Armando Cimolai, after a working experience as a labourer, in 1949 decides that the time is ripe to start his own business; with Albina, his young wife, he opens a small laboratory for the production of steel gates and windows. These are the first years after the Second World War and the “want to do” spirit animates in a fundamental manner the lives of Armando and Albina in finding a position in the working world.
Not so many years elapse before the first development of an industrial type takes place with the activity being transferred in Viale Grigoletti in 1954. Fabrication of the first structures for industrial buildings starts up and the first projects from public entities such as ENEL are awarded.
These are the years when “Zanussi” expands on the national and international market; to meet the rising demand “Zanussi” assigns to their co citizen Armando, the design and construction of a great number of industrial buildings.
The effort in terms of design should be underlined. Infact, the inhouse design office confers to the company a different manner of presenting itself to the working world, no longer a mere fabricator but a specialised supplier who can study and propose alternative solutions and establish the functionality of a project.
This capacity, at the service of the Client, has since been the distinguishing element from other competitors which allowed Cimolai to grow and successfully tackle great engineering challenges.
Hence the construction of purposely designed and fabricated blast proof enclosures in the air bases of the military aviation.
During this period, the shooting range (Maniago-Pordenone), for training NATO pilots (operational until the year 1998 when the “virtual” training system enters into force) is designed and constructed.
The economical boom of the 60’s boosts the expansion of the industrial activities; the Cimolai family feels the growing fervour in advance and constructs a new fabrication facility in Viale Venezia in 1963, fully equipped with installations and machinery technologically advanced for that period. The better known manufacturing companies of the period assign to Cimolai the works for the extension of their fabrication facilities.
Production is at a peak with projects for Zanussi, Fiat and Valeo, to the extent that a further fabrication unit is required to cope with the increasing demand of the market. In the 70’s, Armando’s son Luigi, a young engineer, and Roberto a few years later, makes their appearance in the company. This second generation brings new lymph for a more incisive expansion in the market.
The National infrastructures are in full expansion; roads, motorways and railways require the market to provide a greater quantity of structures to significantly greater dimensions. Consequently, Cimolai must adapt to the needs of the market; in 1974 the fabrication unit in Polcenigo is constructed followed by the Roveredo in Piano workshop in 1985 and the “Centro Servizi” in San Quirino in 1991.
The well known aircraft shelters, bridges, stadiums, are projects which brings the name Cimolai in Europe and in the world, marking their professionalism and reliability.
The three essential points of the company become, competitiveness, quality, time performance, hence a strong engineering and organisational undertaking. Significant examples are the viaduct over the “Grand Canal Maritime” at Le Havre, the Second Severn Crossing in Bristol, and the Olympic Stadium an Athens.
The new expansion into the market outside Italy highlights the necessity to particularly consider the transportation factor. With this in mind, the San Giorgio di Nogaro fabrication unit on the banks of the Aussa Corno river is constructed and provided with mooring quay for ocean going vessels. Production of circular hollow sections of great diameter and thickness begins in 2005 and in 2007 the fabrication of ship hulls in association with CI.MAR 50% participated by Cimolai. The Year 2006 is fundamental for the generational handover.
The property of the company is transferred by the parents Armando and Albina, to their children. The property of Cimolai S.p.A. to Luigi and Cimolai Technology to Roberto. The “Centro Servizi” remains with the founders Armando Albina. The Group so composed, whilst with different proprietors, remains united to better penetrate the industrial market.
In 2007 the new entry is the acquisition and reorganisation of the fabrication facility in Puerto Ordaz (Venezuela) as the South American market imposes development in this new area. With Paola, the third family generation enters the company in 2007.
The company’s growth continues in the subsequent years with the acquisition in 2011 of Fabris Srl, a company specializing in mechanics, in 2012 of Zwahlen & Mayr SA, a leading Swiss company in the field of metal, and of a new plant in Monfalcone having a total surface of 278,000 square meters.
In 2014 the group started to expand in emerging countries, thus setting the basis for the establishment of companies with manufacturing facilities, also with local partners.
