From I.A.P. (INDUSTRIA AUTOMOBILISTICA PARMENSE)
manufacturer of racing cars,
to I.A.P. (INDUSTRIA ABRASIVI PARMENSE)

Industria Abrasivi Parmense, subsequently evolved with the commercial brand GLOBE, originates in 1961 from an idea of Paolo and Pietro Ficai brothers, who availed of father Celestino’s experience, full professor of Applied Chemistry at the University of Bologna, as well as co-founder and director of the Ceramic Centre linked to the Faculty.

Prof. Celestino’s researches mainly focused on industrial ceramics, which at that time was growing in Modena area, on special cements, on the sintering of aluminum oxides to produce abrasive and refractory elements. The idea of manufacturing abrasive wheels found its completion and realization in the factory in La Spezia street, Parma.

From 1961 to 1971, production was manual and manufactured with rotary distribution presses. Polymerization was already made through continuous ovens, really original (the first ones in the world), designed by engineer Paolo Ficai. In 1971, Eng. Giovanni Ficai joined the company, moving production to the new factory in 160, La Spezia street, where it widened over time until reaching the actual dimensions of approximately 6500 square metres.

From 1972 on, Eng. Giovanni and Dr. Pietro focused on a continuous and dynamic expansion aiming at products’ improvement and automating production. Later, Eng. Giovanni internally designed and built all automatic presses, the continuous tunnel ovens and the mixing systems. So it was that, together with the high innovation and quality of GLOBE wheels, a company automation was developed, featured by a strong design originality thanks to the deep knowledge of production problems, which still continues today.