The history of an italian company which contributed to the growth of Flexography.
A name that is still a synonym for expertise and skills.
Born in Mestre (VE) in 1906, Amedeo Tommasi leaves his job at Pirelli to set up his own company in Milan in 1939: the company is named IDA DIMATORE, after his mother.
IDA DIMATORE moulds rubber parts like gaskets, bike tyres, soles etc. Later on, there begins the production of rubber compounds for the new market of stamps and tipography.
In 1955, IDA DIMATORE becomes DIMATORE & TOMMASI.
A leader in the flexo and letterpress market, the company keeps growing thanks to new compounds like FBA, matrix boards, vulcanised rubber plates and moulding rubber for flexo printing. Therefore, the production dept. moves into a larger plant in Via Ludovico di Breme 11 in Milan.
On April 24th 1962, Amedeo Tommasi sets up DITOM S.p.A. The name DITOM comes from DImatore and TOMmasi. DITOM moves into a new 10.000-square-metre factory in Mazzo Milanese (Rho) which allows the production of moulding rubber in response to growing demand for rubber at Italian and European level.
Around 1970, a new collaboration starts with Williamson Engineering Corp. from Caldwell (USA) with a wide range of moulding press and new matrix boards for the market.
New products are introduced like hand engraving rubber for what is now called security printing and rubber sheets with cloth inserts.
The growing demand for flexo printing rubber leads Carlo Tommasi – who holds a degree in chemistry and a master from the Institut National de Formation de Caoutchouc in Paris – to create more than 100 different specific compounds for every kind of inks.
As a result of a series of developments in the market, in 1981 Ditom becomes the 1st Italian distributor of Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (JP) photopolymer plates: Miraclon, Elaslon and Rigilon.
Adolfo Tommasi takes care of DITOM’s photopolymer plate division and introduces Miraclon and Rigilon into the Italian market.
In the 80s, new collaborations start with:
- Anderson & Vreeland for viscosity controllers and mount-o-matic equipments;
- SD Graphics Ltd for the distribution in Italy of metals like zinc, magnesium, copper and brass;
- Uniroyal for the distribution of Flexlight photopolymer plates for flexo;
- Rogers Corp. with R-Bak materials.
In the 90s, the product range expands to include new products like solvent-based flexo photopolymer plates, doctor blades, anilox rolls and plate washing machines.
Thanks to the collaboration with LEAD LASERS B.V. in the Direct Laser Engraving field, new plates are introduced that are ideal for perfect dot creation.
In 2009, DITOM celebrates its 70 anniversary and strengthenes ties with esteemed partners in the grafic arts and printing worlds:
LEAD LASERS BV, Direct laser engraving machines for polymers, elastomers and sleeves
MAGNESIUM ELEKTRON LTD, Magnesium, copper, brass and zinc plates for photoengraving, CNC engraving for embossing and hot foil printing.
FLEXOCLEAN BV, Cleaning products for the flexo industry.
TROIKA SYSTEMS LTD, Control instruments for anilox and plates.
In 2011, Ditom becomes THE ONLY OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR for MIRACLON AND RIGILON IN ITALY by KODAK, who acquires the Japanese production line of Tokyo Ohka Kogyo.
Ditom actively cooperates with A.T.I.F. – the Italian Flexo Technical Association. Ditom’sTecnical Area Manager and member of the ATIF Tecnical Commitee
Cristiano Bottazzini shared his experience with printers to sensitise flexo printers to the control and the cleaning of anilox rolls, to the flexo plate checks through special 3D instruments and to the importance of the maintenance of the printing press in order to obtain constant printing results.
