SATINAL – Bresciani family activity in the glass industry is 100 years old
The birth and origins of the activity: from 1921 to the second post-war period
The Bresciani family activity was born in the 1920s when the glass world meets a great history of tradition and values. It is in 1921 when Luigi Bresciani begins working in an artisan workshop in Milan; suddenly the owner dies and Luigi take over the entire business which subsequently passes to his son Ferruccio.
The first industrial process, crystal glass flattening, however, dates back to the’30s: at that time glass was handcrafted and the two faces that composed it were never regular; this characteristic did not make it suitable for mirrors production because they would have deformed the image. Ferruccio then starts to flatten glass with some abrasive machines to make sure that glass sheet had two regular faces, to produce good quality mirrors.
The Second World War begins and right at the end Ferruccio dies. The sons Antonio and Luigi Bresciani, in their early twenties, take on the responsibility of the activities. They begin to produce mirrors for the furniture industry that was born in Brianza. It is a period of rebirth and reconstruction in which everything, however, is still made in an artisanal way.
Glass processing industrialization
At this point Antonio leaves for the United States and purchases a plant for the automatic industrial production of mirrors, the first in Europe. This led to a major development of the activity thanks to an increase in production capacity and a sales prices reduction. This success continues until the end of the 60s when multinational glass manufacturers begin to offer, in addition to transparent glass (made with the first modern systems called “Float”), also the first processed ones, such as mirrors. This leads to a deep crisis in which many, if not all, small mirror manufacturers have to rethink their business, including Antonio and Luigi.
But Antonio does not give up: the new idea is to work the glass sheets with very aggressive acids to obtain new textures and decorative glass. The first years are very difficult but in the mid-70s the activity grows in a remarkable way. In the 90s his sons, Alfredo and Ferruccio Bresciani, take over and subsequently set up a new company for the production of decorative acid-etched glass, becoming world leader. In 2001 Satinal spa was born, at that time belonging to the same group, specialized in the production of chemical compounds for glass frosting.
The new millennium: TK, STRATO® and international success
In 2011, Alfredo founds the new Satinal-TK group, which also includes a new business in the field of furnaces and machinery for safety glass manufacture, promoting its commercial expansion in international markets (discover TK brand glass machinery).
Starting from 2017, the new generational change also takes place and Alfredo’s sons, Luca and Marco, found STRATO®, the first production line of safety glass interlayers in Italy, quickly establishing himself as a technology and market leader in films for safety glass lamination (discover more about STRATO® technology).
During these 100 years, the development of industrial processes and activities that offer support to glass processors has never changed. Reliability, experience, customer satisfaction and innovation have always been the values on which the Bresciani family is founded.
The importance of sharing the entire experience with the customer always allowed Satinal to be a partner for glass factories, providing high quality products and technical service.
SATINAL today: Italian excellence in the glass industry
Today Satinal is a reference name in the glass industry with a long industrial and entrepreneurial history behind it. An innovation-driven Italian company, operating worldwide to deliver advanced solutions for the glass industry. Satinal invests to be the most valued interlayers and machinery manufacturer for safety glass laminators, and the most experienced acid-etching chemicals and machinery supplier around the world. Not just manufacturing products: Satinal builds ecosystems of products and 360° solutions for the customer satisfaction. It engages in close partnerships to provide full technical assistance and support and make your business more profitable. The deep involvement with internal and external collaborators and with main customers and suppliers led to celebrate this important milestone together at the Satinal headquarters in December 2021.
Satinal is today an international company born from a family tradition, dynamic and determined to provide innovative solutions for the glass industry with a careful look, aimed at a sustainable future.
