When does your story begin?

Our story took steps almost 60 years ago. My father, Palmiro Bertoli, who had started as upholsterer in his early years, took over his master’s workshop, in the centre of Milan. So he started selling furniture to Milanese families of upper class and noble ancestry, thus earning fame and respect throughout the city.

As the years passed by, the original workshop developed into a company, which was renamed FULL, and, from the mid Sixties, it turned to be a benchmark for furniture and interior design.

Through FULL, we cooperated, especially around the Eighties, with important architects, such as Sergio Mazza, Giuliana Gramigna, Angelo Mangiarotti, Carla Venosta and Marcello Pierantoni.

This teamwork, given my father’s experience, built up some relevant working and trust liaisons, and made our company more dynamic and self confident.

How did you start your activity in the naval furniture sector?

Around 1985, we performed the first maintenance works for Costa Crociere. After that job, given our success and earned esteem, in 1991 we won the tender to furnish the first ferry of Grimaldi: the Majestic. The following year we incorporated Caredi srl, in order to deal exclusively with the cruise sector and, since 2005, with the provision of furniture for Mega Yachts.

You are specialized in Loose Furniture. Would you describe better your efforts in this sector?

We produce curtains, bedspreads, armchairs, seats, chairs, sofas, sofa beds, stools, textile wallpaper etc, for cabins and public areas.

Firstly we elaborate the drafts and sketches, designed by naval architects, in our technical office, where we implement them through two-dimensional and tri-dimensional CAD-CAM computer systems. This process allows us to be IT-connected with the supply chain, thus automating the cutting of cover tissues and manufacturing the frames of sofas, armchairs and different seats. The use of this technology makes possible to realize designs, and therefore finished products, with detailed precision.

Consistently with this goal of perfection, we manufacture dima sofas (i.e. specifically-tailored sofas, which are designed by architects in order to be located in every public area or suite within a ship.

CAREDI: A STORY OF PASSION AND EXPERIENCE

Travelling backwards 60 years through Marco Bertoli’s words

With the same precision, we calculate the measures on ships, in order to avoid any error that may occur during the production phase.

Before the manufacturing process is over, there are still some choices to be taken, which we deem to be strategic: I am referring to the selection of raw materials. In accordance with our Clients, we select the best fire-proof tissues, and, because of the context where our products are displayed, we find the best solutions to match beauty with elegance, handiness with safety.

This is the reason why we share ideas with both the architect and the ship owner: our persistent goal is to satisfy the needs of both of them for every single product.

Finally, we are at disposal for post-sale follow-up assistance: refurbishment and maintenance. Also in this case, we still consider all the aforementioned conditions, in order to realize a precise, effective and durable intervention.

What are your last achievements?

Costa Deliziosa, Seabourn Odyssey, MSC Magnifica and many other jobs...

How do you manage to integrate successfully your past experience with modern technologies?

My father taught us passion for this art, thus allowing us to assess at first sight the good manufacture of a product. In the past everything relied on individual passion and intelligence and my father has handed us down his knowledge and skills, with the generosity and severity of a true master.

On the basis of this tradition and passion, we use the most advanced technologies in the production of our furniture. Our technical office is totally integrated through CAD-CAM systems with the manufacturing division.

I would not consider the state-of-the-art systems we utilize as antagonists to our tradition. On the contrary, they represent a valuable aid, consistent with our track record of 60 years of experience.

Let’s talk about your strong points…

As I told, the first point is our tradition combined with the most advanced technology. The second is the pivotal role played by our technical office, engaged in a constant communication with the ship owner, the architects and the production division. The final one is the capacity in assisting the client after the delivery of products.

With different words, we are at total disposal even when our job is finished: for every kind of maintenance, from the single curtain to the refurbishment of entire locals, we operate with timeliness and precision.

Any plans for the future?

To keep on operating in this fascinating market, of course!

Any preciser indications? Any names for the next ships?

We hope there will be many…we have some projects on schedule, and we are looking forward to getting them implemented.