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1924 THE FOUNDATION
Enrico Frigerio, at the age of 21, founded the foundry by registering with the Chamber of Commerce of Brescia.
that deserves to be celebrated and shared with all of you. In this section dedicated to the company’s milestones, we will revisit the most significant moments and achievements that have shaped our journey. Thanks to modern artificial intelligence tools, we have restored vintage photographs and videos, bringing precious memories back to life with astonishing quality. We invite you to immerse yourselves in this journey through time and relive with us the most important chapters of our history.”
In the image: A reconstruction of the founder, Enrico Frigerio, created with AI software.
The first production plant on Via Trento, Brescia.
The production of the time was dedicated to the mechanical, automotive, and defense sectors.
In 1951, Umberto Frigerio joined the company to work alongside his father. Umberto started at the bottom, doing tasks like brushing cast iron parts since, at the time, there was no sandblasting machine.
In 1954, Umberto Frigerio took over the leadership of the company. In the same year, he got married, and his children Laura, Cristina, and Enrico (the current CEO of EF Group) were born.
In the 1960s, customers needed to recognize the manufacturer and required every supplier to mark each product with their own identification. Thus, the historic EF logo was born.
The specialization in cast iron production grew, leading to what is today the automotive sector. The foundry began producing the first brake discs for a well-known Italian car manufacturer.
The company’s growth was exponential, and the Via Trento plant could no longer handle the volumes required by customers. A large plot of land in Torbole Casaglia was identified as suitable for hosting the new foundry.
Construction began in 1966. The production space grew from the 3,000 square meters available at the Via Trento plant to 36,000 square meters at the new foundry. Today, the foundry covers about 100,000 square meters.
In 1967, all activities were officially transferred to the new plant in Torbole Casaglia.
The first casting in the new plant was carried out on November 17, 1967. The original cast iron ingot is still preserved in the company as a historical keepsake.
The initial workforce consisted of 42 workers and 3 employees. Today, the plant employs over 500 people.
A 1970 aerial image of the new plant.
production enters full swing and is increasingly oriented towards the automotive sector.
In 1985, after a strict apprenticeship, Enrico Frigerio joined the company. A few years later, Enrico married Maria Roberta Cherubini, and they had three children: Umberto, Edoardo, and Erika, who are now actively involved in managing EF Group companies.
The early 1990s marked a turning point. The foundry opened its production to the international market and specialized in its main product: the brake disc.
The late 1990s represented an important moment of growth for the foundry. New plants enabled a doubling of production capacity. The main developments involved a new sand plant, a new long-campaign cupola furnace, the installation of a new molding line, and the creation of the research and development department.
The early 2000s saw further verticalization of the production process. Eight more machining lines and three additional painting lines were installed.
In 2008, Fond Stamp, based in Rocca de Baldi (Cuneo), was acquired. The foundry specializes in producing cast iron and steel parts using lost foam models.
Umberto, Edoardo and Erika Frigerio take an active role within the company, bringing new energy and vision to the future of the enterprise.
In 2016, Pilenga Baldassarre Foundry was acquired, and an important restructuring and technology update plan began.
2017 marked the 50th anniversary of the Torbole Foundry. A three-day event celebrated the most significant successes of the Torbole Foundry. Prominent Italian and European politicians participated in this event. The highlight of the celebration was dedicated to the workers and their families, the true protagonists of the final day.
Between 2019 and 2020, the world came to a standstill due to the COVID emergency. EF Group provided financial and material donations to support local relief organizations.
The program to reduce GHG emissions continues. Our journey is toward a future where growth, sustainability, and innovation are inextricably linked.
We proudly celebrate 100 years of activity (1924–2024), a century of dedication, innovation, and success that has built our history and will continue to inspire our future.
