70 years of history to create an image of seriousness, competence, quality and reliability, recognised and respected worldwide. Since our first laboratory in the heart of Milan to our current global industrial network, scenarios, objectives and perspectives have changed. But the will to stand out and establish ourselves with our own forces and resources is still as strong as the first day we set out.
Founded in Milan in 1953 to design and manufacture "Automatic Electrical Equipment". The first plant was a 500sqm laboratory in the centre of the town. The company name reveals the attention for the technical content of the products and the vocation for the scientific research.
1970 - 1980
- Contactors were the first product
- Resistors added to portfolio
- First electronic protection relay
- First railway on board contactors
Contactors were the first product: at the beginning small size "micro" (20A and 30A), then larger and larger contactors up to 3000A in the standard range and a number of special executions for wide applications up to 4 kA. At the end of the '50s a new series of block contactors was released: at that time absolutely at the forefront in the technology.
Soon the production needed more space and Microelettrica moved to an old industrial site in the North of Milan, popularly called "Bovisa", where the manufacture of Motor Control Switches, Switchboards and Panels started. These activities successfully continued until the end of the '80s contributing to develop the know-how of the electrical equipment construction and applications.
In the '60s the production of Resistors started, at the beginning mainly as a part of motor starting and control devices, then as system equipment in various applications.
In 1970 Microelettrica, already well-known and estimated in the Italian Market, started to expand outside its domestic borders. The first export markets were Greece (naval apparatus), Belgium, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, United States, India, Sweden, Netherlands: nowadays Microelettrica directly exports almost 80% of its turnover.
In the second half of the '70s research in the electronic field started with the aim of developing protection and control equipment for electric machinery and distribution: hence the Protective Relays branch was born. The first products were of the analogic type. In 1985 digital microprocessor based relays were developed. Abreast to the revolutionary development of digital electronics, Microelettrica continuously updated its products making them compatible with communication and supervision systems and today also designs and supplies complete Supervision, Control and Data Acquisition Systems.
- Move into Rozzano premises
- First major contracts on European Market
- Establishement of MicroEner, Microdigit, MS Resistances, Microelettrica USA, Microelettrica South Africa
- Expansion of products portfolio
Since the 80’s Microelettrica rapidly expanded on the Rail Market and developed new Contactors and Resistors specifically for this application achieving an undisputed leadership position.
In 1985 the Company moved into the new premises in Rozzano (Milano) and continued to grow by establishing new branches in Italy and abroad.
In 1985 Digital Microprocessor Based Rrelays were developed. Abreast to the revolutionary development of digital electronics, Microelettrica continuously updated its products making them compatible with communication and supervision systems and today also designs and supplies complete Supervision, Control and Data Acquisition Systems.
In the 90’s Microelettrica gained the fist major contracts on the European Market both in traction and industrial segments and to further expand its market decided to establish subsidiary companies in Europe, South Africa and USA.
On board metering solutions have been added to product range from the mid of 90’s, they were previously hosted in a separated company but have been merged in the electronic division.
- 2005: Knorr Bremse takeover
- 2009: Acquisition of Officine De Zan and EMC Traction
- 2010: Acquisition of Heine Resistors and establishment of Microelettrica do Brazil
- 2011: Merger of Officine De Zan, EMC Traction into Microelettrica
- 2011: Acquisition of Comet Fans and recolation to Buccinasco
- 2012: Consolidation of Italian facilities in new Buccinasco Headquarter Building
- 2017: Acquisition of Metering Division of Casram Rail and relocation to Buccinasco
Since 2005 Microelettrica Scientifica is a member of Knorr-Bremse Group, the German international leader in rail and commercial vehicles braking systems.
Microelettrica continues to grow also by opening local assembly facilities in India and China within Knorr-Bremse and own factories and by the acquisition of Officine de Zan, a frame manufacturing facility, and EMC Traction, one of the world's leading companies in the design and production of DC High Speed Circuit Breakers and DC Switchgears.
Further growth was created in 2010 with the acquisition of Heine Resistors GmbH, a specialist in rail and industrial resistors based in Dresden Germany, including its fully owned Chinese Subsidiary Heine Resistors Suzhou, and with the foundation of Microelettrica do Brasil, new subsidiary fully dedicated to the South American markets.
Followed in 2011 the acquisition of Comet Axial Fans S.r.l. specialist in ventilators for rail and industrial applications.
In 2012 all our Italian sites moved to one new facility in Buccinasco.
In 2014 has been completed the 60% acquisition of Casram Rail, a leading Italian company in the development of solutions, systems and products in the field of safety, of communication and control systems and of electronics obsolescence.
In 2016 Comet Fans moved to the Headquarters in Buccinasco and in 2017, after the acquisition, also the Metering DiIvision of Casram moved to Buccinasco.
In 2019 Casram Rail SpA was merged by incorporation into Microelettrica Scientifica SpA.
Since 2005 Microelettrica Scientifica is a member of Knorr-Bremse Group, the German world leader in rail and commercial vehicles braking systems.
Since 2005 Microelettrica Scientifica is a member of Knorr-Bremse Group, the German world leader in rail and commercial vehicles braking systems.
Since 2005 Microelettrica Scientifica is a member of Knorr-Bremse Group, the German world leader in rail and commercial vehicles braking systems.
