"La Fonderia” has always been an artisan family business.
In 1960 Luigi Carrara (born in 1946), once finished compulsory schooling, is introduced into the foundry environment by his uncle, beginning as an apprentice smelter. Despite the arduous daily work, the young Luigi does not renounce to the study and attends night school.
In his early twenties he graduates in accounting and completes its package of experience going from the manufacturing floor to the administrative offices. The manual activity and the creative aspect of the profession fascinates him so much that in 1978, supported by his wife Mariella, decides to set his own business. With the scarce resources available, the couple buys an old and worn out furnace, repairing and adapting it to the needs of the new company.
On April 15th 1978, the first bronze jet is melted.
Few years after, the young foundry will be able to afford its first die-casting machine, which will allow for systematic productions. The purchase of new equipment leads to the need for more space, so after a few years of activity in a small shed at Comenduno of Albino, in 1982 "La Fonderia" will move in Via Partigiani 21 Albino, in the old, historic home of the foundries San Marino. At this point in its history, the foundry has a dozen employees, working on 6 melting furnaces, 4 gravity casting machines and a bridge for large productions. Nevertheless, he continues to remain faithful to its original array of artisan family business: Luigi deals with the production department and his wife Mariella deals with the paperwork. In 1986, the second of their daughters Luana (born in 1972) joins her parents, employed as an apprentice, and in 1990 Monia, the first of their daughters (born 1971), fresh diploma in Accounting, completes the team.
In 1995, with the take over of the new provisions on plant safety, old warehouses become unfit to continue the activity and Luigi Carrara buys a newly built property in Albano Sant 'Alessandro, still current operational headquarter of the firm.
In 2015, following the loss of their dear father, Luana and Monia decide to continue on the path he traced.
