areas and products. We have been acknowledged for the company’s economic performance (such as the Nomisma award, which included us in the list of ‘Companies Against the Wind’ due to our strong performance in the Italian manufacturing sector) and for our product quality, design, and technology: each award signifies an achievement, making it hard to identify just one as more meaningful than others.”
What new products is the company currently developing, and what are your goals for the future?
“In recent years, we have heavily focused on technology while remaining within the locksmith sector. At the last Miami International Boat Show, we presented a system that networks the boat’s doors, enabling them to communicate and integrate with onboard domotics. The Ossh Network serves both practical purposes—allowing doors to open and close from the cockpit—and safety functions. For instance, it can signal visually that the doors are securely shut, alert passengers in case of incidents like smoke detection, or integrate with firefighting systems to indicate escape routes and secure fire doors. In summary, it’s a technology designed to enhance the safety of boats while maintaining a focus on aesthetics to complement onboard furnishings. In the coming years, we plan to enhance the system with additional features, such as notifying the crew about who is inside or outside the cabin.”
Turning to your role as Vice-President of Confindustria Nautica, what current issues in the sector concern you the most?
“Confindustria Nautica represents the entire boating supply chain, covering boats, accessories, services, as well as ports and moorings. Currently, alongside our technical staff, we are primarily focused on monitoring challenges related to raw material shortages, rising prices, and delivery delays. Additionally, we continue to observe the repercussions the boating industry faces due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the reforms of the nautical code, the implementation of new licensing exams, and the renewal of maritime state concessions.”
What is the current state of the Italian market?
“The boating industry is performing very well, having even grown during the covid period. Based on insights from the Confindustria Nautica Study Centre, which tracks the sentiment of member companies, it is likely that 2021 will close with a turnover very akin to levels seen in 2007-2008, which are pre-crisis figures. This growth will also be marked by a significant increase in exports: while the domestic market accounted for roughly 50% of total revenues in 2007-2008, that figure has now decreased to 25%. Currently, about 75% of the nautical industry’s total revenues come from exports, and this figure rises to 86% specifically for boat production, with a value hovering around three billion Euros. Although these are just estimates, we remain very optimistic.”
How is the Italian boating industry positioned in the international context?
“Today, Italy plays a crucial role in the global boating landscape: approximately half of the 1,050 super yachts produced annually worldwide originate from Italy. Our country ranks as the second-largest market in the world, and our industries are particularly recognized and esteemed in specific specialties such as accessories and ribs. In general, the term Made in Italy in boating is synonymous with reliability and quality for consumers around the globe, positioning us centrally on the international stage.”
What issues will you prioritize as a member of Icomia’s executive committee?
“Beyond representing and promoting boating on a global scale, Icomia aims to achieve the harmonization of national laws, ensuring that boats produced in one country can be marketed and used in other nations. We are also actively addressing the topics of sustainable engines and paints, an area I have worked on extensively during my presidency. Another focal point for my efforts will be the establishment of rules and best practices for boat construction, encouraging boatyards to consider the entire life cycle of a boat, including the decommissioning phase, right from the design stage. This approach can significantly minimize environmental impact.”