User:Very inspired/Officine Pellizzari & Sons

Company founded by Antonio Pellizzari in 1901 in Cavalena Bassa (Arzignano, Vicenza). The first buildings were built in Via Regina Margherita (nowdays Via 4 martiri). The company maintained this name until 1945 when the son, Giacomo, changed the company name into a joint-stock company, of which he remained the major shareholder, renewing the company's structure and logo. The old buildings and the factory are now be seen in Arzignano. .

== The history and the expansion ==

Started in 1901, the Officine Pellizzari&Sons, produced applications for sulfur mills, with a ventilation and grinding process, sawing machines for wood, driers for silk cocoons with pumps and turbines (this sector had a big growth after 1905 thanks to the technological discoveries of the time).Initially the equipment was modest, a half horse-powered Oerlikon motor and a lathe.

1902 The Officine starts producing small electric motors, pumps and air fans (documented in the architectural plans at the library at the Arzignano library).

Giacomo Rossi graduates from Vicenza's Royal Institute. He returns to manage the Company, setting up the construction of sulphur mills, which are based on an innovative procedure using ventilation.

1912 Antonio Pellizzari dies. Giacomo (called the Bearded man) and Giuseppe are the new owners of the Officine.

1909-1918 Pellizzari is one of the 29 mechanics companies that converts to the production of orders for war purposes. The company joins the Projectile Cooperative of Padova, for military practices and labour, guaranteeing control of their own workers. Following events taking place in Caporetto, the Venetian workshops must close or move away from the Po River.In an agreement with the Italian Metallurgical Workshops in Naples, they transfer to Castellamare di Stabia (Naples).

From 1917, in collaboration with the Rossi Institute (high school in Vicenza), Pellizzari makes its workers available to construct airplanes; at which time the school allows the commission of production in Pellizzari’s workshops in order to satisfy its commitments to the aviation organisation Turin.

1919 The first electric motor is sold to Mr. Ugo Braccini of Florence. Time of expansion of the main plant and the construction of new production areas.

New branches are opened in Italy and abroad, some still existing today with new commercial names.

The expansion areas in Vicenza concern Montecchio Maggiore, Lonigo and Montebello Vicentino. Pellizzari with Marzotto factory in Valdagno and the Lanerossi woolen mills in Schio, formed social and economic wealth in the Vicenza valley.

1920 A new room is fitted for the testing of motors and transformers, a new cupola furnace for the foundry is installed, and a department for electric fans, electric pumps and electric mills is set up.Orders come in from the Navy (Ettore Fieramosca submarine, for example), requesting fittings for prestigious civil and military ships. Giuseppe Pellizzari continues to improve the irrigation sprinkler systems, which are then honoured at the Verona Trade Fair and in Rome.

1922 Patent by Professor Sartori for high performance, self-compensating motors with a power factor of 1.

1923 Giacomo Pellizzari becomes the protagonist of a number of social initiatives that are dedicated to the workshop employees and to the development of the urban/social environment. One of the first initiatives is the construction of public Cinema and a School for the new employees and the training of craftsmen.Antonio Pellizzari is born.

1926. This is a period of great innovation in the field of hydraulics in Italy. The production of new motors for propeller and centrifugal pumps begins.

1929 Prince Umberto of Savoy visits Vicenza to learn about the functioning of Giuseppe Pellizzari's innovative irrigation sprinkler systems. As a result of this new technology, the Pellizzari companies obtain great results and recognition.

1930 Although this year shows a severe slump in sales due to the American recession, the factory is a robust business, with 1,300 skilled workers. In the five Vicenza plants alternators, transformers, generators, various machines for the business, turbofans and turbochargers are produced. A social security system is created, offering free direct visits to the sick, in accordance with new legislation for benefits and citizen and worker's protection. A food shop is also set up, along with a cafeteria for workers and employees, to support a population exhausted through the recent events of war.

1935 Pellizzari open two new branches in China, Egipt and Manchuria. Before the war Pellizzari had started up 'Elettra' (later the Pellizzari accumulator factory of Montecchio Maggiore, which produced stationary, starter or traction accumulators, traction-powered electric vehicles and accumulators) and 'Industrie Meccaniche' of Lonigo (for the production of precision drills, with a training school for mechanics).

1940-1945 Many young boys go to fight the war, Officine Pellizzari hire women and young people to continue the industrial war production guaranteeing a salary to the poor families.

1943 Giacomo in conflict with the Italian Social Republic escapes in Lombardy because Antonio refuses military leverage.Vicenza is not spared the actions of the Fascist regime. On March 30, following a workers strike, four workers from the ‘Castelli di Montecchio Maggiore’ workshop are shot in an exemplary manner. Even today Arzignano observes a silence in memory of four martyrs in school and municipalities.

1945 The workshops are becoming a Company. Giacomo Pellizzari creates a limited company of which he is the major shareholder, and changes the company name. There is a total of 15,000 shares: 14,998 owned by Giacomo, 1 owned by lawyer Angelo Valenti and 1 owned by lawyer Gino Rogai.Following this change the factories of Vicenza, Lonigo and Montebello are incorporated in Arzignano. There begins the production of mercury-vapour rectifiers in metal casing, along with testing areas, with advice from Dr Walter Dallenbach of Zurich. The company improves its sales network, opening two branches, Pellizzari Argentina and Pellizzari Brazil in Buenos Aires and San Paolo, while consolidating exports to Yugoslavia, Turkey, Egypt, India and other countries.

1951 For a flood in Polesine (Italy), Pellizzari is active to reclaim the area together with many European countries. Were used 200 pumps with a pumping capacity of 500 liters per second. Some of these are now operating in the environmental reclamation systems of the flooded area.

1953 The company has 2,800 employees and five factories. A big flood, on the Dutch and English coasts, sees the involvement of the workshop staff. For this assistance the company receives the highest honour; a medal of the Order of Orange-Nassau, from Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.At the proposal of the Senate of the University of Padova the Ministry of Education gives Giacomo Pellizzari an honorary degree in Electrical Engineering in recognition of Italy’s technological development and rise in electromechanical production.

1955 Giacomo dies and Antonio, his single heir, became the new owner. After few years Antonio is struck down by an illness.

1961 Pellizzari Company maintains the commercial name thanks to a technical board that continues the production of electric alternators.

1963 Breaking of the Vajont dam. The Pellizzari workshops and the Italian army’s Alpine Corps go to help the national electricity provider, ENEL, set up an emergency pumping station.

1968 The company sponsoring an exhibition of work by on Achille Beltrame, a magazine illustrator.

In the Seventies the Company has change the board of directors with new buyer company.