history
In 1959, in the midst of an economic boom, Steno Marcegaglia – born in 1930 to humble origins and with a past as a trade unionist in the Farmers’ Alliance and who then became part of Coldiretti – sees the enormous potential for development in the steel processing sector and decides to open a small workshop of one hundred and twenty square meters with a friend.
There, with two workers and a roll forming machine, he starts to produce guides for rolling shutters, an item that is increasingly in demand in Italian homes.
After just one year, and with the determination and foresight that will become characteristic of his life and business history, he insists on upgrading the plants in order to stand out from their competition: he takes over the entire company and buys a second-hand mill, two old furnaces for annealing cold-rolled strips and a rudimentary pickling plant.
These became the foundations of a family business that has been in constant growth throughout its history, transforming itself from a small local business into one of Italy’s largest manufacturing companies with a presence on the international market, which has never lost its strong links to its region and the values of its founders.
Start up and pioneering phase
1959 - 1963
In 1959, in Gazoldo degli Ippoliti (Mantua, Northern Italy), Steno Marcegaglia establishes a small factory, Marcegaglia-Caraffini, specialized in the manufacturing of open profiles. The company is taken over a few time later and re-named Metallurgica Mantovana.
In 1963 I.P.A.S. is founded for the manufacturing of drawn products from flat and tubular steels.
Strong internal growth
1964 - 1982
1970 The unit in Gazoldo degli Ippoliti quickly develops its activities adding cold re-rolling process and precision tubes manufacturing.
In 1982 Steno Marcegaglia founds in association with three business partners Oto Mills – leader in high-precision tubes mills – and successively establishes a new state-of-the-art unit in Casalmaggiore (Cremona).
Organic growth and M&A
1982 - 1988
In 1983 the group expands with the acquisition of Lombarda Tubi in Lomagna (Lecco), Saom in Boltiere (Bergamo), Trisider in Tezze sul Brenta (Vicenza).
In 1985 Marcegaglia adds to its structure three companies of Maraldi Group with the plants in Ravenna, Forlimpopoli (Forlì) and Cervignano del Friuli (Udine).
In 1987 Marcegaglia acquires Profilnastro in Dusino San Michele (Asti).
Expansion and internationalization
1988 - 1999
Starting in 1989, the first tube mill in Forlì and the first stainless steel and pickling line in Gazoldo degli Ippoliti become operational. At the same time, the plant in San Giorgio di Nogaro is acquired for the production of heavy plates. Start up of new distribution offices (today Marcegaglia UK); foundation of Marcegaglia Deutschland
and acquisition of Bishop near Philadelphia (USA).
In the 1990s, the group diversifies with the acquisitions of Albarella in the tourism sector, Ponteggi Dalmine in the construction sector and CCT in the energy sector.
Development in carbon and stainless steels
1999 - 2007
1999 The Ravenna plant becomes the spearhead of the group’s entire production chain through a major investment project (“Ravenna 2000”) for coils processing.
2000 Marcegaglia then lands in Brazil where, in Garuva, it builds a large plant for components for the household appliance sector and for carbon and stainless steel products.
2000-2005 Growth of Italian activities and sales network worldwide.
Supply of raw materials
2000 - 2008
2000 Joint venture agreement with Brema (Arcelor Group) for the supply of 500 K t/year of hot-rolled coils.
2005-2009 Offtake agreement with Teesside (Corus Group) for the supply of 850 K t/year of slabs.
Industrialization program in Italy and abroad
2007 - 2013
2007-2008 Consolidation of the main Italian manufacturing units (Ravenna, Casalmaggiore, Gazoldo degli Ippoliti – 1,5 billion euros invested in 6 years). Inauguration of new units in the European (Poland) and extra-Europe (Russia) markets. Doubling of Brazilian plant.
2010-2011 Opening of the new Marcegaglia Poland manufacturing unit in Kluczbork dedicated to carbon steel tubes production. Growth in diversified sectors (tourism, thanks to the acquisition of Forte Village and Castel Monastero, and renewable energies).
Consolidation of core business
2013 - 2014
2013-2014 The group decides to focus on and to consolidate its own core business and to gradually divest the diversified activities. In 2013 Oto Mills and Forte Village are sold.
Reorganization and new acquisitions
2015-2022
Marcegaglia launches a corporate reorganization project to become even more protagonist in its core business.
From 2018, through M&A activities, Marcegaglia expands its portfolio of investments. Marcegaglia Rivoli, Marcegaglia Palini e Bertoli, Marcegaglia Colombia
and Marcegaglia Mexico are established. Marcegaglia UK acquires a new plant in Oldbury. SM Tunis Acier is born, in a joint venture with Sideralba.
With the acquisition of Trafital (Gorla Minore), the range of cold-drawn products is completed.
First steps within steel production
2023-2024
In 2023, Marcegaglia acquires 100 percent of all the major companies in Outokumpu’s stainless steel long products division: the transaction includes an electric furnace steel mill for special steels, a wire rod rolling plant and a bar production plant in Sheffield (UK); a bar production plant in Richburg (US); a wire rod hot rolling plant and a drawn wire production plant in Fagersta (Sweden).
In May 2024, Marcegaglia completes its steel production capacity with the Fos-sur-Mer plant in France, which will meet approximately 30% of the Group’s steel needs and will use efficient and sustainable production methods.