ONDECK Media visited Gruppo Boero, exploring its advanced facilities and its groundbreaking technical partnership for the innovative Ferrari Hypersail.
ONDECK Media had the opportunity to enjoy an exclusive visit to the state-of-the-art facilities of Gruppo Boero, experiencing firsthand the company’s pioneering production methods and its advanced Research and Development (R&D) department. Boero is a steadily growing industrial group, with revenues exceeding €140 million (representing a +20% increase compared to 2024), consistently investing around 3% of its turnover into R&D. Although 80% of its total production is dedicated to decorative products and 20% to yachting, the company ranks 5th globally in the yacht coatings industry, catering primarily to professional and racing yachting, and serving as an international benchmark for superyacht coating solutions.
Driven by R&D and Sustainability
Its leading position is further reinforced by a strategic focus on innovation and sustainability. The primary objective of the R&D department is to develop products tailored to actual market needs, continuously benchmarking against the competition to ensure the premium quality of its own materials. In terms of sustainable development, the company simplifies its production processes to save time, costs, and manpower, while also reducing application times on vessels. Furthermore, Boero develops multi-purpose products that maximize material efficiency and holds valid certifications that verify the significant energy savings and CO2 emission reductions achieved through the use of its coatings.
The Ferrari Hypersail Partnership
The pinnacle of Boero’s technological excellence is highlighted by its recent announcement as a technical partner for the demanding and innovative Ferrari Hypersail project. The major challenge of this venture was to formulate a coating capable of matching the vessel’s diverse materials without interfering with the operation of its integrated solar panels. Boero successfully developed a highly permeable coating that limits solar energy loss on the panels to a mere 3-5%.
“A project as pioneering and demanding as the Ferrari Hypersail naturally brought major technical challenges to the forefront. The ultimate balancing act was keeping the weight to a minimum while ensuring maximum protection for the vessel, alongside precisely rendering Ferrari’s unique, iconic colors. For us at Boero, this ‘welcome challenge’ pushed us to test new techniques and cutting-edge raw materials. Collaborating with Ferrari has been a thrilling experience, and we cannot wait to see the completed project take to the water” said Marcus Reynolds, Senior Brand & Product Manager Yachting Division, Gruppo Boero.
CHALLENGERPRO: The Next Generation of Topcoats
Concurrently, the company is moving forward with the global launch of CHALLENGERPRO, an advanced topcoat line that promises PUREPROTECTION™, blending a mirror-like gloss with unparalleled protective durability. The flagship of the range is CHALLENGERPRO Fusion, a premium-gloss polyurethane topcoat utilizing an advanced polyester binder to integrate seamlessly with the acrylic colorimetric system. This product delivers exceptional abrasion resistance, long-term gloss and color retention, as well as ultimate application flexibility.
The entire line is backed by the CHALLENGERMIX colorimetric system, which leverages digital color research to guarantee absolute customization. This comprehensive system comprises 64 tinters, 6 binders, 3 hardeners, 6 thinners, 2 clear coats, and 3 special additives, offering the capability to generate over 245,000 color formulas across 6 different product qualities.
