Ms Elisabetta Bragagni Capacini, CEO and Ennio Bragagni, VP.
We had the honor to interview our newest Member, Ms Bragagni Capacini of Tratos, an Italian multinational company specializing in the design and production of cables for various sectors, including transportation, energy, and telecommunications. Tratos is known for its expertise in complex cable solutions and a commitment to innovation and sustainability. More than enough reasons for an interview to find out more.
Air Tech Italy: Can you introduce yourself, your role and your company?
My name is Elisabetta Bragagni Capacini, and I am the CEO of Tratos, a family-owned cable manufacturing company with a legacy that spans over 60 years. Tratos was founded in the 1960s by my grandfather, an engineer who returned to Italy after working in South America. When he passed away in 1974, my father Albano took over the business and significantly expanded it. Today, he serves as the company’s president, and I represent the third generation leading the company forward.
Tratos has grown into a group with seven production facilities across Europe. Our main sites are in Tuscany (Pieve Santo Stefano) and Sicily, with additional plants in Knowsley (near Liverpool, UK), Zaragoza (Spain), Swindon (UK), and Mönchengladbach (Germany). These sites collectively employ around 650 people and are supported by sales offices and a commercial presence in other parts of the world. We specialize in the production of electric cables up to 170 KV, fiber optic cables, crane and special-purpose cables, as well as custom-designed solutions for research applications, including those in the energy fusion sector.
Air Tech Italy: How does your company support airports with its offering? How do you stand out compared to your competitors?
Elisabetta: “Although airports are not our core market, they are an important segment within our broader focus on transport and infrastructure. Airports require a complex network of electrical and communication cables, and Tratos is well-positioned to meet those needs. We supply high-performance, specialized cables that are designed for safety-critical environments such as terminals, tunnels, and runways—particularly in applications where fire resistance is essential.
What truly differentiates Tratos is our strong commitment to innovation, driven by continuous and strategic investment in Research & Development. We believe that staying ahead of our competitors means anticipating market needs and developing new technologies before others do. Our R&D activities are tightly integrated with our production capabilities, enabling us to bring advanced, customized solutions to the market rapidly. Because we remain family-owned and privately held, our decision-making is fast and agile. This flexibility allows us to respond to unusual or urgent customer requirements without the delays often found in larger, more bureaucratic organizations.
Another key advantage is our wide product portfolio, which enables clients to source a full spectrum of cable types—power, fiber, crane, and more—from a single supplier. This simplifies procurement processes and allows for more coherent project design and cost optimization, especially in airport infrastructure where diverse cable systems must work together seamlessly.”
Air Tech Italy: What do you see as the key trends in your line of business?
Elisabetta: “Two of the most influential trends in our sector are sustainability and safety. Sustainability is no longer optional; it’s a requirement. Our company has developed recycled cable solutions in collaboration with Borealis, a leading compound manufacturer, and we now offer products with significantly reduced carbon footprints. These cables are made using recycled materials such as recovered plastics and even used tires, meeting the stringent criteria set by major clients like Enel, who are pushing hard for low-carbon and circular economy solutions.
Safety, especially in relation to fire performance, is another major driver. Since the introduction of the European CPR (Construction Products Regulation) in 2017, all fixed wiring products used in buildings—including airports—must meet specific fire safety classifications. Tratos has responded by expanding its range of fire-resistant cables and investing in our own fully accredited fire-testing laboratory in Pieve Santo Stefano, Tuscany. This means we can test and certify our products in-house, reducing time to market and maintaining control over quality and compliance.”
Air Tech Italy: Can you mention some recent successes at airports?
Elisabetta: “We’ve had the privilege of supporting several notable airport projects. At Dublin Airport, Tratos supplied cables for an important lamination project. In Italy, we contributed to the Fiumicino Airport project by supplying medium-voltage cables used to connect a solar power plant to the airport grid—supporting their sustainability goals. Additionally, we are active in the military airport sector, with projects under way in southern Italy and through collaboration with Leonardo, a key player in the defense and aerospace industries.
These projects reflect both our technical expertise and the versatility of our product range, which allows us to meet highly specific requirements in complex and regulated environments like aviation.”
Air Tech Italy: Is there anything else we should know about your offer, portfolio or approach?
Elisabetta: “Tratos remains proud of its independence and stability. In a landscape where many manufacturers have been bought and sold, we have remained under the same ownership and name for over six decades. This continuity translates into consistent relationships with our clients and a strong sense of responsibility for the long-term performance of our products. Our customers know who they are dealing with—often contacting us directly without going through changing layers of intermediaries.
We hold a broad array of certifications, not only for product quality but also for energy management (ISO 50001) and even gender equality, underscoring our commitment to both operational excellence and corporate responsibility. Our ability to innovate, backed by solid financial health and deep technical expertise, makes us a reliable partner for the long haul.
Looking ahead, we are optimistic. The market for sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy is strong, and our sector stands at the heart of this transformation. While many family-owned businesses have sold to private equity in recent years, we continue to believe in—and invest in—our future as an independent manufacturer. We love what we do, and we remain committed to pushing our industry forward, one cable at a time.”
Air Tech Italy: Perfect, many thanks Ms Bragagni Capacini for your time and the very interesting insights you shared on your company and its focus!
Find out more on Tratos on YouTube, check out; https://www.youtube.com/user/TratosSpa or https://tratosgroup.com/