Safilo Group, Italy: From Licensee to Licensor

The Safilo trademark was established in 1934 when the Tabacchi family purchased the first Italian industrial plant, producing lenses and frames, founded in 1878 in Calalzo di Cadore. In 1964 the Santa Maria di Sala plant was opened in the province of Venice to produce acetate frames in cellulose. Facilities were added to include the administrative offices shortly thereafter, while the Calalzo plant expanded during the 1970’s and increased its personnel. In 1973 Safilo acquired the Central Services of Padua, which has been the home of the distribution department since 1975, while the administrative and commercial departments were transfered in 1977. In the same year, the first foreign sales subsidiary of Safilo was founded in Belgium. The Netherlands, Denmark, Spain, Germany and France followed shortly thereafter. In 1980 Friulplastica a new plastic material was developed by the plant in Martignacco, Udine, which still supplies the Safilo plants with metal components. On March 17, 1987, Safilo stocks were issued at the Milan Stock Exchange. In 1989 a large new production site for metallic frames was constructed in Longarone. The plant has been in operation since 1991 and is still one of the most advanced facilities in the optical industry, producing metallic, aluminum and titanium frames. In 1990 the headquarters of the Safilo Group were built in Padua, including management, administration and style centres. The companies that had marketed Safilo products in Sweden and Canada were taken over by the Safilo Group in 1990, while Safilo Denmark merged with the Safilo Group in 1991. At the end of 1994, the commercial branch Safilo Far East was opened in order to develop and to penetrate East Asian markets effectively. The Safilo Group strengthened its position worldwide with the incorporation of Safilo U.K. in August 1995, Safilo Hellas in Greece in January 1996, Safilo Netherlands and Carrera Austria in July 1996, Safilo Australia and Safilo South Africa in 1997, Safilo Japan in 1998 and with Safilo do Brasil which was opened up in 1999. In December 1996, Safilo Group obtained the quality certification ISO 9002.