From the order for the post-Covid reorganization of San Camillo Forlanini and San Giovanni to the laying of the first stone for the hotel school in Amatrice. The new course of Di.Cos, a family company specializing in civil construction and the construction of infrastructures that in recent months has concluded the generational change of management, also passes through these contracts. «In a very short time – explains the managing director Alessandro Cardellini – we have relaunched the company that has accused, in the past, some ailments. For example, we are starting with the works for the Poligrafico dello Stato and we are working on the modernization of some buildings in Milan ».
The Di.Cos group, owned by the Cardellini and Di Giacomo families, in short, after a declining phase, is at the beginning of a growth path in turnover thanks to the rebirth of the sector in the post Covid sector. But, like the other companies in the sector, it has to deal with the procurement of raw materials. “The two years of Covid have stopped the factories, now the restart has been sudden. Some materials, therefore, are scarce, with the consequent difficulties in carrying out the work ». Di.Cos, an associate of Acer, points out that the recent decree on the contribution for expensive materials is not enough: «It is still a partial decree because it lacks the prices on the recognition for individual subjects, an intervention scheduled for the end of the month. Furthermore, the decree does not mention the works that have been awarded but have not yet started. Considering that some construction sites need up to 12 months to start, the measure seems incomplete ».
Returning to the company’s prospects, the group has secured a backlog of € 282 million in the five-year period 2021-2025. The performance is mainly linked to the orders obtained by Dicos Lavori, a subsidiary specialized in the construction of public works and in the development of residential construction. In recent months, for example, the Aler Milano contract was awarded for the energy efficiency intervention of some buildings in the Municipality of Rozzano, with a total value of approximately 3 million euros. The latest assignments also include the construction of innovative, highly energy-efficient housing modules, following a pilot project developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense in a state-owned area adjacent to the military city Cecchignola in Rome.
In the past phase of downsizing the company, revenues had gone from 50-60 million up to 10 million, and then climbed back to around 20 million. “We have had years of modest growth, now we expect more noticeable progress. We expect that in the next 3-5 years, the period of management of the current portfolio, the turnover will gradually increase up to 50 million, about double what we record today ». Some reverberation of the new phase should also be felt on the occupation. «For us it is a return to growth; before the crisis we were 70, then we dropped to 24. In the meantime we hired three surveyors and an engineer ».
In recent years, the owners of the past management of Di.Cos have been involved in the scandal of social housing sold at controlled prices. According to the prosecution, the subsidies for housing agreements were not used to lighten the costs of renting and selling in favor of families with limited incomes but were for the benefit of the builders. «We are still waiting – explains Cardellini – for the first hearing, and we believe we have the right papers and have worked correctly. The story refers to the sale of some lots of public housing managed by the Municipality of Rome at controlled prices. Following a technical mechanism, after 8 years of lease tenants could purchase by paying the delta between the rent paid and the price set by the municipality tables. So it was for Dicos that in a history of over 60 years – concludes the managing director – has never had any problems ».