Company
the History
the Lonati family (from left: Tiberio, Ettore,
cav.Francesco and Fausto)
the Company in 1945
the Company in 1980
Lonati’s background dates back to the period of rapid industrial development in Italy after the second world war, proof that in some business sectors Italy was capable of becoming a world leader.
In 1945 Francesco Lonati set up his first production unit, manufacturing circular knitting machines to make men’s and children’s socks. At the time, the needs of the new mass society, with its ever pressing demand for consumer products, called for increasing diversification and production on an industrial scale. Thus, in 1952, Francesco Lonati considerably extended his range of products and started manufacturing pantyhose machines at the new premises in Via San Polo, Brescia. With the new 1,000 m2 plant and thirty or so workers, Lonati was equipped to handle much higher quantities, and the owner was soon looking for new market outlets abroad. His pantyhose machines met with huge success as they were the first in Europe to adopt a fundamental technological innovation, namely two-feed knitting.
These new machines by Lonati were soon highly sought-after in the Common Market countries, especially West Germany, and later on Great Britain as well. Between 1955 and 1960, the company also started exporting to non-European countries – Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Mexico, Chile, North and South America, and Scandinavia. At this point the company was marketing its products virtually all over the world, and in 1966 it started exporting large volumes to countries in Eastern Europe.
Operating on a worldwide scale demanded a careful assessment of market trends, progressive technological development and frequent extensions to the industrial plant. In 1969, the Lonati factory was enlarged to 30,000 m2, including 15,000 m2 indoors, the workforce was increased to 300. At the same time, the company upped its presence abroad, setting up an efficient export office and a capillary sales network with agents and representatives in each country. The company’s management was also strengthened when Francesco’s three sons, Ettore, Fausto and Tiberio, joined the managerial staff.
The ever-present need for diversification, rendered even more pressing by a crisis in the pantyhose sector, forced Lonati in 1968 to start manufacturing double-jersey machines for making men’s and women’s socks. It was a bold decision due to the presence of well-established names in this sector and to the major outlay required to design and develop an entirely new type of machine. The end result – which amply rewarded the company’s efforts - was a machine that is now considered the most technologically advanced in existence. And soaring sales are direct evidence of Lonati’s well-deserved success on the world’s markets.
