Montecatini (company)
 | |
Native name | Montecatini – Società Generale per l'Industria Mineraria e Chimica |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Industry | Chemicals Mining Fertilizers Petrochemicals |
| Predecessor | Società Anonima delle Miniere di Montecatini |
| Founded | 1888 |
| Defunct | 1966 |
| Fate | Merged with Edison |
| Successor | Montedison |
| Headquarters | Milan, Italy |
| Key people | Guido Donegani (CEO and President) |
| Products | Sulfuric acid, fertilizers, industrial chemicals, petrochemicals, synthetic materials |
Number of employees | 50,000+ (late 1930s) |
| Subsidiaries | ACNA Farmitalia ANIC (joint venture) Rhodiaseta |
Montecatini was an Italian chemicals company founded in 1888. Historians have considered the company a "quasi-monopolist of the Italian chemical industry" in the time between World War I and the end of World War II.[1]
History
Montecatini was founded as a small mining business in Montecatini Val di Cecina. The company originally operated a copper pyrite mine in 1888. In 1910, Guido Donegani was named director of the company, and production subsequently shifted from copper ore production to pyrite production as a starting material for sulfuric acid production.
Following the increase of sulfuric acid production, Montecatini expanded into the greater superphosphate fertilizer industry.[2] By 1920, the company had acquired the two largest phosphate fertilizer producers, Unione Concimi and Colla e Concimi.[3][4] The company became dominant in chemical industry of Fascist Italy.
Between 1948 and 1950, Montecatini built a large power station to generate electricity from Lake Reschen.[5]
In the 1950s, Montecatini collaborated with Covema and the Research on Industrial Application of Polyolefins (RIAP) of Bergamo. Together, the companies developed an extrusion machine.[6]
In 1966, the company merged with the Edison company, subsequently leading to the formation of the company Montedison.
See also
References
- ↑ Galambos, Louis; Hikino, Takashi; Zamagni, Vera (2007). The global chemical industry in the age of the petrochemical revolution. ISBN 978-0-521-87105-1.
- ↑ Aftalion, Fred (2001). A history of the international chemical industry. ISBN 978-0-941901-29-1.
- ↑ "Wirtschaftlicher Teil u. Vereinsnachrichten" (PDF). Zeitschrift für Angewandte Chemie. 33 (42): w193–w196. 1920. doi:10.1002/ange.19200334204.
- ↑ Kutney, Gerald (1 January 2007). Sulfur: History, technology, applications & industry. ISBN 978-1-895198-37-9.
- ↑ "Lake Reschen: Church tower in the lake in Vinschgau". Suedtirol.com. Retrieved 2026-06-01.
- ↑ "Rafia / Textile Monofilament / Strapping Tape | Plastic Processing Machinery | AGRIPAK". agripak.com. Retrieved 2026-06-01.