You can view Steve Green’s visit with GI Metal at www.pizzatv.com.

Nestled among the mountains in the the northern Italian region of Tuscany, the lovely village of Montemurlo is home to a 13th century castle that overlooks GI Metal, an Italian pizza tools company. In a few short years, through constant innovation and listening to customer requests, GI has risen from newcomer to taking its place among the major players of the international pizza industry.

After 25 years in the textile business, Marco D’Annibale, decided he was ready for a change when he had the idea of getting heavy into metal. He and his father, Giovanni, opened GI Metal in Montemurlo and immediately specialized in the manufacture of pizza tools. From a two man operation, the business has steadily expanded and currently employs 15 people while cranking out 200 different items from pizza paddles (or “peels”) to cutters, to spatulas to serving trays. Marco says one reason for the success of GI Metal is the fact that metal tools are finding more favor among industry professionals.

“Our best ideas come from our customers”
– Marco D’Annibale

“Metal is a good alternative to wood,” he told PMQ during a recent visit to his metal shop in Montemurlo. “Wood is harder to clean and little particles of food can get lodged into the wood which can cause infections. Very soon, because of Italian law, wooden kitchen tools will be very hard to find.”

One tool that is easy to find is GI Metal’s line of pizza peels which the company calls, Azzurra. This what Marco describes as, “our super-professional line; very light and flexible. This is for the real artists of the pizza.” The peels are made using specially-designed computer software that recreates the design and sets the plates up for cutting into the designated shape or style. The machine can spit out up to 2,000 products a day. A special metal cutting machine then cuts the plates and perforates them or adds any other specs, if necessary. The machine can handle 16 different tools at one time.

“Basically if you can think of it, or draw it, we can probably make it,” Marco says. He adds that his company gets their ideas for products from their customers.

Another tool that has achieved notoriety is GI’s pizza cutter. While it appears as a standard circular cutter, the GI model will cut thin paper flat on a table.

Giovanni D’Annibale is the father of Marco D’Annibale, who helped establish GI Metal.

“If it doesn’t cut paper, it isn’t sharp enough,” Marco says.

Marco has also found success with a tool he calls “the Equalizer.” This is a circular pan that allows pizzas to be cut into perfectly uniform shapes, either six or eight slices. Marco said they are perfect for kids’ birthday parties or when serving large groups as it ensures that everyone receives an equal piece. 

GI Metal also manufactures products for pizza-delivery. One of their most popular is their pre-varnished aluminum delivery boxes capable of holding up to ten pizzas at once. The boxes are painted a bright yellow, are light and sturdy, watertight and rain-proof. GI provides a customized finish on request and there is also an optional kit to fasten the box to the parcel grid of a motor scooter. Micro holes steam the ventilation system. The boxes are anodized to protect the finish.

Marco and his family and employees are proud of their products and the innovation it took to create them. He says he took what his customers asked for and tried to build them.

“We like good ideas wherever they might come from. There are times we may not be able to realize everything that is suggested to us, but we always enjoy trying.” he says. GI Metal has obviously been successful in its attempts to manufacture what pizza professionals in this beautiful and traditional country require to sell pizzas. Among GI Metal’s line of 500 different products include; rolling serving trolleys, brushes, bags, boxes, screens, trolleys specially designed for use in commercial kitchens and hotels and all manner of cutlery and kitchen utensils.  In addition, GI Metal is also a proud sponsor of the Squadra Nazionale Acrobati Pizzaioli and fields a team that competes every year.

If you ever find yourself in northern Italy, a stop in Montemurlo and GI Metal would give you a wonderful insight into the Italian pizza tradition. Just look for the castle.
For more information visit gimetal.it.

<< Back to Table of Contents