1950
The Company was founded in 1950 by Elio Baggio, as a family business, in the village of Marostica (Vicenza province). Elio was the son of an entrepreneur, Pio Baggio, who owned various activities, such as building materials (bricks), pottery and quarrying. The initial main business was the operation of an enamelling plant, as a subcontractor, along with a small production of wood/coal stoves for cooking/heating purposes.
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1959
The plant gradually specialized in enamelling body components of stoves and cookers as well as bath tubs, sinks etc. required by major manufacturers of Northern Italy, such as Zanussi, Zoppas, Fargas. By the end of the fifties, the post-second world war reconstruction was over and the following years were characterized by a huge demand for basic household appliances, like cookers and refrigerators.
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1960
This situation led Elio Baggio to build a new factory in 1960, in the town of Bassano del Grappa (Vicenza province), and to concentrate his activity in the manufacturing of freestanding cookers for the domestic market. The factory brand became ELBA, which is the acronym of the founder Elio Baggio. The brand, with the present logo, was registered in Italy in 1964.
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1964
From this year ELBA began to export its cookers to some European countries. Freestanding cookers models attracted many customers coming from the Middle-East. Models with bottle compartment led to explore and export to Northern Africa.
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1965 - 1977
During this period the yearly output grew from 20.000 to 120.000 units, due the increase of exports which already accounted for about 80% of the total production. In these years a growing share of production was secured by OEM appliances.
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1978
This year marks the beginning of the production of built in cooking appliances. Initially, built in electric ovens and soon after hobs, made to satisfy growing demand from the furniture industry.
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1979
The wider range of products gave greater access to the main European markets. Distributors from France, the United Kingdom, and Germany found Elba products innovative and with an appealing design.
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1987
The De’Longhi group acquired ELBA and other factories belonging to Elio Baggio who decided to leave behind the manufacturing activities due his old age. ELBA needed to define a new structure and dimension, proper to the growing expectations from the appliances industry and in line with the ambitions of De’Longhi group.
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1990
The ELBA factory was moved to the present site in Borso del Grappa (Treviso province) where De’Longhi had the possibility to expand the factory area (50.000 sq. m.), to set up an additional enamelling plant, to install two painting line and to re-design the factory lay out.
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1991
During this period a policy of continuous investments in new products and facilities led to a stunning growth in output (over 500.000 units per year) and turnover (over 75 million Euro).
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2000
Through these years lot of efforts were put to fulfil new projects focusing stainless steel predominance. Investments on new models responding to the latest requirements were not spared.
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2003
In 2003 the approach to the North American market began and supplies started one year later with excellent results due to a wide peculiarity of product range starting from the 48 inches cooker to the built in 24 inches models.
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2006 - 2008
In 2006 the acquisition of Elba by Fisher&Paykel Group marks another milestone in the factory history. It is the beginning of a successful cooperation. The combined efforts and skills of the two R&D departments led to the development of an even more advanced and styled high level built in cooking program. Two years later, in 2008, the turnover reached its highest level with over 92 million Euro.
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2010
The 60th anniversary, despite the tough and competitive economic scenario, finds the Elba factory still sitting in a very strong position in all the markets where it operates. As a result of the customers loyalty and of the undisputed commitment of the whole Company staff, Elba continues to deserve the role of leader within the cooking appliances industry.
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2015
ELBA celebrates its 65th anniversary. It continue to grow and has an eye pointed to the changes of the needs of the market. ELBA is always in step with the times, by following the path of innovation and development creating cutting edge models. To celebrate its anniversary ELBA has created two new lines; the VINTAGE freestanding cookers with a old fashion flavour and reminding the legendary '60s ; and the new built in line ELIO, 5 kind of gas cooktops and 5 kind of ovens (gas and electric) that are a depiction of minimalism, modern and sophisticated, and both products are efficient, safe, powerful and easy to use.
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