Simmel Difesa

Image:Simmel Difesa.gifSimmel Difesa is an Italian firm located in Colleferro that manufacturers land and naval munitions.[http://www.chemring.co.uk/en/our-business/our-operating-companies/simmel-difesa.aspx chemring description] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120722132225/http://www.chemring.co.uk/en/our-business/our-operating-companies/simmel-difesa.aspx |date=2012-07-22 }} Founded in 1948, Simmel specialized in the production of large-caliber munitions. In 1988, Simmel was acquired by the Fiat Group. During this period, Simmel itself acquired the assets of Bombrini-Parodi-Delfino, a longtime manufacturer of gunpowder and munitions in Italy. Simmel was acquired by and became an operating company of the Chemring Group in 2007, which purchased Simmel at the cost of $102.5 million.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090914054525/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKWLB735220070330 reuters] In 2014, Chemring Group sold Simmel Difesa to Nexter Systems.[http://www.nexter-group.fr/en/press-releases/649-nexter-systems-annonce-la-signature-des-contrats-dacquisition-des-societes-mecar-et-simmel-difesa-aupres-du-groupe-chemring Nexter Systems website]

In October 2007, an explosion in the Colleferro munitions works killed one worker and wounded 13.[http://www.repubblica.it/2007/10/sezioni/cronaca/esplosione-fabbrica/esplosione-fabbrica/esplosione-fabbrica.html repubblica.it article][http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2622044.ece timesonline.uk article]{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Today, Simmel has over 200 employees and an annual turnover of over 80 million Euros.[http://www.simmeldifesa.com/today.html Simmel website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225174718/http://www.simmeldifesa.com/today.html |date=2009-12-25 }} Simmel claims it is capable of manufacturing 300,000 rounds of ammunition annually. Current products include munitions ranging in caliber from 20-mm to 203-mm. Simmel's business is mostly oriented towards export with only 30% of its annual turnover resulting from business in Italy. In November 2009, Chemring's semi-annual report praised Simmel's performance, stating Simmel "had produced an excellent year-end result, with significant year-on-year growth".[https://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091119-701570.html wall street journal]

Simmel's production of cluster munitions has made the company a protest object of peace activists.[http://www.peaceandjustice.it/colleferro-post.php peaceandjustice.it] Simmel claims it no longer manufactures cluster munitions.