Muri b. Bern/Schweiz, 6 October 2026 – Barbara Gonzini is the new Managing Director Italy at Fournier Polymers. Effective immediately, she is taking the lead of the company's Italian business. Fournier Polymers is part of globally active polymer distributor Meraxis and aims to further expand its position in the Italian polymer distribution market.
Italy is one of Europe's largest polymer markets, but is also highly fragmented. Alongside major plastics processors, the market comprises a large number of small and medium-sized companies. Fournier Polymers serves customers of all sizes. "Barbara knows the Italian market in all its diversity, from major customers to small plastics processors," says Christophe Cario, Managing Director of Fournier Polymers. "We need this experience and close connection to the market to grow in such a diverse environment and to offer our customers not only competitive prices and reliable supply, but also solutions tailored to their individual needs."
Gonzini has more than 30 years of experience in the plastics industry. Most recently, she worked as EMEA Product Manager Specialty Powders and Services at Basell Advanced Polymers Solutions Sales & Marketing in Milan, part of the LyondellBasell Group. Prior to that, she was Regional Sales Manager within the Specialty Powders division, managing major European customers. From 2014 to 2020, she held senior sales positions at A. Schulman in Gorla Maggiore, where her responsibilities included leading sales and customer service teams for Italy as well as other markets in Southern Europe, Africa, and Asia. Earlier in her career, she gained extensive commercial experience at Ico Polymers Italy and Verplast.
Fournier Polymers serves Italian plastics processors across a range of industries, including the packaging industry. Its customers manufacture applications using extrusion, injection molding, and other processing technologies. The portfolio ranges from polyolefins and styrenics to engineering polymers, additives, masterbatches, and thermoplastic elastomers. "Italy is a demanding market, and that is what appeals to me," says Barbara Gonzini. "Fournier Polymers is ideally positioned locally, with a strong team on the ground, short lines of communication, strong supplier partners and the backing of Meraxis as an international group with a broad portfolio and range of services."
In her new role, Gonzini reports directly to Christophe Cario.
The English version of the press release was translated with support of AI.
About the Meraxis Group
The Meraxis Group is a leading plastics distributor with around 30 locations worldwide. The company, headquartered in Muri near Bern (Switzerland), generates annual sales of more than 1 billion euros. Meraxis primarily distributes prime and standard polymers, engineering thermoplastics (ETPs), compounds, masterbatches, as well as recycled, bio based and biodegradable materials. Through its international partner network with established polymer manufacturers and developers, the company reliably secures a broad range of materials. Since 2023, Fournier Polymers has been part of the Meraxis Group and has expanded the offering of engineering polymers in Western Europe and North Africa in particular. Meraxis also develops and produces customer specific compounds at its own compounding plant in Velen (Germany).
The portfolio is supplemented by a wide range of services. Meraxis operates accredited testing laboratories that carry out material analyses and component testing in line with internationally recognized standards. In addition, Meraxis supports companies in supply chain management and with digital solutions, for example for transparency in logistics or for capturing CO₂ data. Another focus is on sustainable materials and the promotion of the circular economy. Meraxis is part of the REHAU Group and can draw on more than sixty years of experience in the polymer processing industry.